Patents by Inventor Norman C. Allie

Norman C. Allie 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).

  • Item feeder with overthickness detection
    Patent number: 7862040
    Abstract: An item feeder includes a deck for supporting items, a transport element for transporting the items along the deck on a transport path from an upstream loading area through a downstream receiving passage, a drive element for driving the transport element, and a cover element comprising a leading edge. The cover element may be movable between a closed position in which the leading edge is disposed at a first distance from the deck, and an open position in which the leading edge is disposed at a second greater distance from the deck. The leading edge may engage transported items having a thickness greater than the first distance to move the cover element out of the closed position. The item feeder further includes a controller for controlling the drive element, wherein the controller is configured to stop the drive element when the cover element is moved out of the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Luciano P. Dos Santos, Anthony P. Muffatti, Norman C. Allie
  • ITEM FEEDER WITH OVERTHICKNESS DETECTION
    Publication number: 20100156027
    Abstract: An item feeder includes a deck for supporting items, a transport element for transporting the items along the deck on a transport path from an upstream loading area through a downstream receiving passage, a drive element for driving the transport element, and a cover element comprising a leading edge. The cover element may be movable between a closed position in which the leading edge is disposed at a first distance from the deck, and an open position in which the leading edge is disposed at a second greater distance from the deck. The leading edge may engage transported items having a thickness greater than the first distance to move the cover element out of the closed position. The item feeder further includes a controller for controlling the drive element, wherein the controller is configured to stop the drive element when the cover element is moved out of the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Luciano P. Dos Santos, Anthony P. Muffatti, Norman C. Allie