Pitney Bowes Inc.

Harold Silverman

Dean H Foster

Robert E Mersereau

Robert Irvine

John J Bogdanski

James S Ramsey

Frank T Roetter

Clinton E Hooper

Alan B Hotchkiss

Ferris Gene Keyt

A bursting machine is provided for separating discrete sheets from a continuous strip of sheets having uniformly spaced perforation lines across the width of the strip. A gauging device with numerical increments in the form of a linear scale is manually compared to the length of the discrete sheets to provide a predetermined number corresponding to a pulse count for entering into a control device through a manually settable device. The control device in turn is operatively connected to an electronic pulse counter. When the leading edge of the strip advances a predetermined increment after passing through a sensing device located downstream in the path of travel with respect to a first pair of feed rollers, a pulse generator attached to the driven first feed roller is actuated to generate pulses for counting to reach the preset number in the pulse counter. When the preset number is reached, a second pair of feed rollers is stopped through disablement of an electromagnetic clutch and enablement of a brake while the leading sheet is continued to be conveyed downstream by the first pair of feed rollers to effect a burst.

Bursting machine

Sheet processing machinery including a bursting machine and a folding machine has a sheet conveying apparatus disposed there-between. The sheet conveying apparatus is pivotably mounted to allow service to an area adjacent to the input end of the following machine. A drive apparatus connected to the sheet processing machinery is disengaged to allow upward pivoting of the sheet conveying apparatus from a horizontal position to a retracted position, whereupon the service access may be achieved.

Conveying apparatus

A gauging system for an envelope inserter provides simplified set up procedures for adjustment of a set of enclosure pick-up station side guides, an envelope stop and coordinated adjustment of both a set of envelope station side guides and sets of stripper fingers. A panel at the face of the inserter includes a slot and a pointer for lengthwise insertion of an enclosure. The operator places a specimen enclosure against an index end of the slot and rotates a knob to frame the enclosure length between the index and the pointer. Rotation of the knob provides simultaneous movement of the pointer and adjustment of the enclosure side guides to correspond with the framed length. A further slot and pointer are provided for envelope widthwise insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope width simultaneously adjusts the envelope stop. A further slot and pointer are provided for lengthwise envelope insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope length adjusts both the side guides and the stripper fingers. The index end of the envelope length slot is displaced to compensate for a dwell in side guide movement and a coordinated retraction in stripper finger position.

Inserter gauging system

Sheet processing apparatus including a bursting machine for feeding and bursting a continuous web along perforation lines, a folding machine for folding the sheets from the bursting machine and an inserting machine for inserting the folded sheets into an envelope, and [i] a device for removably connecting the bursting machine to the folding machine, [ii] a device for removably connecting the folding machine to the inserting machine and [iii] a device for removably connecting the bursting machine directly to the inserting machine in the absence of the folding machine; controls operatively interconnected between the inserting machine and the folding machine for controlling the sequential operation of the folding machine with the cyclical operation of the inserting machine so that the folding machine operates on demand from the inserting machine; controls operatively interconnected between the folding machine and the bursting machine for controlling the sequential operation of the bursting machine in timed relationship with the cyclical operation of the folding machine so that the bursting machine operates on demand from the folding machine; controls operatively interconnected between the bursting machine and the inserting machine for controlling the operation of the bursting machine by the inserting machine in the absence of the folding machine; and controls in the bursting machine for controlling the operation of the bursting machine in the absence of both the folding machine and the inserting machine.

Sheet processing apparatus

An inserter is adapted to insert successive enclosures from a stack carried by an enclosure feeder assembly into envelopes carried by an envelope feeder assembly. Each feeder assembly includes a sloped tray and a pair of side guides which engage the ends of the stack of materials being fed. Both side guides are adjusted by releasing a tab adjacent one of the guides and sliding the guide. An endless belt mounted beneath the tray assures symmetrical displacement of both guides relative to the center of the tray. A feed wheel is carried along a drive shaft which extends transversely above the tray. The hub of the feed wheel includes a one way clutch which permits adjustment of the feed wheel position. A separator stone projecting from beneath the tray in staggered registration with the feed wheel includes a stone shield. Both the stone and the stone shield are adjustable through control knobs accessible at the front of the inserter. One of the enclosure inserters includes an adjustable mount for spring biased skis which depend from the underside of its tray and engage enclosures which are being transported from a further feeder assembly.

