Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Mark W Westerdale

David Jerome Tilles

Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya

Thomas F Grapes

Diane L Deemer

David Bialik

Charles M Miller

John O Kurtz

James D Mullennix

Frank J San Miguel

Francisco J San Miguel

James D Mullenix

A modular mail processing method and control system for sorting pieces of incoming, internal, and outgoing mail including a plurality of sorting bins which correspond to either mail stops or zip codes depending on which sort plan is selected. The modular mail processing method and control system permitting mixed pieces of mail of various sizes to be sorted. Additionally, an internal mail envelope, which has address regions consisting of blocks, may be utilized in connection with the modular mail processing method and control system in order to allow accurate detection of handwritten addresses.

Modular mail processing method and control system

Apparatus for separating individual flat articles of random thickness from one end of a stack of such articles and delivering separated articles, on command, to a transport device. Included in the apparatus is a pick-off device having a friction surface drivable in a direction of article delivery and oriented to engage an exposed surface on one article at the one end of the stack and advance the one article in the direction of delivery, an anti-doubling device for restricting advancing movement of other articles by the pick-off device, a delivery device having a drivable friction nip for pulling a separated article from the pick-off device in the direction of article delivery, and a control system for operating the pick-off device and the delivery device to position each separated article in the friction nip in readiness for delivery, on command, to the transport device. The anti-doubling device is a friction roller supported for movement between a first position of contact with the friction surface of the pick-off device and a second position separated from the friction surface of the pick-off device by the thickness of an article advanced from the one end of the stack. A constant slip torque is imposed on the friction roller independent of friction roller speed, by a magnetic hysteresis device.

Apparatus for separating and delivering flat articles of random length

A modular mail processing method and control system that includes a plurality of induction transport modules and a stacker/transport module. The system maintains a real time statistics concerning the mail flowing through the system. The modularity of the system increases its flexibility in adapting to sorting either incoming or outgoing mail. In addition, a variety of readers and printers can be employed in the system to meet the needs of a particular customer.

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Millersville, MD, United States of America

Mark W Westerdale