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:
Nov. 16, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2002
Richard A. Sloan, Jr., Southbury, CT (US);
Paul R. Sette, Branford, CT (US);
Jeffrey T. Mulreed, Shelton, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for stacking mailpieces received from a mail-processing machine in consecutive order. There is a receiving conveying section positioned at a greater height than the following stacking conveying section. A stacking ramp extends from the downstream portion of the stacking conveying section. The receiving conveying section has a single continuous belt extending along the receiving conveying section in a first direction and positioned centrally along a second direction of the conveying section. The continuous belts of the stacking conveying section are positioned substantially at equal intervals extending along the first direction of the stacking conveying section and have top surfaces which extend above the stacking conveying section and which contact the mailpieces received from the mail processing machine. Additionally, included are means for driving the continuous belt at a first speed on the receiving conveying section in the first direction and for driving the belt at a second speed on the stacking conveying section in the same direction, the second speed of the plurality of belts is slower than the first speed of the continuous belt on the receiving conveying section. There is also a hold down means which positions and guides the mailpieces, positioned at the downstream portion of the receiving conveying section comprising normal force rollers that contact the receiving conveying belt to align the mailpieces at the receiving conveying section and guide the mailpieces onto the stacking conveying belt.