Bell + Howell Company

David Wiley

K George Rabindran

Kenneth L Guenther

Thomas J Faber

Joseph Kalika

David D Filicicchia

Melvin T Kerstein

Girish B Shah

Roy A Akers

The multi-pass sorting machine of this disclosure includes a supporting structure which has the configuration of an A-Frame. The A-Frame structure has a slanting front side supporting several individually functional devices and a slanting back side supporting other individually functional devices. The devices of the front side include an input feeding means, a first transporting means, a singulating means, an accelerating means, a second transporting means, a bar code reader and associated electronic and computer means, a plurality of first sorting means in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of first pass stacker buffer means, and a reversing member for transporting letters from the front side to the back side while at the same time retaining the same orientation of the letters to the planar surface as the letters go around the corner. The slanting back side supports a plurality of second sorting means in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of second pass stacker buffer means, and an automatic mail tray loader means. The singulation means includes a powered belt means, and a singulation roller overlying and adapted to contact the belt means, with the roller being mounted on one end of a pivotable arm. The arm pivots about an axis spaced from the roller axis, and powered drive means is mounted on the pivot axis for engaging the roller for power transmission without interfering with interaction of the roller with the belt.

Multi-pass sorting machine

A multi-pass sorting machine includes a housing or supporting structure which has the configuration of an A-Frame. The A-Frame structure has a slanting front side supporting several individually functional devices and a slanting back side supporting other individually functional devices. The devices of the front side include an input feeder first transporting mechanisms, a singulating device, an accelerating mechanism, second transporting mechanisms, a bar code reader and associated electronic and computer equipment, a plurality of first sorting devices in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of first pass stacker buffers, and a reversing member for transporting letters from the front side to the back side while at the same time retaining the same orientation of the letters to the planar surface as the letters go around the corner. The slanting back side supports a plurality of second sorting devices in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of second pass stacker buffers, and an automatic mail tray loader.

Carrier sequenced bar code sorter for documents

A speed control system for an envelope feeding mechanism used to feed envelopes to a pickoff device in a high speed mail sorting machine. The feeding mechanism includes a pair of toothed belts which convey the envelopes along an inclined surface. The side edges of the envelopes are received by a third toothed belt which is driven at an elevated position along a side panel. The belts are driven by a multiple speed electric motor controlled by electronic circuitry which automatically decrements or increments the motor speed if the envelopes are bunched together too tightly or too loosely. If the speed is decremented and the envelopes are still tightly bunched, the drive motor is stopped by a shutoff circuit which operates independently of the speed control circuit.

Envelope feeding system and speed control for mail sorting machines

Growing community of inventors

Palatine, IL, United States of America

David Wiley