David S Purcell

US Patent:

20140110312, Apr 24, 2014

Filed:

Oct 24, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/659766

Inventors:

- STAMFORD CT, US
Thomas M. Lyga - Southbury CT, US
David Purcell - New Milford CT, US
Brad A. Swinford - New Milford CT, US

Assignee:

PITNEY BOWES INC. - STAMFORD CT

International Classification:

B07C 3/02
B65H 29/00

US Classification:

209584, 4147982

Abstract:

A divert assembly is described for a mailpiece sorter operative to sort mailpieces into one of a plurality of sortation bins. The divert assembly comprising a re-direct mechanism for selectively re-directing mailpieces travelling along a feed path into the sortation bin and causing each selected mailpiece to be re-directed at an angle relative to the stack of mailpieces to be accumulated in the sortation bin. The divert assembly also including a stacking assembly including a Leading Edge (LE) urge roller, a support blade, and a Trailing Edge (TE) alignment device. The LE urge roller accepts and urges each of the selected mailpieces toward a sidewall of the sortation bin while the support blade holds each of the selected mailpieces between the urge roller and the support blade and in an on-edge parallel relationship relative thereto. The support blade is moveably mounted relative to the LE urge roller to allow the accumulation of additional mailpieces between the LE urge roller and the support blade. The TE alignment device includes a stepper motor rotationally driving a cam about a rotational axis. The cam defines a surface operative to urge the trailing edge portion of each selected mailpiece toward the support blade and into alignment with the stack.

US Patent:

20140110313, Apr 24, 2014

Filed:

Oct 24, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/659783

Inventors:

- Stamford CT, US
Thomas M. Lyga - Southbury CT, US
David Purcell - New Milford CT, US
Brad A. Swinford - New Milford CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes, Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B07C 3/02
B65H 29/00

US Classification:

209584, 4147987

Abstract:

A stacking assembly is operative to protect stacked mailpieces from damage due to abrasion. The stacking assembly includes a support blade moveably mounted to a bin for accepting a stack of mailpieces and an ingestion assembly including a Leading Edge (LE) urge roller and Trailing Edge (TE) alignment device. The LE urge roller is operative to accept mailpieces from a supply of mailpieces, and urge a leading edge portion thereof toward a sidewall of the stacking bin. The TE alignment device includes a first cam driven about an axis of rotation by a digital rotary positioning device which cam defines a surface operative to urge the trailing edge portion of each mailpiece into parallel alignment with the support blade. The stacking assembly also includes an anti-abrasion linkage responsive to rotation of the digital rotary positioning device to forcibly displace a surface of the stacked mailpieces away from a moving surface of the ingestion assembly.