Backing plate support system for a mailpiece feeder

Abstract

A backing plate support system is provided for a mailpiece feeder mechanism wherein mailpieces are conveyed vertically, on-edge along a transport deck to a transfer station for subsequent sortation and delivery. The backing plate support system includes a guide track disposed along and adjacent to the transport deck and a plurality of backing plates each having a guide support fitting at its base. The guide support fitting engages the guide track and supports the backing plate in an orthogonal position relative to the transport deck. The backing plate support system, furthermore, includes an advancing belt disposed adjacent the guide track and adapted to be driven linearly along the transport deck and a mechanism for coupling each backing plate to the advancing belt. The mechanism facilitates relative movement of the backing support plate relative to the advancing belt in one direction while inhibiting relative motion thereof in an opposing direction. Furthermore, the mechanism facilitates optimum spacing between pairs of backing plates when mailpieces are stacked therebetween by a system operator. In one embodiment of the invention, a controller is operable to preposition each of the backing plates such that the operator may stack mailpieces against one backing plate and, on the command of the operator, introduce a second backing plate to support any thickness of stacked mailpieces.