Abstract: The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, to a method of updating an addressee database in an incoming mail sorting apparatus comprising the steps of: a) providing the addressee database stored in memory associated with the mail sorting apparatus; b) providing a mailpiece to be read and sorted by the mail sorting apparatus; c) reading the mailpiece to determine whether the mailpiece is an update form; d) reading update information from the mailpiece if the mailpiece is an update form; e) updating addressee information as required by the update information on the update form. The method can be initiated by each individual employee using a readily available form and providing information manually or by using a software program resident on the employee's personal computer to generate the update form information. The method provides an easily accessible method of updating an addressee database that reduces database maintenance costs.

Abstract: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of removing mail from the mail stream using a mail sorting apparatus. The foregoing is accomplished by providing a method that can determine whether mail is wanted or unwanted. Thus, the present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a method of removing unwanted mail from a mail stream using an incoming mail sorting apparatus comprising the steps of: obtaining information from a mailpiece using the mail sorting apparatus; evaluating the information obtained from the mailpiece to determine whether the mailpiece should be delivered; delivering the mailpiece if it is determined that the mailpiece should be delivered to an intended recipient or out-sorting the mailpiece if it is determined that the mailpiece should not be delivered to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A fastener for splicing ends of conveyor belts together is provided having a rivet that is pre-inserted thereto to provide speed and ease in installation. The rivet is held in an aperture of the upper plate by an interference fit at the lower end thereof. Preferably, the interference fit is achieved by knurling of the lower end portion of the rivet shaft to create raised interference portions or ridges integral therewith that are sized to be in an interference fit in the upper plate aperture. The remainder of the shaft can be sized to provide clearance between it and the aperture. An applicator machine tool is also provided for automatically securing a strip of the pre-inserted rivet fasteners to a belt end in a fast and efficient manner. The tool uses operating members to first drive pilot nails through the belt lower surface into registry with the rivets, and thereafter the rivets are driven coordinated with the pilot nails that are withdrawn back through the belt.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, to a method of updating an addressee database in an incoming mail sorting apparatus comprising the steps of: a) providing the addressee database stored in memory associated with the mail sorting apparatus; b) providing a mailpiece to be read and sorted by the mail sorting apparatus; c) reading the mailpiece to determine whether the mailpiece is an update form; d) reading update information from the mailpiece if the mailpiece is an update form; e) updating addressee information as required by the update information on the update form. The method can be initiated by each individual employee using a readily available form and providing information manually or by using a software program resident on the employee's personal computer to generate the update form information. The method provides an easily accessible method of updating an addressee database that reduces database maintenance costs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for remote receipt of a message, such as a telephone, e-mail, facsimile or paper message. A server or data center is provided for receiving messages from a sender communicating with a recipient mobile device. The data center sends the message to the mobile device. If the recipient desires to receive the message, he/she indicates this on his/her mobile device. The mobile device and the device which will receive the message, i.e., the destination device, are spontaneously networked such that the mobile device communicates the information to the destination device without requirement of ensuring the compatibility of programs or networks. Prior to transmission, the mobile device determines if any translation or transcoding of the original message is required in order for the destination device to receive the message in proper format. Once transcoding or translation is effected, the message is routed to the destination device for output.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile device equipped with a wireless communication capability for generating electronic documents. The mobile device uses the wireless communication capability to communicate with a separate wireless communication tag. The wireless communication tag includes such information as a print device destination address, and the capabilities of the print device matching the destination address. The mobile device receives the destination device information and sends it and a document to a remote data processing center. The document and information may be sent via a network connection or a mobile communication means to a data-processing center. Once the data center receives the information and document the data processing center, the data center determines if any translation or transcoding of the original message is required in order for the destination device to receive the message in the a format which is compatible to the desired destination device.

Abstract: A fastener for splicing ends of conveyor belts together is provided having a rivet that is pre-inserted thereto to provide speed and ease in installation. The rivet is held in an aperture of the upper plate by an interference fit at the lower end thereof. Preferably, the interference fit is achieved by knurling of the lower end portion of the rivet shaft to create raised interference portions or ridges integral therewith that are sized to be in an interference fit in the upper plate aperture. The remainder of the shaft can be sized to provide clearance between it and the aperture. An applicator machine tool is also provided for automatically securing a strip of the pre-inserted rivet fasteners to a belt end in a fast and efficient manner. The tool uses operating members to first drive pilot nails through the belt lower surface into registry with the rivets, and thereafter the rivets are driven coordinated with the pilot nails that are withdrawn back through the belt.

Abstract: A fastener for splicing ends of conveyor belts together is provided having a rivet that is pre-inserted thereto to provide speed and ease in installation. The rivet is held in an aperture of the upper plate by an interference fit at the lower end thereof. Preferably, the interference fit is achieved by knurling of the lower end portion of the rivet shaft to create raised interference portions or ridges integral therewith that are sized to be in an interference fit in the upper plate aperture. The remainder of the shaft can be sized to provide clearance between it and the aperture. An applicator machine tool is also provided for automatically securing a strip of the pre-inserted rivet fasteners to a belt end in a fast and efficient manner. The tool uses operating members to first drive pilot nails through the belt lower surface into registry with the rivets, and thereafter the rivets are driven coordinated with the pilot nails that are withdrawn back through the belt.

Abstract: The method of the present invention relates generally to a method for sorting mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus. In one embodiment of the present invention, instructions are provided to the mail sorting apparatus in a machine readable format such as barcode. The instructions are printed on a form that can be fed into the mail sorting apparatus in the same manner that a mailpiece is fed into the mail sorting apparatus. The form is run through the feed path of the mail sorting apparatus. The barcode is read using a scanner. A signal on the form indicates that the mailpiece is a form, and that information contained in the barcode is an instruction. The instruction may be, for example, an instruction to 1) halt may be implemented through use or reprogramming of application software may be presented by using the form. The method provides for sorting of mailpieces with less stopping of the sorting apparatus to provide new instructions.

Abstract: A hinged fastener for splicing transverse ends of conveyor belts together with the belt fastener having teeth that are bent from one of the fastener plates for piercing and sinking into the belt to increase the holding power of the fastener. In the preferred form, the fastener is attached to the belt end with two rivets with the teeth being adjacent the rivets to provide a small, low cost, high performance fastener. The teeth are formed by bending them down from the outer edge of the plate and about a bend line parallel to the inner edge of the plate so that the teeth face the belt end to keep the teeth from being pulled through the belt material. The location of the teeth adjacent the rivets maximizes the depth of penetration of the teeth into the belt for improved fastener holding power and minimizes the likelihood that the teeth will be bent upward and lose holding power when the belt is highly tensioned.

Abstract: A combination of a belt fastener having upper and lower plates joined by arcuate hinge loops and staples preassembled in apertures formed in the upper plates is provided with the staples cooperating with the plates to capture an end of a belt between the plates. The edges of the apertures provide the staples with vertically spaced areas of interference fit with the combination of the preassembled staples and fasteners being effective to reduce the time required to install these plate-type fasteners on bell ends while also holding the staples in an upright, pre-set position against forces that would otherwise cause the staple to slide against the aperture edges until a sufficient driving force is applied for driving the legs through belt material to attach the fastener on a belt end.

Abstract: A belt fastener having an upper plate and a lower plate with holes which align with holes in a pair of belt ends, and bolts are inserted through the aligned holes of the plates and the belt ends, and nuts screwed onto the bolts, to connect the belt ends. A preassembled lower plate and bolt combination is provided in which bolts are retained in their respective lower plate apertures by washers disposed on the bolt shanks. The washers are disposed on the bolt shanks sufficiently close to the lower plate to maintain anti-rotational engagement of the bolts with the lower plate, and spaced sufficiently far from the lower plate to allow outward swinging of the bolts to an insertion position for insertion of the bolts through the belt holes in an outwardly swung position for subsequent drawing together of the bolt and belt ends.

Abstract: The coin sorter includes a rotating hard disc forming the bottom of a hopper, and a stationary sorter plate to one side of the hard disc. The sorter plate includes a circular sorting track that begins at a point adjacent to the perimeter of the hard disc and which includes a series of spaced sorting openings each sized for a particular coin denomination. The track has an edge defined by a thin resilient rail held in place in a groove by an elastomer band. A second rotating disc having a series of resilient fingers depending from its underside is mounted above and in close proximity to the upper surface of the sorter plate. The fingers partially overlap the upper surface of the hard disc. Coins deposited in the hopper are formed into a single file and single layer at the outer edge a central upright portion of the hard disc.

Abstract: A sorter for mixed denominations of coins has an inclined feeding disc which carry coins on flights from a hopper to the entrance of an inclined track having a referenced edge comprises a rail with a lip on the rear of the rail. The surface of the inclined track is defined by a series of adjustable gates which define openings with the rail that are sized to the respective diameters of the coins to be sorted. Coins entering the track are engaged by an endless of belt or series of belts having projections, such as inclined fingers, that are spaced from the surface of the track a distance less then the thinnest coin. When the coins distort the projections upon entering the track, they are forced against the rail and are thereafter carried by the belt along the track until they reach their respective opening. At the opening, the release of the distorted projections imparts a force which lifts the coins over the lip and through the opening.

Abstract: A coin sorter has a rotating disc with a resilient upper surface that operates in conjunction with an overlying stationary sorter plate. The plate has a nominal plane surface that is spaced from the resilient surface of the disc a distance less than the thickness of the thinnest coin to be sorted. A series of recesses are provided from the nominal surface. Each recess has inwardly and outwardly facing converging shoulders which extend from a distance at least as great as the diameter of the largest coin to a distance which is less than the contact width of the smallest coin. Coins are deposited on the disc through a central opening in the plate and are moved through the recesses. The converging shoulders form the coins into a single file against one of the shoulders and strip overlapped or interleaved coins so that a single layer of coins is formed in a single file adjacent the perimeter of the disc.

Abstract: A coin sorter is disclosed in which a flexible rotating disc opposes a stationary plate that has surfaces which form a series of guide surfaces which are spaced from the disc a distance less than the thickness of coins to be sorted. Coins are deposited on the rotating disc through a central opening in the plate. The guide surfaces form the coins into a single layer and single file at the periphery of the disc. The coins in the single file are pinched between the disc and plate with their inner edges against an outwardly facing spiral shoulder and with their outer edges projecting beyond the perimeter of the disc. The coins in the single file are engaged, in descending order of diameter, by a series of stationary plows spaced about the periphery of the disc. When engaged by a plow, each coin is removed from the pinch between the rotating disc and the plate and is sorted off from the disc at that point.

Abstract: A coin sorter has a hopper in which mixed coins are deposited. A resilient horizontal disc is disposed at the bottom of the hopper and a stationary sorting plate overlies the disc. Coins are carried by the rotating disc between the disc and plate and formed into a single file and single layer and carried to an exit at the perimeter of the sorting plate. A diverter plate engages the coins at the exit and tips them to a position in which they are upright against the peripheral edge of the rotating disc. The upright coins are carried by the edge of the disc past a series of sorting stations formed as openings in curved walls. The coins fall through an opening appropriate to their particular size and into drawers that are suspended beneath the openings on a rotatable collar.

Abstract: The invention provides wire conveying clamp assemblies for high speed conveying of accurately sized wire leads and for precisely presenting the leads for mass termination, as for example to the terminals on a terminal block. The clamp assemblies are secured to an endless chain that rotates in a flat orbital path, and each assembly includes a side plate support fixedly attached to the chain, and a clamp housing slideably attached to that side plate support. The clamp housing is slideably movable along the side plate support in a direction parallel to the path of movement of the chain. A clamp arm is slideably mounted on the housing, and guide pin means are slideably engaged in the arm. A comb for engaging wire leads is attached to one end of the guide pin means, and pusher means move the comb and the guide pin means transversely relative to the chain path to cause separation of the free ends of the wire leads.