Abstract: The invention proposes a handling apparatus for moving sheet-like articles, in particular an inserter for pushing inserts into envelopes, in which apparatus a link hand, which forms part of a rectilinear-guidance mechanism formed from three links, has spring-loaded fingers which are articulated at the free end of the link hand and slide over a base plate during the operating stroke, while, during a return stroke, the fingers are raised off together from the base plate by means of a control guide arrangement. Said apparatus operates at high cycle speeds without disruption and requires the arrangement as a whole to be of just a small overall height.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an overhead pusher finger guide system, preferably for use with a sheet handling apparatus. The guide system prevents the lower conveyor run from sagging or otherwise moving out of the proper feed plane. Accordingly, superior sheet handling is achieved.

Abstract: A cutter module with an integrated trim disposal mechanism is disclosed. The integrated trim disposal mechanism results in the lack of need for using large expensive external trim disposal devices. The trim disposal mechanism chops the trim into small pieces that are easily collected in a trim fragment collection receptacle. A full trim fragment collection receptacle can either be emptied and reused or discarded and replaced with a new empty trim fragment collection receptacle.

Abstract: A client/server architecture for database driven insertion and mail piece tracking system, method, and computer program product is disclosed. A database is populated with database driven insertion data comprising instructions for handling mailpiece material. A server manages the database by responding to requests for mail processing instructions from clients and storing mailpiece data received from clients. A scanning device reads key code marked mailpiece material in which the key code corresponds to a database location containing instructions for handling mailpiece material. A client processor receives the key code from the scanning device, and transmits a request to the server for accessing the database location containing the instructions for handling mailpiece material. The server retrieves the instructions for handling mailpiece material, and transmits the instructions to the client.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed packing of envelopes is disclosed. The apparatus includes an envelope flap opening assembly which facilitates the opening of each envelope by a finger of an opening element as the envelope passes through packing apparatus. Each envelope may then be conveyed into a first staging assembly where the envelope is stopped, allowing a freely rotating conveyor to force the envelope into contact with an ejection conveyor to direct the envelope from the first staging assembly. The envelope is then transported to the packing assembly by an intermediate conveyor having a plurality of distinctly and selectively driven conveyors to allow staging of the envelopes along the intermediate conveyor. A quick and efficient envelope packing assembly then packs the envelopes and ejects the envelope to an exiting conveyor which seals each packed envelope.

Abstract: A positive drive mechanism for use in a sheet folding apparatus includes a motor drive, a torque-limiting device coupled to the motor drive, a drive pulley coupled to the torque-limiting device, and a plurality of idler pulleys. Each of the idler pulleys is coupled to a drive shaft which supports a fold roller. A non-slip positive drive member operatively engages portions of the drive pulley and the plurality of idler pulleys. A sheet is fed into the folder and between the fold rollers in order to fold the sheet. In the event that the sheet becomes jammed between the fold rollers, the torque-limiting device operates to release the torque transmitted from the motor drive to the drive pulley.

Abstract: A stage and thread assembly is disclosed for use in a high speed envelope packing apparatus. The assembly receives from the side, a single envelope with flap open. The assembly precisely aligns and positions the envelope in a pre-stage area via a plurality of entry ramps, continuously running belts, and back stops, correcting any misalignment. Once positioned in the pre-stage area, the apparatus stages the envelope in a position above the thread roller of the high speed packing apparatus so that the envelope can be threaded on the packing plate for insertion of material into the envelope. The staging of the envelope is achieved via a plurality of rollers including, d-rollers, flipper rollers, and stage rollers. The envelope is staged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of entry of the envelope.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a continuous flow transfer system designed to transfer the contents of a mail tray into a cartridge for subsequent processing and then, after processing, to transfer the contents of the cartridge back into a mail tray without disrupting the facing or orientation of each piece of mail. The continuous flow transfer system comprises both a cartridge loader and a cartridge unloader, both of which have a tray section, a transfer conveyor and a cartridge section. The tray section, or infeed section, of the cartridge loader is designed to deliver filled mail trays to the transfer section of the loader. At the transfer section, the contents of each mail tray are deposited into an intermediate container that is affixed to the transfer section. The transfer section then delivers the contents of the intermediate container into empty cartridges being fed onto the cartridge section, or discharge section, of the loader.

Abstract: A sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator and method are disclosed. The accumulator is easily adjustable for handling sheets of different widths and for either under or over accumulating. The adjustability is provided by allowing accumulator ramps to be added or removed without having to deconstruct the accumulator and without the need for special skill.

Abstract: The invention is a sheet feeder for engaging and removing a sheet of paper or other material from a stack and feeding it along a path. The sheet feeder can include a skimmer, a bumper, a separator, and a guide plate. The skimmer can include a timing belt or other positive drive, so the drive motor turns the drive roller to feed sheets in a uniform manner. The skimmer element can be laterally reciprocated to assist in separation of the top sheet from lower sheets in a stack. The bumper extends across the feed path and has a guide surface positioned to confront the leading edges of the sheets of the stack and direct the leading edge of an advancing engaged single sheet away from the remainder of the stack. The separator is designed for advancing the engaged sheet while retarding any adjacent sheets. In one embodiment, a friction roller rotates on one side of the feed path, advancing a single sheet forward along the feed path.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed packing of envelopes is disclosed. The apparatus includes an envelope flap opening assembly which facilitates the opening of each envelope by a finger of an opening element as the envelope passes through packing apparatus. Each envelope may then be conveyed into a first staging assembly where the envelope is stopped, allowing a freely rotating conveyor to force the envelope into contact with an ejection conveyor to direct the envelope from the first staging assembly. The envelope is then transported to the packing assembly by an intermediate conveyor having a plurality of distinctly and selectively driven conveyors to allow staging of the envelopes along the intermediate conveyor. A quick and efficient envelope packing assembly then packs the envelopes and ejects the envelope to an exiting conveyor which seals each packed envelope.

Abstract: A separator and sequencing apparatus comprising a first selective document transport means for selective movement of documents and a second selective document transport means for selective movement of documents positioned adjacent to the first selective document transport means, the first and second selective document transport means configured to move at least one of a pair of documents located in said separator and sequencing apparatus.

Abstract: In a drive system for a mail processing machine a comparatively simple and clear design of the driving tracks and of the bearings for the respective shafts is obtained by feeding drive energy from a common drive motor to a bevel gear drive and a step gear drive. Thereby, the output shafts of the bevel gear drive and the step gear drive have identical sense of rotation because of the sense of rotation reversal within the respective gear drive. The bevel gear drive, at its output, provides a continuous rotation, and the step gear drive provides an intermittent rotation. From the output shafts of the bevel gear drive and of the step gear drive, respectively, driving connections can be led to the driving shafts for a continuously moved conveyor chain for documents and to an intermittently moved conveyor chain for documents, respectively.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for delivering information to a user in one or more preferred delivery media are provided. Preferred delivery media includes, but is not limited to, e-mail, HTML, fax, printed copy, and mail. A user profile, indicating a user's preferred delivery medium (or media), is retrievably stored. When a user requests information, the user's profile is searched to determine the preferred delivery medium (or media) within which to deliver the requested information to the user. The requested information is retrieved, formatted for the preferred delivery medium, and then delivered to the user in the preferred medium. If the information is delivered to a user in multiple media, a consistent format among the various delivery media is maintained. The integrity of information delivered to a user is also verifiable, regardless of the delivery medium.

Abstract: In a method of continuously feeding sheets, a top-sheet pick-up device and a feed table for feeding stacks of sheets to the pick-up device are provided. A stack of sheets are placed on the feed table and fed towards the pick-up device. When it is detected that the uppermost sheets are positioned under the pick-up device, the pick-up device separates the uppermost sheet from the stack. The feed table continues to feed the stack toward the pick-up device by moving additional sheets into position under the pick-up device when no sheet is detected under the pick-up device. Also provided are a feed table including an angle bracket for registering and shingling sheets, and a method of converting a non-continuous high-capacity top-sheet feeder having a top-sheet pick-up device into a continuous high-capacity top-sheet feeder.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed packing of envelopes is disclosed. The apparatus includes an envelope flap opening assembly which facilitates the opening of each envelope by a finger of an opening element as the envelope passes through packing apparatus. Each envelope may then be conveyed into a first staging assembly where the envelope is stopped, allowing a freely rotating conveyor to force the envelope into contact with an ejection conveyor to direct the envelope from the first staging assembly. The envelope is then transported to the packing assembly by an intermediate conveyor having a plurality of distinctly and selectively driven conveyors to allow staging of the envelopes along the intermediate conveyor. A quick and efficient envelope packing assembly then packs the envelopes and ejects the envelope to an exiting conveyor which seals each packed envelope.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a high-speed document-processing machine, comprising a diverse-set-compilation section, comprising a burster having a local non-Distributed Control System controller; a reader and an accumulator having a reader/accumulator Distributed Control System Local Control Module; a folder and a diverter having a folder/diverter Distributed Control System Local Control Module; a buffer having a buffer Distributed Control System Local Control Module; wherein all of said Local Control Modules are interconnected via a multi-drop communication link; said burster local non-distributed control system is connected to said reader/accumulator Local Control Module via a communication link; and, said reader/accumulator Local Control Module is a Command Module including means for dynamically controlling the speed of said burster based on the state of one or more variables affecting the speed at which downstream devices can operate.

Abstract: A client/server architecture for database driven insertion and mail piece tracking system, method, and computer program product is disclosed. A database is populated with database driven insertion data comprising instructions for handling mailpiece material. A server manages the database by responding to requests for mail processing instructions from clients and storing mailpiece data received from clients. A scanning device reads key code marked mailpiece material in which the key code corresponds to a database location containing instructions for handling mailpiece material. A client processor receives the key code from the scanning device, and transmits a request to the server for accessing the database location containing the instructions for handling mailpiece material. The server retrieves the instructions for handling mailpiece material, and transmits the instructions to the client.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for verifying the number of articles, preferably intended to be credit, debit, or similar cards, in a carrier is described. Though different embodiments are possible, the preferred embodiment comprises a caliper apparatus and microcontroller electrically linked to an inserter machine controller. The controller of the inserting machine is also electrically linked with an indicia reader mounted at the entrance to the inserter machine. The indicia read is found on the carrier and represents a machine readable representation of the number of articles that should be found in the carrier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for document surveillance along a transport path in a mail sorting machine includes using a plurality of sequentially positioned photocells affixed along the transport path to detect document separation and jamming events through the application of assigned document identification and message transfer schemes whereby one sensor detects an edge of the document and transfers the document identifier and a shaft encoder count to the next sensor along the transport path in the form of a message. A message queue for each sensor is maintained to detect improper document leading edge and trailing edge conditions. A series of surveillance modules operates on a multi-tasking basis through a primary master processor.