Bell + Howell Company

Myron A Bowles

Edward H Zemke, Deceased

Girish B Shah

Harold D Pogue

K George Rabindran

Kenneth L Guenther

Paul J Beatty

Gerald D Warden

Gary L Vander Syde

Kenneth G Viani

Michael A Wisniewsi

Apparatus and method for automatically preparing large mailings in which one or more documents are nested within the fold of a letter sheet prior to insertion into an outer envelope. One or more unfolded letter sheets are transported to a folding operation involving a clamp assembly and a roller folding assembly which is movable into engagement with the clamp assembly. After folding and prior to stuffing into an envelope, one or more inserts can be inserted within the folded letter sheet.

Apparatus and method for automated mail

A device for turning articles such as envelopes 90 degrees as the articles are moved forward from an entrace location to an exit location. Two flexible endless belts, each having a span contiguous to a corresponding span of the other, move the articles as they are turned. A pair of entrance and exit rollers have the flexible belts wrapped around them. The axis of each of the entrance rollers is horizontally disposed and the axis of each of the exit rollers is turned 90 degrees in the direction of the angular displacement of the article such that the axis of each of the exit rollers is disposed vertically. A pair of idler rollers assist in keeping the belts properly positioned on the entrance and exit rollers.

Article turning assembly

An insertion machine system includes an insertion machine 100 of a type wherein a plurality of insert stations 152 are positioned proximate conveyor means 120 travelling therealong for selectively feeding inserts onto the conveyor means 120. A buffer and turnover assembly 106 receives a printed envelope from in-line printer means 104 and automatically introduces the printed article onto the conveyor 120 travelling proximate the insertion stations 152. A data processor 108 governs the acquistion from an information storage medium of information indicative of text to be printed on an envelope and information indicative of insert machine control signals. The data processor 108 further governs the operation of the printing means 104 whereby the printing means 104 prints on an envelope readable text. The data processing means 108 also communicates the insertion machine control signals to the insert machine 100, as well as govern the introduction by the buffer turnover assembly 106 of the printed envelope onto the conveyor means 120.

Method of operating insertion machine and printer with control signals

An insertion machine system includes an insertion machine 100 of a type wherein a plurality of insert stations 152 are positioned proximate conveyor means 120 travelling therealong for selectively feeding inserts onto the conveyor means 120. A buffer and turnover assembly 106 receives a printed envelope from in-line printer means 104 and automatically introduces the printed article onto the conveyor 120 travelling proximate the insertion stations 152. A data processor 108 governs the acquisition from an information storage medium of information indicative of text to be printed on an envelope and information indicative of insert machine control signals. The data processor 108 further governs the operation of the printing means 104 whereby the printing means 104 prints on an envelope readable text. The data processing means 108 also communicates the insertion machine control signals to the insert machine 100, as well as govern the introduction by the buffer turnover assembly 106 of the printed envelope onto the conveyor means 120.

Insertion machine with control signals stored on searchable medium

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Waukegan, IL, United States of America

Myron A Bowles