Apparatus for handling mailpieces
US7600751B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2301/42266
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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 …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.