System for controlling mailpiece conveyance in a mailpiece feeder
US8596635B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1916
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for conveying mailpieces along a conveyance path and singulating a mailpiece from a stack of mailpieces along the conveyance path. The system includes a first conveyance for conveying mailpieces at a variable velocity and a second conveyance, downstream of the first conveyance, for conveying mailpieces at a constant velocity along the conveyance path. A series of optical sensors extends from the first to the second conveyance and is operative to issue a gap signal indicative of the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces along the conveyance path. A processor is responsive to the gap signal and is operative to control the first conveyance to decrease the relative spacing between sequential mailpieces when the gap signal exceeds a threshold value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.