Automated thickness and length detecting and sorting system for envelopes
First Claim
1. An envelope handling system for receiving and sorting envelopes based upon pre-selected criteria for envelope thickness and length, said system comprisingA. an envelope sensing section comprising first and second cooperating gauging members for measuring the thickness of each envelope passing therebetween, the first gauging members comprisinga. an elongated support shaft constructed for arcuate movement in response to the thickness of the envelope passing between the gauging members, andb. a plurality of separate and independent roller assemblies, each being individuallysupportingly and adjustably mounted to the elongated shaft at any desired arcuate position relative thereto, andmovably positionable and securely affixable to the shaft at any desired axially disposed position along the length, of the shaft, whereby envelope thickness-induced movement of the first gauging member relative to the second gauging member causes the elongated shaft to arcuately pivot;
- B. means for measuring the arcuate movement of the elongated shaft and for generating an output signal whenever the measured thickness fails to meet preselected criteria; and
C. a sorting section cooperatively associated with the sensing section and positioned for receiving all envelopes passing through the sensing section, said sorting sectiona. incorporating means for advancing the envelopes into either a first, normal processing direction or a second, outsort direction, andb. operatively communicating with the measuring means for receiving the output signal therefrom the controllably advancing the envelope to either normal processing or outsort processing in response to the signal received;
whereby an effective, efficient and reliable envelope handling system achieved which accurately measures the thickness of every envelope, compares the measured thickness to preselected criteria and advances the envelope to either normal processing or special processing based upon the thickness measurement results.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unique envelope handling and sorting system is attained for efficiently and reliably separating envelopes which fail to meet pre-selected criteria from envelopes meeting these criteria by providing an envelope sensing section having at least one gauging member which comprises a plurality of separate and independent roller assemblies, each of which are securely mounted to an elongated shaft which moves arcuately in response to the thickness measuring movement of the gauging member. In the preferred embodiment, the envelope handling and sorting system of this invention also incorporates means for measuring the length of each envelope and for removing all envelopes that fail to meet the preselected length requirements. In addition, the preferred system incorporates means for effectively dividing the envelope into a plurality of separate zones and enabling the user to select any desired zone for use and evaluation of the envelope thickness measurements. In this way, any areas of the envelope, such as construction seam bearing areas, which may provide erroneous information, are specifically avoided and only the precisely desired areas are used for thickness measurements.
32 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An envelope handling system for receiving and sorting envelopes based upon pre-selected criteria for envelope thickness and length, said system comprising
A. an envelope sensing section comprising first and second cooperating gauging members for measuring the thickness of each envelope passing therebetween, the first gauging members comprising a. an elongated support shaft constructed for arcuate movement in response to the thickness of the envelope passing between the gauging members, and b. a plurality of separate and independent roller assemblies, each being individuallysupportingly and adjustably mounted to the elongated shaft at any desired arcuate position relative thereto, and movably positionable and securely affixable to the shaft at any desired axially disposed position along the length, of the shaft,whereby envelope thickness-induced movement of the first gauging member relative to the second gauging member causes the elongated shaft to arcuately pivot; -
B. means for measuring the arcuate movement of the elongated shaft and for generating an output signal whenever the measured thickness fails to meet preselected criteria; and C. a sorting section cooperatively associated with the sensing section and positioned for receiving all envelopes passing through the sensing section, said sorting section a. incorporating means for advancing the envelopes into either a first, normal processing direction or a second, outsort direction, and b. operatively communicating with the measuring means for receiving the output signal therefrom the controllably advancing the envelope to either normal processing or outsort processing in response to the signal received; whereby an effective, efficient and reliable envelope handling system achieved which accurately measures the thickness of every envelope, compares the measured thickness to preselected criteria and advances the envelope to either normal processing or special processing based upon the thickness measurement results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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15. means for receiving the detection activation signal from the circuit means and the criteria failure signal from the comparing means and for transmitting a counter enable signal to the counter means whenever both input signals are present;
