Pitney Bowes Inc.

Curtis L Mrozinski

Joseph H Marzullo

Sandra J Graveson

Michael D Ballard

Christopher DeBarber

A mechanism for releasably latching an assembly which is pivotable between first and second side frame members in a machine, comprises a pivot rod mounted transversely between the first and second side members and pivotally biased away from the assembly. First and second levers are rigidly secured to the pivot rod at opposite ends of the pivot rod, and first and second latching members are independently and pivotally mounted to the first and second side frame members adjacent to the first and second levers respectively. The first and second latching members are biased towards the assembly. Each of the first and second latching members includes a notch for receiving a connecting rod in the assembly. Each of the first and second levers includes a guide pin for urging the first and second latching members away from the assembly when the first and second levers pivot towards the assembly.

Latching mechanism with independent biased latching members

A document registration apparatus for use in a document inserting station or a document queuing station is provided. The apparatus includes a document registration unit having a plurality of laterally-spaced registration stops for stopping motion of a document and registering a particular edge of a document to a particular direction in the apparatus. The registration unit also includes at least one non driver urge roller for moving the registered document away from the apparatus for further processing. The document registration apparatus also includes a jam access hinge for providing access to a jammed document.

Document registration apparatus

Apparatus for inserting one or more documents into a waiting envelope. The apparatus includes: a supporting frame; a device mounted in the frame for holding the envelope; a movable, endless belt rotatably mounted in the frame for transporting one or more documents into the waiting envelope; and a datum guide plate secured to the frame above the movable belt. The movable belt includes an upper reach which is biased toward the datum guide plate.

Envelope opening apparatus

Translatable registration apparatus in an envelope turning machine. The apparatus includes: a deck for transporting a plurality of envelopes from an upstream location to a downstream location; a translatable carriage mounted to the deck and adjustable for upstream and downstream movement to accommodate different size envelopes; a yoke pivotably mounted at its upstream end to the carriage, the yoke having a stopping finger projecting upwardly at its downstream end; a solenoid located beneath the finger and mounted to the carriage; and a device engaging the solenoid and the yoke for moving the finger up above the deck and down below the deck, wherein, when the solenoid raises the finger above the deck, the stopping finger is locked in a raised position with no pressure bearing on the solenoid.

Stopping device for envelope turner

Apparatus for turning an envelope, including: a housing; a transport deck secured to the housing for transporting an envelope from an upstream location to a downstream location, the deck including a device for moving the envelope; a vertically extending spindle located beneath the deck, the spindle being rotatable and reciprocable and having an upper end capable of extending above the transport deck; a device for raising and rotating the spindle; and a clamping arm assembly rotatably mounted to the housing situated above the transport deck, the clamping arm assembly having a device for applying a light, downward bias on the envelope against the upper end of the spindle, and a device for applying additional pressure to the envelope after the spindle is raised.

Clamping arm for envelope turner

Apparatus is disclosed for flapping envelopes and inserting enclosures into the flapped envelopes. The apparatus is constructed so that parts thereof may be easily moved to substantially fully expose the enclosure feed path, as well as the envelope flap unfolding path and the upstream end of the location at which an envelope is held open and enclosures inserted therein, thereby facilitating removal of jammed envelopes and enclosures. The components for unfolding the envelope flap are provided as an assembly movably mounted with respect to the enclosure transporter. This allows that entire flap unfolding assembly to be moved away from an enclosure transporter, thereby providing access to the enclosure feed path and to the upstream end of a queuing station. The flap unfolding assembly includes two frames which may be pivoted apart to provide access to the flap unfolding path.

Growing community of inventors

Newtown, CT, United States of America

Curtis L Mrozinski