Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into – within,... – Positions intersupporting article into row
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2001-06-05
Fischetti, Joseph A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into, within,...
Positions intersupporting article into row
C414S791200, C209S698000, C209S703000, C209S011000, C198S456000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241460
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to an apparatus that sorts envelopes into separate bundles. More particularly, it relates to a sorter that arranges envelopes into bundles that are laterally offset from one another.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Eleven digit ZIP codes include a five digit ZIP code that identifies a geographical area, a four digit extension code that identifies a particular residence or building within that geographical area, and a two digit extension code that identifies a particular postal delivery route.
Sorting machines heretofore known sort envelopes bound for different postal delivery routes by providing a spatial separation between contiguous bundles. All of the envelopes within a particular bundle are staggered on a conveyor belt by a small amount, such as an eighth of an inch, and contiguous bundles are spaced apart from one another by an inch or so. A worker carefully observes the bundles as they arrive on a conveyor belt at an unloading station, scoops them up, and places a rubber band around them. This is a time-consuming procedure because the worker must scoop up the envelopes and jog them to place them into a neat alignment; the application of a rubber band also takes time.
One of the problems with this well-known sorting method is that envelopes are often skewed when they arrive at the worker's station. The skew is typically such that the leading end of an envelope will be positioned within a leading bundle, and the trailing end of the envelope will be positioned within a trailing bundle. Thus, a worker unloading the belt will be unsure as to which bundle a skewed envelope belongs, and time will be spent trying to identify to which bundle it belongs. This increases labor costs, and even with the expenditure of extra time, mistakes will be made.
Recent developments in the art include marking the last envelope in a bundle with a strip of red ink along its top edge to clearly identify the last envelope of a bundle. However, this requires workers to maintain the ink supply, and problems associated with the use of ink inevitably arise. Moreover, the red mark detracts from the aesthetic appeal of the mailing. For example, if an advertiser is mailing attractive envelopes, it will not be pleased that a significant number of its envelopes are being marked and rendered less attractive.
What is needed, then, is an improved means for separating contiguous bundles from one another. The improved method should produce bundles that are unambiguously separated from one another and therefore not require a worker to decide to which bundle a skewed envelope should be assigned. Nor should it require the use of ink. The improved method should reduce labor costs by eliminating the time-consuming steps of requiring a worker to scoop up bundles and to jog them before applying a rubber band around them. Instead, it should reduce the amount of labor required by producing neatly-aligned, unambiguous bundles that are ready for banding.
There are two types of machines with which an improved sorting apparatus could be used. A first type of machine inserts sheets into envelopes at a high rate of insertions per hour and delivers envelopes to a discharge table where the envelopes are then manually sorted and bundled by wrapping a rubber band around the individual bundles. A second type of machine sorts envelopes that are ready to be mailed into a plurality of bins, where each bundle sorts into an individual bin. A worker removes the bundles from a bin, places a rubber band about each bundle, and places the banded bundle in a tray for delivery to various postal carriers.
There is a need for a sorting apparatus having utility with both types of machines.
However, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art how the needed apparatus could be provided, in view of the art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an innovation that overcomes the limitations of the prior art is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious apparatus for separating envelopes into bundles. It includes an envelope bundling station and an envelope delivery means for delivering envelopes in an upright configuration to the envelope bundling station.
The envelope bundling station includes a first vertical wall having a stationary position and a second vertical wall that reciprocates along its longitudinal axis between a deployed and a retracted position. When deployed, the second vertical wall is disposed in substantially parallel relation to the first vertical wall in transversely spaced relation thereto and is spaced apart from the first vertical wall by a predetermined distance.
When retracted, the second vertical wall is longitudinally spaced apart from the stationary first vertical wall. The second vertical wall is positioned at the same elevation as the first vertical wall when deployed and when retracted.
Reciprocation means are provided for alternating the second vertical wall between its deployed position and its retracted position, with the positions being changed at the end of successive bundles. In this way, successive bundles of envelopes are laterally offset from one another in an unambiguous manner so that the bundles may be manually separated from one another.
It is a primary object of this invention to provide an envelope sorting apparatus that sorts envelopes into separate eleven digit ZIP code bundles that are clearly delineated from one another.
Another object is to reduce labor and labor costs by providing a machine that eliminates the need for a worker to spend time deciding which bundle a skewed envelope may belong to.
Still another object is to reduce labor and labor costs by eliminating the need for a worker to scoop up and jog bundles of envelopes prior to banding them.
Another object is to provide a sorting apparatus that can be used in conjunction with machines that insert sheets into envelopes and addresses those envelopes at high speeds.
These and other important objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent as this description proceeds.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2877885 (1959-03-01), Wheeler
patent: 3573748 (1971-04-01), Holme
patent: 3757942 (1973-09-01), Gunn
patent: 4589555 (1986-05-01), Hollingsworth
patent: 4674934 (1987-06-01), Honger
patent: 4727991 (1988-03-01), Mojden et al.
patent: 5086929 (1992-02-01), Richter et al.
patent: 5097959 (1992-03-01), Tilles et al.
patent: 5538234 (1996-07-01), Yankloski
patent: 5954207 (1999-09-01), Yamashita et al.
Fischetti Joseph A.
Smith Ronald E.
Smith & Hopen , P.A.
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