Abstract: A system for applying corrective mailing labels to documents and the like wherein a plurality of labels are releasably carried in sequential fashion on an elongated flexible substrate. The system includes a label printing station, a label applying drum, and label stripper means including a stripper blade having a free end disposed adjacent the drum and about which the substrate is guided so as to undergo a relatively abrupt reversal in direction. A substrate tractor drive downstream from the stripper blade normally pulls the substrate under tension about the free end of the stripper blade to effect release of labels from the substrate for application to predetermined envelopes, the substrate tractor drive being selectively operable to create a substrate loop path immediately downstream from the free end of the stripper blade to prevent release of an incorrect label from the substrate.

Abstract: The multi-pass sorting machine of this disclosure includes a supporting structure which has the configuration of an A-Frame. The A-Frame structure has a slanting front side supporting several individually functional devices and a slanting back side supporting other individually functional devices. The devices of the front side include an input feeding means, a first transporting means, a singulating means, an accelerating means, a second transporting means, a bar code reader and associated electronic and computer means, a plurality of first sorting means in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of first pass stacker buffer means, and a reversing member for transporting letters from the front side to the back side while at the same time retaining the same orientation of the letters to the planar surface as the letters go around the corner.

Abstract: A secondary pivotal drive stacker roller assembly for a document sorting and conveying apparatus adapted for sorting documents of various lengths, preferably from a primary document path to at least one secondary document path leading to a document stacking station, the roller assembly including a roller oriented for rotation about a vertical axis and for engaging shorter length documents advanced along the secondary document path, a pivot arm for reciprocally pivoting the roller into and out of engagement with documents advanced along the secondary document path, and a control system for controlling the pivot arm to selectively position the roller for engaging the shorter length documents, and to disengage the roller from the secondary document path when longer length documents are to be sorted.

Abstract: A shingling device for use in a mail document sorting apparatus includes a first conveyor belt for receiving a vertical stack of sorted documents. A guide element is oblique to the conveyor belt for shifting the moving vertical stack into a shifted oblique stack and defines a gap between the belt and the guide element to enable passage of documents from the lower portion of the stack. A rotatable roller is disposed adjacent and downstream from the guide element and has a lower surface partially obstructing the gap. The roller rotates opposite to movement of the first conveyor belt for shingling documents passing through the gap. A second conveyor belt cooperates with the first conveyor belt to confine shingled documents advancing on the first belt, and cooperates with the roller so that the second belt has a longitudinal velocity substantially equal to the tangential velocity of the roller.

Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying generally flat documents on-edge includes a primary conveyor belt defining a primary conveyor path, and at least one secondary conveyor belt defining a diverter station and having a first reach disposed in juxtaposed relation to a reach of the primary conveyor belt and a second reach inclined to the primary conveyor belt so as to establish an open span along the primary conveyor belt immediately downstream from the juxtaposed belt reaches. A document diverter mechanism includes pairs of guide arms selectively movable between first positions operative to guide a document along the open span of the primary conveyor belt after exiting the juxtaposed belt reaches, and second positions operative to divert a document from the primary conveyor path and guide the diverted document along the inclined reach of the secondary conveyor belt to a stacking station. A kicker arm assembly is operative to orient diverted documents at the stacker station for sweeping into a container.

Abstract: A document separation system including at least one separation roller system having a cooperative pair of driver and separation rollers providing a nip for the acceptance of a document between the cooperative rollers, whereby the rollers are capable of rigidifying the document by applying a beam to the document, resulting in an economical system for handling foldover documents mixed in with normal enveloped documents.

Abstract: A multi-pass sorting machine includes a housing or supporting structure which has the configuration of an A-Frame. The A-Frame structure has a slanting front side supporting several individually functional devices and a slanting back side supporting other individually functional devices. The devices of the front side include an input feeder first transporting mechanisms, a singulating device, an accelerating mechanism, second transporting mechanisms, a bar code reader and associated electronic and computer equipment, a plurality of first sorting devices in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of first pass stacker buffers, and a reversing member for transporting letters from the front side to the back side while at the same time retaining the same orientation of the letters to the planar surface as the letters go around the corner.

Abstract: An electronic publishing system stores interrelated illustrations and items of text data, establishes data linking such items of text data to correlated locations in the illustrations, and stores such linking data in the recording part of the system. Records of interrelated illustrations and items of text data fixed in tangible media for reproduction by user-operated electronic equipment may be produced in this manner. One of the stored illustrations may thus be retrieved, and a display may be provided of that retrieved illustration. The user then selects a desired location in the displayed illustration, and the electronic equipment employs the stored linking data for retrieving any stored item of data correlated to the desired location in the displayed illustration. The item of text data thus retrieved may be displayed, preferably in conjunction with the illustration to which it pertains. Data linkage may also be between illustration and interrelated illustration.

Abstract: A deflector plate is mounted adjacent a document feeder mechanism having feeder belts operative to engage successive documents supported in upstanding on-edge relation on a feed magazine so as to feed the documents in singulated fashion to a processing station downstream from the feeder mechanism. The deflector plate is angularly adjustable relative to the feed path of the feed magazine and is operative to deflect the trailing ends of documents being fed to the feeder belts so as to prevent each successive document from engaging the feeder belts prior to substantial discharge of the prior document from the feeder mechanism.

Abstract: A sweeper assembly for use in a document conveyor system having belt conveyor means operative to convey generally flat documents in upstanding on-edge relation to a stacker station. The sweeper assembly includes feed augers adapted to receive the lower edges of documents from the stacker station and move the lower edges of the documents into conveyor belt means operative to convey the documents to accelerator rollers which accelerate movement of the documents into a container.

