Abstract: A mail doubles detection and correction system for a mail processing system with a feeder includes a mail support configured to support at least two mail pieces in a detection space downstream of the feeder, a pair of vacuum belt assemblies disposed on opposite sides of the detection space, and one or more sensors positioned about the detection space to detect a position of one or more mail pieces in the detection space. Each vacuum belt assembly includes a vacuum port facing the detection space and a perforated belt movable across the vacuum port in a mail transport direction. The system detects a mail double when the sensors indicate that more than one mail piece is disposed in the detection space and corrects the situation by moving one of the belts and holding the other belt stationary to advance only one of the mail pieces, and subsequently moving both of the belts to advance the remaining mail piece.

Abstract: In an apparatus for handling sheets, first and second sheet transfer members are movable to transfer one of the sheets between the first and second sheet transfer members, the first and second sheet transfer members have respective transfer surfaces contactable with the one of the sheets so that the one of the sheets is driven to be transferred by at least one of the first and second sheet transfer members, and an information reader is arranged between the first and second sheet transfer members in such a manner that an information is readable from the one of the sheets even when the one of the sheets is transferred by one of the first and second sheet transfer members and is prevented from being transferred by both of the first and second sheet transfer members.

Abstract: A mail justifier system including at least one bucket for holding a flat article and a plurality of ramps configured to contact the flat article through an opening defined on the bucket to raise the flat article to a desired level. A plurality of parallel rollers is configured to enter into the opening and contact the flat article. The parallel rollers rotate causing the flat article to move within the bucket from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: An apparatus transports a discrete paper or film object in a machine direction for insertion into an envelope. A guide assembly of the apparatus includes opposed first and second channels facing one another for guiding the object in the machine direction, with the channels extending upwardly to thereby define an uphill path of travel for the object. A drive apparatus includes engaging elements for moving the object along the first and second channels. At least one support element holds the object against the guide assembly.

Abstract: In the case of a mail-processing machine having a conveying path (1) which contains a circulating conveying chain and conveys onto a handling station (5), easy changeover to a variety of processing tasks and good adaptability to constricted space conditions are achieved in that, by a switchable actuating arrangement, manipulator fingers (19) articulated on a manipulator hand (13), in the handling station (5), can be switched both into the operating position both for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand and for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and into the return position both for the return stroke of the manipulator hand and for the forward stroke of the manipulator hand.

Abstract: A mail paper sealing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an input part, a compression roller part, a driving unit, and a convey accelerator. The input part supplies a mail paper. The compression roller part seals the folded mail paper conveyed from the input part. The driving unit generates a rotary force. The convey accelerator is provided between the input part and the compression roller part and adds a rotation frictional force to a top surface of one side of the mail paper in a convey direction.

Abstract: In a mail processing machine, a fixed mounting of an envelope turning station relative to an upstream stuffing station, and therefore a simple construction of the drive for the envelope turning station, can be achieved in that the items of goods for despatch to be turned through 180° are drawn by grippers of a gripper chain into the region of horizontally opening tongs of the envelope turning cylinder of the envelope turning station, in such a way that, in each case irrespective of the longitudinal format of the items of goods for despatch, the latter are gripped by the turning cylinder tongs over their entire length, for which purpose the gripper chain, together with the stuffing table supporting it, is designed to be displaceable with respect to the turning station in the conveying direction of the goods for despatch, in a manner dependent on the envelope format.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting an ingestion assembly within a singulating apparatus operative to singulate and convey sheet material along a feed path. The mounting arrangement includes a radial bearing pivotally mounting the ingestion assembly to a stationary support structure of the singulating apparatus. The radial bearing is operative to pivot the singulating assembly from an operating position to an idle position about a pivot axis which is substantially orthogonal to the feed path of the sheet material. The mounting arrangement also includes an over-center mechanism disposed in combination with the radial bearing for biasing the ingestion assembly about the pivot axis such that the ingestion assembly is forcibly held in each of the operating and idle positions. Optimum space utilization and ease of use is provided by the radial bearing which cantilever mounts the ingestion assembly to the singulating apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first feed path configured to transport an envelope from an input at an envelope supply to an insertion location, and a second feed path configured to transport the envelope with a mail piece insert therein from the insertion location to an output. The first and second feed paths intersect at an intersection spaced from the insertion location. The paths are angled relative to each other at the intersection.

