Abstract: An inserter device and method for feeding products from an input conveyor to moving carriers on a conveyor system is provided. The inserter device receives incoming products and deposits the products on the carriers such that the products come to rest in a controlled area of the carrier and with a controlled orientation. A linear inserter device is provided which uses a series of rollers operating in a first direction to receive the product and a belt removes the products from the rollers onto carriers or other conveying devices. The belt moves in a rotational direction substantially ninety degrees (90.degree.) displaced from the direction of rotation of the rollers. A rotary inserter device is also provided in which the products are received in a compartmented rotor such that rotation of the rotor allows dropping of the product, by gravity, onto a carrier in a manner synchronized with the speed of the rotation of the carrier.

Abstract: An automatic device for sweeping letter mail or alternatively, stacking and sweeping letter mail, and depositing the resultant stack into a managed mail tray. The sweeping device provides an accumulation platform which receives a stream of mail, the platform having a slidable end plate urged against the accumulating stack of mail which overcomes the urging of the end plate to fill the accumulation platform. A sweep plate is thereafter actuated to pierce the stack and thereafter translate towards the end plate to compress the now captured stack to a specified length. The specified length correspond to trap doors provided in the accumulation platform which thereafter open to vertically drop the stack into a managed mail tray arranged therebelow. A forward plate is provided to pierce the stack with the sweep plate to hold back further accumulated mail while the specified stack is being compressed and deposited.

Abstract: An orientation chute is provided for a sorting machine which has a horizontal conveyor. The chute positively guides the objects as they leave the conveyor such that the relative orientation of successive objects leaving the container is maintained as the objects are deposited at a point of collection. A curved panel, either smooth or stepped, is used to intercept the objects as they leave the conveyor and to redirect them toward a stop member which stops their horizontal inertial velocity. The panel is sloped from the vertical to balance gravitational and centrifugal forces to maintain the object essentially horizontally as it moves across the panel. Once the object is stopped, it falls under the force of gravity along a slide potion of the chute to be deposited in a collection container.

Abstract: An orientation chute is provided for a sorting machine which has a horizontal conveyor. The chute positively guides the objects as they leave the conveyor such that the relative orientation of successive objects leaving the container is maintained as the objects are deposited at a point of collection. A curved panel is used to intercept the objects as they leave the conveyor and to redirect them toward a stop member which stops their horizontal inertial velocity. The panel is sloped from the vertical to balance gravitational and centrifugal forces to maintain the object essentially horizontally as it moves across the panel. Once the object is stopped, it falls under the force of gravity along a slide portion of the chute to be deposited in a collection container.