whereby a system is achieved for effectively outsorting envelopes only when the thickness of the envelope in a desired area fails to meet the preselected criteria for a preselected length of time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 21)
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18. An envelope handling system for receiving and sorting envelopes based upon pre-selected criteria for envelope thickness and length, said system comprising
A. an envelope sensing section comprising first and second cooperating gauging members for measuring the thickness of each envelope passing therebetween; -
B. means for generating an envelope thickness output signal whenever the measured thickness fails to meet preselected criteria; C. a sorting section cooperatively associated with the sensing section and positioned for receiving all envelopes passing through the sensing section, said sorting section a. incorporating means for advancing the envelopes into either a first, normal processing direction or a second, outsort direction, and b. operatively communicating with the measuring means for receiving the output signal therefrom and controllably advancing the envelope to either normal processing or outsort processing in response to the signal received; D. electronic control means comprising a. means for measuring the length of the envelope and generating an outsort signal whenever the measured length exceeds a preset limit, and b. means for processing the envelope thickness output signal in preselected intervals depending upon the location of the envelope being measured and comprising
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19. clock means for generating a pulse signal at preselected time intervals,counter means constructed
i. for receiving the pulse signals from the clock means and counting the pulse signals received when activated, and ii. for generating an outsort signal whenever the pulses received exceed a preset threshold level, circuit means constructed for generating a detection activation signal in response to the passage of a desired portion of the envelope between the first and second gauging members,
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20. means for comparing the thickness output signal to the preselected thickness criteria and generating a criteria failure signal whenever the thickness output signal fails to satisfy the desired criteria levels, andmeans for receiving the detection activation signal from the circuit means and the criteria failure signal from the comparing means and for transmitting a counter enable signal to the counter means whenever both input signals are present;
whereby an effective, efficient and reliable envelope handling system is achieved which accurately measures the thickness of every envelope, compares the measured thickness to preselected criteria and advances the envelope to either normal processing or special processing based upon the thickness measurement results.
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22. means for activating the counter whenever the leading edge of the envelope is detected and deactivating and resetting the counter whenever the trailing edge of the envelope is detected,
whereby a length detection system is attained for accurately measuring the length of every envelope passing through the envelope handling system and outsorting all envelopes exceeding a predesired overall length.
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23. An envelope handling system for receiving and sorting envelopes based upon pre-selected criteria for envelope thickness and length, said system comprising
A. an envelope sensing section comprising first and second cooperating gauging members for measuring the thickness of each envelope passing therebetween, B. means for measuring the arcuate movement of the elongated shaft and for generating an output signal whenever the measured thickness fails to meet preselected criteria; - and
C. a sorting section cooperatively associated with the sensing section and positioned for receiving all envelopes passing through the sensing section, said sorting section a. incorporating means for advancing the envelopes into either a first, normal processing direction or a second, outsort direction, and b. operatively communicating with the measuring means for receiving the output signal therefrom and controllably advancing the envelope to either normal processing or outsort processing in response to the signal received; c. an envelope receiving zone for receiving and holding all envelopes after passage through the envelope sensing section, d. motor means responsive to a motor drive signal for rotating in either a first or a second direction, e. wheel members rotationally driven by the motor means and positioned in the envelope driving zone for cooperating contacting engagement with each envelope, f. a pinch roller assembly
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24. positioned in juxtaposed, spaced cooperating alignment with the wheel members, andmovable between a first non-engaged position and a second, envelope contacting position wherein the envelope is sandwiched between the pinch rollers and the wheel members for being advanced by the rotation of the wheel members in the corresponding direction,
g. sensor means mounted in the envelope receiving zone for generating an envelope-present signal whenever an envelope reaches said zone, and h. control means communicating with the measuring means and responsive to the envelope-present signal of the sensor means for activating the pinch roller assembly to move from its first position to its second position and the motor means, said motor means being activated to rotate in a first direction when no outsort signal is received and to rotate in its second, opposite direction whenever an outsort signal is received.
