CARDBOARD BLANK FOR A BOX, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING A CUSTOM-SIZED CARDBOARD BLANK FOR A BOX, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING SHIPMENT SETS IN A BOX
BBBBB ) corresponding to the height of the box to be folded, between adjacent panels in the length direction (L) crease lines are provided, between panels of the second, the third and the forth section (52, 54, 56) which are adjacent to each other in the width direction (W), crease lines are provided, adjacent panels of the first section (50) are separated from each other by incisions, in the fifth section (58) only a panel (72) in the second row (46) is present, between the panels of the second and the forth section (52, 54) in the first and the third row (44, 48), a respective joint panel (66, 70) is provided, each of which being divided in triangular sections by crease lines between diagonally opposing corners of the each joint panel, the outer triangle being cut away.
B65D 5/18 - Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding a single blank to U-shape to form the base of the container and opposite sides of the body portion, the remaining sides being formed primarily by extensions of one or more of these opposite sides, e.g. flaps hinged thereto
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
2.
AUTHENTICATION AND AUTHORIZATION USING TOKENS WITH ACTION IDENTIFICATION
Systems and techniques are provided in which a token is used to manage user access to actions and features within an application platform. The token includes an indication of each action and/or feature to which the user has permission within the platform, thereby allowing for rapid and efficient development and management of user access to features within the platform.
Systems and techniques are provided in which a token is used to manage user access to actions and features within an application platform. The token includes an indication of each action and/or feature to which the user has permission within the platform, thereby allowing for rapid and efficient development and management of user access to features within the platform.
CBB andCBLDDDDCBBD)CBB BCBB D DD and choosing the inner height of the side panels of the lid template so that the inner height of the side panels of the box plus the inner height of the side panels of the lid equals at least the desired height.
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B65D 5/355 - Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially adapted to be of variable capacity
B31B 50/00 - Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
Systems and methods are provided for enabling third parties, such as authorized vendors, to reconcile short-paid adjustment requests initiated by service providers such as, for example, the United States Postal Service, in response to customer non- or underpayment for services rendered. In an embodiment, a method includes the steps of storing a short-paid adjustment request from an initiator, identifying a source for the short-paid adjustment request, generating a request to a VBI meter system for a short-paid adjustment request based on the source identified, storing the VBI meter system response to the short-paid adjustment request, and generating a file to the initiator based on the VBI meter system response.
Systems and techniques are provided for generating a drop plan for a mailing containing a plurality of mailpieces. Tracking data may be received for mailings sent by a plurality of mailers, and estimated delivery times determined based upon the tracking data. A mailer may specify a delivery goal for a mailing and, based upon the estimated delivery times and the delivery goal, a drop plan for the mailing may be generated, which specifies at least one drop location for at least a portion of the mailing. The mailer also may modify the drop plan, such as by specifying additional constraints, modified attributes of the drop plan, additional or updated goals for the mailing, or the like.
G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
G06Q 50/28 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
A hand-held handle dispenser comprising: a main frame (12) having a handle (14), an adhesive tape roll (16) provided on a rear side of the main frame for delivering an adhesive tape, an application element (18) provided on the front side of the main frame for applying the adhesive tape onto a parcel and a cutting blade (20) for cutting the adhesive tape, and further comprising an insert strip roll cartridge (26) for storing an insert strip roll (28), transport and affixing elements (26, 30) for conveying the insert strip (24) from the cartridge to the application element and affixing it against the adhesive tape to form a handle, and a holding structure (13) supporting a system (32) for cutting the insert strip.
B65H 35/00 - Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machinesArticle or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers
B65B 61/14 - Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for incorporating, or forming and incorporating, handles or suspension means in packages
A hand-held handle dispenser comprising: a main frame (12) having a handle (14), an adhesive tape roll (16) provided at a rear side of the main frame for delivering an adhesive tape, an application element (18) provided at the front side of the main frame for applying the adhesive tape on a parcel and a cutting blade (20) for cutting the adhesive tape, a cartridge (26) for storing an insert strip roll (28) and transport and affixing elements (26, 30) for conveying the insert strip from the cartridge to the application element and affixing it against the adhesive tape to form a handle.
B65H 35/00 - Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machinesArticle or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers
B65H 37/04 - Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching, or stapling
System (10) for automatically packaging items varying in size and number for shipment, comprising a unit (32) for acquiring size information of one or more item(s) to be packaged, an inner packaging material feeding unit (24) for feeding an inner packaging material, an outer packaging material feeding unit (26) for feeding an outer packaging material, a first wrapping station (16) for wrapping said inner packaging material around one or more item(s) to be packaged to create an inner packing surrounding the item(s) in a first direction and a second wrapping station (18) for wrapping said outer packaging material around said inner packing to create an outer packing surrounding the inner packing in a second direction, said second direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, wherein the first and the second wrapping stations are adapted to form said inner packing and said outer packing such that the inner and the outer packing form a combined package enclosing the packaged item(s) from all sides.
B65B 11/20 - Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in defined paths in two or more straight paths to fold the wrappers in tubular form about contents
B65B 11/00 - Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
10.
