Pitney Bowes Inc.

William B Riley

John P Miller

Chiping Sye

An apparatus and method for automatically positioning a plurality of suction devices over the throat of envelope to lift the throat. The apparatus includes: a base section pivotably mounted on a pivot shaft; a carriage movably mounted on the base section; a pair of pivot arms, wherein one end of each pivot arm is pivotably mounted on the carriage, and the other end extends out of the carriage for mounting an inner suction device; two outer arms movably mounted on the pivot shaft on opposite sides of the base section for mounting two outer suction devices; and means for rotating the pivot arms in order to adjust the distance between the two inner suction devices, moving the carriage in order to adjust the distance between the inner suction devices and the pivot shaft, and transporting the outer arms in opposite directions relative to the base station to adjust the distance between the outer suction devices so as to position the suction devices over the throat of the envelope according to width and the throat profile of the envelope. The apparatus further includes means for entering information regarding the width and throat profile; means for computing the locations of the suction devices; means for conveying the computed locations to the suction device placing mechanisms and means for pitching the outer arms and the base section about the pivot shaft to cause the suction devices to contact the throat of the envelope.

Method and apparatus for automatically positioning a pneumatic envelope opener

A method and an apparatus for opening an envelope for document insertion in a document inserting system. The apparatus includes: an air chamber having a first end and an opposing second end and an inlet in the first end; a piston movably located in the air chamber for dividing the air chamber into a first chamber near the first end and a second chamber near the second end; a suction cup operatively connect to the air inlet to pick up the throat of an envelope; a spring operatively connect with the piston; and a cam operable at a first position to compress the spring and to keep the piston near the first end, and at the second position to release the spring which urges the piston to move away from the first end and expand the first chamber, thereby creating a suction force for the suction cup. Accordingly, the method of opening an envelope includes the steps of: 1) keeping the cam at the first position; 2) causing the suction cup press against the envelope throat; 3) cause the cam to operate at the second position to release the spring, creating a suction force for the suction cup; 5) moving the suction cup together with the throat of the envelope to spread open the envelope; and 6) after the document is inserted past the throat entrance, recompressing the spring by causing the cam to operate at the first position, as in step 1.

Method and apparatus for opening an envelope in an inserting machine

A buckle accumulator including an input feed system, an output feed system located downstream in a path of travel from the input feed system, a receiving space located adjacent the path of travel between the input feed system and the output feed system, and a deflector. The input feed system feeds a plurality of sheets one at a time in a path of travel into the buckle accumulator. Each of the plurality of sheets has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The output feed system feeds a stack of sheets out of the buckle accumulator. Generally, the lead edge for each of the plurality of sheets is substantially unrestrained between the input feed system and the output feed system. The receiving space accepts the plurality of sheets one at a time to create the stack. The deflector is mounted in proximity to the receiving space for selectively actuating between a first position out of contact with a first sheet previously accumulated in the receiving space and a second position in contact with the first sheet. The first sheet having a first configuration when the deflector is in the first position and a second configuration when the deflector is in the second position. The deflector is in the second position when the lead edge of a second sheet is between the input feed system and the output feed system so that a portion of the first sheet in the second configuration forms a guide to assist the lead edge of the second sheet in following the path of travel and entering the output feed system.

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Alexandria, VA, United States of America

William B Riley