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:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 08, 1999
Dietrich Müller, Berlin, DE;
Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., Birkenwerder, DE;
Abstract
An apparatus for processing and transferring mail includes a franking and/or addressing machine and a downstream depositing apparatus for depositing items of mail stackwise one above the other. The mail is transported continuously in the machine by a transporting belt and is printed by a contactless printing device, such as an ink-jet printing head being immobile during printing. A transporting roller over which the mail is guided is disposed in the machine immediately downstream of the belt at a sufficient distance from the printing head and is driven at a circumferential speed greater than that of the belt. An orthogonal distance between the roller and the printing head causes a course of the mail to be determined by the belt alone during printing. The apparatus improves functional properties, makes it possible for mixed mail to be deposited without complications and without changing existing depositing apparatuses and achieves a continuous throughflow of mail until an end of a printing operation and accelerated mail discharge thereafter. It considerably shortens a length of time until the mail is tipped into a depositing box and provides sufficient time for assuming a rest position with a surprisingly low technical outlay.