SELF-LEARNING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY CHECKING SHIPMENTS FOR CORRECTNESS
A self-learning method for automatically checking shipments for correctness comprises the steps of a) based on an dispatch order assembling an shipment comprising items of different types in individual quantities; b) weighing the shipment in order to obtain the actual total mass of the shipment; c) comparing the actual total mass with an expected total mass; and d) generating an error message when the actual total and the expected total mass differ by more than a predetermined tolerance value. The expected total mass is determined for each dispatch order by e) checking a database if information on the individual specific mass of each item of the dispatch order is present to calculate the sum of the individual specific masses times the individual quantities of the items that should according to the dispatch order be contained in the shipment and, if information on the individual specific masses of all items of the dispatch order is present, calculating the expected total mass; if information on the individual specific masses of only some items or no item of the dispatch order is present, storing in said database at least information on the individual quantities of each item of the dispatch order, of which the individual specific mass is unknown, and information at least on the actual total mass of those items to obtain an equation and f) repeating steps a) - e) for further dispatch orders, wherein each time an item with an unknown specific mass is present in an dispatch order, the information in said database is automatically checked, if the information is sufficient for calculating the specific mass of said item and possibly of other items, and if the information is sufficient, automatically calculating the specific mass and storing this information in said database.
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
11.
DOUBLE ROTOR SHEAR AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME, CARDBOARD CUTTER AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PACKAGING BOXES COMPRISING SAID DOUBLE ROTOR SHEAR
Double rotor shear, comprising a first rotor (1) comprising at least one first cutting edge (3a), a second rotor (2) comprising at least one second cutting edge (3b), a driving mechanism (10, 12) for rotatably driving the first rotor (1), wherein said first and second rotors (1, 2) are arranged on axes for moving the cutting edges into and out of a travelling plane of a sheet between said first and second rotors (1, 2), said at least one first cutting edge of the first rotor (1) and said at least one second cutting edge of second rotor (2) forming at least one pair of cutting edges adapted for cutting a sheet between the cutting edges forming said pair, wherein the second rotor (2) is rotatably driven by said at least one first cutting edge (3a) pushing directly or indirectly against said at least one second cutting edge (3b).
B26D 1/40 - Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting memberApparatus or machines thereforCutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis parallel to the line of cut and coacting with a rotary member
B26D 1/62 - Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting memberApparatus or machines thereforCutting members therefor involving a cutting member which travels with the work, i.e. flying cutter and is rotating about an axis parallel to the line of cut, e.g. mounted on a rotary cylinder
B26D 5/08 - Means for actuating the cutting member to effect the cut
B26D 7/26 - Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting memberMeans for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
12.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RIGIDIFYING CARDBOARD, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PACKAGING BOXES USING SAID APPARATUS AND SAID METHOD FOR RIGIDIFYING CARDBOARD
An apparatus for rigidifying cardboard (10) having at least one fold (12), comprising creasing means for forming indentations (14) on at least one side of said cardboard (10), said creasing means being adapted to form said indentations (14) such that at least some of said indentations (14) intersect said at least one fold (12).
A mail processing method for franking mail items, which franking machine is connected to a first server that is itself connected to a second server in communication with a sorting machine, the franking method including scanning the destination addresses borne on the mail items as the mail items are inserted, storing the digital images of the addresses scanned in this way, in association with respective unique identification numbers, and periodically transferring the digital images as indexed in this way to a first server. The first or second server extracts determined data from the digital images, which data, associated with the unique identification numbers, is suitable for enabling the sorting machine to be controlled automatically on receiving the franked mail items.
Method and system for automatically processing blanks for forming packaging boxes. By means of a feeding conveyor blank material is fed in a feeding direction from a storage of blank material to a single blank cutting station comprising a blank forming apparatus for cutting and creasing blank material into a blank. By means of said blank forming apparatus a blank is formed having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular corner, side and end panels. Cutting and creasing blank material into the blank is performed during feeding of said blank material in feeding direction through the blank forming apparatus.
Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes and packaging an article therein, preferably simultaneously with the formation of said boxes. At least four folding units fold side and end panels of a blank upwardly. The four folding units comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned upstream at a longitudinal distance from the front pair of folding units seen in conveying direction, and the folding units of the front pair and the folding units of the rear pair are positioned at a respective transverse distance from each other. Said longitudinal distance is adjustable during feeding of the custom sized blank into the supporting station, preferably by starting the displacement of the front pair of folding units towards the sealing station earlier than the displacement of the rear pair of folding units.
Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes from a blank having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular side and end panels and a rectangular top panel. Side and end panels of the blank are folded upwardly in a substantial vertical position and the top panel is gradually raised. A top panel folder is provided which is positioned at a top folder level above the level defined by the bottom panel. The top panel folder is displaced in a direction for folding the top panel into a position which is substantially parallel to the rectangular bottom panel.
B31B 1/52 - Folding sheets, blanks, or webs by reciprocating or oscillating members, e.g. fingers other than plungers and dies
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B65B 7/26 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by closing hinged lids
Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes and packaging an article therein. At least four folding units each provided with a controllable gripping element grip and transport a custom sized blank supporting an article in conveying direction from a supporting station towards a sealing station. During said transport the folding units fold side and end panels of the blank upwardly. The at least four folding units comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned upstream at a longitudinal distance from the front pair of folding units seen in conveying direction, and the folding units of the front pair and the folding units of the rear pair are positioned at a respective transverse distance from each other. Said longitudinal distance and/or said transverse distance are adjustable based on the length and width dimensions, respectively.
Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes. At least four folding units each provided with a controllable gripping element support a custom sized blank supporting an article in a supporting station. The at least one of the folding units is configured for folding respective side and/or end panels of the blank upwardly. The at least four folding units comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair of folding units, and the folding units of the front pair and the folding units of the rear pair are positioned at a respective transverse distance from each other. Said longitudinal distance and/or said transverse distance are adjustable.
A system for packaging items in a custom sized box comprises a blank forming apparatus for forming a custom sized blank and a box folding apparatus for folding a custom sized box from the custom sized blank. The box folding apparatus comprises a rectangular throat frame having an adjustable rectangular throat opening and a suction device with suction nozzles for sucking the bottom panel of the blank. A displacement device is provided for lowering the suction nozzles from a top position in which top surfaces of the suction nozzles lie in a plane supporting the blank towards a bottom position, thereby causing folding of the side and end panels of the blank with respect to the bottom panel as the blank is drawn through the throat opening.
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B65B 43/10 - Forming three-dimensional containers from sheet material by folding the material
B65B 59/00 - Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
20.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING PACKAGING BOXES
Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes. At least four folding units each provided with a controllable gripping element support a custom sized blank supporting an article in a supporting station. The at least one of the folding units is configured for folding respective side and/or end panels of the blank upwardly. The at least four folding units comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair of folding units, and the folding units of the front pair and the folding units of the rear pair are positioned at a respective transverse distance from each other. Said longitudinal distance and/or said transverse distance are adjustable.
Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes from a blank having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular side and end panels and a rectangular top panel. Side and end panels of the blank are folded upwardly in a substantial vertical position and the top panel is gradually raised. A top panel folder is provided which is positioned at a top folder level above the level defined by the bottom panel. The top panel folder is displaced in a direction for folding the top panel into a position which is substantially parallel to the rectangular bottom panel.
B31B 1/52 - Folding sheets, blanks, or webs by reciprocating or oscillating members, e.g. fingers other than plungers and dies
B65B 5/02 - Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
B65B 7/26 - Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by closing hinged lids
SPINDLE FOR LINEAR ACTUATORS; SLIDER SLIDER FOR LINEAR ACTUATORS; COMBINATION OF A SPINDLE AND A SLIDER FOR LINEAR ACTUATOR LINEAR; LINEAR ACTUATOR COMPRISING SUCH COMBINATION; MAIL PIECE HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH LINEAR ACTUATOR
The invention relates to a spindle intended to be assembled with a slider, to form a linear actuator, which transforms rotational movement of either the spindle or the slider into translational movement of either the slider or the spindle. In order to facilitate reduction of the play between a thread of a spindle and a corresponding thread of a slider to be guided by the spindle at reduced production and assembly costs, a spindle (10) for a linear actuator comprises an external thread (14) and a cutting portion (18) adapted to cut at least a part of a thread in a slider (12).
A blank for folding a box is proposed that allows folding a box of which the only seams substantially parallel to a bottom and a top plane of the box are a seam for attaching a first side panel to a first top side panel, a seam for attaching a second side panel to a second top side panel, and a seam for attaching a top end panel to a second end panel so that the seams are formed on an external surface of the box and are situated at a same distance from the bottom panel. A corresponding blank has a rectangular bottom panel (41 ), a first rectangular side panel (42) joined to a first side of said bottom panel (41 ), a second rectangular side panel (43) joined to a second side of said bottom panel (41 ) opposite the first side thereof, a first rectangular end panel (44) joined to a first end of said bottom panel (41 ), a second rectangular end panel (45) joined to a second end of said bottom panel (41 ) opposite the first end of said bottom panel (41 ) and having a free end side opposite said second end of said bottom panel (41 ), a first rectangular corner panel (46) joined to a first side of said first end panel (44), a second rectangular corner panel (48) joined to a second side of said first end panel (44) opposite the first side thereof, a third rectangular corner panel (47) joined to a first side of said second end panel (45), a fourth rectangular corner panel (49) joined to a second side of said second end panel (45) opposite the first side thereof, a rectangular top panel (50) joined to said first end panel (44) such that it is arranged at the side of said first end panel (44) opposite to the side where said bottom panel (41 ) is joined to said first end panel (44), a first rectangular top side panel (51 ) joined to a first side of said top panel (50), a second rectangular top side panel (52) joined to a second side of said top panel (50) opposite the first side thereof, and a rectangular top end panel (53) joined to said top panel (50) such that it is arranged at the side of said top panel (50) opposite to the side where said first end panel (44) is joined to said top panel (50), wherein said top side panels (51, 52) each have a width (H2+t) that substantially corresponds to the half of the length (H+2t; H+t) of each of the first and the second end panels (44; 45) and wherein said top end panel (53) has a length (H2+t) that substantially corresponds to the half of the length (H+2t; H+t) of each of the first and the second end panels (44; 45).
b) of an ink jet printing module (2) of a franking machine when the module is moving above the wiping device in first and second directions (X, Y), comprising two wiping rollers (26, 28) located one behind the other in the first direction and adapted to rotate in opposite directions around respective fixed shafts (30, 32), the two wiping rollers being permanently dampened in contact with a cleaning fluid (24) contained inside a container (22); and the two wiping rollers are adapted via a one-way bearing (34, 36) to remain stationary alternatively, one during the moving of the module in the first direction and the other during the moving of the module in the second direction.
a) of the type comprising a stacking deck (210) for supporting the batch of items, a paddle (220) movably connected to a shaft (224) mounted on the stacking deck for registering the batch of items while applying a first stacking pressure to the batch of items, a driving device (228) for applying at least another adjustable pressure to the batch of items for refining their registering against the paddle, and a movement control module (229) for controlling the driving device so as to adjust pressure in the batch of items, wherein the batch of items and the paddle are driven synchronously and separately.
b), the distances d1 and d2 respectively defining determined conveying zone A, C in which the at least one endless belt remains below the transport deck.
