Bell & Howell Mail Processing Systems

Donald Dudash

James R Moser

David M Skvoretz

James N Driscoll

Jack H Shaneberger

Richard W Finnochio

Frank S Lusk

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 collector apparatus and method are provided for collecting sheet articles and advancing collected sheet articles therefrom. The collector apparatus includes a collector plate having a surface for receiving one or more sheet articles thereon to collect the sheet articles. At least one stop bracket is movable through an opening defined through the collector plate to provide a stop for collected sheet articles and to allow collected sheet articles to be further advanced from their collection position. At least one upper idler drop roller is spacedly positioned above and movable toward the collector plate surface. At least one transport mechanism is positioned below the collector plate surface and includes at least a portion thereof which is adapted for movement through the opening of the collector plate toward the upper idler drop roller such that the upper idler drop roller and the portion of the transport belt can pinch together collected sheet articles for the transport belt to advance the sheet articles from their collected position. A lower roller assembly is preferably utilized to force the transport belt through the opening of the collector plate. In the method provided, movement of the upper idler drop roller toward the collector plate surface, the stop bracket away from its stop position and the lower roller assembly through the opening of the collector plate occur simultaneously.

Non-marking collector apparatus and method

An accumulator apparatus and method are provided for accumulating sheet articles. The accumulator apparatus includes an upper belt system and lower belt system operative for advancing sheet articles in seriatim manner therebetween. Guide rollers are provided at the entrance of the sheet articles between the upper and lower belt systems for guiding the sheet articles therebetween without pinching. Nip rollers are provided downstream from the entry guide rollers for pulling sheet articles into the accumulator apparatus between the guide rollers and the nip rollers. A ramp system operative for deflecting advancing sheet articles is provided downstream from the nip rollers. Sheet articles deflected by the ramp assembly can then be accumulated in an accumulation location where the lower belt system is maintained in a spaced-apart position below the accumulation location such that the lower belt system cannot contact or mark sheet articles accumulated therein. Stop rollers are provided for selectively stopping further advancement of accumulated sheet articles from the accumulation location and for pulling the accumulated sheet articles from the accumulation location to advance the sheet articles from the accumulator apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Easton, PA, United States of America

Donald Dudash