Abstract: A scanner system for use with a paper handing system includes a scanner having a media feed path and which detects the physical characteristic data of documents transported along said feed path for scanning by said scanner. A paper handling subsystem is provided having a least one actuator coupled to control a mechanism adjustable to settings to adjust the subsystem to be set to process media having different physical characteristics.

Abstract: In a mailpiece feed device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck for receiving a stack of mailpieces for printing, selector means for extracting the mailpieces for printing one-by-one from said stack, and superposed conveyor rollers including movable upper rollers for conveying downstream the mailpieces extracted one-by-one in this way, there are further provided movable optical read means that are placed downstream from said selector means and that move synchronously with said movable upper conveyor rollers for conveying the mailpieces, so that, in cooperation with processor means, said optical read means scan and recognize automatically the data printed on said mailpieces.

Abstract: A high-speed printing and sorting machine. A first diverter diverts a first batch of items into a first bin, a second diverter diverts a second batch into a second bin, and so on. A plurality of O-rings and flat belts confront one another and rotate in opposite directions to carry diverted items to their respective bins. A nip formed by opposed rollers causes the items to slow down. Protruding rollers constrain the items to momentarily deviate from a path of travel and the inherent resiliency of the O-rings is harnessed to snap the trailing ends of each slowing down leading item out of the way of the trailing item so that shingling may occur. If a gap between items is too large, the opposed rollers of the nip stop rotating until the gap is restored to a preferred distance so that the desired amount of shingling may be maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for altering the spatial orientation and/or direction of sheet material. The apparatus includes an input deck for receiving sheet material along an input feed path, an output deck for forwarding sheet material along an output feed path, and an orbit nip roller assembly disposed adjacent to and aligned with the input and output decks. The orbit nip roller assembly includes a primary and secondary roller defining a roller nip which lies substantially parallel to the input and output feed paths. The secondary roller is adapted to be bi-directionally displaced in an arc about the periphery of the primary roller such that the roller nip orbits the primary roller from a first radial position to a second radial position.

Abstract: A mail processor machine casing having an identity plate for identifying the machine, which identity plate is formed by a portion of said casing that is connected to the remainder of said casing by a peripheral zone of weakness that, on being broken, makes it possible to detach said identity plate. Preferably, said zone of weakness comprises a plurality of casing bridges that can be broken by hand.

Abstract: A method for feeding a shingled stack of sheet material to a downstream processing device includes the step of identifying a discontinuity in the shingled stack of sheet material wherein the discontinuity has a length dimension from an aft end of a downstream portion of the shingled sheet material to a forward end of an upstream portion of the shingled sheet material. In a next step, the motion of first and second serially arranged conveyors are controlled such that the length dimension of the discontinuity is substantially equal to a prescribed gap of known length dimension. The first conveyor supports the upstream portion of the shingled sheet material and the second conveyor supports the downstream portion of the shingled sheet material. The deck of the first is advanced over the deck of the second conveyor toward the aft end of the downstream portion by the length dimension of the prescribed gap.

Abstract: Together with a device for receiving mail items that has a conveyor belt designed to receive and to convey the mail items from a franking station of a mail handling machine, a device is provided for stacking mail items that has a plurality of rollers disposed in staggered manner on a plurality of axles whose ends are fixed to respective ones of two support walls between which the axles extend, which support walls are mutually parallel and are spaced apart by at least the width of said conveyor belt.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a system and an apparatus comprise a registration wall, a weighing device located adjacent to the registration wall, a belt drive mechanism, a plurality of inboard skis, and a plurality of outboard skis. The belt drive mechanism extends across the weighing device for advancing a mail piece relative to the weighing device and the belt drive mechanism is located at a first distance from the registration wall. The plurality of inboard skis are located substantially at the first distance from the registration wall and are located beneath the belt drive mechanism for urging the mail piece upwardly toward the drive belt mechanism. The plurality of outboard skis is coplanar with the plurality of inboard skis for supporting an end of the mail piece. The plurality of outboard skis is located at a second distance from the registration wall. The second distance is greater than the first distance.

