Apparatus for handling mailpieces
First Claim
1. An apparatus for stacking mailpieces produced by a mailpiece inserter into a plurality of mailpiece containers, comprising:
- a stacking assembly for accepting and aligning a plurality of mailpieces to define a mailpiece stack;
a support/conveyor system operative to convey the mailpiece containers along a mailpiece handling path and having transport and loading sections, the loading section adapted to alternately reposition each of the mailpiece containers from an in-plane position to an out-of-plane position relative to the mailpiece handling path, anda loading mechanism engaging a first side of the mailpiece stack to urge the mailpiece stack into an open end of the mailpiece container when spatially repositioned by the loading section of the support/conveyor system;
wherein the loading section is operative to transport the mailpiece containers along the mailpiece handling path when in an in-plane position, and is operative to spatially reposition each of the mailpiece containers such that the open end thereof is aligned with a second side of the mailpiece stack when in an out-of-plane position.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for handling mailpieces produced by a mailpiece insertion system, comprising at least one mailpiece stacking assembly and a combination support/conveyor deck. The mailpiece stacking assembly accepts a plurality of mailpieces, i.e., as they are created by a mailpiece insertion system, and aligns the mailpieces to define a mailpiece stack. The support/conveyor deck is operative to convey mailpiece containers along a mailpiece handling path and includes loading and transport sections. The loading section is, furthermore, adapted to alternately reposition each of the mailpiece containers from an in-plane position to an out-of-plane position relative to the mailpiece handling path. The in-plane position is operative to transport the mailpiece containers along the mailpiece handling path while the out-of-plane position is operative to spatially reposition each of the mailpiece containers for alignment with a side edge of the mailpiece stack. That is, the loading section is capable of repositioning the mailpiece container such that its open end is proximal to and ready to receive the mailpiece stack. A loading mechanism is then employed to engage a side edge of the mailpiece stack for urging the stack into the open end of the mailpiece. That is, when the loading section has accurately repositioned the mailpiece container into alignment with the mailpiece stack, the loading mechanism may then displace and load the stack into the container.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for stacking mailpieces produced by a mailpiece inserter into a plurality of mailpiece containers, comprising:
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a stacking assembly for accepting and aligning a plurality of mailpieces to define a mailpiece stack; a support/conveyor system operative to convey the mailpiece containers along a mailpiece handling path and having transport and loading sections, the loading section adapted to alternately reposition each of the mailpiece containers from an in-plane position to an out-of-plane position relative to the mailpiece handling path, and a loading mechanism engaging a first side of the mailpiece stack to urge the mailpiece stack into an open end of the mailpiece container when spatially repositioned by the loading section of the support/conveyor system; wherein the loading section is operative to transport the mailpiece containers along the mailpiece handling path when in an in-plane position, and is operative to spatially reposition each of the mailpiece containers such that the open end thereof is aligned with a second side of the mailpiece stack when in an out-of-plane position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for stacking mailpieces produced by a mailpiece inserter into mailpiece containers, comprising:
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juxtaposed stacking assemblies for accepting and aligning a plurality of mailpieces, each stacking assembly forming a mailpiece stack; a support/conveyor system combined with each of the stacking assemblies, the support/conveyor system operative to transport the mailpiece containers along one two mailpiece handling paths;
the support conveyor system, furthermore being operative to spatially position mailpiece containers proximal to a side of the respective mailpiece stack,a diverter assembly for diverting mailpieces from one of the juxtaposed stacking assembly to the other stacking assembly when one of the stacking assemblies is filled; and a loading mechanism coupled to each of the stacking assemblies for urging the respective mailpiece stacks into an open end of each of the mailpiece containers when spatially positioned by the respective support/conveyor system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification