Patents by Inventor Bradford D. Henry

Bradford D. Henry has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7395644
    Abstract: In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operatively interfaced with a peripheral device. The motion controller controls insert conveyor assembly speed, envelope conveyor assembly speed, and the rotational position at which the actuator should be activated, based on the encoder signal. Once during every master cycle, the motion controller calculates the actuator activation position, and causes the first actuator to be activated at the calculated first actuator activation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: James R. Rivenbark, Keith A. Harshman, Frank J. Shinn, Bradford D. Henry, Kathleen E McCay, legal representative, Steve W. McCay
  • Patent number: 7389624
    Abstract: A high-speed envelope transport and packing system includes a conveyor for conveying an open envelope having a flap, a packing station for inserting an object into a conveyed open envelope, and a bending member disposed upstream of the packing station. The bending member is configured to impart a bend in a conveyed open envelope by displacing a center portion of the envelope relative to widthwise distal end portions of the envelope and to maintain a bend in the envelope until the open envelope is gripped by a gripping device in such a manner as to provide access to an interior of the open envelope or until an object is at least partially inserted into an interior of the open envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Bradford D. Henry, Frank Shinn
  • Patent number: 7097028
    Abstract: An envelope insert conveyor assembly includes a first pair of rotation members and a second pair of rotation members spaced apart from one another. A first conveying member is disposed around the first pair of rotation members, and a second conveying member is disposed around the second pair of rotation members, so that the conveying members rotate around the first rotation member and the second rotation member. A plurality of pusher members are fixed to each of the first conveying member and second conveying member. The pusher members each have paired sidewalls, a cross-wall connecting the paired walls, and an indented portion provided in each of the paired sidewalls. A gripping element is disposed adjacent an indented portion of one of the paired sidewalls and biased toward an interior surface of the indented portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Bradford D. Henry, Penny P. Fusco, Frank Shinn
  • Patent number: 6718740
    Abstract: In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operatively interfaced with a peripheral device. The motion controller controls insert conveyor assembly speed, envelope conveyor assembly speed, and the rotational position at which the actuator should be activated, based on the encoder signal. Once during every master cycle, the motion controller calculates the actuator activation position, and causes the first actuator to be activated at the calculated first actuator activation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company
    Inventors: James R. Rivenbark, Keith A. Harshman, Frank J. Shinn, Bradford D. Henry, Steve W. McCay
  • Publication number: 20020112453
    Abstract: In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operatively interfaced with a peripheral device. The motion controller controls insert conveyor assembly speed, envelope conveyor assembly speed, and the rotational position at which the actuator should be activated, based on the encoder signal. Once during every master cycle, the motion controller calculates the actuator activation position, and causes the first actuator to be activated at the calculated first actuator activation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: James R. Rivenbark, Keith A. Harshman, Frank J. Shinn, Bradford D. Henry, Steve W. McCay
  • Patent number: 6276621
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company
    Inventor: Bradford D. Henry