Pitney Bowes Inc.

Other

Arnold Fassman

John R Nobile

Leroy H Byrne

Thomas L Simmel

William A Salancy

Victor C Riccardi

Alton B Eckert, Jr

William A Ross

Thomas M Pfeifer

Hans C Mol

Joseph F Miciukiewicz

Robert E Mersereau

Lloyd G Kittredge

Franklin J Calderazzo

Stephen J Rigo

Alfred Spath

An article dispensing and positioning device is disclosed in which a plurality of rectangular articles such as dominos or the like are placed on a flat surface in a plurality of parallel rows and in evenly spaced relationship with each other in each row. In one embodiment, the device includes a plurality of article dispensing assemblies mounted in a unitary housing which is capable of being propelled along the flat surface, preferably by motor mounted in the housing. In another embodiment, each article dispensing assembly is an integral unit, a plurality of which can be removably attached together to form a plurality of rows of dominos or the like. Each article dispensing assembly includes an ejector mounted therein for dispensing successive articles and an actuator for operating all of the ejectors, and means interconnecting all of the actuators for causing them to operate in a predetermined phase relationship in which the individual cycles of operation of each article dispensing assembly are uniformly out of phase with each other.

Article dispensing and positioning device

A tape roll rewind device includes a rotatable tape spool with tape wound thereon; and a device for 1) storing energy in response to rotation of the tape spool in a first direction, 2) storing a maximum amount of energy regardless of the amount of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction, and 3) utilizing the stored energy to rotate the tape spool in a second direction to rewind tape onto the tape spool upon the ending of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction.

Tape roll rewind device and method for rewinding tape on a tape roll

A door opening and closing device for a handicapped person dependent on a wheel chair and or crutches for mobility is disclosed, which includes a housing generally sized for a person to hold in his hand, the housing having a peripheral opening. A reel is rotatably mounted within the housing, and an elongate flexible member is would on the reel and extends through the peripheral opening. A resilient member in the housing is interconnected between the housing and the flexible member such that it is stressed when the flexible member is withdrawn from the housing such that it will retract the flexible member back into the housing with the withdrawing force is removed. A grasping member is connected to the free end of the flexible member which has a configuration such that it will easily grasp the shaft housing of a conventional door knob and not slip off when the flexible member is pulled to open or close the door.

Door opening and closing device for handicapped persons

An improved mailing machine has a modifiable deck for accommodating a mailpiece feeder. The mailing machine is modified by providing a plate which may be incorporated into the deck. The plate carries a positive drive mechanism for the feeding of mailpieces at the desired speed which comprises a positive drive roller and pulley which are aligned to use the drive mechanism of the mailing machine for belt driven power.

Mailing machine including modifiable mailpiece drive

A flying disk toy is disclosed which includes a generally flat, circular body member surrounded by a radially curved annulus, such as in a typical FRISBEE.TM. toy, and which includes a liquid reservoir on the body member, and endless conduit around the body member in the curvature of the annulus, conduits connecting the reservoir to the endless conduit, and a plurality of pairs of radially aligned apertures in the endless conduit and the annulus, with the result that liquid stored in the reservoir flows through the radially extending conduits into the endless conduit and out through the radially aligned opening in response to centrifugal force imposed on the liquid by a spinning motion imparted to the disk toy when it is thrown into a flight pattern.

Flying disk toy

A mailing machine, comprising a base including a deck, a postage meter removably mounted on the base, the postage meter including a rotary postage printing drum overhanging the deck, the base including means for feeding an envelope in a downstream path of travel to the drum, the base including means for selectively driving the drum for printing postage on an envelope fed thereto, envelope deflecting means including an elongate substantially rectangularly-shaped member having a predetermined length, the member including a substantially horizontally-extending first portion of the length thereof fixedly attached to the drum, the member including a second portion of the length thereof inclined downwardly from the first portion, the member including a third portion of the length thereof inclined upwardly from the second portion, the member including a fourth portion of the length thereof extending substantially horizontally from the third portion and disposed between and in sliding engagement with the drum and the first portion, and the second and third portions cooperatively defining a lower marginal peak edge overhanging the deck and extending transversely of the path of travel for urging an envelope fed beneath the drum into sliding engagement with the deck.

Mailing machine including postage meter having rotary postage printing

A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a printing drum and a drive gear therefor, and wherein the meter includes a shutter bar mounted for movement into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear to respectively prevent and permit driving the drive gear and thus the printing drum, the mailing machine base comprising, framework, structure for moving the shutter bar out of locking engagement with the drive gear and then moving the shutter bar into locking engagement with the drive gear, the moving structure including a lever arm pivotally attached to the framework and adapted to be disposed in bearing engagement with the shutter bar when the meter is mounted on the base, the lever arm including a yoke portion depending therefrom, the moving structure including a cam shaft journaled for rotation to the framework, the moving structure including a cam connected to the cam shaft for rotation therewith and having an end portion thereof disposed within and in bearing engagement with the yoke portion, the moving structure including a first pulley connected to the cam shaft for rotation thereof, the moving structure including a d.c. motor having an output shaft, the moving structure including a second pulley mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith, and the moving structure including a belt looped about the first and second pulleys for transmitting motor drive from the output shaft to the cam shaft, structure for controlling the moving structure, and the controlling structure including structure for driving the motor in one direction to move the shutter bar out of locking engagement with the drive gear and for driving the motor in the opposite direction to move the shutter bar into locking engagement with the drive gear.

