Front end feeder for mail handling machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Feeder apparatus for flapped and unflapped envelopes comprising:
- (a) a hopper region for receiving a stack of envelopes, said hopper region comprising a deck and a side wall mounted for movement transverse to the deck longitudinal direction,(b) transport means in the hopper region for moving the envelopes forward in the deck longitudinal direction,(c) and means for moving the side wall with respect to the deck coupled to the transport means.
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Accused Products
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 one envelope flaps along a slot for downstream sealing purposes.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Feeder apparatus for flapped and unflapped envelopes comprising:
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(a) a hopper region for receiving a stack of envelopes, said hopper region comprising a deck and a side wall mounted for movement transverse to the deck longitudinal direction, (b) transport means in the hopper region for moving the envelopes forward in the deck longitudinal direction, (c) and means for moving the side wall with respect to the deck coupled to the transport means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14)
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5. Feeder apparatus for flapped and unflapped envelopes comprising:
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(a) a hopper region for receiving a stack of envelopes, said hopper region comprising a deck and a side wall mounted for movement transverse to the deck longitudinal direction, (b) transport means in the hopper region for moving the envelopes forward in the deck longitudinal direction, (c) means for moving the side wall with respect to the deck from a first closed position up against the deck to a second open position spaced from and forming with the deck edge a slot to receive the envelope flaps of flapped envelopes stacked on the deck, said side wall moving means having means for vibrating the side wall.
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6. Feeder apparatus for flapped and unflapped envelopes comprising:
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(a) a hopper region for receiving a stack of envelopes, said hopper region comprising a deck and a side wall mounted for movement transverse to the deck longitudinal direction, (b) means for moving the side wall with respect to the deck from a first closed position up against the deck to a second open position spaced from and forming with the deck edge a slot to receive the envelope flaps of flapped envelopes stacked on the deck, said side wall moving means having means for applying periodically a light and a heavy force urging the side wall toward the deck edge. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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13. Feeder apparatus for a stack of mixed mail comprising:
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(a) a hopper region for receiving the stack of mail, said hopper region comprising a deck, a rear wall, and a side wall, (b) transport means located in the hopper region for moving mail toward the side wall and in a downstream direction away from the rear wall, (c) said transport means and hopper region cooperating to cause said mail as it is moved in the downstream direction to assume a shingled configuration with lower mail pieces in the stack being advanced downstream ahead of upper mail pieces in the stack, and (d) means connected to said transport means for causing said side wall to apply alternating heavy and light forces against the mail pieces in synchronism with the movement of the mail pieces in the downstream direction.
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Specification