Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Company

Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company

Bell & Howell Mail Processing Systems

David M Skvoretz

James R Moser

Edward M Otto

Thomas E Bieber

James N Driscoll

Jack H Shaneberger

Donald Dudash

Daniel B Hein

An apparatus and method for verifying the number of articles, preferably intended to be credit, debit, or similar cards, in a carrier is described. Though different embodiments are possible, the preferred embodiment comprises a caliper apparatus and microcontroller electrically linked to an inserter machine controller. The controller of the inserting machine is also electrically linked with an indicia reader mounted at the entrance to the inserter machine. The indicia read is found on the carrier and represents a machine readable representation of the number of articles that should be found in the carrier.

Method and apparatus for verifying the integrity of a mail piece

A stager interface apparatus and method for staging two-up printed material are disclosed. The stager interface apparatus and method, in the form of a cutter stager, by independently holding each piece of printed material, allow side-by-side printed material to be released downstream either simultaneously or sequentially dependent upon downstream requirements.

Stager interface apparatus and method for staging sheets

A sheet processing apparatus and method for selectively inverting, staging and selectively advancing or diverting sheet material along a predetermined conveying path. The apparatus has a pair of support plates with space between the plates for passage of sheet material and a nip roller mechanism operatively connected to the support plates for advancing the sheet material. A rotation mechanism selectively simultaneously rotates the support plates as sheet material is positioned between the plates. The rotation mechanism selectively inverts the sheet material and positions the sheet material for advancement by the nip rollers from between the support plates along the predetermined conveying path.

Apparatus and method for inverting, staging and diverting sheet articles

A high-capacity collector apparatus and method are provided for collecting sheet articles and advancing collected sheet articles. The collector apparatus includes a stage for collecting a stack of sheet articles advanced thereto wherein the stage is adjustable to accommodate sheet articles of various dimensions or sizes. Pusher/stop members are provided and are operable to stop sheet articles collected in a stack in the stage and to subsequently push the stack of sheet articles from the stage. The pusher/stop members are preferably lug members fixedly attached to a plurality of belts with each belt having one lug member fixedly attached thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the collector apparatus comprises two pairs of independently controlled movable belts each having one lug member attached thereto. The lug members of one pair of belts are adapted for providing a front stop for one stack of sheet articles collected in the stage, and for alternately moving to a rear ready position and then pushing another stack of collected sheet articles from the stage at a predetermined time. Each belt operatively extends around one drive pulley and one idle pulley, and the belts are aligned so that two opposing shafts rotated independently by separate drive motors can be used to controllably drive each pair of belt means independently.

Collector apparatus and method

An envelope sealer includes a first horizontal plate for receiving an envelope, a vacuum manifold for drawing open the envelope's downward-facing flap as it departs from the first horizontal surface, and a plow for catching the flap and directing it such that the flap travels below a second horizontal plate while the body of the envelope travels above the second horizontal plate. A fiber-optic sensor system is provided for detecting the non-presence of a flap during the travel of the envelope over the second horizontal plate and for actuating a downstream diverter in response thereto. An unseal unseal ramp is provided for lifting the flap over the plow if it is determined that the envelope should not be sealed. During the flap 's travel below the second horizontal plate, it passes and engages a wetted brush, whereby water is applied to the flap's adhesive surface. The flap is then directed upward by a ramp into a closed position, and passes through the nip of a sealer roller which compresses the envelope and flap together to form a seal. A water-contol system applies a precise amount of water to the brush in response to sensing the approach of an envelope's leading edge. The water-control system preferably includes a pressurized water tank, a water-pressure-regulator means, a water solenoid valve, a leading edge sensor, and circuit means. In response to sensing the approach of an envelope's leading edge, the circuit means causes the water solenoid valve to release a precise amount of water from the pressurized water tank to the brush. A water storage tank, pump means, and water pressure sensor cooperate with the circuit means to maintain the water pressure in the pressurized water tank within predetermined upper and lower limits.

System for envelope sealing in an insertion machine

A turnover-sequencer staging apparatus for sheets comprises: a receiver, a turnover-sequencer, and a staging segment. The receiving device receives at least two side-by-side sheets and supplies these to the turnover-sequencer wherein the sheets are overturned and rerouted in a substantially orthogonal direction, the relationship between sheets having been converted to sequential whereby the sheets become disposed seriatim and imbricated. The overturned and rerouted seriatim-imbricated sheets are selectively de-imbricated in the staging segment by separation of selected consecutive sheets. Separation is effected by braking or stopping of the conveying motion of the trailing one of two consecutive sheets. In other embodiments, separation can be accomplished by changing the speed of conveying of one of two consecutive sheets; either by speeding up of the leading sheet or by slowing down of the trailing sheet.

Growing community of inventors

Northampton, PA, United States of America

David M Skvoretz