Inserter feeder assemblies

An articulate bridge assembly covers an enclosure transport pathway from an enclosure feeder through an enclosure pick-up station in a reciprocating ram type envelope inserter. The bridge includes a cover hinged along an axis parallel to the transport pathway. The horizontal and vertical planes of the cover are stabilized with reference to the inserter frame by spring mechanisms incorporated in the cover hinge assembly. A switch for detecting multiple enclosures in the pathway is mounted to the cover. To adjust the switch for various enclosure thicknesses, a knob at the face of the inserter is rotated. The knob advances a lead screw against a sloped surface of a pivot link. The pivot link in turn bears against a bracket assembly carrying the switch. The upper surface of the cover is planar and obstruction free, while a chassis is carried by the undersurface. Mounted to the chassis are skis which urge successive enclosures against transport belts. An enclosure position sensing switch and an enclosure stop gate are provided. The stop gate includes an upper door which is mounted to the chassis through a pivotal offset link. The gate simultaneously retracts from an operative position beneath an envelope flapper and automatically pivots when the bridge is opened.

Articulate bridge assembly

In envelope stuffing apparatus which has an enclosure inserting station and includes a deck at the inserting station, structure for delivering the envelope in a path of travel to the inserting station, structure for opening the envelope and structure for inserting an enclosure into the envelope; and wherein the opening structure includes a ledge for supporting the flap of the envelope above the deck, and a first finger insertable into the envelope for stripping apart from each other the front and back panels of the envelope; there is provided an improvement in the envelope opening structure. The improvement comprises: a solenoid operable in response to delivery of the envelope to the inserting station; a second finger for depressing the envelope toward the deck against the resistance of the flap supporting ledge; and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly interconnects the second finger and solenoid for normally holding the second finger out of the path of travel of delivery of the envelope and for lowering the second finger into engagement with the envelope when the solenoid is operated, whereby the envelope is depressed toward the deck after the envelope is delivered. And the lowered second finger depresses the envelope sufficiently to open the envelope to permit insertion of the first finger into the envelope.

Envelope stuffing apparatus

This invention relates to a sheet feeding and shingling apparatus wherein sheets are brought into an apparatus individually to be processed. The sheets are subsequently discharged from the apparatus with an overlapping relationship. This apparatus has utility in situations where sheets are individually processed, as for example in the making of copies, and must be shingled for the purpose of further handling.

Feeding and shingling apparatus

A top-of-stack sheet feeder includes a stack lifting apparatus which provides uniform stack pressure at the feeder as well as stack replenishment without interruption of feeder operation. The stack lifting apparatus includes a comblike feeding platform which incrementally elevates a feed stack to a feed roller which removes successive top sheets. Platform elevation control is responsive to requirement signals generated by a top sheet height sensor. When the stack is depleted to a predetermined reserve, a pair of opposed comblike feeding decks interfit between spaces in the feeding platform and assume the stack elevation function after which the platform descends to a loading station to receive a new stack and lift same to the decks. Upon introduction of the new stack, the decks disengage the reserve and index to a lower dwell station ready to again resume stack lifting when the combined stack reaches the reserve level. The feed roller includes a perforated sleeve rotating about a fixed core having a peripherally open vacuum sector. The top sheet is lifted from the stack by the vacuum, assisted by a pair of air rifflers which induce air jets under the top sheet and is transported to acceleration rollers by the rotation of the feed roller.

Sheet feeder

An arrangement for dampening vibrations in and lubricating the operative edges of a pair of cooperating sheet cutting discs. A block member having a surface comprised of a solid lubricant is yieldably biased so that said surface engages the face of one of the discs that is in operative engagement with a face of the other disc.

Cutting device

An apparatus for applying tape, having adhesive on both of its faces, to a surface comprises an applicator drum having a cylindrical periphery that receives the tape and a series of slots extending transversely to the periphery. The applicator drum is mounted on a shaft which can be driven by a motor. The shaft is, in turn, mounted on a lever which can be pivoted by a solenoid to translate the drum toward and away from the surface. The tape is cut into discreet lengths on the drum by a knife which registers in interfitting engagement with each of the slots in the drum periphery when translated away from the surface. The solenoid and motor are synchronously operated to rotate the drum to put a length of tape in position for transfer to the surface, to translate the drum toward the surface to complete the transfer, and to translate the drum away from the surface to register the knife in interfitting engagement with a drum slot and thereby cut a next length of tape for subsequent transfer.

Growing community of inventors

Norwalk, CT, United States of America

Harold Silverman