Abstract: An automated dispensing system includes a container dispensing module for storing and discharging a plurality of small object containers, a printer applicator for printing selected information on a label and positioned to apply the label to a container as it is discharged from the dispensing module, a plurality of product dispensing modules for storing and dispensing a selected number of small objects into a labeled container, a container transport unit, a conveyor assembly for transporting filled containers away, and a control unit for coordinating and controlling operation for the dispensing system. A container transport unit picks a labeled container from the container dispensing module, transports it along a track to a selected product dispensing cell, and travels back along the track to the container dispensing module while the product dispensing module fills and ejects the filled container onto an adjacent conveyor.

Abstract: A system for processing a continuous web of envelope stock includes a web aligner, infeed nip including a load cell, rotary cutter, gummer, patch applicator, buffer, and control system. Gummer nozzles are actuated to apply patterns of adhesive to the moving web in surrounding relation to window apertures. A method for controlling the web output rate from the system includes receiving at the control system an input web tension indicator from the nip load cell, receiving an output web tension indicator from a transducer at system output, comparing the received indicators and transmitting a control signal to actuate a roller assembly between the infeed nip and the transducer to increase or decrease speed to adjust web tension. The control system also transmits a web input speed control or stop signal based on the calculated capacity percentage of web accumulated in the buffer, which is determined with reference to a threshold value.

Abstract: A linear dispensing system is provided that includes a plurality of channels, a pair of parallel rails, a plurality of carriers and a plurality of linear motor modules. The channels are configured to hold inventory products at an orientation. The pair of parallel rails is disposed at a bottom portion of the channels. The carriers are slidably disposed on the rails and have a conveyor unit configured to pick the inventory product from the channels while substantially maintaining the same geometric orientation as in the channel. The linear motor modules are disposed between the parallel rails and aligned end to end. The linear motor modules are coupled with the carriers and configured to pass the carriers to an adjacent linear motor module. Each carrier delivers a plurality of selected products of varying shapes to a universal escapement structure where the products are labeled, imaged, verified and dispensed.

Abstract: A reusable envelope tray system includes a stacking tray with linear structural corrugations and a support unit. The tray bottom has parallel side fold lines extending along the corrugations and parallel end fold lines transverse to the corrugations. A sidewall extends upwardly from each bottom side fold line, and an end wall extends upwardly from each bottom end fold line. Each end wall has an outer portion connected to the bottom wall and an inner portion connected to the outer portion. Fold lines connect the inner and outer portions to provide a bearing surface during stacking. The outer portion includes a hand hole and the inner portion includes a return hinge extending transverse to the corrugations and reachable through the hand hole. The hinge allows bending of the inner portion under folding assembly/disassembly of the tray. The support unit has upstanding posts received in apertures on the tray bottom.

Abstract: An envelope assembly is provided for improved performance of a mailing envelope in the automated mail handling process. The envelope comprises a front panel having top, bottom and side edges and forming an envelope front surface, side flaps extending front the side edges, a rear panel extending from the bottom edge and combining with the side flaps to form an envelope rear surface, and a closure flap extending from the top edge for securing the envelope in a closed position. The rear panel is sized and configured to have a lesser width than the front panel as to expose the side flaps along the envelope rear surface. In this configuration, an automated mail opening device must only substantially cut through the side flaps and front panel to open the envelope along the side edges, as opposed to having to also cut through a substantial portion of the rear panel and an adhesive holding the rear panel and side flaps together.

Abstract: A remailable envelope is formed from a single paper blank. The paper blank is first cut to yield a cut blank with an upper portion shaped as an originating legal sized envelope blank with a first back panel and a first front panel with a pair of side flaps and a seal flap attached thereto. The cut blank also includes a lower portion shaped as a return letter sized envelope blank with a second back panel and a second front panel with a seal flap attached to the second front panel. The first back panel and the second back panel are attached to each other. To form the envelope, the lower portion is first folded over the upper portion and the attached first and second back panels are simultaneously folded over and attached to the respective first and second front panels. This has the effect of placing the return envelope inside of the originating envelope.

