Patents
Search within
Search within the title, abstract, claims, or full patent document: You can restrict your search to a specific field using field names.
Use TI= to search in the title, AB= for the abstract, CL= for the claims, or TAC= for all three. For example, TI=(safety belt).
Search by Cooperative Patent Classifications (CPCs): These are commonly used to represent ideas in place of keywords, and can also be entered in a search term box. If you're searching forseat belts, you could also search for B60R22/00 to retrieve documents that mention safety belts or body harnesses. CPC=B60R22 will match documents with exactly this CPC, CPC=B60R22/low matches documents with this CPC or a child classification of this CPC.
Learn More
Title
Abstract
Claims
Full Document
Find patents
Keywords and boolean syntax (USPTO or EPO format): seat belt searches these two words, or their plurals and close synonyms. "seat belt" searches this exact phrase, in order. -seat -belt searches for documents not containing either word.
For searches using boolean logic, the default operator is AND with left associativity. Note: this means safety OR seat belt is searched as (safety OR seat) AND belt. Each word automatically includes plurals and close synonyms. Adjacent words that are implicitly ANDed together, such as (safety belt), are treated as a phrase when generating synonyms.
Learn More
Search by
Chemistry searches match terms (trade names, IUPAC names, etc. extracted from the entire document, and processed from .MOL files.)
Substructure (use SSS=) and similarity (use ~) searches are limited to one per search at the top-level AND condition. Exact searches can be used multiple times throughout the search query.
Searching by SMILES or InChi key requires no special syntax. To search by SMARTS, use SMARTS=.
To search for multiple molecules, select "Batch" in the "Type" menu. Enter multiple molecules separated by whitespace or by comma.
Learn More
Patent numbers
Search specific patents by importing a CSV or list of patent publication or application numbers.
Code break mechanism for stacking apparatus
EP0376463A2
European Patent Office
- Other languages
German French - Inventor
Terrence M. Doeberl Ralph K. Rand Larry S. Payne Kazutoshi Fujimoto William C. Monday - Current Assignee
- Pitney Bowes Inc
Worldwide applications
Application EP89311980A events
1989-11-20
1990-07-04
1991-03-20
1994-08-03
Application granted
1994-08-03
2009-11-20
Anticipated expiration
Status
Expired - Lifetime
Description
translated from
-
[0001] This invention relates to a code break mechanism for a stacking apparatus receiving a stream of articles, and more particularly to a code break mechanism for producing discontinuities in the article stream in accordance with a selected parameter change in the article stream. -
[0002] In article processing systems, generally the last process step is the collection of processed articles. For example, in a conventional mail processing system, a power stacker may be employed to collect envelopes ejected from a mailing machine. Generally, the power stacker receives the envelopes in seriatim and in a uniform manner and stacks the envelopes. An operator periodically removes the accumulated envelope stack from the stacker for packaging in preparation for subsequent deposit with a mail forwarding agent, e.g. a National Postal Authority. -
[0003] Mail forwarding agents offer to the mailers special postage discount rates for mail which is presorted, for example, by an appropriate standard address code. Therefore, where the mail is processed in a presorted manner, for example, according to such a code, it would be advantageous to the operator for the power stacker to include a means for visually marking address code changes or breaks within the stacker received mail stream. -
[0004] It is an aim of the present invention to present a code break mechanism particularly suited for employment in a power stacker. -
[0005] One suitable form of power stacker includes a deck fixably mounted to and supported by a housing such that the deck is positioned at a 15° rearward reclined angle. A registration wall is fixably mounted to the housing and extends generally perpendicular relative to the deck. A stack wall is mounted for sliding movement relative to the housing at one end. -
[0006] A code break mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a deflector plate pivotally mounted within a mating opening in the registration wall. The deflector plate in a first or normal postion is located coplanar with the registration surface of the registration wall. A solenoid, responding to a control signal from a controller, is fixed in the housing and communicates with the deflector plate through a linkage in such a way that actuation of the solenoid causes pivotal displacement of the deflector plate from the first position to the second position. When the deflector plate is positioned in the second position, it laterally deflects the next-arriving envelope. The code break-indicating envelope is thereby laterally misaligned with respect to the envelope stack allowing an operator to visually observe code breaks in the stack. -
[0007] The invention will be better understood from the following non-limiting description of an example thereof given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- - Fig. 1 is a partial side view of a power stacker useable in accordance with an example of the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a sectioned side view of the power stacker;
- Fig. 3 is a sectioned end view of the power stacker of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 4 is an end view of a code break mechanism in accordance with an example of the present invention; and
- Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a motor control for said power stacker.
