摘要:
A retard module in a mail separator having a floating, middle idler to change the ingestion angle of the mail separator. The retard module further has a downstream idler, an upstream pulley driven by a motor, and an endless belt forming a loop around the idlers and the pulley to provide a retarding force against a feed module. The downstream portion of the retard belt and the belt of the feed module form a nip to ingest incoming mail. The floating idler and the downstream idler are mounted on a bracket which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a frame of the retard module. Initially, the ingestion angle at the nip is acute and thereby reduces damage to the incoming mailpieces. But when a thick mailpiece enters the separator, it causes the floating idler to move away further from the feed module and thereby increases the ingestion angle. A large ingestion angle allows thicker mailpieces to pass through the nip without substantially increasing the nipping forces. With the floating idler mounted together with the downstream idler on the pivoting bracket, the endless belt maintains substantially the same length regardless of the ingestion angles. This feature keeps constant tension on the belt and helps prevent the belt from slipping.
摘要:
An ingestion assembly is provided for a singulating apparatus having a conveyor system for moving a stack of sheet material along a feed path. The ingestion assembly is spatially positioned above the conveyor belt and includes at least one singulating roller driven in a direction opposing the motion of the conveyor belt. The ingestion assembly comprises an assembly support rotationally mounting the singulating roller at a downstream end portion and pivotally mounting to the singulating apparatus at an upstream end portion. A movable guide mounts to the assembly support and is positionable relative thereto as a function of a force vector imposed on the guide by the sheet material. Additionally, the moveable guide includes a surface operative to guide the sheet material into a singulating interface which is formed between the singulating roller and the conveyor system. In operation, sheet material enters the throat of the ingestion assembly and contact is made with the moveable guide. When the force vector, imposed by the sheet material, is less than a threshold level, the guide assumes a first position operative to shingle sheet material in preparation for singulation by the singulating roller. When the force vector, is greater than the threshold level, movable guide assumes a second position operative to pivot the assembly support and increase the singulating interface. Consequently, sheet material having a larger thickness dimension may pass for separation by the singulation apparatus.
摘要:
The present invention includes apparatus and methods for sealing an envelope. A sealing nip is formed by an upper roller and a lower roller. The upper roller is mounted on an upper shaft and the lower roller is mounted on a lower shaft. A mechanism associated with the lower shaft adjusts the orientation of the lower shaft to match the orientation of the upper shaft.
摘要:
An ingestion assembly is provided for a singulating apparatus having a conveyor system for moving a stack of sheet material along a feed path. The ingestion assembly is spatially positioned above the conveyor belt and includes at least one singulating roller driven in a direction opposing the motion of the conveyor belt. The ingestion assembly comprises an assembly support rotationally mounting the singulating roller at a downstream end portion and pivotally mounting to the singulating apparatus at an upstream end portion. A movable guide mounts to the assembly support and is positionable relative thereto as a function of a force vector imposed on the guide by the sheet material. Additionally, the moveable guide includes a surface operative to guide the sheet material into a singulating interface which is formed between the singulating roller and the conveyor system. In operation, sheet material enters the throat of the ingestion assembly and contact is made with the moveable guide. When the force vector, imposed by the sheet material, is less than a threshold level, the guide assumes a first position operative to shingle sheet material in preparation for singulation by the singulating roller. When the force vector, is greater than the threshold level, movable guide assumes a second position operative to pivot the assembly support and increase the singulating interface. Consequently, sheet material having a larger thickness dimension may pass for separation by the singulation apparatus.
摘要:
According to some embodiments a system and an apparatus comprise a registration wall, a weighing device located adjacent to the registration wall, a belt drive mechanism, a plurality of inboard skis, and a plurality of outboard skis. The belt drive mechanism extends across the weighing device for advancing a mail piece relative to the weighing device and the belt drive mechanism is located at a first distance from the registration wall. The plurality of inboard skis are located substantially at the first distance from the registration wall and are located beneath the belt drive mechanism for urging the mail piece upwardly toward the drive belt mechanism. The plurality of outboard skis is coplanar with the plurality of inboard skis for supporting an end of the mail piece. The plurality of outboard skis is located at a second distance from the registration wall. The second distance is greater than the first distance. The plurality of outboard skis adjust to the thickness of a mail piece that is transported between a plurality of inboard skis and the top registration drive belt mechanism.
摘要:
A method for weighing mailpieces while in motion in a mailpiece weighing system. The weigh pan in the mailpiece horizontal transport path generates a signal corresponding to a weight of the moving mailpiece, and the system controller compares the weight of the moving mailpiece to a postal weight break to determine if the postal weight break is within the margin of error of the weighing mechanism. If the postal weight break is within the margin of error of the weighing mechanism, the system controller stops transport of the moving mailpiece and reweighs the mailpiece.
摘要:
According to some embodiments a system and an apparatus comprise a registration wall, a weighing device located adjacent to the registration wall, a belt drive mechanism, a plurality of inboard skis, and a plurality of outboard skis. The belt drive mechanism extends across the weighing device for advancing a mail piece relative to the weighing device and the belt drive mechanism is located at a first distance from the registration wall. The plurality of inboard skis are located substantially at the first distance from the registration wall and are located beneath the belt drive mechanism for urging the mail piece upwardly toward the drive belt mechanism. The plurality of outboard skis is coplanar with the plurality of inboard skis for supporting an end of the mail piece. The plurality of outboard skis is located at a second distance from the registration wall. The second distance is greater than the first distance. The plurality of outboard skis adjust to the thickness of a mail piece that is transported between a plurality of inboard skis and the top registration drive belt mechanism.
摘要:
A weighing apparatus and method for measuring the weight of articles fed along a processing path. The weighing apparatus includes multiple segments, i.e., a primary scale segment adapted to weigh articles of a first configuration, and at least one secondary scale segment adapted to cooperate with the primary segment to weigh articles of a second configuration. The articles of the second configuration are larger than those of the first configuration in at least one dimension or direction. Inasmuch as the articles are fed along a processing path, a conveyor or transport means is provided to feed the articles to the scale segments. The conveyor may be controlled to momentarily pause the articles over each scale segment to obtain an accurate weight measurement. The weight measurement apparatus is particularly well-suited for use in mailing machines to calculate the value of postage indicia.