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25. An envelope handling system for receiving and sorting envelopes based upon pre-selected criteria for envelope thickness and length, said system comprising
A. an envelope sensing section comprising first and second cooperating gauging members for measuring the thickness of each envelope passing therebetween, the first gauging members comprising a. an elongated support shaft constructed for arcuate movement in response to the thickness of the envelope passing between the gauging members, and b. a plurality of separate and independent roller assemblies, each beingsupportingly and adjustably mounted to the elongated shaft at any desired arcuate position relative thereto, and movably positionable and securable to the shaft at any desired location along the length thereof, whereby envelope thickness-induced movement of the first gauging member relative to the second gauging member causes the elongated shaft to arcuately pivot;-
B. means for measuring the arcuate movement of the elongated shaft and for generating an output signal whenever the measured thickness fails to meet preselected criteria said measuring means comprising a. a movable arm fixed at one end thereof to the elongated shaft of the first gauging member for movement thereof in response to the arcuate movement of the elongated shaft, and b. a linear variable differential transformer system cooperatingly associated with the moveable arm for measuring any movement thereof and transmitting an envelope thickness output signal corresponding to the measured movement of the arm; C. a sorting section cooperatively associated with the sensing section and positioned for receiving all envelopes passing through the sensing section, said sorting section a. incorporating means for advancing the envelopes into either a first, normal processing direction or a second, outsort direction, and b. operatively communicating with the measuring means for receiving the output signal therefrom and controllably advancing the envelope to either normal processing or outsort processing in response to the signal received; c. an envelope receiving zone for receiving and holding all envelopes after passage through the envelope sensing section, d. motor means responsive to a motor drive signal for rotating in either a first or a second direction, e. wheel members rotationally driven by the motor means and positioned in the envelope driving zone for cooperating contacting engagement with each envelope, f. a pinch roller assembly
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26. positioned in juxtaposed, spaced cooperating alignment with the wheel members, and
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27. movable between a first non-engaged position and a second, envelope contacting position wherein the envelope is sandwiched between the pinch rollers and the wheel members for being advanced by the rotation of the wheel members in the corresponding direction,
g. sensor means mounted in the envelope receiving zone for generating an envelope-present signal whenever an envelope reaches said zone, and h. control means communicating with the measuring means and responsive to the envelope-present signal of the sensor means for activating the pinch roller assembly to move from its first position to its second position and the motor means, said motor means being activated to rotate in a first direction when no outsort signal is received and to rotate in its second, opposite direction whenever an outsort signal is received, D. electronic control means constructed for receiving the envelope thickness output signal from the linear variable differential transformer system, comparing the signal to preselected criteria, and transmitting an envelope outsort signal to the sorting section whenever the signal received fails to meet the preselected criteria, and comprising a. means for measuring the length of the envelope and generating an outsort signal whenever the measured length exceeds a preset limit comprising
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28. clock means for generating pulse signals at preselected time intervals,counter means constructed
i. for receiving the pulse signals from the clock means and counting the pulse signals received when activated, and ii. for generating an outsort signal whenever the pulses received exceed a preset threshold level, and
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29. means for activating the counter whenever the leading edge of the envelope is detected and deactivating and resetting the counter whenever the trailing edge of the envelope is detected,
b. means for processing the envelope thickness output signal in preselected intervals depending upon the location of the envelope being measured comprisingclock means for generating a pulse signal at preselected time intervals, counter means constructedi. for receiving the pulse signals from the clock means and counting the pulse signals received when activated, and ii. for generating an outsort signal whenever the pulses received exceed a preset threshold level, circuit means constructed for generating a detection activation signal in response to the passage of a desired portion of the envelope between the first and second gauging members,
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30. means for comparing the thickness output signal to the preselected thickness criteria and generating a criteria failure signal whenever the thickness output signal fails to satisfy the desired criteria levels, andmeans for receiving the detection activation signal from the circuit means and the criteria failure signal from the comparing means and for transmitting a counter enable signal to the counter means whenever both input signals are present;
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c. means for automatically initiating an outsort signal whenever the measured thickness exceeds a preset threshold level, regardless of the zone in which said thickness is detected.
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Specification