Patents by Inventor Eric Belec
Eric Belec 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).
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Patent number: 8468780Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes printed matter to be used on envelopes, and other printed matter to be used on mail content to be included in the envelopes. The method starts with cutting consecutive sections of the web into separated sheets. Some of the separated sheets are envelope sheets including envelope printed matter, and some of the sheets are mail content sheets including mail content printed matter. The method includes cutting variable sized sheets depending on whether a sheet is a mail content sheet, or an envelope sheet. The method further includes cutting variable sized envelope sheets depending on the size of the mailpieces.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2007Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Clare E Woodman, Denis J Stemmle, John W Sussmeier, Eric A Belec, Boris Rozenfeld, Gregory P Skinger, Michael J Cummings
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Patent number: 7750254Abstract: According to some embodiments a system and an apparatus comprise a registration wall, a weighing device located adjacent to the registration wall, a belt drive mechanism, a plurality of inboard skis, and a plurality of outboard skis. The belt drive mechanism extends across the weighing device for advancing a mail piece relative to the weighing device and the belt drive mechanism is located at a first distance from the registration wall. The plurality of inboard skis are located substantially at the first distance from the registration wall and are located beneath the belt drive mechanism for urging the mail piece upwardly toward the drive belt mechanism. The plurality of outboard skis is coplanar with the plurality of inboard skis for supporting an end of the mail piece. The plurality of outboard skis is located at a second distance from the registration wall. The second distance is greater than the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Wall, Steven H. Joyce, Jeffrey A. Gateman, Eric A. Belec
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Patent number: 7565788Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes a continuous web having a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets is comprised of envelope sheets and content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive attached sheets into separated sheets. The content pages belonging to a same mailpiece are accumulated together. The separated envelope sheet is transported, bypassing the accumulating and turning steps. The accumulated and turned content pages are then merged with the envelope sheet, and the envelope sheet is folded and closed around the accumulated content pages to form a finished enclosing envelope.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Denis J. Stemmle, Clare E. Woodman, John W. Sussmeier, Eric A. Belec, Michael J. Cummings
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Publication number: 20090152020Abstract: According to some embodiments a system and an apparatus comprise a registration wall, a weighing device located adjacent to the registration wall, a belt drive mechanism, a plurality of inboard skis, and a plurality of outboard skis. The belt drive mechanism extends across the weighing device for advancing a mail piece relative to the weighing device and the belt drive mechanism is located at a first distance from the registration wall. The plurality of inboard skis are located substantially at the first distance from the registration wall and are located beneath the belt drive mechanism for urging the mail piece upwardly toward the drive belt mechanism. The plurality of outboard skis is coplanar with the plurality of inboard skis for supporting an end of the mail piece. The plurality of outboard skis is located at a second distance from the registration wall. The second distance is greater than the first distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Wall, Steven H. Joyce, Jeffrey A. Gateman, Eric A. Belec
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Publication number: 20080011817Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes a continuous web having a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets is comprised of envelope sheets and content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive attached sheets into separated sheets. The content pages belonging to a same mailpiece are accumulated together. The separated envelope sheet is transported, bypassing the accumulating and turning steps. The accumulated and turned content pages are then merged with the envelope sheet, and the envelope sheet is folded and closed around the accumulated content pages to form a finished enclosing envelope.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Denis Stemmle, Clare Woodman, John Sussmeier, Eric Belec, Michael Cummings
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Patent number: 7306220Abstract: An accumulator apparatus for paper collations having an accumulation chamber for receiving sheet material, the chamber defined by a fixed guide on one side, a movable guide on the other side and a movable stop member at one end. Rollers are included for driving the sheet material against the stop member, and gates are provided for moving the movable guide between a first position in which it is spaced from the fixed guide by a gap sufficiently small to prevent buckling of the sheet material as it is driven by the rollers against the stop member, and a second position in which the movable guide is spaced away from the fixed guide for discharge of the sheet material from the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.Inventors: Geoffrey A. Farmer, Paul Blamire, Eric A. Belec, Peter Watson, Keith G. R. Watts, Chris Brown
