Bell & Howell Mail and Messaging Technologies Company

Bowe Bell + Howell Company

John H Vitko

John J Semanick

Michael R Drago

Richard F Kanick

An accumulator apparatus for accumulating one or more sheets or articles is provided and includes a sheet accumulator portion for accumulating one or more sheets or articles, a ramp disposed upstream of the sheet accumulator portion relative to a flow direction of the sheet or article, an actuator and a pusher plate connected to the actuator. The actuator is configured to move the pusher plate away from the ramp in a direction toward a sheet accumulation portion of the accumulator apparatus.

Accumulator apparatus non-marring pusher system

An improved insert hopper for use in conjunction with the insert feeding device of a document handling apparatus such as a mail insertion machine. The insert hopper includes a support deck, a front registration member, and a backstop member. A bottom support plate for the insert hopper has an outer surface constructed of a low-friction material such as PTFE, chrome, or finished stainless steel. One or more wedge blocks are mounted on the support deck. Each wedge block has an insert support surface supporting a trailing edge of the lowermost insert of an insert stack loaded in the insert hopper. The insert hopper can optionally have a tilted orientation with respect to the vertical.

Insert hopper and method for improving the operation thereof

A positive drive mechanism for use in a sheet folding apparatus includes a motor drive, a torque-limiting device coupled to the motor drive, a drive pulley coupled to the torque-limiting device, and a plurality of idler pulleys. Each of the idler pulleys is coupled to a drive shaft which supports a fold roller. A non-slip positive drive member operatively engages portions of the drive pulley and the plurality of idler pulleys. A sheet is fed into the folder and between the fold rollers in order to fold the sheet. In the event that the sheet becomes jammed between the fold rollers, the torque-limiting device operates to release the torque transmitted from the motor drive to the drive pulley.

Positive drive mechanism for buckle folder and method

A sheet-size and stacking direction adjustable accumulator and method are disclosed. The accumulator is easily adjustable for handling sheets of different widths and for either under or over accumulating. The adjustability is provided by allowing accumulator ramps to be added or removed without having to deconstruct the accumulator and without the need for special skill.

Growing community of inventors

Easton, PA, United States of America

John H Vitko