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:
Feb. 24, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 24, 2002
Todd C. Werner, St. Pete Beach, FL (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
Envelope alignment of a vertical stack of envelopes in an envelope hopper is maintained by mechanically vibrating a preselected part of the hopper. In a first embodiment, the vibration is caused by a reciprocating shuttle having a wedge-shaped member attached to it. The reciprocating shuttle and wedge member are positioned at the bottom of the hopper so that the shuttle and wedge-shaped member support all of the envelopes. The reciprocation of the shuttle and hence the reciprocation of the wedge-shaped member continually jostles the envelopes. The wedge-shaped member ejects the lowermost envelope in the hopper when the reciprocating shuttle is displaced from a retracted position to an extended position. A motor is used to cause continuous reciprocation of the shuttle. In alternative embodiments, different parts of the envelope hopper are vibrated by any suitable vibration-causing member.