Pitney Bowes Inc.

Kenneth A Schulz

Gerald C Freeman

Steven A Supron

Edilberto I Salazar

Richard P Schoonmaker

David H Brooks, Jr

John H Steinmetz

Franklin J Buckley

Lyle W Shaw

Christopher D Clark

William E Ryan, Jr

Robert P Rebres

George H Woods

Geoffrey S Coleman

Joseph H Marzullo

Ania Mastriano

Richard D Boughton

Joan T Wagner

Howard M Stevens

Robert D Lynch, Jr

Richard Rumsey

A mailing machine is provided with a removable control panel device that is repositionable thereby enabling the operator to position the control panel device to face in different directions with respect to the mailing machine. The repositioning of the control panel device allows an operator to clearly view a display on the device from any work area of the mailing machine. For example, if an operator is standing near an input end of the mailing machine, the control panel device can be rotated such that it can be viewed by the operator while standing near the input end of the mailing machine.

Mailing machine with a repositionable user controller

An envelope stripping apparatus is disclosed for opening and holding open the flaps of envelopes or mail processed in a mailing machine or other envelope-processing machine. The flaps of the envelopes are held down against a vacuum plenum during transport of the envelope. The envelopes are fed along the feeding path towards a moistening device while the flap is stripped and held by the vacuum plenum. An arrangement of the plenum apertures is such that stiffer portions of the flaps have more vacuum applied than those that are of lesser area, or at the extreme end of the flap. A second arrangement of the envelope flaps will cause additional holding of the end of the flap if it is a larger envelope with a greater area at the end such as a square flap.

Envelope stripping apparatus

A mailing machine comprising a device for feeding an envelope having a width in a path of travel; a device for determining the width of the envelope; and a control device in operative communication with the determining device for using the width of the envelope to ascertain a proper amount of postage to be applied to the envelope. According to a first embodiment, the determining device includes a sensor array located transverse to the path of travel for detecting the presence of the envelope where the sensor array includes an inner plurality of sensors and an outer plurality of sensors located further away from a registration wall than the inner plurality of sensors. According to a second embodiment, the determining device includes a first sensor for detecting a lead edge of the envelope and a sensor line located downstream in the path of travel from the first sensor and at an angle to the path of travel so as to detect a lead corner of the envelope.

Mailing machine including dimensional rating capability

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient refeeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow. The storage rack may be configured to accept containers such as, for example, standard tubs used by national posts, and/or custom tubs designed for mailer environments.

Storage rack for storing sorted mailpieces

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient re-feeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow. The storage rack may be configured to accept containers such as, for example, standard tubs used by national posts, and/or custom tubs designed for mailer environments.

A stacker for stacking paper documents seriatim is disclosed. The stacker includes: a platform, a helix extending upwardly from the platform; and a device for rotating the helix, whereby a paper document placed at the bottom of the helix can be driven upwardly to the top of the helix.

Automatic mail stacker

A system and method for the recharge of postage meters. A request for recharge of a postage meter is transmitted to a remote location as a facsimile image. The information in the request is extracted using OCR or similar techneques and transmitted to a data processing center which verifies the request and, if verified, returns a unique code which will recharge the requesting meter. The code is transmitted to the requesting meter as a second facsimile image.

Remote postage meter resetting by facsimile communication

An accessing guide in combination with the paper path of a deck for transporting paper documents. The combination includes: a deck for supporting and transporting paper documents seriatim; and an adjustable side guide mounted on the deck for movement perpendicular to the direction of the paper path for guiding the flow of documents along the deck. The guide has a pivotable rail which can pivot away from the paper path in order to allow access to the paper path by an operator.

Accessing guide for inserter feed path

Combined postal and shipping scale

Insertion and extraction of a circuit board (40) into and from a car guide (10) is aided by a lever-like, rigid, elongated member (66) hingedly attached at one hinged end (62) thereof to one side (22) of the card guide (10). The other nonhinged end (64) of the member (66) is manipulatable so that the member (66) may be moved between an open and a closed position. A bump (70) on the member (66) contacts the trailing edge (44) of the circuit board during insertion as the member (66) is moved to its closed position. In the closed position, the member (66) extends from one hinge side (22) of the card guide (10) to the other nonhinge side (12) thereof. A locking device (94) on the nonhinge side (12) of the card guide (10) releasably engages the nonhinge end (64) of the member (66) in the closed position. For extracting the circuit board (40 ) from the card guide (10), the member (66) is moved towards its open position and a barbed portion (80) of the member (66) engages a hole (50) in a trailing edge region of the circuit board (40). The topography of the barbed portion (80), notably that of a region (100) of increased thickness disposed thereon and forming a step (106), is such that it ultimately releases itself from the hole (50).

Growing community of inventors

Bethel, CT, United States of America

Kenneth A Schulz