Pitney Bowes Inc.

Donald Surprise

James A Salomon

James A Fairweather

Norman R Lilly

Thomas M Lyga

Steven H Joyce

Christopher D Clark

Theresa Bartick

A method and mechanism are provided for controlling the movement of a belt. The arrangement may have a moveable member is coupled to an adjustable member. The members are coupled such that when the moveable member is moved in a first direction the adjustable member is move in a first direction and when the moveable member is moved in a second direction the adjustable member is moved in a second direction. A belt is coupled to the movable member. Movement of the belt in a first direction moves the moveable member in the first direction and movement of said belt in a second direction moves the moveable member in the second direction. A belt tensioner mechanism is connected to the belt so that when the belt moves in the first direction a biasing force is created that drives said belt to move a controlled amount in the second direction when movement of the belt in the first direction is stopped. The arrangement may be employed with a materials feed tray. Side guides for the tray are automatically set correctly for proper feeding from the tray without jamming, skew or off set of the materials.

Detachable feed tray with self adjusting side guides

A method and an arrangement for feeding shingled media item includes a tray for supporting a stack of shingled media items. The tray has an exit area and each of the media items has a bottom edge. A feeder separates and feeds media items from the shingled stack of media items. The tray is connected to the feeder with a first and a second cavity formed at the exit area of the feed tray and the front of the feeder such that media items moved from the tray into the feeder are supported on a portion of the media item bottom edge. A rail structure is attached to the surface for supporting the media items bottom edge adjacent the media item exit area. The feeder may include a separator roller and a feed roller positioned with respect to the first and the second cavity such that the media items are moved from a media item shingle orientation upstream of the separator roller and the feed roller to a media item feed orientation down stream of the separator roller and the feed roller with said media item side edges out of contact with the feed head guide surfaces.

Shingle mode media item feed arrangement

A media item feed tray with an exit area for media items includes a sled moveable toward and away from the feed tray exit area. A biasing surface is mounted to the tray and extends away from the feed tray exit area. A spring member is mounted on the moveable sled and is connected to the biasing surface such that when the moveable sled is moved away from the feed tray exit area energy is stored in the spring member. The biasing surface may be a shaped rail with a cam surface and the moveable member may include a cam follower which engages the shaped rail cam surface. A first cam section and a second cam section can be provided with the moveable sled urged toward the feed tray exit area when the cam follower engages the shaped rail first cam surface section and urged away from the feed tray exit area when the cam follower engages the shaped rail second cam surface section. A mechanism can be provided for locking the sled from movement and with a sled front face which can be positioned to facilitate loading of media items into the feed tray and positioned for media item feeding operation.

Shingle media item feed tray with spring loaded self locking sled

The present invention includes apparatus and methods for sealing an envelope. A sealing nip is formed by an upper roller and a lower roller. The upper roller is mounted on an upper shaft and the lower roller is mounted on a lower shaft. A mechanism associated with the lower shaft adjusts the orientation of the lower shaft to match the orientation of the upper shaft.

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Waterbury, CT, United States of America

Donald Surprise