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. 22, 2007
Filed:
Apr. 02, 2004
John Overman, Evanston, IL (US);
George Rabindran, Davie, FL (US);
Steve Archer, Des Plaines, IL (US);
Dan Rice, Buffalo Grove, IL (US);
Tom Wells, Crystal Lake, IL (US);
Ken Guenther, Antioch, IL (US);
John Overman, Evanston, IL (US);
George Rabindran, Davie, FL (US);
Steve Archer, Des Plaines, IL (US);
Dan Rice, Buffalo Grove, IL (US);
Tom Wells, Crystal Lake, IL (US);
Ken Guenther, Antioch, IL (US);
Bowe Bell & Howell Postal Systems Company, Lincolnwood, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for collating a plurality of separate groups or bundles of similar flats mailpieces arranged in a predetermined delivery point sequence, each mailpiece imprinted with a distinct delivery point or address indicia, to produce a single stream of mailpieces in new groups, where each new group comprises a plurality of mailpieces all addressed to a distinct delivery point. The apparatus comprises a plurality of feed units, each unit configured to process a quantity of similar mailpieces, each with a distinct delivery point indicia on the face of the mailpiece, and to deposit each mailpiece in a distinct pocket on a collation conveyor which traverses all of the plurality of feed units. Each pocket will ultimately contain different mail pieces, all addressed to the same delivery point Multiple new groups of mailpieces are then automatically placed in containers in a sequence corresponding to a predetermined delivery route.