Provided is a storage device for a mail-handling machine. The storage device includes a mailpiece-receiving deck along a longitudinal edge of which a referencing wall extends, and through which a conveyor belt passes for the purpose of conveying mailpieces along the referencing wall from an inlet of the device towards a sloping surface against which the mailpieces accumulate, and a skid-forming part that is supported by a structure secured to the storage device and that comes to press against said stack of mailpieces substantially over the entire length of said stack, so as to jog the top of the stack.
A storage device for a mail-handling machine, said storage device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck along a longitudinal edge of which a referencing wall extends, and through which a conveyor belt passes for the purpose of conveying mailpieces along said referencing wall, and a shock-absorber ramp that is mounted against the referencing wall and that is hit by the mailpieces after they are ejected from said mail-handling machine, and before they fall back down onto the conveyor belt so as to be conveyed towards the sloping surface.
A cutter device for cutting envelopes open, which cutter device includes a rotary cutter suitable for cutting open an envelope, and a rotary bearing element against which said envelope is in contact as it goes past the rotary cutter, an axis of rotation of the bearing element forming a predetermined angle of inclination with a drive axis of the rotary cutter.
A method of preparing batches of mailpieces using an envelope-stuffing machine. The method includes printing documents with each page bearing a first marking for causing the related document to be inserted into an envelope, and printing separator sheets each bearing a second marking for causing it to be folded into a predetermined particular geometrical shape; folding the documents and inserting them into empty envelopes having a common format; folding the separator sheets; and ejecting closed envelopes and the separator sheets folded into the predetermined particular geometrical shape. On being ejected by the envelope-stuffing machine, the separator sheets are interposed automatically between the closed envelopes as a function of the batches to be prepared, and the predetermined particular geometrical shape resulting in the separator sheets projecting from the predetermined common format of the envelopes.
A feeder for a mail-handling machine is provided with a conveyor device having at least one row of drive rollers comprising at least first and second drive rollers standing proud through a mailpiece-receiving deck of the feeder and controlled by a suitable drive mechanism, said first and second drive rollers being inclined at an angle α relative to a perpendicular to a longitudinal referencing wall, and the second drive roller being driven in rotation with a first predetermined delay relative to the first drive roller, which is the closer to the referencing wall.
B65G 47/244 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane
32.
Mailpiece selector device for selecting mixed mailpieces
A mailpiece selector device including at least a first guide that is mounted above a support plate for supporting mailpieces, and that is made up of a plurality of moving shoes for selecting the mailpieces one-by-one and for transporting them downstream along a referencing wall, at least one of the moving shoes having a varying coefficient of adhesion that increases going towards the support plate, the top portion of the moving shoe having a low coefficient of adhesion and the bottom portion having a high coefficient of adhesion.
A sheet folder comprising input rollers, exit rollers and a fold box having a fold plate which is curved substantially along its whole length, wherein the curved fold plate is configured to induce a sheet to curve in two different directions during the folding process.
A storage device for a franking machine, which storage device comprises: a receptacle for receiving mailpieces ejected one-by-one by the franking machine; a longitudinal referencing wall extending over a longitudinal edge of the receptacle and against which the mailpieces rebound before they accumulate on the receptacle; and a vertical back wall extending along a side edge of the receptacle and that the mailpieces hit before they rebound against the longitudinal referencing wall; the vertical back wall forming an angle β with a perpendicular to the longitudinal referencing wall; and the receptacle being inclined relative to the horizontal and towards the longitudinal referencing wall at an angle φ so that the angle α between the receptacle and the longitudinal referencing wall forms an acute angle.
A mailpiece selector device comprising a guide co-operating with at least one opposing selector roller to separate mailpieces one-by-one from a stack of mailpieces and to transport them downstream, said guide having at least two adjacent selector fingers having different lengths, it being possible for each of said selector fingers to pivot independently from the other(s) about a common pivot axis and against respective associated resilient return means.
A mailpiece selector device comprising a guide co-operating with at least one opposing selector roller to separate mailpieces one-by-one from a stack of mailpieces and to transport them downstream, said guide having at least one selector lever that can pivot about a pivot axis against resilient return means, and the selector lever having a vertical section formed by an involute of a circle, the base circle of which is formed by the pivot axis.
A mailpiece feed device designed to be mounted upstream from a franking machine, and comprising at least a mailpiece feed zone for receiving a stack of mailpieces of various formats supported by a first plurality of drive rollers and a separation zone for individually selecting the mailpieces and having a second plurality of drive rollers, at least first clutch means E3 being provided for actuating said first plurality of drive rollers, said mailpiece feed device further comprising at least one sensor CN for detecting passage of said mailpieces as they enter said separation zone, and control means for subjecting said first clutch means to forced deactivation followed by an activation/deactivation series so long as the sensor CN is not activated, so as to cause a rapid succession of horizontal movements generating jerky motion on said stack, conducive to facilitating mutual separation of said mailpieces.
A paper handling apparatus including: feeder stations for feeding documents to a conveyer; a collator for collating documents into packs, and collating packs into groups of documents; an inserter module for inserting each group into an envelope; a monitor which monitors the cycling and working times of sections of the inserter module; sensors for determining at least one of: a first desired gap being the minimum gap between trailing edges of consecutive groups, a second desired gap being the minimum gap between the trailing edge of one pack and the leading edge of the following pack a third desired gap being the minimum gap between the trailing edge of one group to the leading edge of the following group; and a controller for controlling the feeder stations to achieve at least one of the desired gaps.
B65G 47/26 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
A mailpiece feed device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck for receiving a stack of mailpieces, conveyor rollers for conveying the mailpieces along a longitudinal referencing wall and towards a separator device designed to separate the mailpieces one-by-one from said stack of mailpieces and to convey them downstream, and, incorporated vertically in said longitudinal referencing wall, at least one friction roller of varying roughness, with its coefficient of friction decreasing from the top to the bottom of said longitudinal referencing wall.
A mailpiece loader device comprising a storage tower for receiving mailpieces and whose mailpieces are separated into a plurality of independent stacks that are superposed one above another and that are held by a plurality of paddles, control means being provided for successively releasing, by gravity, each of said independent stacks separated in this way, it being possible for each paddle to retract horizontally from a support position to a retracted position under the action of rotation of a toothed wheel to which said paddle is connected via a mechanism of the crank and connecting rod type, said retracted position making it possible for said stack of mailpieces to be released by gravity.
Apparatus for transporting documents in a paper handling system, comprising: a drive train; a document transport element connected to the drive train for moving documents; and means adapted to apply a relatively high voltage element to generate a high torque when the transport element is not loaded and to reduce the voltage and thus the torque a predetermined time after the transport element engages a document to be moved.
B65G 17/12 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element
B65G 17/30 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface DetailsAuxiliary devices
An apparatus for inserting a document into an envelope. The apparatus includes a mechanism for holding an envelope at an insert station; pivotally mounted fingers for opening the envelope; and a platform for guiding the document over the fingers and into the envelope. The platform is pivoted at an upstream end and upwardly spring biased so that the platform is depressed against the spring bias, by an amount dependent on the weight of the insert document moving over, so that a light insert document follows a path which subtends a steeper angle to the horizontal compared to a heavy insert document.
Apparatus for supporting a scanner head, the apparatus comprising: a carrier assembly; a bogey assembly; and a scanner head assembly, comprising a mounting for holding a scanner head; wherein the scanner head assembly and the bogey assembly are both mounted on spring bearings on the carrier assembly such that they can both move in a vertical direction, and the scanner head assembly comprises at least two collinear vertical bearings which restrict movement of the scanner head assembly to vertical movement substantially perpendicular to a document path, and the bogey assembly comprises two laterally spaced bearings which allow rotational movement of the bogey assembly about the scanner head mounting.
A method of measuring the maximum thickness of a mailpiece while it is moving through a mail-handling machine. The method includes: acquiring a thickness measurement; recording the measured value in a register; determining a maximum value and a minimum value of the register; determining a difference between said maximum value and minimum value, and comparing the difference with a predetermined threshold value; and if the difference is less than the threshold value, and if the maximum value is greater than a current maximum thickness value, taking the maximum value as the new current maximum thickness value for the mailpiece.
G01B 11/06 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width, or thickness for measuring thickness
G01B 11/02 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width, or thickness
G01B 11/30 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces
G06F 3/00 - Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computerOutput arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
45.
Conveyor chain and conveyor for gripping and conveying paper material
A conveyor chain for gripping and conveying paper material has a plurality of links hingedly connected to each other. At least one of the links has a grip arm having a first grip surface. The grip arm is movable back and forth relative to a second grip surface of the chain between a grip position for holding paper material and a retracted position for insertion of the paper material between the first and second grip surfaces. The links are molded of plastic material. The or each grip arm is an integrally molded portion of one of the links. A conveyor including such a chain is also described.
A storage device for a mail-handling machine, said storage device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck along a longitudinal edge of which a referencing wall extends, and through which a conveyor belt passes for the purpose of conveying mailpieces along said referencing wall from an inlet of the device towards a sloping surface against which said mailpieces accumulate, said storage device further comprising a pivot arm that is mounted to move both vertically about hinge pin and horizontally along a slide rail, on which arm firstly a friction roller is mounted for pressing said mailpieces against the conveyor belt, and secondly a holding roller is mounted for pressing said mailpieces against the sloping surface.
A storage device (10) for a mail processing machine comprising a reception tray (12) on a longitudinal edge from which a reference wall (16) extends, this reception tray crossed by a conveyor belt (14) to convey the mail articles along this reference wall from the entrance of the device towards an inclined plane (18) for accumulating these mail articles, the device furthermore comprising a pivoting arm (20) mobile both vertically around a joint axis (22) and horizontally along a movement rail (24) and on which on the one hand, a friction roller (26) is mounted for pressing the mail articles against the conveyor belt, and on the other hand, a maintenance roller (28) for pressing the mail articles against the inclined plane.
In a mail-handling machine having a conveyor path for conveying the mailpieces, which path is defined by a longitudinal referencing wall and by a top referencing wall, there is provided a conveyor and jogger belt formed of a continuous strip having two opposite faces, namely an inside face provided with a set of teeth suitable for cooperating with drive cogs for driving the belt, and an outside face provided with a plurality of flexible blades spaced apart at a predetermined distance, the free ends of the flexible blades providing both support for the flat articles while they are being conveyed and also jogging for jogging them against the top referencing wall.
B65G 19/00 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
A storage tray for storing mailpieces for a mail-handling machine, which storage tray comprises a support wall, a first jogging wall adjacent and perpendicular to said support wall, and a second jogging wall adjacent and perpendicular both to said support wall and to said first jogging wall, these three walls meeting at a single junction point, the support wall being provided with at least one first slot for allowing motor-driven feed members of the mail-handling machine to pass through.
A method and apparatus are provided for feeding and folding sheets. Providing a folding blade having a free edge, reciprocably movable between a retracted position and a folding position, provided with blade surfaces adjacent to the free edge converging towards the free edge at a first angle in the folding position, and by further providing a pressing mechanism having pressing surface areas reciprocably movable between a retracted position and a pressing position, and enclosing in the pressing position a second angle larger than the first angle of the folding blade, allows an apparatus, having a pair of folding rollers and a sheet support, selectively to fold only an outer sheet from a set of sheets or to fold a set of sheets simultaneously.
A separator device for separating flat articles one-by-one from a stack of flat articles and for conveying them downstream, said separator device comprising at least one flexible bag provided with a plurality of balls and co-operating with a drive member so that, by deforming while said flat articles are being conveyed downstream, it separates said flat articles one-by-one. A particular application lies in separating mailpieces.
An apparatus and method in which documents and enclosures are fed by feeding stations to a supply track and subsequently transported along the supply track to a gathering station. A sensor downstream of the feeding stations is used for scanning markings. A divert station connected to the supply track allows clearing the supply track, when scanned markings indicate that the first sheet of a next set has been scanned in the supply track, by diverting the first sheet to the divert station. This allows enclosures of the set being gathered to be fed along the supply track and gathered at the gathering station. After the completed set has vacated the gathering station, the diverted sheet is transported to the gathering station and gathered with further documents of the next set.
B65H 83/00 - Combinations of piling and depiling operations, e.g. performed simultaneously, of interest apart from the single operation of piling or depiling
A scanner device for scanning mailpieces, which scanner device comprises: a contact image sensor or “CIS” disposed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in which the mailpieces are conveyed through a module of a franking system; a support to which said sensor is fastened, the support being mounted to pivot at one end of at least one first drive lever, the other end of which is itself mounted to pivot about a first common hinge pin secured to a stationary portion of the module and disposed upstream from a set of conveyor rollers, so as to make it possible for said contact image sensor to move vertically; and at least one second drive lever one end of which is mounted to pivot about a second common hinge pin secured to said stationary portion of said module and disposed downstream from said set of conveyor rollers, the other end of the second drive lever, by being moved synchronously with the vertical movement of said set of conveyor rollers, moving the contact image sensor via the first drive lever.
A mailpiece scanner device in a module of a franking system, said mailpiece scanner device comprising: a contact image sensor or “CIS” disposed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in which the mailpieces are conveyed through the module; and a support to which said sensor is fastened and which is mounted firstly to move vertically under the action of at least one drive lever and secondly to pivot about a longitudinal hinge pin; the device further comprising guide means secured to a stationary portion of the module for the purpose of limiting firstly the vertical movement of the image sensor support and secondly pivoting of said support about the longitudinal hinge pin.
A method for controlling a servomotor for driving a movable part of a machine, the method comprising: determining the coordinates of an acceleration and of a deceleration curve for each stage of a cycle of operation to move said part; determining the maximum number of stages required to complete said cycle; initiating the acceleration curve for the first stage of the cycle of operation; and dynamically correcting the cycle of operation, at at least one intermediate point in the cycle, to initiate the deceleration curve appropriate to the stage, at a predetermined decision point, if production line parameters require a change to the operation cycle.
G05B 19/23 - Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path using an incremental digital measuring device for point-to-point control
A system for capturing an image of an optical code located at a region of interest in a document, the system comprising: a support for supporting the document; a source of light arranged to illuminate the document; a mount for supporting an imaging device at a position spaced from the document; a trigger for activating the imaging device to capture an image of the region of interest; and a moving device for automatically moving the mount and operating the trigger in dependence upon at least one coordinate identifying the region of interest, the coordinate being contained in a label stored in document parameters.
A method of attaching a pawl to a region of a surface of a conveyor belt comprising pre-stressing the surface region and fixing the pawl to the surface region while it is in the pre-stressed state.
A method of franking mailpieces including the following steps: an operator loads a mailpiece on a feed deck of the machine; the width of the mailpiece is determined automatically by a plurality of presence detectors mounted on the feed deck; the length of the mailpiece is estimated by a processor, on the basis of the width of the mailpiece; an initial franking amount to be applied to the mailpiece is computed by the processor; the mailpiece is extracted automatically from the feed deck, and a postal imprint is printed; the real length of the mailpiece is determined; the real length is compared with the previously estimated length; if these two lengths do not match, an audible or visible alarm is generated by a warning device; the processor computes a corrected franking amount; and a new postal imprint making it possible to correct the initial franking amount is printed.
A mailpiece selector device including at least one guide co-operating with a plurality of opposite selector rollers passing through a deck for receiving a stack of mailpieces. The guide co-operating with the rollers to select the mailpieces one-by-one and to transport them downstream. The guide presenting a predetermined inclination at an angle θ relative to a horizontal plane defined by the deck, with a distance between the deck and a low end portion of the guide that is larger at the portion of the guide that is closer to a referencing wall than at the portion of the guide that is further away from the referencing wall.
Mail item selection device including at least one file (10) cooperating with a multitude of selection rollers facing one another, crossing a reception tray for a stack of mail items, to select the said mail items one by one and to transport them downstream, this file presenting a pre-determined slope with angle .theta. relative to a horizontal plane defined by the reception tray, with a distance between a part of the lower end of the file and the reception tray, greater at the level of the part of the file the closest to a reference wall (34), than the part furthest from the reference wall.
A mailpiece selector device for separating mailpieces one-by-one from a stack of mailpieces and for transporting them downstream, the mailpiece selector device having a first guide followed by a second guide, both of which guides co-operate with a plurality of opposite selector rollers to select the mailpieces one-by-one and to transport them downstream, the first guide being able to pivot about a first pivot axis in opposition to first resilient returner, the second pivot axis being offset upstream relative to the first pivot axis, and the first and second guides having a driver for making it possible, above a predetermined mailpiece thickness range, for the second guide to pivot automatically when the first guide pivots.
Postage values are determined for aplurality of documents stored in a document file. Value-bearing indicia are generated based upon the determined values. the indicia are stored separately from the documents and the indicia are printed on the same mailpiece.
A method of enabling mailpieces to be distributed and consulted in electronic form, including the steps of scanning each of the mailpieces and transmitting the images of the mailpieces to a first server; displaying the images on a first viewing screen associated with the first server, and assigning each of the images to a recipient by “dropping ” the image into one of the pigeonholes of a virtual sorting rack associated with the recipient and displayed on the first viewing screen or on a second viewing screen also associated with the first server; and displaying a dynamic dialogue box on at least one consultation screen of a final recipient.
A mail processor machine casing having an identity plate for identifying the machine, which identity plate is formed by a portion of said casing that is connected to the remainder of said casing by a peripheral zone of weakness that, on being broken, makes it possible to detach said identity plate. Preferably, said zone of weakness comprises a plurality of casing bridges that can be broken by hand.
For determining a setting of an apparatus for folding documents to be inserted into windowed envelopes, a tentative folding setting is determined. Then, an overlay image representing the envelope and at least a portion of a side of the folded document that would be visible through the envelope window after folding of the specimen of the documents in accordance with the tentative folding setting and insertion of the folded specimen into the envelope is displayed. If the overlay image is not satisfactory, another tentative folding setting is inputted and an accordingly changed overlay image is generated. If the overlay image is satisfactory, the current tentative folding setting is selected as the folding setting to be applied for folding documents.
B65B 57/10 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
66.
Multi-station system and method for processing paper postal items
A transport track extends through first and second stations for transporting paper postal items through the stations. The first and second stations are equipped with first and second drives for driving circulatable surfaces of the respective station along the transport track. The second drive is controlled for driving at least one of the second station's circulatable surfaces at a circumferential speed higher than the circumferential speed of the first station's circulatable surfaces. While a stack of postal items passes from the first station to the second station, highest normal force exerted thereon by the circulatable surfaces of the second station is larger or smaller than the highest normal force exerted thereon by the circulatable surfaces of the first station.
A water feed device for feeding water to a moistener for moistening envelope flaps that is incorporated into a mail handling machine, the water feed device comprising a reserve stock of water from which a quantity of water flows to a reservoir of water, said quantity of water being suitable for imbibing a piece of foam dipping in said reservoir of water, said device having at least two distinct water feed circuits for feeding water separately to two separate compartments of the reservoir of water from two isolated compartments of the reserve stock of water in a manner such as to define two distinct levels of water for the two isolated compartments of the reserve of water, and thus to define two different heights of water in the two corresponding separate compartments of the reservoir of water.
An envelope loader device comprising a mail-receiving bed provided with conveyor rollers and serving to receive a stack of mail items, jogger means for holding the mail items against a referencing wall, a drive motor for driving said conveyor rollers in rotation, and control means for actuating said drive motor and for causing a fraction of said stack of mail items to be ejected as a function of a mail presence sensor mounted at said mail-receiving bed and whose state depends on whether or not mail items are present in a downstream feeder device.
A box for packaging objects, said box including a first belt made up of four vertical panels and terminated by a return tab, each vertical panel being extended by two opposite side flaps designed so that, once they have been folded over at right angles, they form a bottom and a first top for said box, each of at least two of the side flaps having a cutout on a fold line parallel to its outside edge, which cutout enables a tongue to be detached from said flap, said box further including a second belt made up of four other vertical panels and terminated by another return tab, each vertical panel being extended by a single other side flap designed to form a second top for the box, each of two other side flaps being provided with at least one opening or at least one notch for receiving said tongues.
