US3799337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mail candling apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-25
•
Granted: 1974-03-26
•
Expires: 1992-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A mail candling apparatus for feeding an envelope to photocell scanners which depending on the density of the envelope as when the envelope contains an enclosure, will reject the envelope or when the envelope is empty will pass the same for disposal and including means for rejecting the envelope when containing bulky material.
Inventors
- 👤 R Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:05
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/3416; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A mailing candling apparatus comprising a box having a slot capable of having mail passed therethrough and which slot is defined by bottom, top and side walls, a reversible motor driven means extending across said slot and capable of moving mail along, a pair of photocells exposed through said slot bottom with one before said driven means and one after said driven means, two straight series of photocells exposed through said slot bottom with each series extending laterally of said slot between said pair of photocells and with one series positioned before said driving means and the other series positioned after said driving means, means exposed through said slot top for directing light across said slot to each one of said photoCells, electrical circuit connected to said pair of photocells capable of operating said motor when mail passes over either one of said pair of photocells, electrical means connecting each opposite pair of photocells of said series of photocells as sensing circuits connected to said driving means and capable of reversing said driving means to reject mail from said slot when one sensing circuit creates an off-balance in voltage upon passage of mail with an enclosure therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A mailing candling apparatus comprising a box having a slot capable of having mail passed therethrough and which slot is defined by bottom, top and side walls, a reversible motor driven means extending across said slot and capable of moving mail along, a pair of photocells exposed through said slot bottom with one before said driven means and one after said driven means, two straight series of photocells exposed through said slot bottom with each series extending laterally of said slot between said pair of photocells and with one series positioned before said driving means and the other series positioned after said driving means, means exposed through said slot top for directing light across said slot to each one of said photoCells, electrical circuit connected to said pair of photocells capable of operating said motor when mail passes over either one of said pair of photocells, electrical means connecting each opposite pair of photocells of said series of photocells as sensing circuits connected to said driving means and capable of reversing said driving means to reject mail from said slot when one sensing circuit creates an off-balance in voltage upon passage of mail with an enclosure therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mail candling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor driven means includes a pair of superposed rollers extending between said slot side walls and a reversible electrical motor is operatively connected to one of said rollers and said electrical circuit and electrical means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mail candling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said box partially provides said top wall and a lid is pivotally con-nected to said box and provides the remainder of said top wall when positioned across said slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
A mail candling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical means includes a potentiometer with said two photocells connected thereto and between a positive and negative voltage supply in series with said potentiometer between said photocells, Zener diodes connected to said potentiometer taps, an inverter connected to said diodes, a pair of NAND gates with said inverter connected to one of said gates and said potentiometer taps connected to the other of said gates, a further NAND gate connected to the output of said pair of NAND gates and switching circuits connecting the output of said further gate to said motor driven means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
A mail candling apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electrical means includes a plurality of potentiometers with each potentiometer connected to and between one photocell from each series thereof, positive and negative voltage supplies each connected to one photocell from each series thereof and in series with their respective potentiometer, Zener diodes connected to said potentiometer taps, inverters each connected to the diodes of one potentiometer, a pair of 4-input NAND gates with one gate connected to the output of said inverters and the other gate connected to said potentiometer taps, a 2-input NAND gate connected to the output of said pair of gates and switching circuits connecting the output of said 2-input NAND gate to said motor driven means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3109100A
Cited
US3114444A
Cited
US3133641A
Cited
US3122227A
Cited
US3153483A
Cited
US3485358A
Cited
US3589514A
Cited
US3706374A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |