Abstract: A trailer assembly is disclosed for receiving, transporting and discharging flowable bulk material. The trailer assembly includes a pair of opposing generally vertical side walls which are secured to a frame member and converged downwardly and inwardly. Flexible flap members extend downwardly from the bottom edges of the side walls. The side walls are joined by a front end wall and a rear wall to define a bin having an open floor. A conveyor is provided as a floor for the bin with the conveyor extending beneath the side walls and having a width greater than the distance between bottom edges of the side walls and positioned closely adjacent to the terminal edges of the flexible flap members. The conveyor includes a pair of opposing endless chains which are mounted about sprockets with the chains connected by cross members. The conveyor includes a continuous belt member secured to the cross members at intervals.

Abstract: Apparatus for banding a stack of envelopes includes an elevator mechanism which moves the stack in a path between a first lowermost position to a second uppermost position; first and second tensioning units for applying a tensioning force to a first banding strap positioned across the path at a first location between the first and second positions and extending in a first longitudinal direction; first and second sealing and separating units for wrapping, sealing and separating opposite ends of the first elastic banding strap about the stack of envelopes when the elevator mechanism has moved the stack of envelopes past the first location; third and fourth tensioning units for applying a tensioning force to a second elastic banding strap positioned across the path at a second location between the first and second positions and extending in a second widthwise direction substantially transverse to said first longitudinal direction; third and fourth sealing and separating units for wrapping, sealing and separating

Abstract: Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface from engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum

Abstract: Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carrier mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface for engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum t

Abstract: Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface for engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum

Abstract: Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface for engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum

Abstract: Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface for engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum

Abstract: A trailer assembly is disclosed for receiving, transporting and discharging flowable bulk material. The trailer assembly includes a pair of opposing generally vertical side walls which are secured to a frame member and converge downwardly and inwardly. The side walls are joined by a front end wall and a rear wall to define a bin having an open floor. A conveyor is provided as a floor for the bin with the conveyor extending beneath the side walls and having a width greater than the distance between bottom edges of the side walls and positioned closely adjacent to the bottom edges of the side walls. The conveyor includes a pair of opposing endless chains which are mounted about sprockets with the chains connected by cross members. Flexible conveyor belt sections are provided secured to the cross members at a leading edge of the belt sections with trailing edges of the belt sections free to overlap leading edges of successive belt sections.