Flat mail edge biasing machine and method of use
First Claim
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1. A mail edge biasing machine for sorting stacks of products in a homogenous orientation, comprising:
- a plurality of compartments;
a plurality of moveable plates associated with each of the plurality of compartments;
detecting means for detecting differences in bound and non-bound edges of the products; and
a stationary feed head mechanism positioned proximate a central compartment of the plurality of compartments, the feed head mechanism being capable of transporting the products from the central compartment to remaining compartments of the plurality of compartments, wherein the feed head mechanism allows arrangement of products transported to the remaining compartments to be each stacked proximate the moveable plates and oriented with bound edges in the homogenous orientation according to an output of the detecting means.
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Abstract
A flat mail edge biasing machine and method of use for separating stacks of bulk flats (products) into at least two separate stacks each with bound edges oriented in a same direction. The flat mail edge biasing machine has a feed head mechanism which is capable of detecting a bound or non-bound edge of the product, and sort the products based on the detection. The sorting includes moving the products from a center compartment to side compartments. In the side compartments, the products stacks with the bound edges oriented in a same direction.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A mail edge biasing machine for sorting stacks of products in a homogenous orientation, comprising:
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a plurality of compartments;
a plurality of moveable plates associated with each of the plurality of compartments;
detecting means for detecting differences in bound and non-bound edges of the products; and
a stationary feed head mechanism positioned proximate a central compartment of the plurality of compartments, the feed head mechanism being capable of transporting the products from the central compartment to remaining compartments of the plurality of compartments, wherein the feed head mechanism allows arrangement of products transported to the remaining compartments to be each stacked proximate the moveable plates and oriented with bound edges in the homogenous orientation according to an output of the detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A mail edge biasing system, comprising:
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a general holding container divided into three separate compartments;
opposing moveable guide walls separating the three separate compartments;
moveable plates associated with each of the three separate compartments, the moveable plates being adapted to move in either a first direction or a second direction;
a feed head mechanism positioned over a central compartment of the three separate compartments, the feed head mechanism including;
an optical edge recognition system for recognizing differences in bound and non-bound edges of the products; and
a movement mechanism for moving products positioned proximate a central moveable plate from the central compartment to opposing side compartments of the three separate compartments based on the recognition of the bound and non-bound edges of the products. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. A method of orienting a stack of products in a same direction, comprising the steps of:
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providing a stack of products in a central compartment;
incrementally moving the stack of products in the central compartment towards a feed head mechanism;
detecting a difference between bound and non-bound edges of a top product of the stack of products; and
transporting the top product to one of two side compartments based on the detecting step, wherein all products transported to a first of the two side compartments are oriented in a first same direction and all products transported to a second of the two side compartments are oriented in a second same direction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification