The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1981
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1978
Roy Akers, Lafayette County, MO (US);
Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
The mail sorting machine of the present invention is capable of receiving a supply of envelopes in a magazine from which the individual envelopes are picked off in succession by means of a suction device operating in combination with a pair of conveying belts having a friction surface facing the incoming envelopes. The suction device acts through holes in the conveying belts to draw the lead envelope against the friction surface of the conveying belts for separation of this envelope from the rest of the supply. The separated envelope is then transferred to a read station where a reading device reads a sort code imprinted on the envelope. The envelope is then provided to the storage section of the machine where it is directed to its designated sorting bin. The storage section of the machine is provided with a plurality of diverter mechanisms which are arranged in pairs to form a guideway through which the envelopes are directed. As an envelope approaches its designated sorting bin, the diverter mechanism associated with this bin is activated. Activation of the diverter mechanism causes its deflector gate to be interposed within the guideway to direct the approaching envelope into the sorting bin associated with the deflector mechanism. Each sorting bin has a rib which runs along the floor of the bin to hold the envelopes in an offset position wherein the inherent vibratory motion of the machine causes the envelopes to be aligned in a neat stack. Each sorting bin is also equipped with a biasing plate which serves to keep the envelopes stored within the bin in a vertical plane.