Abstract: This invention relates in general to the handling of mail and, in particular, to an improved document transporter for use in a forwarding address system for mail sorting machines.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking a plurality of documents on one edge thereof in vertically disposed position which comprises a movable stacker carriage adapted for movement between a forward and a rear position. An upper stacking screw worm rotatable about a horizontal axis is rigidly attached to the movable stacker carriage and functions to move documents laterally away from the carriage and into stacked relationship. At least one lower stacking screw worm and preferably two lower stacking screw worms rotatable about horizontal axes are rigidly attached to the movable stacker carriage and function to move documents laterally away from the carriage and into stacked relationship. The upper and lower stacking screw worms are rotatable. The stacking apparatus is adapted for use with a device for delivering single documents thereto and the stacking apparatus can be used with a movable transport element such as a conveyor for transporting stacked documents.

Abstract: A document feeder includes a feed tray which is pivotal about a horizontal axis between an elevated automatic position in which it can be locked and in which the uppermost document of a stack of documents thereon is engaged with an endless belt skimmer to be fed from the stack, and a lowered manual position away from the skimmer for manual feed of a single document. A reverse feed roller is movable with the feed tray and is operative in the automatic position to inhibit feed of documents other than the uppermost document of a stack.

Abstract: In a document insertion machine, third-party advertising documents are fed from downstream insert stations (36, 37, 38, 39). The third party insert stations include an optional insert station (39) from which documents are to be fed only if the additional weight occasioned by the feeding does not cause an increase in the postage for a customer's stuffed envelope. The other third party insert stations (36, 37, 38) are chargeback stations which feed documents regardless of the impact of feeding upon the weight of a customer's stuffed envelope. The insertion machine apportions, among the chargeback stations (36, 37, 38), any increase in postage cost which occurs when the feeding of documents from the chargeback stations causes a customer's stuffed envelope to be classified in a more expensive postage category.

Abstract: An insertion machine includes an insertion station (44) whereat groups of items are stuffed into an envelope held open at an envelope opening station (49). The insertion station comprises an cam (212)-driven carriage (202) which linearly reciprocates in a direction (480) toward and away from the envelope opening station (49). The carriage (202) carries a plurality of selectively mounted, selectively rotatable pusher fingers (204). The pusher fingers (204) have a profile suitable for shoving items along a partially inclined insertion plate surface 403 and into an opened envelope. The pusher fingers (204) are selectively rotatable to an operative orientation (720) and to an inoperative orientation (722) under the supervision of a controller (205). Jam detectors (550, 552) are provided proximate reciprocating entry fingers (500, 502) which move when a jam occurs in the inserting process. Should a jam occur, the pusher fingers (204) are controlled to rotate to their inoperative orientation (722).

Abstract: A self-adapting signal detector is adapted to be used with a plurality of guidepath sensors for controlling an automatically guided vehicle. The circuitry detects the presence of a valid guidepath signal over a large dynamic range without the need to make threshold or gain adjustments. A background noise signal is detected as well as a signal from each of the guidepath sensors. The background noise signal is substracted from each sensor signal to define a plurality of difference signals. A maximum remainder signal is defined as the maximum difference signal. Each difference signal is then compared with a predetermined percentage of the maximum remainder signal. Those sensors whose signal level exceeds the predetermined percentage of the maximum remainder signal by a predetermined amount are defined to be a valid guide path signal. The maximum remainder signal is also compared with a predetermined percentage of the background noise signal to determine the signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: An improved document feed mechanism for feeding documents in a vertical direction through at least two stations including a device for shingling the documents in at least one station by having successive ones of the documents overlap one another to thereby compress the amount of vertical space required for the feeding operation as opposed to the space that would be required if the documents were fed top edge to bottom edge, respectively.

Abstract: An angled conveyor for document packages comprises a transition conveyor belt, having an angled direction of motion relative to the direction of feed of document packages to the transition conveyor belt, and an output conveyor belt in line with and having a direction of motion that is substantially the same as the motion of the transition conveyor belt. Conveyor belts are of the endless type having their upper surfaces disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane. The transition conveyor belt is disposed laterally adjacently to the downstream end of a feed conveyor. A post extends from the apparatus frame structure vertically upward through a gap between the upstream end of the output conveyor belt and the downstream end of the transition conveyor belt in a transversally adjustable position. The post protrudes above the upper horizontal belt surfaces by a distance that is at least equal to the thickness of document packages conveyed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved dot matrix-type printing system wherein the wires of the print head are arranged to impinge on the reverse side of the workpiece to cause it to be moved into contact with a cavitated ink transfer roller, whereby, the workpiece is brought into direct contact with ink droplets carried by the caves in the cavitated surface in such a fashion as to create a symbolic array on the frontside of the workpiece. Secondary embodiments utilize finely apertured belt means and a source of ink disposed inside of said belt with the workpiece being impinged into contact with the ink carrying belt means.

Abstract: A differential motion translating and document drive delivery system wherein the system includes power, a first element for delivery of documents sequentially along a first path, a device for establishing orientation relative to a planar reference, and an element related to the first delivery element for translating the direction of movement of the documents angularly relative to the first path along a second path, the paths being generally perpendicular and hence the second path is substantially parallel relative to the reference.

Abstract: A computer enhanced document forwarding system capable of feeding individual generally flat documents from a horizontally disposed edge stack of documents and include a transporter for accepting serially disposed end to end individual documents one at a time, the transporter sequentially moving each document to at least one station for observation by an operator; electronic information storage facility having an interconnected input and retrieval means positioned adjacent to the operator observation station; a supply of self-adhering labels sequentially disposed in end to end fashion; an electronically controlled printer where the labels pick up ink in a predetermined symbol array capable of being different for each label; and a continuous label applying device for serially applying corrective labels to serially disposed documents with both the labels and documents moving in the same direction, thereby carrying corrective information supplied by said storage means to individual pieces of incorrectly designate

Abstract: A feeder for a stack of upright documents includes a horizontally disposed receptacle having a planar base and a side restrainer. A spring loaded back plate and a fanning device move the stack form one end of the base to the other end adjacent a separator. The fanning device, which includes a plurality of movable belts projecting above the planar base each having a different rate of linear speed relative to one another, cause individual documents to fan away from the stack and thereby relieves pressure.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved auger conveyor in the magazine section of a document feeder apparatus which is capable of feeding large amounts of documents to a document sorting machine in a rapid and efficient manner. The auger conveyor includes: three horizontal augers which rotate in a clockwise direction; spiral grooves formed on the horizontal augers and divided in half by the existence of two separate pitches; joggers on the surfaces of the wider pitched portions of the two inner horizontal augers which facilitate reception of documents within the grooves; a raised auger which rotates in a counterclockwise direction; and a spiral groove configured in the direction opposite to the grooves on the horizontal augers and which also is divided in half by the existence of two separate pitches; and a document feed or pickoff apparatus for individually separating the lead document from the document supply.

Abstract: An improved printing apparatus for printing pre-selected indicia on an envelope or other documents to be placed on a transport raceway of an insertion machine.

Abstract: A document sensor comprises a source of infrared light directed toward a document and a photocell for reacting to the light as it is reflected from the document. A clock drives the light source to send cyclically recurring light pulses toward the document. The clock source also enables a detector each time that the document light source is switched on. After a predetermined number of successive reflected light pulses have been picked up, a document present signal is given.