Abstract: An apparatus for forming a stack of flat objects such as letters on a support is disclosed. A conveyor moves flat objects to the support. A stacking apparatus moves the flat objects onto the support into abutment against a jogging wall of the support. The conveyor and stacking apparatus are supported on a table which is movable relative to the support and stack. The stacking apparatus extends between the conveyor and jogging wall and includes an end having an axis about which the stacking apparatus is pivoted so as to be displaceable towards and away from the end of the stack.

Abstract: A device (1) for supporting a stack of sheet material with zones of uneven thickness, e.g. envelopes (11), on a printer with a pick-up device (16, 17) for the envelopes and a table (10) is provided with a supporting plate (2) as well as bar type supporting apparatus (3,4) at the side facing away from the pick-up device (16, 17). The bar type supporting apparatus (3,4) may be swung away laterally for easy access to the envelopes. Furthermore the device (1) may be equipped with a base plate (36) having adjusting legs (37), for adjusting the device in a horizontal position on a slant table (10).

Abstract: The front feeder for a high speed machine for handling mixed mail, including a nudger drive assembly for advancing the mail pieces while maintaining registration, and for fluffing a stack of mail contributing to preshingling of the mail as it is advanced downstream, angled decks and a back prop for a guideless hopper region, a tamper subsystem for maintaining registration of flapped envelopes, and structure configured to guide open envelope flaps along a slot for downstream sealing purposes.

Abstract: An envelope (12) which is the lowest in a stack is grasped at the edge of its flap part (26) by a carrier tooth (24) arranged on a conveying belt (18) for separating it from a stacking magazine (10). The envelope is fed directly to an office machine in a feed direction (14). Due to the arrangement of the conveying belt (18) on the removal side (28) of the magazine (10), the separation and feed are effected in one step by the single conveying member.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a flat article form a stream of articles moving along a straight path. The apparatus includes: a substantially curved, horizontal ramp movable vertically between a lower, home position and an upper position for engaging a removing the flat article form the stream and a swingable arm situated above the ramp. The arm has at its remote end a constantly turning roller and an arc, such that the constantly turning roller is always situated above the horizontal ramp. The path further included is a device for moving the ramp form the lower position to the upper position to engage the constantly turning roller to thereby drive the roller toward the flat article whereby the flat article is gripped by the constantly turning roller and removed form the stream of flat articles.

Abstract: An envelope construction including a pair of superimposed sheets 10, 12 having aligned opposed side edges 14, 16, a third edge 18 of one of the sheets 10 extending between the side edges 14, 16 being enlarged in comparison to the third edge 20 of the other sheet 12 and carrying an adhesive 24 to define a sealable flap 22 for the envelope. A U-shaped glue pattern 28 secures the sheets 10 and 12 together and the bight 32 of the U-shaped pattern is spaced from the third edges 18 and 20 as well as from a fourth edge 34 to define an envelope pocket as well as an envelope extension 36 between the bight 32 and the fourth edge 34. The extension 36 aids in the prevention of hang-up when the envelope is being fed, bottom first, into a stack of envelopes.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a single envelope from a stack of envelopes without misfeeding or double feeding is provided. The apparatus includes a picker blade which is articulated by a drive to impart of plurality of motions to the leading edge of an envelope after the picker blade has been engaged under the flap of an envelope to be separated from a stack of envelopes in a magazine. The novel stripping action of the picker blade ensures that the leading edge only of the envelope to be fed from the magazine is first stripped and separated from the stack of envelopes and directed past a restrainer which prevents the stack of envelopes adjacent the envelope to be fed from being moved in a feed direction.

Abstract: A method of extracting and accelerating flat objects such as postal items which are presented in the outlet position of an unstacking head for use by a machine downstream therefrom, the method making use of a clamp for grasping postal items one-by-one and of various sensors (7) such as photoelectric cells, serving to indicate the presence of a postal item in the outlet position of the unstacking head, or in the field of action of the clamp, or serving to indicate that the clamp is in a waiting position or in an end-of-stroke position, the method being characterized in that it essentially comprises the following stages:moving the clamp to a waiting position;when the presence of a postal item is expected in the outlet position from the unstacking head, driving the carriage towards the outlet position of the unstacking head;when the presence of the postal item is detected within the field of action of the clamp, the clamp is closed and the carriage is driven towards the downstream machine;as soon as the presence

Abstract: An envelope holder is described for feeding envelopes through a printer. It comprises a pocket formed from an upper and lower sheet joined together, a window portion of which is removed to allow printing of an envelope held in the pocket. The holder is improved in that the upper sheet has longitudinal edges that extend only a fraction of the length of the lower sheet portion that forms the pocket. That fraction is between about 30% and about 85% of the lower sheet length.

Abstract: A device for unstacking relatively flat objects such as letters or postal packets of various different lengths, widths, and thicknesses. The device includes: a conveyor for conveying stacks of objects as well as an object separating and grasping mechanism for separating and grasping the objects one-by-one, and a transport conveyor for transporting the objects one after another.

Abstract: An automatic feed device for postal franking machines includes a feed tray, a device for transporting mail on the feed tray and a drive of the transporting device. A separating head in the form of a structural unit includes brake levers separating mail and pressure rollers, holding-down devices and a manual actuating lever transporting mail. Guide shafts support the separating head during displacement of the separating head into a housing from an operating position outside the housing. A detent shaft and a slide lock the separating head in the operating position. A microswitch coupled with the slide controls the drive of the transporting device.

Abstract: A high speed envelope feeder is provided with a pair of pinch rolls for extracting an envelope from a stack of closed envelopes in a magazine. The flap of a closed envelope is opened by raising a cam surface under the flap to position the flap between a fixed pinch roll and a movable pinch roll. The movable pinch roll is articulated to grasp the flap between the pinch rolls. The flap is pulled to extract the envelope from the magazine and is subsequently pushed by the pinch rolls into the transport device.

Abstract: A carrier is disclosed for advancing one or more relatively small items such as envelopes, address cards, checks, and the like through a computer printer or word processor printer having a feed mechanism controlled remotely by the computer or word processor. The carrier includes a carrier sheet of a size that the feed mechanism of the printer can handle and at least one strip of non-setting, non-drying, pressure sensitive tacky adhesive attached to the carrier sheet to which the items can be attached and carried through the printer. Vertical and horizontal grid lines and horizontal and vertical location index numbers are printed on the top surface of the carrier sheet. Parallel retaining strips are also provided to hold the items flat against the carrier sheet.

Abstract: A belt and pulley conveyor device for flat objects comprises a substantially linear input conveyor and a substantially linear output conveyor orthogonal to the input conveyor. The input of the output conveyor is substantially contiguous with the output of the input conveyor. A chute is adapted to link the input and output conveyors. It has an object input/output and is adapted to pivot between an idle position in which it extends the output of the input conveyor and a transfer position in which it extends the input of the output conveyor. A control device is adapted to move the chute between the idle and transfer positions.

Abstract: Automatic printing apparatus wherein a single turnaround item-document is utilized as an initial source of intelligible information-data and thereafter by comparing certain of the data on the document with additional data inputted thereto by means of operably associated external hardware and subsequently summarizing the total data on the item effective to provide a final document including both the initially inputted information-data as well as the data resulting from the comparison and summarization.

Abstract: The electronic postage meter includes a microcomputer controlled thermal head opposite a scavenging roller and suitable means of cleaning the scavenging roller. A cassette containing a thermal transfer tape coated on one side with a thermal sensitive ink is received within a cartridge slot in the postage meter. The thermal tape is threaded within the cartridge to journal from a feed reel beyond a guide roller, between a thermal head and scavenging roller, to a transfer roller and be received by a take-up reel, the scavenging roller and thermal head being constituent of the postage meter. The mailing machine includes a back-up roller bias peripherally opposite the transfer roller. An image is traced on the thermal tape by the thermal head in response to a microcomputer constituent to the postage meter.

Abstract: A mechanism in which a personalized letter assembly is printed with a name and a personalized insert assembly is printed with the same name and the two are united into an envelope and in which the insert may be either a personalized letter or a personalized card.

Abstract: An envelope construction for use in a copy sheet feeding apparatus of a copying machine. The envelope having panels which, before closure and sealing, have only two overlapping layers of material and straight side edges which are equal to or greater than the distance the envelopes travel while being guided in the sheet feeding apparatus and before entering the transport system for the copying machine.

Abstract: There is illustrated and described a printing device having an integrated paper feeding apparatus adapted for supplying individual sheets of paper to the printing device to effect printing thereon. The integrated printer and paper feeding apparatus for the present invention is particularly suitable for use in word processing systems where the information to be printed in hard copy is contained in a memory device such as a floppy disk or the like. The apparatus may be directly linked to word processing equipment to receive the text of material to be printed. In addition to having the capability of automatically feeding individual sheets of paper from one or more paper trays to the printing device, the apparatus includes an automatic envelope supply mechanism for supplying individual envelopes to the printing device, as well as a manual paper feed option. After effecting printing on the paper or envelope, an ejector mechanism ejects the printed paper from the apparatus and into a receptacle in collated form.