Mailing machine including shutter bar moving means

Moisture applying apparatus comprising: a piece-part made of a resilient plastic material, the piece-part including a generally rectangularly-shaped portion having a longitudinally-extending side edge; the piece-part including at least one elongate upper hinge segment transversely-extending from said side edge, said at least one upper hinge segment including a first lower longitudinally-extending surface which is convexly-shaped in transverse cross-section and transversely extends from said side edge, said at least one upper hinge segment including a second lower longitudinally-extending surface which is inclined upwardly in transverse cross-section and transversely extends from said first lower surface; and said piece-part including at least one elongate lower hinge segment transversely-extending from said side edge, and said at least one lower hinge segment including an upper longitudinally-extending surface which is concavely-shaped in transverse cross-section and transversely extends from said side edge.

Moisture applying apparatus having a removable moisture applicator

A device for positioning a plurality of generally elongate objects such as dominos on a flat surface in upstanding orientation and in evenly spaced relationship with each other includes an elongate structure for storing a plurality of dominos in face to face relationship with the dominos standing upright on the flat surface on which they will be positioned in spaced relationship as the device moves intermittently across the surface. A domino discharge mechanism is mounted in the storage means to discharge a domino therefrom each time the discharge mechanism is actuated. The device also includes a drive means for moving it across a flat surface in intermittent manner, and an actuating mechanism operable to actuate the discharge mechanism during intervals when the device is stationary.

Article positioning device

Envelope flap moistening apparatus for use in a machine for feeding an envelope having a flap in a predetermined downstream path of travel, the apparatus comprising: an elongate horizontally-extending stripper blade including a trailing edge longitudinally-extending transverse to the path of travel, the stripper blade including a lower elongate hinge segment and an upper elongate hinge segment, each of the stripper blade hinge segments transversely-extending from the stripper blade trailing edge; an elongate applicator retainer including a leading edge longitudinally-extending transverse to the path of travel, the retainer including an upper elongate hinge segment and a lower elongate hinge segment, each of the retainer hinge segment transversely-extending from the retainer leading edge; and the upper hinge segments and lower hinge segments respectively cooperatively configured for engagement with one another and for maintaining the retainer in a predetermined position of alignment with the stripper blade.

Envelope flap moistening apparatus

A toy automobile diagnostic center in which a toy automobile is directed onto a platform where various measurements and tests are performed that simulate measurements and tests that are performed on real automobiles. The tests are performed upon the toy which is located at a single test location and include length and height measurements, weight, wheel rotation and others.

Toy auto garage

In a mailing machine, having a removable postage meter with a rotatable printing drum and printing die there is an inking apparatus included with the mailing machine. The inking apparatus has a ink supply cartridge which engages an ink transfer roller mounted in a frame of the inking apparatus. A cam member operatively associated with the transfer roller prevent ink contamination of the postage meter when the meter is installed or withdrawn from the mailing machine.

Inking apparatus for a mailing machine

A device for dispensing a plurality of rectangular objects and depositing the objects on a surface in uniformly spaced relationship with the objects standing upright on a short edge, more particularly, a device for setting up dominos in a row so that the dominos can be knocked down sequentially. The device includes a wheel supported body which supports an upstanding supply chamber for storing stacked dominos, and an ejecting assembly at the bottom of the supply chamber which ejects the bottom most domino toward the rear of the body as the body rolls across a surface. The ejecting assembly moves each domino into engagement with a top and side guide assembly which cooperates with the ejecting assembly to cause the domino to be deposited on the supporting surface and stabilized thereon in a stationary position before the device moves away from the domino so that the domino remains upright and does not fall.

A rotary collator with a plurality of radially extending partitions in which sheets to be collated are held by a sheet clamp mounted in each bin. The sheet clamp for each bin is released during the sheet ejecting portion of the collating cycle according to a program implemented by a programming disc into which selector pins corresponding to specified bins are inserted. The programming disc moves relative to an electromechanical mechanism which enables an electrical switch to complete a circuit to release the clamps. The spacing of the selector pins is such that consecutive empty bins require the electrical switch to be maintained in a disabled position, while consecutive loaded bins result in maintaining the electrical switch in an enabled position, thereby eliminating bouncing of the switch.

Controller for rotary collator

A rotary collator having a rotatable drum with a plurality of radially extending partitions or bins in which sheets to be collated are held by a sheet clamp mounted in each bin. The sheet clamp for each bin has a solenoid-based activating device which releases the sheet clamp during the sheet ejecting portion of the collating cycle. The sheet clamp is released a short time before the rotatable drum brings the associated bin into a sheet ejecting position. A toggle structure and a relatively high compression spring are used to hold the sheets in the bin when in clamping position. The sheet clamp of any empty bin is programmed not to release, thereby greatly reducing noise and extending the life of the mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Westport, CT, United States of America

Arnold Fassman