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Publication number: 20070220828Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes printed matter to be used on envelopes, and other printed matter to be used on mail content to be included in the envelopes. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive sections of the web into separated sheets. Some of the separated sheets are envelope sheets including envelope printed matter, and some of the sheets are mail content sheets including mail content printed matter. The method includes cutting variable sized sheets depending on whether a sheet is a mail content sheet, or an envelope sheet. The method further includes cutting variable sized envelope sheets depending on the size of the mailpieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Inventors: Clare Woodman, Denis Stemmle, John Sussmeier, Eric Belec, Boris Rozenfeld, Gregory Skinger, Michael Cummings
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Patent number: 7254931Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes a continuous web having a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets is comprised of envelope sheets and content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive attached sheets into separated sheets. The content pages belonging to a same mailpiece are accumulated together. The separated envelope sheet is transported, bypassing the accumulating and turning steps. The accumulated and turned content pages are then merged with the envelope sheet, and the envelope sheet is folded and closed around the accumulated content pages to form a finished enclosing envelope.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Denis J Stemmle, Clare E Woodman, John W Sussmeier, Eric A Belec, Michael J Cummings
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Patent number: 7231750Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes printed matter to be used on envelopes, and other printed matter to be used on mail content to be included in the envelopes. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive sections of the web into separated sheets. Some of the separated sheets are envelope sheets including envelope printed matter, and some of the sheets are mail content sheets including mail content printed matter. The method includes cutting variable sized sheets depending on whether a sheet is a mail content sheet, or an envelope sheet. The method further includes cutting variable sized envelope sheets depending on the size of the mailpieces.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Clare E Woodman, Denis J Stemmle, John W Sussmeier, Eric A Belec, Boris Rozenfeld, Gregory P Skinger, Michael J Cummings
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Patent number: 7111536Abstract: A method for expelling air out of mailpieces includes the steps of creating a stack of the mailpieces; cutting an opening in at least some of the mailpieces; jogging the stack of mailpieces; and subjecting the stack of mailpieces to at least one compression/decompression cycle during the jogging step thereby expelling air out of the at least some of the mailpieces through their corresponding openings.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2001Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Eric A. Belec, Michael M. Farrell, Jeffrey A. Gateman, Edward C. Miller, Denis J. Stemmle
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Publication number: 20060186592Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes a continuous web having a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets is comprised of envelope sheets and content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive attached sheets into separated sheets. The content pages belonging to a same mailpiece are accumulated together. The separated envelope sheet is transported, bypassing the accumulating and turning steps. The accumulated and turned content pages are then merged with the envelope sheet, and the envelope sheet is folded and closed around the accumulated content pages to form a finished enclosing envelope.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2005Publication date: August 24, 2006Applicant: Pitney Bowes IncorporatedInventors: Denis Stemmle, Clare Woodman, John Sussmeier, Eric Belec, Michael Cummings
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Publication number: 20060185326Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes printed matter to be used on envelopes, and other printed matter to be used on mail content to be included in the envelopes. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive sections of the web into separated sheets. Some of the separated sheets are envelope sheets including envelope printed matter, and some of the sheets are mail content sheets including mail content printed matter. The method includes cutting variable sized sheets depending on whether a sheet is a mail content sheet, or an envelope sheet. The method further includes cutting variable sized envelope sheets depending on the size of the mailpieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2005Publication date: August 24, 2006Applicant: Pitney Bowes IncorporatedInventors: Clare Woodman, Denis Stemmle, John Sussmeier, Eric Belec, Boris Rozenfeld, Gregory Skinger, Michael Cummings
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Publication number: 20060151932Abstract: An accumulator apparatus for paper collations is disclosed having an accumulation chamber for receiving sheet material, the chamber defined by a fixed guide on one side, a movable guide on the other side and a movable stop member at one end. Driving means are included for driving said sheet material against said stop member, and means are provided for moving the movable guide between a first position in which it is spaced from the fixed guide by a gap sufficiently small to prevent buckling of the sheet material as it is driven by the driving means against the stop member, and a second position in which the movable guide is spaced away from the fixed guide for discharge of the sheet material from the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2005Publication date: July 13, 2006Applicant: Pitney Bowes LimitedInventors: Geoffrey Farmer, Paul Blamire, Eric Belec, Peter Watson, Keith Watts, Chris Brown
