Patents by Inventor Linda A. Howard

Linda A. Howard 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: 6547233
    Abstract: A method and system for transporting envelopes from an envelope feeder to an envelope staging area in an envelope insertion machine. The envelope transport system includes two envelope bins and two envelope supply paths linking the envelope bins to an envelope feeder. Each of the bins is used to temporarily store an envelope before that envelope is moved to the staging area. The envelope supply paths are controlled by a flipper gate which alternately opens one path and closes another so as to allow an envelope to enter one envelope bin while another envelope in the other envelope bin is moved to the staging area. With the dual envelope bins connected to the dual supply paths to receive envelopes released by the envelope feeder, the envelope feeder does not have to slow down substantially in order to wait for the released envelope to clear the feeding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos DeFigueiredo, Linda A. Howard, John W. Sussmeier, William J. Wright, Karel J. Janatka
  • Patent number: 6386537
    Abstract: A system and corresponding method for accumulating sheets as part of the operation of a mailing system and for conveying the sheets along a normal feed path, and including a mis-scan diverter for diverting sheets that have been mis-scanned from a normal feed path to a first alternate path, and a selective diverter for diverting selective document sets from the normal feed path to a second alternate path. In some applications, the selective diverter includes a pivot table by-pass guide positioned according to commands received from a selective controller so as to selectively divert a sheet. Such a selective diverter uses a nip formed at the distal end of the pivot table by-pass guide by a continuously running cooperating roller and a surface of the pivot table by-pass guide, so that a sheet entering the nip so formed is diverted to the second alternate path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Linda A. Howard, Edward M. Ifkovits, Eric J. Janatka, Shahzad H. Malick
  • Publication number: 20020027320
    Abstract: A method and system for transporting envelopes from an envelope feeder to an envelope staging area in an envelope insertion machine. The envelope transport system includes two envelope bins and two envelope supply paths linking the envelope bins to an envelope feeder. Each of the bins is used to temporarily store an envelope before that envelope is moved to the staging area. The envelope supply paths are controlled by a flipper gate which alternately opens one path and closes another so as to allow an envelope to enter one envelope bin while another envelope in the other envelope bin is moved to the staging area. With the dual envelope bins connected to the dual supply paths to receive envelopes released by the envelope feeder, the envelope feeder does not have to slow down substantially in order to wait for the released envelope to clear the feeding path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Incorporated
    Inventors: Carlos L. DeFigueiredo, Linda A. Howard, John W. Sussmeier, William J. Wright, Karel J. Janatka
  • Patent number: 6290226
    Abstract: A method and system for transporting envelopes from an envelope feeder to an envelope staging area in an envelope insertion machine. The envelope transport system includes two envelope bins and two envelope supply paths linking the envelope bins to an envelope feeder. Each of the bins is used to temporarily store an envelope before that envelope is moved to the staging area. The envelope supply paths are controlled by a flipper gate which alternately opens one path and closes another so as to allow an envelope to enter one envelope bin while another envelope in the other envelope bin is moved to the staging area. With the dual envelope bins connected to the dual supply paths to receive envelopes released by the envelope feeder, the envelope feeder does not have to slow down substantially in order to wait for the released envelope to clear the feeding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos L DeFigueiredo, Linda A. Howard, John W. Sussmeier, William J. Wright, Karel J. Janatka
  • Patent number: 6102391
    Abstract: An apparatus for changing the direction of travel of a flat article being conveyed seriatim along a paper path without changing the orientation of the flat article with respect to a first direction of travel. The apparatus includes a deck having an upstream end for receiving a flat article being conveyed along a paper path in a first direction and a registration wall upstanding on the deck and spaced from the upstream end, the registration wall having a longitudinal axis defining a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. A drive assembly is operatively coupled to the deck in proximity to the registration wall and is operative to seize a first leading edge of a flat article traveling in the first direction on the deck and convey the flat article in the second direction such that the leading edge of the flat article abuts against the registration wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Shahzad Malick, Neil J. Kennedy, Linda A. Howard, Douglas Sprenger, Charles C. Fuller
  • Patent number: 5826474
    Abstract: Apparatus for dividing a continuous web having perforated, marginal strips on its sides into discrete sheets and removing the marginal strips. The apparatus includes: a device for engaging and moving the perforated, marginal strips of the continuous web along a feed path; a slitting device located downstream of the engaging and moving device for separating the marginal strips from the remaining, central portion of the web; a cutting device for dividing the remaining, central portion of the web into discrete sheets; a pair of deflectors located downstream of the cutting device for advancing the remaining, central portion of the web and for guiding the severed, marginal portions below the feed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Linda A. Howard, Edward M. Ifkovits
  • Patent number: 5297783
    Abstract: Thus the present invention provides an apparatus for conveying both individual sheets of paper and a web of forms having equally spaced, successive, transverse lines of weakening along a longitudinal path and for separating the forms along the transverse lines of weakening and merging the cut sheets and the separated forms for further processing. There is a transport section, superposed over the bursting section, including at least one upper and one lower belt and pulley assembly for conveying individual sheets along a second paper path, the second paper path merging into the first paper path, and structure for detaining the individual sheets at a position along the second paper path before the second paper path merges into the first paper path, whereby the individual sheets and the separated forms are thereafter processed along the first paper path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Linda A. Howard, Karel J. Janatka