Abstract: In an apparatus for stamping flat objects of different sizes and thicknesses, particularly postal items, said objects are arranged vertically on a feed table. The objects are individually removed from the latter and successively moved past a stamp and are then conveyed to a depositing table. The supplied and deposited objects are in parallel planes to one another. The feed and depositing tables are successively arranged in a vertical direction to one of these planes. The objects are removed from the feed table at right angles to said direction and are supplied to the depositing table. The objects are placed on the feed table by their leading edge in the transfer direction during individual removal. The conveying path of the object between the feed and depositing tables is horizontal.

Abstract: Multiple simultaneous envelope duplicating apparatus has a windowed feed elevator supplying envelope stacks to an offset duplicator. The elevator has an open frame supporting a pair of spaced apart parallel envelope stack supporting plates. The plates and the frame define windows for receiving in vertically movable relationship, guide members to maintain the envelope stacks upright and in alignment with suction feet at a receiving station of the offset duplicator. A delivery end of the duplicator having a receding stacker also has an open frame supporting a pair of spaced apart envelope stack supporting plates to receive printed envelopes, and define windows for receiving in vertically movable relationship, a second set of guide members to maintain the printed envelope stacks upright. Upright member supporting bases are adjustable so that the guide members can be fitted to bound the sides of different sized envelopes. Bulk envelope chargers have envelope receiving side plates and a back retaining plate.

Abstract: A dual-stream envelope feeding attachment for a sheet feeding printing press comprising a register bar centrally located in the feed path of the press between oppositely reciprocating joggers moving the envelopes into lateral registration against opposite sides of the register bar. The register bar can be assembled in a removable unit with a pair of oppositely disposed sheet riders urging the fed envelopes into contact with conveyor means on the press proximate to opposite sides of the register bar. A separator plate, having a thickness greater than the lateral width of the register bar, is mounted in alignment with the register bar on a stack feeder for initially positioning pairs of envelopes on the conveyor laterally separated from the register bar in preparation for registration thereto by the joggers.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for interfacing with envelope handling accessories for a universal multi-station document inserter for performing predetermined functions with envelopes having documents inserted therein by the multi-station document inserter, comprising the steps of providing an accessory interface microcomputer, arranging accessories responsive to output signals from the accessory interface microcomputer in an array, providing envelope sensing means in the array for providing clock signals to the accessory interface microcomputer, storing data words in the accessory interface microcomputer, certain of the data words indicating particular combinations of enelope sensing means for envelope jams and other data words indicating the type of accessory, its output location and providing clock data relating to the particular accessory, and indicating the accessories to be actuated by an envelope entering the array, storing envelope handling programs in the accessory interface microcomputer, and act

Abstract: In a bag processing unit of an automatic transaction machine, a locking pawl is fixed at the upper portion of a bag dispensing plate for dispensing a new bag among the bags stored in a hopper, and a locking arm having an engaging portion engageable with the locking pawl is pivoted by a solenoid, thereby releasing the locking state.

Abstract: An envelope feeder sequentially feeds envelopes from a loading station to a printing station of a conventional printer for addressing, and releases addressed envelopes at a discharge station. The feeder includes an upstanding housing that journals a platen roll at its lower end and an idler roll at its upper end. The feeder's platen roll replaces the printer's conventional platen roll and serves to drivingly connect the feeder to the printer. The housing has a front guide surface that faces forwardly with respect to the printer, and a rear guide surface that faces rearwardly. At least two transport belts have reaches that extend along the front and rear guide surfaces. The belts extend around and are held taut by the feeder's platen and idler rolls.

Abstract: Sheet and envelope feeder apparatus for a printer comprising first and second trays for respective stacks of sheets of paper and first and second drive rollers for feeding sheets of paper from the respective trays to the printer where a printing operation is effected on at least one of the faces of the sheets of paper. A third tray is provided for envelopes and a third drive roller for feeding envelopes from the third tray to the printer. The first and second drive rollers are selectively driven by a first drive motor to feed the sheets of paper.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand-alone electronic mailing machine that includes a postage metering device. The invention has particular utility when utilized in a mailing machine of the reciprocating platen type. The entire drive mechanism, setting mechanism, and control devices as well as the postage metering mechanisms are all contained in one housing so that there is no need for a separate base. In the mailing machine of this invention, a single central processing unit is utilized along with memory for the purpose of accounting for the postage value that has been charged into the mailing machine as well as the amount that has been used. An envelope ejection mechanism is provided to remove an envelope from the mailing machine after postage has been printed thereon. Included in the envelope ejection mechanism is a provision for applying pressure to an envelope being ejected so that the contents thereof will move in unison with the envelope.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sequentially feeding pieces of stationery such as envelopes from a supply hopper to a conventional printer mechanism for printing addresses or the like thereon, and for sequentially transporting printed pieces to a storage hopper. The system of the invention utilizes a dispensing mechanism for feeding one piece of stationery at a time from the supply hopper, a positioning mechanism for receiving a piece of stationery and positioning it along the path of travel of a pair of transport belts, and a transport mechanism for belt-feeding pieces of stationery around a printing platen for printing.