Abstract: A turnover module for turning over envelopes comprises a plurality of pulleys and disposed thereabout a driven endless belt in the general shape of a flattened figure `8`. The belt includes a crossover region and a first and a second reach extending therethrough. The reaches contact one another resiliently along length portions thereof while crossing over and twisting about one another. Envelopes are received in a first orientation at an entry end of the reaches; nipped between the reaches; transported thereby through the crossover region while being turned over by virtue of the twist of the reaches about one another; and, delivered from the turnover module in a second orientation.

Abstract: In a combination document feed system and intelligent document separation system, including a document removal assembly associated with the document feed system for removing documents one at a time from a stack of documents disposed in the document feed system and feeding each document into the document transport system: comprising a document removal assembly for providing a contact surface between the document removal assembly and a lead document in the stack of documents, the contact surface adapted to alternately contact the lead document and advance the lead document from the document feed system to the document separation system. A document advancing apparatus is adapted to advance a single document properly removed from the stack of documents, to halt the movement of one of two documents improperly removed from the stack of documents, and to reverse the direction of movement of additional documents improperly removed from the stack of documents.

Abstract: In an inserter, a skew and misalignment detector for measuring skew misalignment of inserts that are conveyed on and along a conveyor comprises a plurality of photosensors disposed above the insert-conveying path in transverse relation thereto and a plurality of retroreflective targets disposed beneath the insert-conveying path in transverse relation thereto and directed toward the photosensors. Inserts obstruct the targets while being conveyed thereover. The photosensor signals are sampled in synchronism with the insert-conveying motion. The obtained signals are evaluated in relation to pre-established skew rejection threshold criteria in dependence on insert conveying speed. Inserts are diverted when the skew detector arrangement provides measures of skew and misalignment of inserts that exceed rejection threshold criteria.

Abstract: An inserter station for inserting inserts into envelopes comprises an insert conveyor for conveying inserts to an inserting location, a gripper drum for delivering envelopes to the inserting location, vacuum means for holding bottom surfaces of envelopes, suction cups for lifting top sides and opening envelopes, and an insert pusher for pushing inserts into opened envelopes. The insert pusher moves along a noose-shaped path in a vertical plane. The path has a horizontal, forwardly-directed portion along which the pusher moves to engage and push inserts into evelopes. The path has a retracting portion that curves downwardly and backwardly out of the way of envelopes and inserts being provided to the inserting location. In operation, an envelope is delivered to the inserting location and has its bottom surface held by vacuum applied thereto. The top side of the envelope is lifted by suction cups so that the envelope is opened to receive inserts.

Abstract: A feeder module for feeding sheet inserts and having a thickness detector for measuring the thickness of inserts comprises: a gripper drum disc for transporting the inserts upon its periphery; a detector caliper assembly including a pivotable arm having a follower roller borne at one end and a magnet mounted at the other end, the arm being spring loaded with the follower roller against the periphery of the gripper drum disc; and, a stationary Hall sensor to measure relative displacement between the sensor and the magnet. As an insert is transported upon the periphery of the gripper drum disc, the insert is interposed between the periphery and the follower roller and the Hall sensor senses the consequent magnet displacement as a measure of the thickness of the insert. In one embodiment, an adjustable anvil having a peripheral surface is mounted on a face of the gripper drum disc. The anvil is pre-adjusted so that its peripheral surface is disposed at a constant radius from the axis of rotation of the disc.

Abstract: A mail document sorting device includes a document input feeder, and at least one singulation device for orienting and singulating the documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane. Single documents pass to an indicia reader, which generates indicia indicating signals. An electronic/computer mechanism processes the indicating signals, and provides for sorting the read documents into bins. A plurality of the bins is located in side-by-side horizontal array, with an elongated belt disposed along the array of bins for moving documents received therefrom. The elongated belt has an inboard edge adjacent the array of bins and an outboard edge remote from the array of bins.

Abstract: A document orientation mechanism is disclosed for reversing the orientation of individual documents delivered from stacks of multiple documents while maintaining a predetermined directional document stream. A predetermined directional stream of documents is fed laterally into the mechanism from an outside source. Inside the mechanism, the documents are removed in a first direction along a first portion of a moving belt, then transferred by a guide to a second portion of the moving belt which is moving in a direction opposite to the first direction, the outer face of the documents being thereby reversed. The documents are then propelled by a third portion of the moving belt out of the laterally disposed mechanism and back into the original predetermined directional document stream.

Abstract: An insert track (30) of an insertion machine comprises a continuous elastomer belt (32) which travels a horizontal plate 9101) and proximate a plurality of insert station hoppers (52H-57H). The plate (101) has an upper surface (103) formed from an ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene. The plate (101) is sandwiched in a friction fit between the insertion machine frame (100) and a track front edge guide (105). The plate carries a track rear edge guide (104). In its friction fit the plate (101) is slidable for selectively changing the width of the track from the track front edge guide (105) to the track rear edge guide (104). The track front edge guide (105) has a bridge member (112) connected thereto proximate each insert station (52-57). Each bridge member (112) extends above and across the width of the belt (32). Each bridge member (112) has a drag strip (113) suspendedly connected thereto proximate the midpoint of the belt (32).

Abstract: A writing system is usable in apparatus in which mirrors in a "V" configuration, split mirrors, a combining mirror and a camera mirror project images of opposite sides of a document in an imaging region to a microfilm in side-by-side relation. The writing system includes mirrors which project alpha or numeric character images from an LED display to the combining mirror to be projected to an otherwise unused portion of the microfilm. A compact folded path is provided having the same focal distance as that provided by the document image projecting mirrors.