Abstract: An envelope includes a front panel and a rear panel with a closure flap. The front and rear panels are connected by an expandable sidewalls formed by joining end flaps of the front and rear panel. The sidewalls have an intermediate line of weakness that allows bending and expansion. The line of weakness is backed on the inside by an extension from the front panel flap which reduces the likelihood of the sidewall being turned outwardly rather than inwardly into the envelope. A front to rear strip connects the front panel with the back panel so as to form a relatively small pocket and a relatively large pocket within the envelope. A locking tab is preferentially placed above the small pocket and constructed of extensions of the front panel and sidewall to allow a user to selectively use the locking tab to hold objects within the small pocket or release such objects. The envelope is especially suited for transferring finished photographic prints and a container holding negatives for the prints.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning flexible printing plates and for accurately drilling pin register holes therein includes a three-way adjustable table top assembly which can be selectively adjusted in X and Y directions and rotated about an axis. A pneumatic clamp is positioned on the table top assembly for clamping a pre-marked flexible printing plate to be drilled in place thereon. A movable stereomicroscope viewer is slidable above the table top assembly to view the flexible plate for position adjustment via the adjustable table top assembly. A drill assembly is also positionable over each location at which a pin register hole is to be drilled. The drill assembly includes a movable hollow core drill bit surrounding a stationary rod. Once the flexible plate is aligned via the viewer, the drill assembly is sequentially positioned above the flexible plate at each point to be drilled with a pin register hole and operated to drill each hole therein.

Abstract: A method for accurately drilling pin register holes in flexible printing plates for flexographic printing plate cylinders includes placing aligning pin hole location marks as a part of original artwork used for creating the printing plates. The pin hole location marks are then carried through with each step of developing the flexible plates, including creation of photographic negatives and final type flex negatives from which raised patterns are produced in the finished plates. Pin register holes are then drilled through the finished plate at the marker locations which form a portion of the raised pattern. To align the finished plate on a press, a removable pin register bar is then attached to the plate cylinder, the flexible plate with the register holes drilled therein is placed over the register pins on the bar, the plate is adhered to the plate cylinder in proper printing position and the bar is then removed.

Abstract: A bulk envelope container for use in a bulk envelope transfer system and method includes a plurality of elongate chambers, each of which can store a stack of envelopes. The chambers can be arranged in rows and columns and the container is designed for use with a positioning table which is movable both horizontally and vertically to selectively align one of the chambers with a loading or unloading device. Each chamber has attached thereto a motorized gate which can be opened when the chamber is aligned for loading or unloading and closed when the associated chamber is not so aligned. An exemplary loading and unloading apparatus and a synchronizing control system is disclosed for use with the container and positioning table.

Abstract: An envelope accumulation and batching apparatus and method uses a conventional envelope delivery spider which has been adapted to deliver envelopes to an accumulating surface, such as a belt conveyor, in a position with the folded envelope seal flaps facing upward. A rotary guide is positioned with radially extending guide members extending just above the conveyor belt to guide envelopes onto the conveyor in an upright orientation. The conveyor moves the envelopes toward a series of three separately movable, vertically oriented finger supports. The three supports are cooperatively driven to accumulate, batch and compress horizontal stacks of predetermined numbers of envelopes which are then positioned beneath a gripper assembly with a pair of opposed gripper arms. The gripper assembly is lowered into a position in which the gripper arms are inserted on either side of the compressed envelope stack, pulled together and pivoted inward at the bottoms to squeeze the stack from the bottom edges.