-
[0008] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one example of a suitable power stacker, generally indicated at 11, comprises a base orsupport housing 12 having abase 13. A plurality of vertically extendingsupport posts 15 and 17 (ref. to Fig. 4) are fixed tobase 13 at one end. Thebase 13 also has fixed thereto in vertical alignment, aforward wall 21 and a parallelrear wall 23 transversely spaced therefrom.End walls base 13 in spaced relationship and at their ends torespective walls -
[0009] A deck is fixably mounted towalls support posts deck 31 containsplurality slots deck 31 at the receiving or forward end is a first and second adjustable tension brace assemblies 41 and 43. Also fixably mounted to the underside of thedeck 31 at the other end arebraces 45. Thebraces 45 are longitudinally aligned to arespective brace assembly -
[0010] Amotor mount 48, having amotor 49 mounted thereto, is fixably mounted to the underside of thedeck 31. Themotor 49 includes anoutput shaft 51 having apulley gear 52 fixably mounted around theoutput shaft 51. Ashaft 53 carrying a plurality of fixably mountedfriction wheels 55, 57, and 59 therearound is rotatively mounted in thebraces 45. The friction wheels are radially aligned to the respectivefirst slots second shaft 63 is rotatively mounted in thebrace assemblies 41 and 42. Theshaft 63 carries a plurality offriction wheels second slots endless belts -
[0011] Theshaft 53 further includes apulley gear 81 which is inendless belt 83 communication with themotor 49 for providing driving force toshaft 53. Theshaft 53 further includesbevel gears rear wall 23 includes anaperture 89 through which an end portion of theshaft 53 extends and has fixably mounted therealong apulley 91. -
[0012] End wall 25 has formed thereon a plurality ofstuds respective shaft 95 and 97 seated at one end in theend wall 25. Rotatively mounted around the other end ofshafts 95 and 97 are respective threadedhubs 101 and 103. The threadedhubs 101 and 103 are mounted such that the threadedhubs 101 and 103 partially extend into respective recesses 104 and 106 formed into thedeck 31. Abevel gear respective shafts 95 and 97 in driving communication with the respective threadedhubs 101 and 103. Thebevel gears respective bevel gears -
[0013] A stack wall 111 has a formed facingsurface 113 abutting to the outer face ofend wall 25 leading to a vertically reclinedsurface 115. A plurality ofguide rods guide rods respective guide tabs guide tabs slide rail assemblies respective side walls rail assemblies surface 113 of the stack wall 111 such that the stack wall 111 can be slidably displaced. -
[0014] Referring to Fig. 2, aregistration wall 145 is fixably mounted longitudinally along therear wall 23 and orientated generally perpendicular to the deck. Theregistration wall 145 includes arecess 147 angled generally perpendicular to the reclinedsurface 115 of stack wall 111. Abrace 149 is fixably mounted to the back surface of theregistration wall 145. Thebrace 149 includes ashaft 151 rotatively mounted therein such that theshaft 151 extends generally perpendicular to therecline surface 115 of the stack wall 111. Apulley 153 is fixably mounted to the ofshaft 151. Thepulley 153 is anendless belt 155 in driving communication with thepulley 91 mountedshaft 63. A threadedhub 157 is fixably mounted around theshaft 151. -
[0015] Theregistration wall 145 further includes aslot 160. Ayoke 165 is pivotally mounted inslot 160 to theregistration wall 145. Theyoke 165 carries ayoke wheel 167 rotatively mounted between the forks of theyoke 165. Theyoke 165 is adjustable mounted inslot 160 such that the yoke wheel rests on thedeck 31. Also fixably mounted to the back of theregistration wall 145 is aguide rod 166 which extends slidably through aslide member 165 fixably mounted to theregistration wall 145 and pivotally mounted at one end to the stack wall 111. Areturn spring assembly 166 having one end of itsflex strip 168 fixably mounted to the stack wall 111. In like manner a secondreturn spring assembly 170 is fixably mounted tobase 13 having one end of itflex strip 172 fixably mounted to the stack wall 111. -
[0016] Referring to Fig. 4, the code break mechanism, generally indicated as 200, includes adeflector plate 202 pivotally mounted in amatting opening 204 in theregistration wall 145. Abracket 201 is fixably mounted to the back face of theregistration wall 145. Pivotally mounted to thebracket 201 is a generally L-shapedlink 206 having afirst slot 208 and asecond slot 210. Apin 212 is formed to the back face of thedeflector plate 202 such that thepin 212 is captured in theslot 208 of thelink 206. -
[0017] Abracket 214 is fixably mounted to the underside of thedeck 31 and fixably supports arotary solenoid 216. Theoutput shaft 218 of therotary solenoid 216 has fixably mounted thereto to one end of alink 220. Thelink 220 extends through aaperture 222 in therear wall 23 and has aslot 224 formed in its other end. Asecond bracket 226 is fixably mounted to therear wall 23. Slidably mounted through thebrackets link 228 having ahub 239 formed at one end slidably captured inslot 210 oflink 206 and at the other end of link 228 a formedpin 232 is slidably captured inslot 224 oflink 220. Thelink 228 includes acoupling 234. Aspring 236 is coiled around thelink 228 between thestop rim 234 and thebracket 201. -
[0018] Referring further to Fig. 5, in operation, asuitable motor controller 171 is in electrical communication throughline 173 with aenvelope feed device 175, for example, a mailing machine, and throughline 177 with themotor 49 androtary solenoid 216 of thepower stacker 12. Themotor controller 171 synchronously controls the operating speed of thepower stacker 12,rotary solenoid 216 and thefeed device 175 such that envelopes, for example, 5 inch envelope delivered by the feed device are received by the power stacker in a shingled fashion with approximately a .75 inch spacing between the leading edge of successive envelopes. The envelopes are transported by thebelts 55, 57 and 59, which are under the drive influence ofmotor 49 throughbelt 83 andshaft 63, under theyoke roller 167 such that the leading edge of the lead envelopes engages the stack wall facing 115 and is caused to assume a generally vertical position against the stack wall. The subsequent envelopes are caused to assume a generally parallel orientation relative to the lead envelope. The positioning of envelopes is assisted by the edge engagement of the envelopes with the threadedhubs -
[0019] Upon activation by themotor controller 171 occasioned by the presence of a code break letter being discharged from thefeed device 175, therotary solenoid 216 rotatively displaces link 220 in the direction of arrow A. The displacement oflink 220 is transmitted bylink 228 to causelink 206 to pivotally displace. The displacement oflink 206 causes thedeflector plate 202 to pivotally displace from a first position coplanar with theregistration wall 145 to a second position whereupon thedeflector plate 202 encounters the code break envelope in route. The code break envelope is consequentially displaced laterally relative to the other stacker received envelopes. -
[0020] As the envelopes are caused to vertically stack, edge engagement of the envelopes with the threadedhubs rods -
[0021] The foregoing particular description is of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be viewed as limiting the invention.
Claims (8)
Hide Dependent
translated from
Claims (8)
Hide Dependent
translated from
1. A code break mechanism for employment with a stacker apparatus (11), said stacker apparatus being arranged for receiving and stacking received articles in a generally uniform manner, said stacker apparatus having a support housing (12), a deck (31) fixably mounted to and supported by said housing, and a registration wall (145) fixably mounted to said housing and extending generally perpendicular to said deck; the said code break mechanism including a deflector means (202) for encountering a selected one of said articles and causing said selected article to be stacked by said stacker apparatus such that the selected article presents a visual discontinuity in the article stack.
2. A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector means comprises a deflector plate (202) pivotally mounted in an opening in the registration wall; and drive means for causing said deflector plate to be selectively moved between a first position coplanar with said registration wall and a second position pivotally displaced from said registration wall.
3. A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises a rotary solenoid (216) having a rotary output shaft; a first link (220) fixably mounted at one end to said output shaft; and linking means (206, 208) for connecting said other end of said first link with said deflector plate such that pivotal displacement of said first link causes said deflector plate to move to said first or second position.
4. A code break mechanism according to any preceding claim in which the stacker apparatus includes a stack wall attached to said housing opposite one end of said deck and means for causing said delivered articles to be collected against said stack wall.
5. A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said drive means is arranged for causing said deflector plate to be selectively movable from a first position coplanar with said registration wall to a second position pivotally displaced from said registration wall.
6. A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said deflector means further comprises biasing means for biasing said deflector plate towards said first position and acting on said linking means.
7. A code break mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 4, 5, or 6, further comprising control means for selectively activating said code break mechanism.
8. A document stack comprised of a plurality of documents segregated by category and stacked in a generally uniformed manner with the first document of each category being stacked in an off-set manner to create a respective discontinuity in the document stack.