B65D 5/355 - Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper specially adapted to be of variable capacity
B65D 43/08 - Removable lids or covers having a peripheral flange fitting over the rim of the container
70.
Method of performing non-secure franking with stamps from books
A method of performing non-secure franking by means of a communications terminal comprising means for communicating with a franking service provider's server, a non-secure memory for recording identification numbers and associated postage amounts received in the franking service provider's server. The communications terminal can further comprise print command means for instructing a standard printer to print one of the identification numbers corresponding to the desired postage amount and extracted from the non-secure memory on a mail item to be sent.
Systems and methods are provided in which remote installed devices may be assigned various call-in times to contact a host controller. The host may schedule remote devices sequentially across multiple modems. Additional modems may be added to the system as more bandwidth is desired or required. The system may include additional, unscheduled bandwidth to account for calls made by devices outside of the assigned call times.
A system for producing a location-based inventory of objects each furnished with an RFID transponder (24) designed to interact with an RFID reader/interrogator (30) and placed at different locations of a warehousing structure (10) including a plurality of rows (16A-16C) supported by vertical uprights (18A-18D). Each of the uprights of this warehousing structure is furnished at each of the rows with an RFID location transponder (26) and a processor (30; 32) to produce a location-based inventory of the objects present on the warehousing structure according to the information received from the transponders.
In a mail franking system including a central secure metering device (PSD 20) connected to a remote credit reloading server (26) and a plurality of local franking management modules (22-1 to 22-N) each including a local secure metering device (28-1 to 28-N) and connected to said central secure metering device via a user's local area network (LAN), there is provided a method wherein a franking session is opened, each of the local franking management modules books a predetermined franking value from a central secure metering device so as to perform secure frankings up to the limit of this value and at the end of session each of these modules transmits its consumed franking value to the central device which is then debited by an overall franking value equal to the sum of the franking values consumed by each of the local modules.
Method of delivering a franking service including the following operations: connection via a communications network of a user's communications device (10, 12) with a server system (18) operated by a franking services provider, entry via the communications device of a unique identification number carried by a mail item (14) to be sent, selection by the user of a franking service from the various franking services offered by the server system and entry of postal information in relation to the selected service, determination by the server system on the basis of this information of the cost of the selected franking service and communication of this cost to the user, payment by the user for the selected franking service, and depositing of the mail item in a post box (16).
An apparatus for processing physical documents, comprising: at least two processing modules, at least two module control units, each arranged for controlling a processing module. The module control units are each provided with a function memory for storing function data and limitation parameters. The function data represent processing functions to be performed by the processing module. The limitation parameters represent limitations of the processing functions. The module control units are further arranged for receiving function control data and controlling the separate functions of the respective processing module on the basis of the function control data. The apparatus further comprises a central control unit which is arranged for sending the function control data to the module control units.
B65B 11/48 - Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by folding a wrapper, e.g. a pocketed wrapper, and securing its opposed free margins to enclose contents
76.
Detector system for detecting the direction in which an item passes through a determined boundary zone
processor means connected to the first and second read-interrogate elements, the processor means determining the direction in which the item passes through as a function of the order in which the two regions are crossed.
To print a postal imprint by an external imprint label dispenser connected via a communications link to a postage meter, during an initialization step for initializing the communications link, the postage meter authenticates the imprint label dispenser by exchanging an authentication code and the postage meter securely transmits to the dispenser a predetermined image data set that is signed with a secret key generated during the initialization step on the basis of the authentication code. Then, for each printing cycle, the postage meter computes postal data relating to the mail item that is to be franked, securely transmits the resulting computed data as signed with the secret key to the dispenser, converts the postal data into additional image data, and prints a postal imprint incorporating the additional image data and the predetermined image data on a continuous label tape delivered by the dispenser.
G01B 11/02 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width, or thickness
G01B 11/00 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
This mail-handling apparatus includes a feed module for feeding in mail items, a weigh module and a franking module. The weigh module includes regulator means for regulating the speed of advance of the conveyor means of the weigh module, which regulator means are adapted to take account of the weighing times taken to weigh the mail items.
G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
G06G 7/00 - Devices in which the computing operation is performed by varying electric or magnetic quantities
B65B 35/00 - Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
B65B 57/10 - Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
B65B 57/20 - Applications of counting devices for controlling the feed of articles
B65G 43/00 - Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
B07C 5/00 - Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or featureSorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
80.
Device alerting to expiration in a franking system
This invention relates to a device alerting to the expiration of tariffs for a franking system, comprising a random access memory (RAM) for recording postal data including a first table of postal tariffs relative to postal products and services and a processing unit for updating these postal tariffs, this RAM further comprising a second table of postal tariffs and the processing unit comprising means for comparing the postal tariffs of the first and second tables and for emitting a message alerting to the expiration of tariffs when a date of application of the postal tariffs of said second table is identical to or earlier than a desired date of franking and when one of these compared postal tariffs has been changed.
This invention relates to a mobile device for collecting and validating collected articles, each equipped with a transponder and including rollers for moving along a runway in a predetermined path, a horizontal beam for receiving the articles collected during this displacement one by one, a radio-frequency interrogator for obtaining identifying information on each of the articles collected by the device and a comparator for comparing the identifying information obtained with references relative to a determined order for articles and thus for validating the collected articles as they are collected along the runway.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
G06F 17/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
