摘要:
An insertion machine has a stationary table for holding inserts, and a linearly movable table for receiving and holding envelopes. The moving table jogs left or right to align the insert and envelope so that the insert may be pushed into the envelope. A parallelogram drive mechanism has a first pair of belt drives which form vertical parallel arms. As the table moves back and forth, the length of the parallel vertical drive mechanism does not change appreciably so that the ends of the vertical arms float up and down. There is no need for sliding gears, shafts, or the like to transfer power to the table. A second pair of belts drive the vertical belts from a stationary point at a center of the side of the parallelogram which is opposite the table. The second pair of drive belts enables the lower ends of the first pair of drive belts to float up or down slightly without causing any dislocation as a result of table movement.
摘要:
Method and apparatus for detecting article engagement errors and for calibrating engagement error detection apparatus associated with a plurality of gripper arms (16) of an insertion machine (10). Gripper arms (16) at each of a plurality of insert stations S comprise a first jaw member (24) and a second jaw member (26) which selectively engage articles therebetween. Field-generating means (420) is mounted on one jaw member while a Hall Effect sensor (400) is connected on the other jaw member. The sensed flux density of the generated field is a function of the relative displacement of the first and second jaw members (24,26). A signal generated by the sensor (400) operated in a slide-by mode is related to the separation of the first jaw member (24) and second jaw member (26). If the sensor-generated signal is within predetermined limits of a stored reference signal a proper number of articles are engaged between the first and second jaw members (24,26). The reference signal is stored for each insert station S in accordance with a method and apparatus for calibrating an engagement error detector (364) associated with the station S. The engagement error detectors for a plurality of insert stations can be calibrated one-at-a-time in serial fashion or, in an alternate mode, essentially simultaneously using a master calibration switch (MCS).
摘要:
A device for feeding address labels on a web with the address labels arranged in a column, each address label equal in size to adjacent address labels. There are non-addressed areas at equally spaced distances along the web, with the non-addressed areas separated by the address labels. There are two cutters placed after the web feeder. The first cutter operates after each increment of the web. The second cutter operates only after an increment of the web wherein the web is fed the distance of an address label plus the height of a non-addressed area. The non-addressed area is cut from the address label and removed, and the cut address label is affixed to the mail piece. The device provides for incrementing the web either a distance equal to an address label or a distance equal to an address label plus the height of a non-addressed area. The web feeding and cutting is synchronized with the application of the labels to the mail pieces, with the movement of the mail pieces through the web application area also synchronized with the web feeding and cutting.
摘要:
The illustrated embodiment teaches a three-way valve system for an ink jet printer. The system has an inlet, a main outlet, a vent, and two needle valves (a shut-off valve and a vent valve) which sit in respective valve guides. The passageways are arranged so that for ink to reach the outlet or vent, it travels through the shut-off valve seat and guide. Similarly, to reach the vent, fluid must pass through the vent valve seat and guide. The shut-off valve and vent valves are arranged to reciprocate through the action of a lever with a fulcrum between the two needle valves. The lever is connected to an actuator solenoid and an opposing bias spring. For opening of the valve system, the solenoid pulls the lever to shut the vent valve, thereby permitting the pressurized ink to lift the shut-off valve off its seat. When the shut-off valve is seated, a smaller area is exposed to pressure than when it is not seated. Therefore, the ink exerts a greater force on the opened shut-off valve. This greater force is communicated by the lever to seat the vent valve even more firmly. This is called self-energization. Decisive closing of the system occurs due to the vent arrangement permitting fluid in the passageways after the shut-off valve is seated to open the vent valve and exit through the vent.
摘要:
An improvement in an ink jet printing system which uses a catcher or gutter to intercept drops of ink deflected from the ink jet printing stream. The ink drop catcher serves to remove the drops of ink which have collected on the face of the catcher by means of capillary paths extending from the face of the catcher to a porous block. The porous block may be connected to a vacuum souce for removing the ink from the printing head.
摘要:
Apparatus and method for automatically preparing large mailings in which one or more documents are nested within the fold of a letter sheet prior to insertion into an outer envelope. One or more unfolded letter sheets are transported to a folding operation involving a clamp assembly and a roller folding assembly which is movable into engagement with the clamp assembly. After folding and prior to stuffing into an envelope, one or more inserts can be inserted within the folded letter sheet.
摘要:
A buffered stacking system for selectively diverting horizontally disposed documents from a generally horizontal main conveying path, stacking the documents in a horizontal orientation and dropping the documents into replaceable receiving receptacles is provided. The system has a primary horizontal conveyor belt with a lower horizontal reach defining a horizontal primary conveying path. A plurality of sorting stations are located serially along and below the primary conveying path. Each of the sorting stations has at least one diverter arm disposed along the conveying path. The diverter arms are selectively movable from a generally horizontal position which allows passage of the documents along the conveying path to an inclined position to divert the document into the corresponding sorting station. The diverter arms divert the document in a downwardly inclined direction into a stacking station. The stacking station is formed with a lower drop floor assembly for supporting the diverted documents in a stacked generally inclined orientation and for pivoting open to allow the stacked documents to fall into a replaceable receiving bin located below a drop floor which forms a part of the drop floor assembly. The stacking assembly also includes a method of operation whereby the drop floor is activated when the documents in the stacking bin are equal to or higher than a predetermined height and when additional documents are not being diverted into the stacking bin.
摘要:
A multi-pass sorting machine includes a housing or supporting structure which has the configuration of an A-Frame. The A-Frame structure has a slanting front side supporting several individually functional devices and a slanting back side supporting other individually functional devices. The devices of the front side include an input feeder first transporting mechanisms, a singulating device, an accelerating mechanism, second transporting mechanisms, a bar code reader and associated electronic and computer equipment, a plurality of first sorting devices in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of first pass stacker buffers, and a reversing member for transporting letters from the front side to the back side while at the same time retaining the same orientation of the letters to the planar surface as the letters go around the corner. The slanting back side supports a plurality of second sorting devices in the form of diverting vanes, an equal number of second pass stacker buffers, and an automatic mail tray loader.
摘要:
An inserting machine having an improved hold-down member which provides for reduced friction between the hold-down member and the inserts as the inserts pass beneath the hold-down member. An endless belt moves with the lugs in order to transport the inserts along the insert track while friction between the bottom-most insert in a stack and the insert track. The possibility of thin or flimsy inserts jamming the insert track or being erroneously moved to another insert pile is greatly reduced.
摘要:
A device for allowing the removal of a central or coupling shaft which is connected to a main shaft having its ends retained within bearing supports. At the joints between the coupling shaft and main shaft there is complementary coupling pieces which align the coupling shaft with the main shaft. A releasable collar maintains the shafts in a locking relationship and there are locating means on the shaft to positively position the collar around the joint.