US5217551A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mailing machine including a process for selectively moistening envelopes fed thereto
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1991-10-28
•
Granted: 1993-06-08
•
Expires: 2011-10-28
Abstract
Abstract In a mailing machine base including structure for feeding an envelope, having a body and a flap, in a downstream path of travel, and including structure for deflecting the flap, a process for selectively guiding an envelope into and out of engagement with the flap deflecting structure, the process comprising the steps of, providing a baffle upstream from the flap deflecting structure, providing electromechanical structure for moving the baffle, providing a microprocessor for controlling the baffle moving structure, providing a resettable timer having a predetermined time out time interval, operating the baffle moving structure to move the baffle into the path of travel for guiding an envelope fed therein out of engagement with the flap deflecting structure and operating the baffle moving structure to move the baffle out of the path of travel for the time interval for guiding an envelope fed in the path of travel during the time interval into engagement with the flap deflecting structure.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Nobile
- 👤 Richard P. Schoonmaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:02
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M5/00; B43M5/04; B43M5/042; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a process for operating a mailing machine base including means for feeding an envelope, having a body and a flap, in a downstream path of travel, and including means for deflecting the flap, a process for selectively guiding an envelope into and out of engagement with the flap deflecting means, comprising the steps of: providing a baffle upstream from the flap deflecting means; providing electromechanical means for moving the baffle; providing a microprocessor for controlling the baffle moving means, programming the microprocessor to include a resettable timer having a predetermined time out time interval, programming the microprocessor to cause the timer to start the time out time interval when the baffle is moved out of the path of travel; programming the microprocessor for normally operating the baffle moving means to move the baffle into the path of travel for guiding an envelope fed therein out of engagement with the flap deflecting means; and programming the microprocessor for selectively operating the baffle moving means to move the baffle out of the path of travel for the duration of the time out time interval so that an envelope fed in the path of travel during the time out time interval will be guided into engagement with the flap deflecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a process for operating a mailing machine base including means for feeding an envelope, having a body and a flap, in a downstream path of travel, and including means for deflecting the flap, a process for selectively guiding an envelope into and out of engagement with the flap deflecting means, comprising the steps of: providing a baffle upstream from the flap deflecting means; providing electromechanical means for moving the baffle; providing a microprocessor for controlling the baffle moving means, programming the microprocessor to include a resettable timer having a predetermined time out time interval, programming the microprocessor to cause the timer to start the time out time interval when the baffle is moved out of the path of travel; programming the microprocessor for normally operating the baffle moving means to move the baffle into the path of travel for guiding an envelope fed therein out of engagement with the flap deflecting means; and programming the microprocessor for selectively operating the baffle moving means to move the baffle out of the path of travel for the duration of the time out time interval so that an envelope fed in the path of travel during the time out time interval will be guided into engagement with the flap deflecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1 including the step of resetting the time-out time interval if an envelope is fed toward the flap deflecting means within the time out time interval.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process according to claim 1 including the step of programming the microprocessor to operate the moving means to move the baffle into the path of travel if an envelope is not fed downstream in the path of travel before the end of the time out time interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process according to claim 1 including the step of providing a switch actuatable for causing the microprocessor to operate the baffle moving means to move the baffle out of the path of travel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process according to claim 1 including the step of providing a switch actuatable for causing the microprocessor to operate the baffle moving means to move the baffle into the path of travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1, including the steps of providing a switch and programming the microprocessor to reset the time out time interval in response to actuation of the switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process according to claim 1 including the step of initializing the microprocessor to cause the microprocessor to implement the programming which operates the baffle moving means to move the baffle into the path of travel whereby the baffle is normally located in the path of travel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process according to claim 7 including the steps of providing a switch which is selectively actuatable and programming the microprocessor to reset the time out time interval in response to actuation of the switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process according to claim 8 including the step of programming the microprocessor to implement at the end of the time out time interval the step of causing the microprocessor to operate the baffle moving means to move the baffle into the path of travel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3989574A
Cited
US4123950A
Cited
US4450037A
Cited
US4736937A
Cited
US4831273A
Cited
US4935078A
Cited
US5088442A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-07 | 1996-12-07 | 1997-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-12-07 | 2001-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-07 | 2004-12-07 | 2005-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |