Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for providing multiple loading sites or entry sites for a single conveyor belt. This apparatus and method is particularly adapted to handling of pieces of flat mail. For each such loading site, another conveyor belt feeds mail flats to a transfer-buffer station measuring their sizes in the process. The feeder belt does not place a mail flat in the transfer-buffer station unless that station is sensed to be empty. The transfer-buffer station provides individual mail flats, one at a time, to an inclined conveyor belt, which serves as an inserter belt system. After a mail flat is moved by the transfer-buffer station onto the inserter belt system, the inserter belt system moves the mail flat to an intermediate "ready-to-load" park position and then stops. When a gap appears on the main conveyor belt, the inserter belt moves the mail flat onto that gap.

Abstract: Flat mail pieces of intermixed sizes and thicknesses are received and distributed to separately arranged storage compartments. Each such compartment contains special features and functions which ensure smooth entry of incoming mail, maintain the facing and orientation of received mail pieces, readily permit stack accumulation, and readily enable release of a full stack from the storage compartment. A vertically-mobile stack support plate maintains a relatively short but constant drop distance for all mail pieces entering the stacking compartment. To transfer a stack of mail, the stack is stripped off its support plate and onto a bed of rollers by lateral movement of the storage compartment away from the support plate. After a tray container has been positioned to accept the stack of mail, the bed is rolled out from beneath the stack, gently transferring the stack onto the bottom of the tray.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for receiving a flow of packages such as parcels or bundles, dividing it into plural streams for easier singulation, singulating each such stream, and delivering the produced packages one at a time to a user, each stream being provided to a different user. Downstream sensors are used to control a deflector which in turn divides a received flow of packages into multiple such flows and apportions the received packages among the two output flows. Singulation of each such output flow is accomplished by a plurality of inclined belts which each moves a received package upward and over its peak to drop for entry into the next stage downstream, thereby singulating the received flow in stages. These belt stages are individually controlled by further downstream sensors and motors which prevent movement of upstream such belt(s) if one or more packages, indicating a flow blockage, is sensed downstream.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for receiving a flow of packages such as parcels or bundles, dividing it into plural streams for easier singulation, singulating each such stream, and delivering the produced packages one at a time to a user, each stream being provided to a different user. Downstream sensors are used to control a deflector which in turn divides a received flow of packages into multiple such flows and apportions the received packages among the two output flows. Singulation of each such output flow is accomplished by a plurality of inclined belts which each moves a received package upward and over its peak to drop for entry into the next stage downstream, thereby singulating the received flow in stages. These belt stages are individually controlled by further downstream sensors and motors which prevent movement of upstream such belt(s) if one or more packages, indicating a flow blockage, is sensed downstream.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for receiving a flow of packages such as parcels or bundles, dividing it into plural streams for easier singulation, singulating each such stream, and delivering the produced packages one at a time to a user, each stream being provided to a different user. Downstream sensors are used to control a deflector which in turn divides a received flow of packages into multiple such flows and apportions the received packages among the two output flows. Singulation of each such output flow is accomplished by a plurality of inclined belts which each moves a received package upward and over its peak to drop for entry into the next stage downstream, thereby singulating the received flow in stages. These belt stages are individually controlled by further downstream sensors and motors which prevent movement of upstream such belt(s) if one or more packages, indicating a flow blockage, is sensed downstream.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for producing a singulated flow of correctly oriented flats (100 or 160) includes an input conveyor (12), a plurality of singulating conveyors (14, 16, and 18), and a skew correction station (20). A stack of flats (100 or 160) is deposited onto an inclined surface (42) of the input conveyor (12). The input conveyor (12) produced a running shingle of flats by frictionally engaging and pulling the bottom most flat in the stack. The plurality of singulating conveyors (14, 16, and 18) convert the running shingle into a singulated flow using frictional, inertial, and gravitational forces. By advancing conveyor (16) while halting conveyor (14), a flat (102) is pulled from underneath flat (108) with flat (108) remaining stationary. By operating conveyor (16) in a pulsed acceleration mode, passenger flat (122) is separated from underlying flat (120). By angling the conveyors (14, 16, and 18) in an upward direction, rearward gravitational force passenger flats (134 and 136) down conveyor (14).

Abstract: A printer system is configured as a kit for retrofitting the input consoles of existing letter sorting machines of the type used by the U.S. Postal Service. Such machines require that an operator, stationed at a console, enter sorting information for each mail piece, by way of a manually actuated keyboard. The present invention expands the processing capabilities of the machines by imprinting machine-readable, coded information on the respective faces of the mail pieces simultaneously with the sorting thereof. At the same time, the printing function does not impair or modify the usual operator-controlled console when mail is processed which does not require such coding.

Abstract: A punch press (20) having a worktable (40) for supporting a worksheet (21), a two axis positioning mechanism for positioning the worksheet under a punching head (34) and universal grippers (44, 46) supported on the worksheet positioning mechanism which can grip either the end or sides of a worksheet (21). The two axis positioning mechanism is formed from a carriage (42) which is movable along the worktable (40) and a cross slide (41) which is mounted from and movable across the carriage (42) to provide the two axis sheet positioning. The grippers (44, 46) are mounted from a T-slot (130) formed in the cross slide (41) and can be moved to different positions to accommodate various sheet sizes. Aligning pins (140, 142, 143, 144) which can be used for aligning worksheets are provided. Aligning pins (140, 142, 143, 144) during operation are retracted beneath the worktable (40).

Abstract: A punch press (20), for punching a workpiece, utilizing an elongated punch support which is formed from removable interconnected punch cartridges (92) and an elongated die support which is formed from removable interconnected die cartridges (94). A punch head (32) is supported from a frame (30) which spans the punching area. A two axis positioning system is provided for positioning the sheet metal workpiece within the punching area beneath the punch head. Punch head (32) through appropriate mechanical interposer (160) engages a punch which in conjunction with an associated die, positioned there beneath, forms a hole in the workpiece. The elongated punch sections (92) and die sections (94) can be moved out of the punch press frame, disengaged and removed or replaced. The first punch section (92) and first die section (94) engage driver sections (192, 194) which are disposed in the frame (30). The driver sections (192, 194) are then moved to bring the tool supporting sections (92, 94) into the press.