Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.
Abstract: The present application relates to a method and system for labeling one or more products such as packages transported along a conveyer, and more specifically to applying a label on a respective package by way of a vertically adjustable assembly positioned above the conveyor. The adjustable assembly includes at least a label printer and an applicator for printing and applying the label on a surface of the package on the conveyor.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 1, 2013
Publication date:
April 10, 2014
Applicant:
BELL AND HOWELL, LLC.
Inventors:
Richard WOJDYLA, Tim PALMER, Brian BOWERS, Tomasz K. BEDNAREK
Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 26, 2013
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2014
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC.
Inventors:
Edward J. Kapturowski, Robin L. Heilman, Aaron A. Kracht, Todd Murdock
Abstract: The present teachings relate to a mailpiece and method for assembling a mailpiece using a document processing system such as a wrapper system. The assembled mailpiece has outgoing and reply envelope functionality. In the outgoing format, the mailpiece may optionally contain advertisements, inserted documents, or coupons.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 30, 2013
Publication date:
January 2, 2014
Applicant:
BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
Inventors:
Mark VAN GORP, Elizabeth L. MANNING, Gerard A. DEROME
Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to stack mailpieces for sweeping. The mailpieces are manufactured on a mail processing machine such as, but not limited to an inserter or wrapper. More particularly, there is provided an on-edge conveyor where components have been ergonomically positioned to permit the filling of a mail tray in an efficient manner with minimal lifting of weight. A quantity of mailpieces that have already been offset can be pulled over the rolled/rounded edge of the conveyor into an awaiting mail tray supported on a roller conveyor. The operator is then able push the full tray to the side, load another empty tray, and repeat the process.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 15, 2013
Publication date:
November 7, 2013
Applicant:
BELL AND HOWELL, LLC.
Inventors:
Neal MIDDLEBERG, Gerard A. DEROME, Richard D. JOHNSON, Lenny NEIFERT, Mark Gerard PAUL
Abstract: The present application relates to a system and related method for processing a mailpiece through the steps associated with its manufacture and post processing. The present system and method allow for mailpiece item tracking data collection at each step in the mailpiece manufacturing and processing. The present system and method allow for the integration of mailpiece item data from a postage device by utilizing information based barcode data included as part of the postage evidence, together with the production and sorting processes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 25, 2013
Date of Patent:
October 15, 2013
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC
Inventors:
Mark Van Gorp, John Keirsbilck, Walter S. Conard
Abstract: The present teachings relate to techniques and equipment to prepare articles of manufacture that can be used in a document processing system, such as a wrapping document processing system, that individually wraps each form in a manner that produces a mailpiece. The manufactured mailpiece is an integrated bidirectional mailpiece having outgoing and return envelope functionality. In the outgoing format, the integrated mailpiece may optionally contain advertisements, coupons, inserted documents, statements or payment coupons.
Abstract: The present application relates to a method, apparatus and programmable product for uniquely identifying a document. More specifically, the application allows for the identification of the document through collection of minutiae data at various points throughout the document's lifecycle without reliance upon or requirement for any unique identification characters, barcodes and/or objects that were added to the document specifically for the purpose of identification.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 25, 2008
Date of Patent:
August 27, 2013
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC
Inventors:
Roger Spitzig, Walter S. Conard, Leondo R. Phifer
Abstract: The present application relates to a system and related method for processing a mailpiece through the steps associated with its manufacture and post processing. The present system and method allow for mailpiece item tracking data collection at each step in the mailpiece manufacturing and processing. The present system and method allow for the integration of mailpiece item data from a postage device by utilizing information based barcode data included as part of the postage evidence, together with the production and sorting processes.
Abstract: The present teachings described herein pertain to mail preparation systems, and more specifically to the processing of mailings to obtain destination entry discounts. The teachings herein also pertain to the processing of mailings by various document processing systems, such as sorters, inserters or vision systems attached to document processing systems, to enable processing of mail articles to maximize destination entry discounts. Still further, the teachings pertain to schemes for the enablement of delivery and logistics information to be arranged respective to a mailing during mail processing to obtain destination entry discounts.
Abstract: The present application relates to a method and system thereof for performing laser cutting on a mail piece during processing on a document processing device such as a sorter. Laser cutting is performed to effectively cut mail pieces during transport on the document processing equipment to ensure cut accuracy and to promote readability. The present teachings allow for selection of a cut profile based on mail piece attributes or markings and adaptive adjustment of the cut profile in accord with the positioning of the mail piece to achieve a desired cut pattern while the document processing device is running at high transport speed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 18, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 13, 2013
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC
Inventors:
George M. Varghese, Arkadiusz Nieckarz, Gregory Wilmes, Brian Bowers
Abstract: Each respective mail item in a received batch of items is read to acquire information, which enables a plurality of verifications with regard to authenticity of the respective mail item. In a vote-by-mail example, one or more features are validated for authenticity in relation to the election, and one or more features are validated for authenticity in relation to a voter. The verifications in relation to a voter may involve detection of a signature and verification of the authenticity of the signature. The items are sorted according to the verification results and may be sorted based on other criteria. The methods, systems and software disclosed herein enable such verifications and sorting, in a single pass through a sorting system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 22, 2007
Date of Patent:
July 16, 2013
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC
Inventors:
Christopher J. Kite, George Mavelil Varghese, Arkadiusz Nieckarz, William A. Grady, Michelle R. Archer
Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.
Abstract: The present subject matter relates to controlling of mail processing equipment. More specifically, the present subject matter allows for unique recognition of a printed document from all other similar documents, without the inclusion of additional purposeful identifying marks, data or barcodes. A document processing system, such as an inserter, printer, postage meter, sorter or other document processing system is controlled based on document identification which does not depend on unique identifiers. Similarly if a document is identified with a unique identifying mark on the first page, the present subject matter allows for identification of each subsequent page in the document without requiring identifying marks on each page. The identification data is then used to control the processing of the printed document based upon the recognition and enables the performance of quality checks.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 25, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 2, 2013
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC
Inventors:
Mark G. Paul, Michael G. Boston, Roger Spitzig, David Rawlings, Walter S. Conard
Abstract: The present application relates to the ability to track mail items through a postal authority network with reference to a specific mail target. More particularly, the present application relates to a system and method for enabling tracking of event data by a mail owner of one or more mail items specifically by mail target through a mail delivery network's mail stream.
Abstract: The present application relates to a system and related method for processing a mailpiece through the steps associated with its manufacture and post processing. The present system and method allow for mailpiece item tracking data collection at each step in the mailpiece manufacturing and processing. The present system and method allow for the integration of mailpiece item data from a postage device by utilizing information based barcode data included as part of the postage evidence, together with the production and sorting processes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 17, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 30, 2013
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC
Inventors:
Mark Van Gorp, John Keirsbilck, Walter S. Conard
Abstract: The present application relates to a mail processing system and related method containing dynamic speed control which uses real time and historical system parameters to dynamically control the cycle speed of an inserting or wrapping system to optimize system efficiency, and maximize throughput and performance. A document processing system with dynamic speed control analyzes system parameters. When the operational conditions are favorable the system will increase cycle speed of one or more of the mail processing components of the system in increments until an optimal speed is reached. Likewise, if conditions are unfavorable the system will decrease cycle speed of one or more of the mail processing components of the system in increments until an optimal speed is reached.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 26, 2011
Date of Patent:
March 26, 2013
Assignee:
Bell and Howell, LLC
Inventors:
Daniel C. Quinn, Robert J. Elias, Gregory J. Norton, John S. Tarascio
Abstract: The present teachings relate to a method and system for the processing of mail items within a multiple device document processing environment to ensure generation of unique mail items. The present teachings provides for an improved system and method for assigning and maintaining unique mail item identifiers and processing of the unique mail items in a multiple mail processing device environment to qualify for maximum postal work sharing discounts.
Abstract: The subject matter presented herein relates to a method, system and program product for performing image capture of items. In particular the image capture occurs during transport of the items by a high-speed transport device. The image is captured by a linear array imaging sensor as a face of the item is transported at a continuous production speed in near proximity to the linear array imaging sensor.
Abstract: The present application generally relates to address data maintenance services using a mail processing system. The present application discloses techniques and equipment to update address information and usage of mail processing equipment to print delivery point barcodes that represent the current and accurate address information available for the addressee. The present application also provides a new approach for storing and searching address and name run time directories as part of a mail processing system using address reader technology.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 14, 2009
Date of Patent:
December 4, 2012
Assignee:
Bell & Howell, LLC
Inventors:
Mark Woolston, Walter S. Conard, William A. Grady, Brian Bowers, Richard Wojdyla, Gary Van Ermen