Patents Assigned to Bell & Howell
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Patent number: 5143366Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1990Date of Patent: September 1, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventor: Eduard Svyatsky
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Patent number: 5143225Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1990Date of Patent: September 1, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: K. George Rabindran, Thomas Faber, David Filicicchia, Kenneth L. Guenther, Joseph Kalika, Melvin T. Kerstein, Girish B. Shah, David Wiley
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Patent number: 5142662Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1991Date of Patent: August 25, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: David F. Gump, Donald H. Gardner
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Patent number: 5140581Abstract: An apparatus (570) for forming a window in which printed characters on an item such as an envelope can be read. The apparatus (570) comprises a base member (572) fastened to a planar horizontal surface (508) and positionable intermediate a reader device (50) and an on-edge envelope. The base member (572) has an elongated vertical slot provided (576) therein. A slide member (584) has a bottom edge which includes a dimpled portion. The dimpled portion of the slide member (584) fits into the elongated vertical slot (576) of the base member (572). The base member (572) carries a block (578) which accommodates a screw (582) for selectively adjusting the position of the bottom edge of the slide member (584) relative to the base member (572). A bottom edge of the slide member (584) and a portion of the elongated vertical slot (576) below the bottom edge of the slide member (584) form a read window through which characters are readable.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1990Date of Patent: August 18, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Co.Inventor: Mario Ricciardi
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Patent number: 5139251Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1991Date of Patent: August 18, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventor: Mario Ricciardi
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Patent number: 5131645Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1991Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventor: Mario Ricciardi
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Patent number: 5129503Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1991Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: Eric A. Belec, James S. Lee, Jr., Harry C. Noll, Jr., David P. Nyffenegger, Winston A. Orsinger, Richard B. Hawkes, George Fallos
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Patent number: 5129642Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1991Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: Eduard Svyatsky, Thomas J. Faber
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Patent number: 5130558Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1991Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: Winston A. Orsinger, Richard B. Hawkes, Eric A. Belec, James S. Lee, Jr., Harry C. Noll, Jr., David P. Nyffenegger, George Fallos
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Patent number: 5127640Abstract: An inserter with collation tracking comprises a programmable computer, means for tracking handled items including individual tracking and collation tracking, sensing means for sensing individual items in different locations, as well as for sensing defective, multiple or missing items, corrective action means, and, means for updating tracking information in correspondence with corrective action taken. The inserter performs corrective action in the form of the rejection and diversion of defective items. Further, the inserter provides for complementarily associating envelopes with particular inserts intended for insertion thereinto, for collation tracking of such complementarily-associated items, and for the diversion of such associated items if at least one of the associated items has been stigmatized as defective.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1991Date of Patent: July 7, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Co.Inventors: Winston A. Orsinger, Richard B. Hawkes, Eric A. Belec, James S. Lee, Jr., Harry C. Noll, Jr., David P. Nyffenegger, George Fallos
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Patent number: 5125215Abstract: An envelope flap opener comprises a revolving gripper drum for conveying envelopes thereupon in flap-up orientation with flap edge trailing and a revolving rotor disposed vicinally to the gripper drum, the rotor having at least one sucker cup extending from its periphery. Vacuum is valved to the sucker cup at a time when an envelope is conveyed upon the gripper drum past the rotor, the sucker cup grabs and opens the envelope flap, and subsequently the flap is released. Prior to release of the flap, a plow device intercepts the flap and further unfolds it. The plow device includes a photo-sensor for checking of proper flap opening and for detecting missing envelopes.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1991Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Co.Inventors: Winston A. Orsinger, Richard B. Hawkes, Eric A. Belec, James S. Lee, Jr., Harry C. Noll, Jr., David P. Nyffenegger, George Fallos
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Patent number: 5125214Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1991Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: Winston A. Orsinger, Richard B. Hawkes, Eric A. Belec, James S. Lee, Jr., Harry C. Noll, Jr., David P. Nyffenegger, George Fallos
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Patent number: 5125642Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1991Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: Winston A. Orsinger, Richard B. Hawkes, Eric A. Belec, James S. Lee, Jr., Harry C. Noll, Jr., David P. Nyffenegger, George Fallos
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Patent number: 5119954Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1990Date of Patent: June 9, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: Eduard M. Svyatsky, George Paroubek, Frederick P. Hegland
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Patent number: 5110107Abstract: A sheet material feeder for high speed singulating and seriatim feeding of sheet material articles from the bottom of a stack disposed in a hopper comprises apparatus for feeding sheets from the stack and a restrainer device for restraining all but the lowermorst sheet from being fed from the hopper by virture of transversely corrugating the sheet while it is fed from the hopper and passed through the restrainer.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1991Date of Patent: May 5, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Co.Inventor: Thomas E. Bieber
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Patent number: 5103982Abstract: A check stager-feeder for accumulating, in a stage, a predetermined number of checks or sheets in a stack and for high-speed feeding of the stack to further equipment comprising a kicker/stop member movable by a solenoid between two angular orientations for stopping and accumulating into a stack on a fixed slide surface sheets delivered thereto while in one orientation and, while moving to the other orientation, for kicking and thereby feeding upon the slide surface the accumulated stack further. An embodiment of the stager-feeder includes a separator-sheet retriever for marked separator sheets fed thereto and interposed in the stream of received sheets, the separator sheets serving to control the number of sheets to be accumulated in a stack.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1990Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg CompanyInventors: Douglas B. Walter, Ricardo O. Quincoses, Jr.
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Patent number: 5104282Abstract: An improved document feeder for feeding a predetermined number of singulated checks in seriatim for accumulation into a check stack package, for delivering the package to further handling device, and for realigning the checks therein while the package is being delivered. The feeder comprises a singulator; a feeder section that feeds the singulated checks via a spider wheel to an accumulator bin for accumulation into a check stack package; and reciprocating kicker arms for realigning the accumulated check stack package and for delivering the check stack package to further handling devices. The reciprocating kicker arms the accumulated check stack package by engaging trailing edges of the checks in the check stack package and kicking the package into engagement between driven nip wheels. The kicker arms and the driven nip wheels deliver the check stack package.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1991Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Co.Inventor: Michael E. Gleason
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Patent number: 5091777Abstract: A document monitor for viewing and reading of at least heading portions of bank statements upon occurrence of an error condition during processing of bank statements and associated checks in the preparation of mailing to bank customers in inserted mechinery comprises a video camera disposed beneath a raceway of an inserted machine, the camera being directed upwardly through a transparent window in the inserter raceway to view a bank statement that is disposed face down in the above the window, the statement being conveyed along the raceway during normal operation of the inserter machine. The document monitor further comprises means for illuminating of the state face from beneath and a video monitor screen can be easily seen by an operator. The video monitor is appropriately electronically interconnected with the camera in order to display an image of the bank statement's face seen thereby.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1991Date of Patent: February 25, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg CompanyInventor: Michael E. Gleason
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Patent number: 5083281Abstract: A speed optimization circuit (140) is employed by an insertion machine to result in a greater actual throughput of successfully enveloped sets of documents. The speed optimization circuit (140) includes a microcontroller (142) which determines whether the machine cycling speed should be changed and which generates a signal for application to a speed adjustment servomechanism (136) for automatically changing the machine cycling speed in accordance with the determination.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1991Date of Patent: January 21, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Co.Inventors: K. George Rabindran, David Filicicchia, Kenneth L. Guenther
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Patent number: D327257Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1988Date of Patent: June 23, 1992Assignee: Bell & Howell CompanyInventors: Robert Riess, Mario Ricciardi, James Feely