Abstract: At one side of a stack of printed products or the like there are provided entrainment elements which are mounted at a revolving or orbiting driven chain or equivalent structure. Each entrainment element is inserted at one side of the momentarily lowermost printed product of the stack between the sheets of such printed product and comes into contact with the folding edge or spine of such printed product. By further moving the entrainment element the lowermost product is pulled out from beneath the stack while turning or rotating the same at the region of the product corner at which engages the entrainment element. The thus freely exposed region of the folding edge or spine of the lowermost product then comes to lie between two rolls or rollers of a product removal device, one of these removal rolls being driven. Both of these rolls pull the seized product out of the bottom of the stack in the product removal direction and place such upon two outfeed conveyor belts or bands.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus attachable to a printer for feeding and delivering envelopes. Storage means for fresh and printed envelopes which are disposed perpendicularly to the orientation of print direction. A reduction in overall size required in a mechanism for handling feed and delivery of both cut sheets and envelopes is achieved.

Abstract: An envelope feeder which can be mounted on a printer having a rotatable platen and a printing head for automatically feeding, printing and stacking envelopes is disclosed. It has a blank envelope feeding hopper from which blank envelopes are extracted one at a time and fed by a transporting roll and belt mechanism to the printer platen for printing. The position of the envelope is sensed when it reaches the printer platen and the transporting mechanism stopped for printing of the envelope by the printing head. After printing is completed, the transporting mechanism is reactivated to deliver the printed envelope to an envelope receiving hopper for stacking in sequence with other printed envelopes.

Abstract: The printer is included in an apparatus for depositing valuables in envelopes, which are conveyed to a depositor at a constant speed. The printer includes a type wheel inked by a removable inking roller and selectively rotatable by a stepping motor, each time from the angular position of the previous printed character.A guiding roller normally holds the envelope distanced from the type wheel and is removed at a constant rate for causing the envelope to be printed.In the interval between two subsequent character printing operations the envelope is advanced one letter space, whereas the type wheel has time to be rotated at least one revolution.

Abstract: Independent conveyor belt systems each have a run overlapped with different portions of a run of a single endless belt to clamp an envelope therebetween to convey the envelope through successive sealing material applicator and drying stations. The belt systems enable feeding and removal of the envelopes from the same side of the apparatus and provide for compactness and portability of the apparatus.

Abstract: Document weighing apparatus is provided which includes a scale having a channel-shaped document weighing platform. The platform defines a passageway for receiving vertically oriented documents serially fed to the platform. In addition, the apparatus includes document decelerating instrumentalities comprising a pair of flexure springs mounted for movement between a passageway restricting position and a non-passageway restricting position. The flexure springs are oriented with respect to each other, when disposed in the passageway restricting position, for cooperatively progressively restricting the passageway in the direction of downstream movement of documents; thereby to exert decelerating forces on the opposed major surfaces of documents in the passageway. In addition, the apparatus includes instrumentalities for moving the flexure springs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically delivering discrete pieces of stationery, particularly envelopes, serially at a controlled rate from a stack of stationery into a programmable printing machine such as an automatic or a manual typewriter. Simultaneously, discrete pieces of stationery which have been printed by the typewriter are automatically fed back into the stack at the same rate at which they were delivered therefrom. The speed of operation of this automatic stationery handling apparatus is automatically coordinated to the speed at which discrete pieces of stationary can be processed by the programmable typewriter.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing two-way mailers constituted by a single blank imprinted with data on both faces thereof, the blank then being formed into superposed panels that not only define pre-addressed forwarding and return envelopes but also a printed statement of charges and a return stub to accompany payment, thereby making it possible for a company to forward to a customer a statement of charges and for the customer to remit to the company. In the system, the blanks are individually printed on both faces thereof in a printing stage that includes a conveyor loop wherein fresh blanks admitted into the loop are fed under the printing head for imprinting on one face thereof, each blank then being turned over and advanced on the loop toward a two-position output gate. In its first position, the gate passes the blank into a reentry mechanism acting to readmit the turned-over blank into the loop for imprinting on the other face thereof.