Abstract: The disclosed concepts provide for a method and apparatus for processing batched items, which may comprise a multitude of flats, e.g., letters. The individual items are conveyed in a row and abut against a band conveyor with one edge. They are at least partially resting against and overlapping each other in a shingle-like manner. The overlapping flats are further separated (fanned out) by guiding mechanisms on each side of the overlapping flats that accelerate and decelerate as necessary.

Abstract: A document processing machine including a document feeder including a support intended to receive a stack of documents, and a unit for extracting documents from the stack of documents and transferring the extracted documents onto a horizontal support of a downstream processing unit, wherein the support of the document feeder is inclined relative to the horizontal is described.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) suitable to process sheets (13), in particular comprised of an validating machine (10) for the validation of documents (13) such as cheques or similar documents, comprising a vertical guide (11), and a pair of arms (22a, 22b) suitable to hold and support a cheque (13) along a respective lower edge (13a) in a first hold position (Pi), when the cheque (13) is inserted into the vertical guide (11), wherein in response to the presence and alignment of the cheque (13) in said first position (Pi), two pairs of rotating rollers (42a, 42b, 44a, 44b) automatically engage the cheque (13) from opposite sides, the arms (22a, 22b) are moved out of contact with the lower edge (13a) of the cheque (13), in order to free the feeding path of the cheque towards the interior of the validating machine, and the cheque is also fed vertically, in a downward direction, by means of the two pairs of rollers from the said first position (P1) to a second processing position (P2) in the validation zone for being validate

Abstract: An apparatus for processing envelopes. A support plates and a pressure sensing lever support a stack of envelopes in a generally upright orientation. The pressure sensing lever pivots in accordance with pressure exerted by the stack of envelopes. A feeding apparatus is operatively coupled to a sensor such that pivotal movement of the pressure sensing lever is detected by the sensor and the feeding apparatus changes the pressure exerted against the stack of envelopes.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for handling mailpieces. A mailpiece handling device includes a substantially horizontal deck for receiving a mailpiece. The device also includes a substantially vertical registration wall that extends upwardly from an edge of the deck. The device further includes a disk mounted for rotation in a circular opening in the deck adjacent the registration wall. The disk has a substantially horizontal surface. In addition, the device includes an arm mounted above the disk so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction. Also, the device includes a steering member mounted at a free end of the arm. The steering member is for applying downward pressure to a mailpiece that is in contact with the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing envelopes. A support plates and a pressure sensing lever support a stack of envelopes in a generally upright orientation. The pressure sensing lever pivots in accordance with pressure exerted by the stack of envelopes. A feeding apparatus is operatively coupled to a sensor such that pivotal movement of the pressure sensing lever is detected by the sensor and the feeding apparatus changes the pressure exerted against the stack of envelopes.

Abstract: An apparatus transports a discrete paper or film object in a machine direction for insertion into an envelope. A guide assembly of the apparatus includes opposed first and second channels facing one another for guiding the object in the machine direction, with the channels extending upwardly to thereby define an uphill path of travel for the object. A drive apparatus includes engaging elements for moving the object along the first and second channels. At least one support element holds the object against the guide assembly.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for improving handling of sheet articles during processing within sheet or mail processing machines, particularly for causing creased sheet articles to assume a more planar position within a sheet or mail processing machine. Rollers may be provided for bending a crease of a sheet article along its crease.

