AU634498B2

AU634498B2 - Code break mechanism for stacking apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU634498B2
Application number: AU44323/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Terrence M. Doeberl; Kazutoshi Fujimoto; William C. Monday; Larry S. Payne; Ralph K. Rand
Original assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Current assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority date: 1988-12-28
Filing date: 1989-11-03
Publication date: 1993-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-03
Also published as: CA2002215A1; AU4432389A; EP0376463A3; DE68917278T2; DE68917278D1; EP0376463B1; EP0376463A2; JP2706161B2; JPH02215651A; CA2002215C

Description

-7 P/00/o11 u 634498 PATENTS ACT 1952-1973 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Class: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Form Related Art: 0 o 0 Name of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT PITNEY BOWES INC., a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, of World Headquarters, Stamford, Connecticut, United States of America.

Address of Applicant:

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4 Actual Inventor: Terrence M. DOEBERL, Ralph K. RAND, Larry S. PAYNE, Kazutoshi FUJIMOTO, and William C. MONDAY.

Address for Service: MiL2L~~ 3 kERMECHANISM FRSTACKING Complete Specification for the invention entitled

APPARATUS

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to 1 'Note: The description is to be typed in double spacing, pica typo face, in an area not exceeding 250 mm in depth and 160 mm in width, on tough white paper of good quality and it is to be Inserted inside this form.

11710/76-L C JTnomusONm Comm woAlth Govcrnmcnt Prnier. Canberra IA CODE BREAK MECHANISM FOR STACKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a code break mechanism for a stacking apparatus receiving a stream of articles, more particularly to a code break mechanism for producing discontinuities in the stacker article stream in accordance with a selected parameter change in the article stream.

In article processing systems, generally the last process step is the collection of processed articles. For i0 example, in a conventional mail processing system, a power stacker may be employed to collect envelopes ejected from a mailing machine. Generally, the power stacker receives the envelopes in a seriatim and uniform manner and stacks the envelopes. An operator periodically removes the accumulated envelope stack from the stacker for packaging in preparation for subsequent deposit with a mail forwarding agent, such as, the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Mail forwarding agents, such as, the USPS, offer to °o0 the mailers special postage discount rated for mail which is

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2 0 presorted, for example, by zip code. Therefore, where the mail is processed in a presorted manner, for example, according to zip code, it would be advantageous to the S operator for the power stacker to include a means for visually marking zip code changes or breaks within the stacker received mail stream.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to present a code break mechanism particularly suited for employment in a power stacker.

A particularly suited power stacker includes a deck fixably mounted to and supported by a housing such that the deck is position at a 150 rearward reclined angle. A registration wall is fixably mounted to the housing and extending generally perpendicular relative to the deck. A stack wall is slidably mounted to the housing at one end.

-2- The zip code break mechanism is comprised of a deflector plate pivotally mounted within a mating opening in the registration wall. The deflector plate in a first or normal position is located coplanar with the registration surface of the registration wall. A solenoid, responding to a control signal from a controller, is fixably mounted in the housing and communicates with the deflector plate through a linkage such that actuation of the solenoid causes pivotal displacement of the deflector plate from the first position to the second position. When the deflector plate is positioned in the second position, it can thereby laterally deflect the zip break envelope pursuant. The zip break envelope is thereby laterally misaligned with respect to the envelope stack allowing an operator to visually observe stack zip code breaks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a partial side view of a power stacker in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectioned side view of the power stacker.

Fig. 3 is an sectioned end view of the power stacker in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a end view of a code break mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic of a motor control for said power stacker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT o 0 t oo o 0 0 Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a particular suited power stacker, generally indicated at 11, is comprised of a base housing 12 having a base 13. A plurality of vertically extending support posts 15 and 17 (ref. to Fig. 4) are fixably mounted to base 13 at one end. The base 13 also has fixably mounted thereto in vertical alignment, a forward wall 21 and rear wall 23 in transversely spaced apart parallel alignment. End walls 25 and 27 are fixably mounted to the base 13 in spaced apart relationship and at their ends to respective walls 21 and 23.

3 A deck is fixably mounted to walls 21, 23, 25 and 27 and along its underside to the support posts 15 and 17, such that the deck assumes a reclined position, front to rear, of approximately 150 (fifteen degrees) from the horizontal.

The deck 31 contains plurality slots 33, 35, and 37.

Fixably mounted to the underside of the deck 31 at the receiving or forward end is a first and second adjustable tension brace assemblies 41 and 43. Also fixably mounted to the underside of the deck 31 at the other end are braces The braces 45 are longitudinally aligned to a respective brace assembly 41 or 43.

A motor mount 48, having a motor 49 mounted thereto, is fixably mounted to the underside of the deck 31. The motor 49 includes an output shaft 51 having a pulley gear 52 fixably mounted around the output shaft 51. A shaft 53 carrying a plurality of fixably mounted friction wheels 57, and 59 therearound is rotatively mounted in the braces The friction wheels are radially aligned to the respective first slots 33, 35 and 37. A second shaft 63 is rotatively mounted in the brace assemblies 41 and 42. The shaft 63 carries a plurality of friction wheels 65, 67 and 69 radially aligned to the respective second slots 33, and 37. A plurality of endless belts 71, 73, and 74 extend Saround the respective friction wheel pairs 55-67, 59-65 and 57-69.

The shaft 53 further includes a pulley gear 81 which is in endless belt 83 communication with the motor 49 for providing driving force L shaft 53. The shaft 53 further includes bevel gears 85 and 87 fixably mounted therearound in axial spaced apart relationship. The rear wall 23 includes an aperture 89 through which an end portion of the shaft 53 extends and has fixably mounted therealong a pulley 91.

End wall 25 has formed thereon a plurality of studs 91 and 93 through which extends a respective shaft 95 and 97 seated at one end in the end wall 25. Rotatively mounted around the other end of shafts 95 and 97 are respective I threaded hubs 101 and 103. The threaded hubs 101 and 103 are mounted such that the threaded hubs 101 and 103 4 partially extend into respective recesses 104 and 106 formed into the deck 31. A bevel gear 92 and 93 is rotatively mounted around the respective shafts 95 and 97 in driving communication with the respective threaded hubs 101 and 103.

The bevel gears 92 and 93 are in constant mesh with respective bevel gears 85 and 87.

A stack wall 111 has a formed facing surface 113 abutting to the outer face of end wall 25 leading to a vertically reclined surface 115. A plurality of guide rods 117, 119, and 121 are fixably mounted at one end to the facing surface of the stack wall 111. The guide rods 117, 119, and 121 extend slidably through respective apertures in the end wall and are slidably received by respective guide i tabs 123, 125, and 127. The guide tabs 123, 125, and 127 0 are fixably mounted to the underside of the deck. Referring to Fig. 3, slide rail assemblies 141 and 143 having a rail portion fixably mounted to the respective side walls 21 and 23. Another rail portion of rail assemblies 141 and 143 is fixably mounted at one end to the facing surface 113 of the stack wall 111 such that the stack wall 111 can be slidably displaced.

Referring to Fig. 2, a registration wall 145 is fixably mounted longitudinally along the rear wall 23 and o orientated generally perpendicular to the deck. The registration wall 145 includes a recess 147 angled generally S° perpendicular to the reclined surface 115 of stack wall 111.

^coo A brace 149 is fixably mounted to the back surface of the registration wall 145. The brace 149 includes a shaft 151 rotatively mounted therein such that the shaft 151 extends generally perpendicular to the recline surface 115 of the stack wall 111. A pulley 153 is fixably mounted to the of shaft 151. The pulley 153 is an endless belt 155 in driving communication with the pulley 91 mounted shaft 63. A threaded hub 157 is fixably mounted around the shaft 151.

The registration wall 145 further includes a slot 160. A yoke 165 is pivotally mounted in slot 160 to the registration wall 145. The yoke 165 carries a yoke wheel I 167 rotatively mounted between the forks of the yoke 165.

The yoke 165 is adjustable mounted in slot 160 such that the yoke wheel rests on the deck 31. Also fixably mounted to the back of the registration wall 145 is a guide rod 166 which extends slidably through a slide member 165 fixably mounted to the registration wall 145 and pivotally mounted at one end to the stack wall 111. A return spring assembly 166 having one end of its flex strip 168 fixably mounted to the stack wall ill. In like manner a second return spring assembly 170 is fixably mounted to base 13 having one end of it flex strip 172 fixably mounted to the stack wall 111.

Referring to Fig. 4, the code break mechanism, generally indicated as 200, includes a deflector plate 202 pivotally mounted in a matting opening 204 in the registration wall 145. A bracket 201 is fixably mounted to the back face of the registration wall 145. Pivotally mounted to the bracket 201 is a generally L-shaped link 206 oo having a first slot 208 and a second slot 210. A pin 212 is formed to the back face of the deflector plate 202 such that 000oo0 the pin 212 is captured in the slot 208 of the link 206.

A bracket 214 is fixably mounted to the underside of the deck 31 and fixably supports a rotary solenoid 216. The 0 output shaft 218 of the rotary solenoid 216 has fixably r mounted thereto to one end of a link 220. The link 220 extends through a aperture 222 in the rear wall 23 and has a o slot 224 formed in its other end. A second bracket 226 is fixably mounted to the rear wall 23. Slidably mounted through the brackets 201 and 226 is a link 228 having a hub H" oo 239 formed at one end slidably captured in slot 210 of link 206 and at the other end of link 228 a formed pin 232 is slidably captured in slot 224 of link 220. The link 228 includes a coupling 234. A spring 236 is coiled around the link 228 between the stop rim 234 and the bracket 201.

Referring further to Fig. 5, in operation, a suitable motor controller 171 is in electrical communication through line 173 with a envelope feed device 175, for example, a mailing machine, and through line 177 with the motor 49 and rotary solenoid 216 of the power stacker 12. The motor controller 171 synchronously controls the operating speed of S the power stacker 12, rotary solenoid 216 and the feed device 175 such that envelopes, for example, 5 inch envelope -6delivered by the feed device are received by the power stacker in a shingled fashion with approximately a .75 inch spacing between the leading edge of successive envelopes.

The envelopes are transported by the belts 55, 57 and 59, which are under the drive influence of motor 49 through belt 83 and shaft 63, under the yoke roller 167 such that the leading edge of the lead envelopes engages the stack wall facing 115 and is caused to assume a generally vertical position against the stack wall. The subsequent envelopes are caused to assume a generally parallel orientation relative to the lead envelope. The positioning of envelopes is assisted by the edge engagement of the envelopes with the threaded hubs 101, 2.03 and 157.

Upon activation by the motor controller 171 00e 00 occasioned by the presence of a code break letter being 0 0~ discharged from the feed device 175, the rotary solenoid 216 rotatively displaces link 220 in the direction of arrow A.

The displacement of link 220 is transmitted by link 228 to cause link 206 to pivotally displace. The displacement of link 206 causes the deflector plate 202 to pivotally o displace from a first position coplanar with the registration wall 145 to a second position whereupon the deflector plate 202 encounters the code break envelope in route. The code break envelope is consequentially displaced 250 laterally relative to the other stacker received envelopes.

00 As the envelopes are caused to vertically stack, edge engagement of the envelopes with the threaded hubs 101, 103 and 157 cause the stack wall to displace outwardly. The rods 117, 119, 121 and 160 support the stacked envelopes as the stack wall is displaced. During vertical stacking of the envelopes, the code braak envelope remains perceptively displaced laterally.

The afore description is of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be viewed as limiting to the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appendix claims.

1

Claims

1. A code break mechanism to be used with a stacker apparatus which receives and stacks received articles in a generally uniform manner, said stacker apparatus having a support housing, a deck fixably mounted to and supported by said housing, a registration wall fixably mounted to said housing and extending generally perpendicular to said deck, said code break mechanism comprising: a deflector means for encountering a select one of said articles and causing said selected article to be stacked by said stacker apparatus such that said selected article presents a visual discontinuity relative to said article stack.

2. A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deflector means comprises: a deflector plate pivotally mounted in an opening formed in said registration wall; and drive means for causing said deflector plate to be selectively positionable from a first position coplanar with said registration wall to a second position pivotally displaced from said registration wall.

3. A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises: K 20 a rotary solenoid having a rotary output shaft; 20 a first link fixably mounted at one end to said output shaft; and linking means for communicating said other end of said first link with said deflector plate such that pivotal displacement of said first link causes said deflector plate to said first or second position. S0:

4. A code break mechanism for employment with a stacker apparatus, said 25 stacker apparatus for receiving and stacking received articles in a generally uniform manner and having a support housing fixably supporting a deck, a registration wall fixably mounted to said housing and extending generally perpendicular relative to said deck, a stack wall 4t S. mounted to said housing opposite one end of said deck and means for causing said Sa Q delivered articles to be collected against said stack wall, said code break mechanism comprising: a deflector means for encountering a select one of said articles and causing said selected article to be stacked by said stacker apparatus such that said selected article i B presents a visual discontinuity relative to said article stack.

A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said deflector means comprises: a deflector plate pivotally mounted in an opening in said registration wall; and drive means for causing said deflector plate to be selectively positionable from a first position co-planar with said registration wall to a second position pivotally displaced from said registration wall, said drive means having a rotary solenoid having a rotary output shaft fixably mounted to the underside of said deck, a first link fixably mounted at one end to said output shaft and linking means for communicating said other end of said first link with said deflector plate such that pivotal displacement of said first link causes said deflector plate to said first or second position.

6. A code break mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said deflector means further comprises biasing means for biasing said deflector plate in said first position acting on said linking means.

7. A code break mechanism as claimed in claims 4, 5 or 6, further comprising control means foi selectively activating said code break mechanism.

8. A document stack produced by a code break mechanism as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein said document stack comprises a plurality of documents segregated by category and stacked in a generally uniform manner with the first document of each category being stacked off-set to create a respective discontinuity in the document stack.

9. A code break mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the drawings. A document stack, produced by the code break mechanism of claim 9, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to one or more of the drawings. DATED this 30 December 1992 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC. p9mO.mr- 30 Dc\ntel 1