Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2001-05-08
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S221000, C053S381600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230076
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to an envelope opening device and, more specifically, an envelope opening device in an insertion station for mass mailing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In an insertion machine for mass mailing, there is a gathering section where enclosure material is gathered before it is inserted into an envelope. This gathering section is sometimes referred to as a chassis subsystem, which includes a gathering transport with pusher fingers rigidly attached to a conveyor belt and a plurality of enclosure feeders mounted above the chassis. If the enclosure material contains many documents, these documents must be separately fed from different enclosure feeders. After all the released documents are gathered, they are put into a stack to be inserted into an envelope in an insertion station. Envelopes are separately fed to the insertion station, one at a time, and each envelope is placed on a platform with the front face of the envelope facing down and its flap flipped back all the way. At the same time, mechanical fingers or a vacuum suction device is used to keep the envelope on the platform while the throat of the envelope is pulled upward to spread open the envelope. The stack of enclosure material is than automatically inserted into the opened envelope.
Before the envelope is spread open, a number of suction cups or other lifting devices must be properly positioned at the throat section of the envelope. The position of suction cups, relative to each other, must be adjusted in accordance with the size and the type of the envelope. In an open structured insertion machine, operators are able to observe the opening device as it functions and make manual adjustments at the location of the opening mechanism to improve the performance. But for certain insertion machines, the insertion process is behind doors and/or out of visual range such that routine manual adjustments become very difficult and impractical.
It is advantageous to provide a method and device for adjusting the envelope opening device based on the type of envelope and without human intervention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for the automation of an envelope opening station, wherein a plurality of suctions cups are placed over the throat section of an envelope in order to lift the throat section. The apparatus includes: an electronic imaging device that acquires an image of the envelope; an electronic processor for receiving and processing the image acquired by the imaging device in order to determine the width and the throat profile of the envelope, wherein the electronic processor computes preferred locations for placing each of the plurality of suction cups on the envelope in accordance with the width and the throat profile of the envelope; and a positioning device for moving the plurality of suction cups to the preferred locations on the envelope based upon data indicative of the preferred locations received from the electronic processor.
Accordingly, the method for the automation of an envelope opening station, includes the steps of: 1) acquiring an image of an envelope with an imaging device; 2) conveying the acquired image to an electronic processor; 3) determining by the processor the width and the throat profile of the envelope using the acquired image; 4) computing the preferred locations for placing each of a plurality of suction cups on the envelope in accordance with the width and the profile of the envelope; and 5) placing the suction cups at a plurality of locations on the envelope based on data indicative of the preferred locations as computed in step 4.
The method and apparatus, according to the present invention, will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with
FIG. 1
to FIG.
5
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4418515 (1983-12-01), Foster et al.
patent: 4835941 (1989-06-01), Torii et al.
patent: 5067305 (1991-11-01), Baker et al.
patent: 5125214 (1992-06-01), Orsinger et al.
patent: 5152122 (1992-10-01), DeBarber et al.
patent: 5467577 (1995-11-01), Sato
patent: 5618375 (1997-04-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5725720 (1998-03-01), Micaletti et al.
patent: 5975514 (1999-11-01), Emigh
Crawford Gene O.
Ellis Christopher P.
Melton Michael E.
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Shapiro Steven J.
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