Abstract: A document processing system includes a feeder stage, a transport stage, and a retractable document handling mechanism cooperating with a portion of the document track. The mechanism includes an assertable member arranged with respect to the document track such that assertion of the member causes retraction of the opposed track walls in the cooperating portion of the document track by retracting a movable base member from a fixed base member. This provides access to the document track, and the retraction is sufficient to provide a track opening sufficient to allow the operator to relieve document jams.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to a system and method for controlling functions in a mail sorting system based on gap length measurement and tracking. The system and method includes a plurality of sensors located along one or more mail piece transport paths. The sensors are used to collect data regarding the gap length between each mail piece transported through the system. The gap length data is processed and stored within a controller/processor that uses the gap lengths to control the operation of one or more devices within the mail sorting system. For example, the gap lengths may be used to control the operation of a diverter, a printer or any other electromechanical, hardware or software device. The gap lengths can be used to trigger and/or inhibit the operation of the one or more devices.

Abstract: A vacuum deck for a mailpiece insertion module including a plurality of friction drive belts, a support plate slideably supporting the drive belts, a repositionable backstop assembly disposed along the feed path of the envelope for arresting the motion of the envelope when disposed in a first position and permitting the conveyance along the feed path when disposed in a second position, a means for developing a pressure differential across the envelope for urging the envelope into frictional engagement with the friction drive belts, and a breaker plate disposed over and across an upstream portion of the friction drive belts to reduce friction drive forces developed along an upstream end portion of the envelope. In another embodiment of the invention, the pressure differential means is bifurcated such that the pressure differential developed across the breaker plate is lower than the pressure differential developed along the support plate and downstream of the breaker plate.

Abstract: A weighing system is provided to measure the article weight by first and second weight measurement devices. The first and second weight measurement devices each include a platform adapted to accept an article traveling along an upstream processing path and a device for sensing article weight as the article traverses the platform. Furthermore, the platforms of the first and second weight measurement devices define weight acquisition paths which are substantially parallel to one another. A diverter mechanism is provided to direct articles from the upstream processing path to one of the first or second weight acquisition paths. The diverter mechanism is controlled by a system processor which directs articles to one of the weight measurement devices depending upon its status, i.e., whether the path is available to receive another article for measuring weight. By diverting mailpieces to parallel weight acquisition paths, throughput is enhanced by multiple weight measurements occurring simultaneously.

Abstract: An automated flats handling system is provided that includes mail shuttles, a tray unloading section, a quality control area, a shuttle tilter, a shuttle return section and a stacker/loader. The tray unloading section has a conveyor and unloads mail from a standard tray into one of the shuttles. The quality control area also has a conveyor and facilitates grooming the mail in the shuttle. The shuttle tilter tilts each shuttle prior to unloading the mail from the shuttle. The shuttle return section also has a conveyor and returns the shuttles to the tray unloading section. The stacker/loader cooperates with the shuttle tilter and unloads the mail from the shuttles, creates a mail stack from the unloaded mail, and loads a portion of the mail stack into an automation compatible tray.

Abstract: An ingestion assembly is provided for a singulating apparatus having a conveyor system for moving a stack of sheet material along a feed path. The ingestion assembly is spatially positioned above the conveyor belt and includes at least one singulating roller driven in a direction opposing the motion of the conveyor belt. The ingestion assembly comprises an assembly support rotationally mounting the singulating roller at a downstream end portion and pivotally mounting to the singulating apparatus at an upstream end portion. A movable guide mounts to the assembly support and is positionable relative thereto as a function of a force vector imposed on the guide by the sheet material. Additionally, the moveable guide includes a surface operative to guide the sheet material into a singulating interface which is formed between the singulating roller and the conveyor system. In operation, sheet material enters the throat of the ingestion assembly and contact is made with the moveable guide.

Abstract: The construction of the present invention is suitable for use as a document carrier and is particularly adapted for the transporting of negotiable instruments such as checks and other items that are used to transfer funds, credits or the like through automated processing equipment such as readers, scanners, copiers and the like. The assembly of the present invention includes an internal pocket that is created through the use of a pair of translucent sheets affixed about an opening created in a standard format sheet, such as a sheet having a dimension of 8½? by 11?.

Abstract: A mail article feeder device having a weighing cell for delivering a weighing signal, a receiver tray having longitudinal and transverse walls for jogging mail articles, and for receiving a stack of mail articles, and an automatic extractor for ejecting mail articles from the stack one by one. The automatic extractor and the receiver tray are carried by the weighing cell, the feeder device further including an intrusion detector for detecting any intervention by an operator on the elements or mail articles.

Abstract: A dynamic registration device for a mailing system that reduces the problems of dust generation, ink smearing, and print head contact is provided. The biasing force normally applied to the back panel of a mail piece, such that the front panel maintains contact with a registration plate, is controlled by an actuator such that the force can be removed when the printing module is not performing the actual printing process. Thus, the biasing force can be applied only when the print head is actually printing and the biasing force can be removed once printing has been completed. In other embodiments utilizing multiple printing modules, when one of the printing modules is inactivated, the biasing force can be removed, and the mail pieces pass through the inactive printing module without being registered against the top registration plate.

Abstract: A mail destacker is provided that includes a destacker plate and a retractable protrusion that can move between an article erecting position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A mailing machine is provided for processing mailpiece envelopes including a housing having a transport deck adapted to convey an envelope along a feed path. The mailing machine is reconfigurable to perform one of two mailpiece processing operation by alternately selecting or activating one of two mailpiece modules/assemblies. A first processing module/assembly is disposed along the feed path and is operative to moisten a glue line disposed along an envelope flap during the first mailpiece processing operation. The second processing module assembly is disposed along the feed path and is adapted to cut and open an edge of the envelope during the second mailpiece processing operation. Further, a means is provided for selecting one of the first and second the processing modules/assemblies to perform the processing operations.

Abstract: Inserter for inserting postal items into envelopes, wherein an envelope catcher separates the envelopes and transports the envelopes away from the stack of empty envelopes and the envelopes are subsequently transported further with the initially leading flap end trailing. The envelope catcher is suspended for movement and drivable along a catcher path, of which at least a section extends closely along the envelope to be separated. When the envelope is transported away from the envelope catcher with its flap end trailing the flap is folded open.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for handling mailpieces. A mailpiece handling device includes a substantially horizontal deck for receiving a mailpiece. The device also includes a substantially vertical registration wall that extends upwardly from an edge of the deck. The device further includes a disk mounted for rotation in a circular opening in the deck adjacent the registration wall. The disk has a substantially horizontal surface. In addition, the device includes an arm mounted above the disk so as to be pivotable in a horizontal direction. Also, the device includes a steering member mounted at a free end of the arm. The steering member is for applying downward pressure to a mailpiece that is in contact with the disk.

Abstract: A feed module for feeding envelopes into a mail handling machine, which feed module comprises envelope conveyor means for conveying said envelopes through the feed module, separator means for selecting said envelopes one-by-one, moistener means for moistening a flap of the envelope selected in this way, and closure means for pressing the envelope closed and for ejecting it from the feed module, said closure means comprising two superposed extractor rollers, each of which has a respective ribbed portion that is made of a hydrophobic material and that extends over a width corresponding to at least the width of a print zone in which the postal imprint is to be printed.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet handling machine (1) comprising: a drive source (300); a first driven shaft (336, 384) arranged to receive drive from said drive source at least when said drive source drives in a first direction of rotation; a feed roller shaft (339, 390); a feed roller (102, 202) mounted on said feed roller shaft for feeding sheets (S) when said feed roller shaft is driven; and rotatably supported drive transmission means (500, 526, 600, 612) for selectively engaging drive transmission from said first driven shaft to said feed roller shaft in dependence upon the rotational position of said drive transmission means. A mailpiece creation apparatus is also provided, illustrating one application of such a machine, as well as associated methods for sheet handling and mailpiece creation.

Abstract: A document transfer buffer device for holding temporarily a document between an upstream document feeding device and a downstream envelope inserter has a transporting device for moving the document from the upstream document feeding device to the envelope inserter and an envelope holding device for temporarily holding the document in a holding location between the upstream document feeding device and the envelope inserter and a controlling program that selectively activates the transporting device and the temporary holding device and is responsive to the upstream feeding device and the envelope inserter possible error conditions that initiate document holding and releasing situations.

Abstract: A sheet material feeding apparatus includes a feed-out device that brings the stacked sheet materials conveyed on a floor belt into contact with a pickup roller and feeds the sheet materials out in a direction crossing the conveying direction of the stacked sheet materials by rotation of the pickup roller, and an inclination correcting device provided in an upstream of the feed-out device in its sheet material feeding direction and including an upper roller located at a position higher than that of the pickup roller, that brings an upper side of the stacked sheet materials conveyed towards the feed-out device into contact with the upper roller to correct the inclination of the stacked sheet materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining density and positioning of a grouped sheet articles, such as for feeding of sheet articles from or into the group. One or more pneumatic sensing systems can be used to monitor and control pressure of sheet articles within the group. Dynamic adjustment can be made to the density and position of the sheet articles in the group such as by controlling a motorized belt to move at least a portion of the group of sheet articles in response to an indication to do so from a controller in communication with the pneumatic sensor.

Abstract: A sheet transport apparatus which includes a sheet transport path for transporting a sheet, and a regulation member. The regulation member is provided in the sheet transport path, and is brought into contact with a swelling portion occurring on a surface of an envelope in the event that the envelope is transported as the sheet, such that the swelling portion can be pressed.

Abstract: A non-contact sensing system for detecting a double feed condition of mail. The non-contact sensing system generally includes a mail sorting machine that routes and moves the mail, a non-contact sensor, and a controller. The non-contact sensor is positioned proximate to the conveyor and generates a signal that is indicative of the thickness of the mail. The controller receives the signal from the non-contact sensor and generates an output signal that indicates a double feed condition.

Abstract: A system for moving envelopes including a stacking system for creating or placing stack of envelopes on a support surface. The stack of envelopes has a plurality of gaps with each gap being located between adjacent envelopes of the stack. The system further includes a suction head for applying suction to the stack of envelopes to pull air through the plurality of gaps to aid in lifting the stack of envelopes.

Abstract: A feeder module for feeding envelopes into a mail handling machine, which feeder module has, from upstream to downstream relative to a direction of advance of the mail items, a tray for receiving a stack of envelopes, a device for selecting said envelopes one-by-one, a separator having an active separation zone formed by a sharp cutting portion for separating the envelop flaps from the envelope bodies, and a moistener for moistening the flaps separated in this way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pile compartment for flat postal articles placed in an upright position, comprising a pile compartment bottom (7) and a pile compartment wall (6) perpendicular thereto. The postal articles (1) inside the pile compartment (5) rest against said pile compartment wall. The pile compartment also comprises a pile support (8), which holds the pile (11) and can be displaced along the pile compartment wall (6) in an approximately horizontal piling direction. At the end of the pile compartment (5), the pile support (8) can be lowered into the plane of the pile compartment bottom, and the pile compartment bottom (7) is provided, at least in part, with a profiled design. The pile support (8) is designed so that it meshes with the bottom profile via the pile support surface that, when raised, slides on the pile compartment bottom (7).

Abstract: A device and system for registering or justifying product such as mail pieces in a vertical position for future processing of such mail pieces. The system includes a mounting block having an angled bore and a driven alignment mechanism mounted within the angled bore. The driven alignment mechanism includes a shaft assembly mounted in the angled bore such that the shaft assembly is at approximately a same angle as the angled bore. At least one surface is mounted to the shaft assembly which, when contacting a product, is driven and provides a downward correction vector to the product for vertically aligning the product.

Abstract: In the case of an envelope-turning station with a turning cylinder which is oriented parallel to the mail-conveying direction and is equipped with openable and closable jaws on its circumference, it is possible, following charging of the turning-cylinder jaws with horizontally flat items of mail and rotation of the turning cylinder through 90° and/or 270°, for a mail removal arrangement to remove items of mail in the mail-conveying direction, in a state in which they are standing on one of their longitudinal edges, and to feed them to further processing or handling stations of a mail-processing installation.