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Patent number: 6976801Abstract: The present invention describes a double belt transport system for moving a mailpiece into a printing area of a digital printer. The transport system includes an upper belt and a lower belt. The upper belt has a straight section to form a nip with the lower belt to ingest the mailpiece. The straight section also defines a registration plane to register the upper surface of the mailpiece with respect to the print head of the printer. In order to make sure the registration is consistent regardless of the thickness of the mailpiece, an up-lifting mechanism is used to push the bottom of the mailpiece in an upward direction against a shield plate, which is positioned substantially on the registration plane. A velocity measurement device, such as an optical encoder, is used to measure the moving speed of the belts so that the printing speed of the digital printer matches the moving speed of the mailpiece in the print area.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: James A. Salomon, Steven E. Cohen, Cyndee Jonas, Eric A. Belec
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Patent number: 6766626Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for guiding a mail piece traversing a mailing machine. A multi-ski guide can include an inner ski with one or more contact bumps positioned to engage a mail piece prior to its edge encountering a stripper blade. The multi-ski guide can be attached to a take away idler shaft located just prior to the stripping blade. A spring can provide a normal force holding the multi-ski guide down onto the top of the stripping blade. The multi-ski guide can contact the stripping blade with a contact bump. In addition, one or more inner skis can include mail piece guiding contact bumps. Idler segments can be interspersed between the skis included in the multi-ski guide such that the idler segments can guide and straighten a mail piece approaching the stripper blade.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert P. Rebres, Steven A. Supron, Eric A. Belec, Christopher Uschmann
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Publication number: 20040068959Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for guiding a mail piece traversing a mailing machine. A multi-ski guide can include an inner ski with one or more contact bumps positioned to engage a mail piece prior to its edge encountering a stripper blade. The multi-ski guide can be attached to a take away idler shaft located just prior to the stripping blade. A spring can provide a normal force holding the multi-ski guide down onto the top of the stripping blade. The multi-ski guide can contact the stripping blade with a contact bump. In addition, one or more inner skis can include mail piece guiding contact bumps. Idler segments can be interspersed between the skis included in the multi-ski guide such that the idler segments can guide and straighten a mail piece approaching the stripper blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: Pitney Bowes IncorporatedInventors: Robert P. Rebres, Steven A. Supron, Eric A. Belec, Christopher Uschmann
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Patent number: 6684682Abstract: A method for expelling air out of mailpieces includes the steps of creating a stack of the mailpieces; cutting an opening in at least some of the mailpieces; jogging the stack of mailpieces; and subjecting the stack of mailpieces to at least one compression/decompression cycle during the jogging step thereby expelling air out of the at least some of the mailpieces through their corresponding openings. A jogger system incorporates the structure for accomplishing the method.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Denis J. Stemmle, Eric A. Belec, Robert J. Allen, Michael M. Farrell, Jeffrey A. Gateman, Thomas M. Lyga, Edward C. Miller, John F. Zajac
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Patent number: 6619652Abstract: An arrangement for separating an entire collation of individual sheets from a supply stack for downstream processing. The arrangement includes a supply stack tray for containing the supply stack while the collations in the supply stack are being separated; a separator device positioned adjacent to the supply stack tray for separating a corner of each sheet of the collation from the supply stack; a deflector positioned adjacent to an edge of the collation for deflecting the collation from the supply stack after the collation has been separated by the separator; and a gripper device positioned in a plane proximate to the first sheet in the collation for gripping the entire collation after the collation has been deflected from the supply stack and for moving the entire collation downstream for processing.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Eric A Belec
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Patent number: 6585251Abstract: A separator includes a housing, a feeder mounted in the housing for feeding documents along a feed path and a retard mechanism mounted in the housing along the feed path and opposite to the feeder. The retard mechanism includes a body and a pad attached to the body. The body is mounted at first and second pivot points such that the body and pad can rotate around the first and second pivot points.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Eric A. Belec, Michael M. Farrell
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Publication number: 20030115998Abstract: A method for expelling air out of mailpieces includes the steps of creating a stack of the mailpieces; cutting an opening in at least some of the mailpieces; jogging the stack of mailpieces; and subjecting the stack of mailpieces to at least one compression/decompression cycle during the jogging step thereby expelling air out of the at least some of the mailpieces through their corresponding openings.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Eric A. Belec, Michael M. Farrell, Jeffrey A. Gateman, Edward C. Miller, Denis J. Stemmle