Abstract Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface for engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum to the vacuum port such that the combination of the vacuum and the rubber-like projecting surface results in removal of the lowermost insert from the stack; a cam arrangement for moving each envelope carrier toward a pocket at an insert and envelope merge station; a pocket adjustment assembly for changing the length of each pocket at the insert and envelope merge station; and each envelope carrier including a first finger for holding an envelope thereon, and a second finger for holding the envelope and inserts therein at the insert and envelope merge station.
Inventors
👤 John A. DePasquale
👤 Ivar R. Segalowitz
👤 Ceasar P. Andolfi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-29 23:15
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M5/00; B43M5/04; B43M5/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
Mail inserting and collating apparatus comprising: envelope conveyor means for continuously conveying a plurality of envelopes along a first path; at least one envelope carrier means mounted on said envelope conveyor means and movable therewith, for holding said envelopes on said envelope conveyor means; insert conveyor means for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of said second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to said first path; at least one adjustable length pocket means mounted on said insert conveyor means and movable therewith, for holding said inserts on said insert conveyor means; cam means for moving each envelope carrier means toward a respective pocket means at an insert and envelope merge station; means for reducing the length of each pocket means as it approaches said merge station while said pockets are moving to allow said envelopes to move over said pocket means; and insert supply means for supplying said inserts to said conveyor means, said insert supply means including web means for supplying a roll of paper; cutter means for cutting said roll of paper into a plurality of said inserts; and feed means for feeding said inserts to said at least one pocket means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
Mail inserting and collating apparatus comprising: envelope conveyor means for continuously conveying a plurality of envelopes along a first path; at least one envelope carrier means mounted on said envelope conveyor means and movable therewith, for holding said envelopes on said envelope conveyor means; insert conveyor means for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of said second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to said first path; at least one adjustable length pocket means mounted on said insert conveyor means and movable therewith, for holding said inserts on said insert conveyor means; cam means for moving each envelope carrier means toward a respective pocket means at an insert and envelope merge station; means for reducing the length of each pocket means as it approaches said merge station while said pockets are moving to allow said envelopes to move over said pocket means; and insert supply means for supplying said inserts to said conveyor means, said insert supply means including web means for supplying a roll of paper; cutter means for cutting said roll of paper into a plurality of said inserts; and feed means for feeding said inserts to said at least one pocket means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Mail inserting and collating apparatus according to claim 1; wherein said feed means includes folding means for folding said inserts and feeding the same to said at least one pocket means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Mail inserting and collating apparatus according to claim 2; wherein said insert supply means further includes insert printing means for printing on said inserts prior to insertion of the same into said at least one pocket means.