Apparatus for assembly of document sets into a single collated packet
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A collating apparatus comprising:
- (a) a substantially elongated raceway conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of document sets consecutively along a substantially horizontal conveying pathway from an initial upstream position to a downstream position;
(b) a plurality of pivotable pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance a first document set, said pivotable pusher members adapted to pivot from a substantially vertical first position relative to the conveyor to a substantially horizontal second position below the raceway conveyor;
(c) a plurality of fixed positioned pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance a second document set;
(d) an actuating deck plate positioned on a upper surface of the raceway conveyor and parallel to the substantially horizontal conveying pathway;
(e) a selective actuating mechanism adapted to raise one end of the actuating deck plate from an initial position substantially flush with the upper surface of the raceway conveyor to a predetermined position above the upper surface of the raceway conveyor; and
(f) a collating station comprising a first elevated platform mounted on the upper surface of the raceway conveyor downstream from the actuating deck plate.
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Abstract
A collating apparatus and method to merge different types of document sets into a single collated packet prior to a mail processing insertion operation. The collating device utilizes a synchronous conveyor pathway for conveying different types of document sets serially down the pathway and merging them into a single collated packet. The document sets are delivered downstream with a combination of pivotable and fixed position pusher members and are combined into a single collated packet in any desired order.
32 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A collating apparatus comprising:
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(a) a substantially elongated raceway conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of document sets consecutively along a substantially horizontal conveying pathway from an initial upstream position to a downstream position; (b) a plurality of pivotable pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance a first document set, said pivotable pusher members adapted to pivot from a substantially vertical first position relative to the conveyor to a substantially horizontal second position below the raceway conveyor; (c) a plurality of fixed positioned pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance a second document set; (d) an actuating deck plate positioned on a upper surface of the raceway conveyor and parallel to the substantially horizontal conveying pathway; (e) a selective actuating mechanism adapted to raise one end of the actuating deck plate from an initial position substantially flush with the upper surface of the raceway conveyor to a predetermined position above the upper surface of the raceway conveyor; and (f) a collating station comprising a first elevated platform mounted on the upper surface of the raceway conveyor downstream from the actuating deck plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of combining a plurality of document sets into a merged packet comprising the following sequential steps:
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conveying a first document set along a first conveying pathway from an initial upstream position toward a downstream collation station with at least one pivotable pusher member movably mounted to a raceway conveyor; conveying a second document set behind the first document set with at least one fixed positioned pusher member movably mounted to the raceway conveyor; stopping conveyance of the first document set at the collation station following a backward pivoting of the pivotable pusher member from an upright position to a downward position below the conveying pathway; activating a selective actuating mechanism to elevate one end of an actuating deck plate to an inclined position; conveying the second document set to a second conveying pathway above the first conveying pathway such that the second document set passes across the actuating deck plate and onto a first elevated platform mounted on the upper surface of the raceway conveyor; simultaneously advancing both the first and second document sets at an instance when the fixed positioned pusher member arrives at the collation station and, thereby, conveying the second document set; and merging the first and second document sets on the first conveying pathway, such that the second document set overlays the first document set and forms the merged packet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A collating apparatus comprising:
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(a) a substantially elongated raceway conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of document sets consecutively along a substantially horizontal conveying pathway from an initial upstream position to a downstream position; (b) a plurality of pivotable pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance a plurality of document sets, said pivotable pusher members adapted to pivot from a substantially vertical first position relative to the conveyor to a substantially horizontal second position below the raceway conveyor; (c) a plurality of fixed positioned pusher members movably mounted to the raceway conveyor adapted to advance another document set; (d) an actuating deck plate positioned on a upper surface of the raceway conveyor and parallel to the substantially horizontal conveying pathway; (e) a selective actuating mechanism adapted to raise one end of the actuating deck plate from an initial position substantially flush with the upper surface of the raceway conveyor to a plurality of predetermined positions above the upper surface of the raceway conveyor; and (f) a collating station comprising at least two elevated platforms mounted one on top of the other on the upper surface of the raceway conveyor downstream from the actuating deck plate, wherein the plurality of fixed positioned pusher members are spaced from each other at regular intervals intermediate to at least two consecutive pivotable pusher members. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification