David W Purcell

US Patent:

7497435, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Dec 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/317434

Inventors:

David P. Chastain - Clarks Hill IN, US
David W. Purcell - Crawfordsville IN, US
Adam W. Fleming - Otterbein IN, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65H 1/02

US Classification:

271150, 271149, 271271, 271190

Abstract:

A backing plate support system is provided for a mailpiece feeder mechanism wherein mailpieces are conveyed vertically, on-edge along a transport deck to a transfer station for subsequent sortation and delivery. The backing plate support system includes a guide track disposed along and adjacent to the transport deck and a plurality of backing plates each having a guide support fitting at its base. The guide support fitting engages the guide track and supports the backing plate in an orthogonal position relative to the transport deck. The backing plate support system, furthermore, includes an advancing belt disposed adjacent the guide track and adapted to be driven linearly along the transport deck and a mechanism for coupling each backing plate to the advancing belt. The mechanism facilitates relative movement of the backing support plate relative to the advancing belt in one direction while inhibiting relative motion thereof in an opposing direction. Furthermore, the mechanism facilitates optimum spacing between pairs of backing plates when mailpieces are stacked therebetween by a system operator.

US Patent:

7611139, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Dec 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/341839

Inventors:

David W. Purcell - New Milford CT, US
Steven J. DaCunha - West Hartford CT, US
Richard F. Stengl - Waterbury CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65H 5/00
B65H 3/52

US Classification:

271 1001, 271104, 271121, 271124

Abstract:

A method of transporting items includes receiving a group of one or more items in a singulation device, implementing a singulation routine, measuring a speed of a first portion of the group, measuring a speed of a second portion of the group, and comparing the speed of the first portion with the speed of the second portion. The method may further include continuing the singulation routine where the speed of the first portion is not equal to the speed of the second portion, and terminating the singulation routine where the speed of the first portion is equal to the speed of the second portion. The method may also include transporting a lead item away from the singulation device. The singulation device may include opposing transport elements.

US Patent:

8016282, Sep 13, 2011

Filed:

Sep 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/239021

Inventors:

David W. Purcell - New Milford CT, US
Steven J. Dacunha - West Hartford CT, US
Richard F. Stengl - Waterbury CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65H 5/00

US Classification:

271 1001, 271124, 271121, 271104

Abstract:

A method of singulating overlapping items includes receiving the overlapping items in a singulation device, the device including a first transport element configured for rotation in a first direction and a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, wherein the second transport element is configured for rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The method further includes rotating the first transport element at a first transport speed, rotating the second transport element at a second transport speed substantially equal to the first transport speed, conveying the overlapping items between the transport elements along a transport path, decreasing the second transport speed to singulate the overlapping items, decreasing the first transport speed to reduce a speed of a lead item, and transporting the lead item away from the singulation device.

US Patent:

8096552, Jan 17, 2012

Filed:

Jun 20, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/142950

Inventors:

Brad A. Swinford - New Milford CT, US
Boris Rozenfeld - New Milford CT, US
David W. Purcell - New Milford CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B65H 5/02

US Classification:

271275, 198813, 198814

Abstract:

An apparatus including a belt support system having a first belt support roller and a system for automatically moving the first belt support roller. The belt support system partially wraps a continuous belt on a belt drive roller. The belt support system includes the first belt support roller at an upstream side of the belt drive roller and a second belt support roller at a downstream side. The system for moving the first belt support roller moves the first roller from a first location relative to the belt drive roller to a second different location, based upon a predetermined load of the belt on the first belt support roller to thereby reduce an amount of wrap of the belt on the belt drive roller and reduce a length of the belt located proximate to the belt drive roller between the first and second belt support rollers.

US Patent:

20080067114, Mar 20, 2008

Filed:

Sep 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/522717

Inventors:

David P. Chastain - New Milford CT, US
Allen L. Simers - Danbury CT, US
Joshua A. Schriver - New Milford CT, US
Jason W. Harbert - New Milford CT, US
David W. Purcell - New Milford CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Incorporated - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B07C 5/00
B07C 5/344
G06K 9/00

US Classification:

209552, 209584, 209571

Abstract:

A system and method for separating batches of mail in a mailpiece sorter. The system employs a card stock interposed between batches of mail, which card stock includes a ferromagnetic symbology disposed on a face surface of the card stock. An inductive proximity detector is employed to scan the ferromagnetic symbology and produce a ferromagnetic signature signal indicative of the ferromagnetic parameters of the symbology. The system conveys batches of mail containing the card stock past the inductive proximity detector such that the signature signals may be read and compared to predefined ferromagnetic signature signals stored in a signal processor. The processor may then determine the beginning and/or ending of a mailpiece job run for use by the mailpiece sorter.

US Patent:

20090194469, Aug 6, 2009

Filed:

Feb 6, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/027075

Inventors:

David P. Chastain - New Milford CT, US
Brad A. Swinford - New Milford CT, US
Allen L. Simers - Danbury CT, US
David W. Purcell - New Milford CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B07C 9/00

US Classification:

209652

Abstract:

A sorter system comprises a transport for advancing items along a transport path, a diverter for directing items from the transport path into a selected pocket along a sort path, and a pocket brake disposed in the selected pocket. In one embodiment, the pocket brake comprises a pivotable flange defining a pivot axis, at least one support element disposed on the flange, a braking element disposed on the at least one support element for decreasing a velocity of an item entering the selected pocket along the sort path, and a registration surface for stopping translation of the item along the sort path.

US Patent:

57904294, Aug 4, 1998

Filed:

Mar 4, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/610430

Inventors:

Christopher A. Baker - Battleground IN
Donald Caddy - West Lafayette IN
David W. Purcell - Crawfordsville IN
Peter N. Baker - Lafayette IN
Adam W. Fleming - Otterbein IN
David P. Chastain - Clarks Hill IN

Assignee:

M.A.I.L. Code, Inc. - Battleground IN

International Classification:

B65G 1500

US Classification:

364565

Abstract:

A system for processing and encoding mail including a bin configured to hold mail and a transport coupled to said bin to receive mail therefrom. The transport displays multiple moving pieces of mail to an operator. The system includes a data entry device operable to enter data from mail moving on the transport and a coding device to receive mail from the conveyor. A controller is operatively coupled to the transport, data entry device, and coding device. The controller includes an address signal corresponding to at least a portion of an address of a mail piece entered with the data entry device by the operator, a routing code signal determined in accordance with the address signal, a performance signal corresponding to data entry capability of the operator, and a transport speed signal corresponding to speed of the transport. The controller adjusts speed of the conveyor as a function of the performance signal and the conveyor speed signal, and the coding device places a routing code on the mail piece in response to the routing code signal.

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.