Abstract: An envelope processing system includes a multiple envelope gripping and transfer apparatus. The system uses a conventional envelope delivery spider which has been adapted to deliver envelopes to an accumulating surface, such as a belt conveyor, in a position with the folded envelope seal flaps facing upward. A rotary guide is positioned with radially extending guide members extending just above the conveyor belt to guide envelopes onto the conveyor in an upright orientation. The conveyor moves the envelopes toward a series of three separately movable, vertically oriented finger supports. The three supports are cooperatively driven to accumulate, batch and compress horizontal stacks of predetermined numbers of envelopes which are then positioned beneath a gripper assembly with a pair of opposed gripper arms.

Abstract: An envelope flap up pick and place apparatus and method uses a conventional envelope delivery spider which has been adapted to deliver envelopes to an accumulating surface, such as a belt conveyor, in a position with the folded envelope seal flaps facing upward. A rotary guide is positioned with radially extending guide members extending just above the conveyor belt to guide envelopes onto the conveyor in an upright orientation. The conveyor moves the envelopes toward a series of three separately movable, vertically oriented finger supports. The three supports are cooperatively driven to accumulate and compress horizontal stacks of predetermined numbers of envelopes which are then positioned beneath a gripper assembly with a pair of opposed gripper arms. The gripper assembly is lowered into a position in which the gripper arms are inserted on either side of the envelope stack, pulled together and pivoted inward at the bottoms to squeeze the stack from the bottom edges.

Abstract: A hopper for an automatic envelope stuffer and the like includes first and second base rails each having a column extending upwardly therefrom. The columns are spaced further apart at their upper ends than at their lower ends. Endpieces are provided across the ends of the base rails and project upwardly to define a hopper space for receiving envelopes and the like. Support pins extend through the endpieces and project into the hopper space for supporting envelopes therein.

Abstract: A two-way envelope includes a front panel with a window opening and a back panel connected to the front panel along a lower fold line. A pair of side flaps extend from the front panel and are secured to an inner surface of the back panel. An initial seal flap extends from an upper edge of the front panel and is demarcated therefrom by a perforated tear line. A return flap extends from an upper edge of the back panel and is demarcated therefrom by a fold line. An extension is integrally connected to the return flap along an extension fold line. The return flap and the extension are folded with respect to each other and placed within a pocket formed by the envelope for an initial mailing. For a return mailing, the return flap and the extension are placed over the front panel with the extension covering the window opening. The extension has a return address thereon.

Abstract: An envelope comprising a body and a hanger. The body includes front and back panels forming a pocket therebetween and a seal flap. The hanger includes front and back panels which are extensions of the body panels, a doorknob opening and a door handle opening with spaced-apart receivers interconnected by a tear line.

Abstract: A reusable envelope including a back panel with opposite side edges and a front panel integrally connected to the back panel and demarcated therefrom by a fold line. The back and front panels each have inner and outer surfaces and form a pocket between their respective inner surfaces. A pair of opposed side flaps are each attached to a respective back panel side edge and to the front panel outer surface. Each side flap includes an extension having a secured portion secured to the front panel outer surface, an unsecured portion and an extension side edge. The extension side edges are positioned in opposed, spaced relationship. A pair of closures are each formed between the front panel outer surface and a respective extension unsecured portion. Each closure is adapted to slidably receive therein a respective side margin of a card insert which is thereby retained adjacent the front panel.

Abstract: A two-way envelope includes a body portion, a pair of opposed side flaps, a bottom flap and a seal flap integrally connected to the body panel by a tear line. A fold line extends along the seal flap above the tear line and the side flaps have bold lines extending therealong in positions approximately colinear with the seal flap tear line and defining side flap upper portions having seal adhesive thereon. The side flaps are folded into partially overlapping relation and joined together forming a pocket with the body panel and the bottom flap. The seal flap is folded along the seal flap fold line over the side flap upper portions to seal the pocket for a first trip and the seal flap is removed from the body panel along the seal flap tear line whereupon the side flap upper portions are folded along the side flap fold lines to seal the pocket for a second trip.