Apparatus and method for automated mail
AssigneeBell & Howell Company
InventorsGary L. Vander Syde, Paul Beatty, Myron A. Bowles, Kenneth L. Guenther, K. George Rabindran, Gerald D. Warden, Michael A. Wisniewsi, Kenneth Viani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for automatically preparing large mailings in which one or more documents are nested within the fold of a letter sheet prior to insertion into an outer envelope. One or more unfolded letter sheets are transported to a folding operation involving a clamp assembly and a roller folding assembly which is movable into engagement with the clamp assembly. After folding and prior to stuffing into an envelope, one or more inserts can be inserted within the folded letter sheet.
Claims57
Document handling apparatus comprising:
- (a) transport means for conveying at least one letter sheet with information indicia thereon along a transport path adjacent document handling means,
- (b) means for depositing at least one unfolded letter sheet with information indicia thereon onto said transport path,
- (c) an envelope stuffing station downstream of the said letter depositing means, and
- (d) folding means upstream of said envelope stuffing station for folding said letter sheet comprising a clamp assembly and a roller folding assembly movable into engagement with said clamp assembly to fold said letter sheet.
Apparatus for folding a letter sheet or a stack of letter sheets comprising a clamp assembly operative between an upper position and lower sheet-clamping position and an operatively disposed roller folding assembly adapted for reciprocable engagement with said clamp assembly whereby said letter sheet or stack of letter sheets is folded along a crease line at a desired location.
Document handling apparatus comprising:
- (a) transport means for conveying at least one letter sheet with information indicia thereon along a transport path adjacent document handling means,
- (b) means for depositing at least one unfolded letter sheet with information indicia thereon onto said transport path,
- (c) at least one document insert station adjacent said transport means,
- (d) folding means upstream of the first of said document insert stations for folding said letter sheet comprising a clamp assembly and roller folding assembly movable into engagement with said clamp assembly to fold said letter sheet,
- (e) means upstream of the first of said document insert stations for spreading the folds of said letters sheet and maintaining the folds of said sheet in spread position at each of said document insert stations whereby said document inserts are inserted between the folds of said sheet at each document insert station, and
- (f) an envelope stuffing station downstream of the last of said document insert stations.
A method of preparing mailings which comprises;
- (a) depositing at least one unfolded letter sheet on transport means,
- (b) folding said letter sheet by passing the sheet to a clamp assembly and moving a roller folding assembly into engagement with said clamp assembly to fold said sheet,
- (c) transporting said folded letter sheet to an envelope stuffing station, and
- (d) at said envelope stuffing station shoving said folded letter sheet into an open envelope.
A method of preparing mailings which comprises:
- (a) depositing at least one unfolded letter sheet on transport means,
- (b) folding said letter sheet by passing the sheet to a clamp assembly and moving a roller folding assembly into engagement with the clamp assembly to fold said sheet,
- (c) transporting said folded letter sheet while maintaining the folds thereof separated to at least one document insert station whereat one or more document inserts are inserted between the folds of said letter sheet, and
- (d) transporting said folded letter sheet with at least one document insert nesting between the folds to an envelope stuffing station and thereat shoving said folded letter sheet with at least one document insert nested between the folds into an open envelope.
A method of folding at least one letter sheet which comprises passing said sheet to a clamp assembly operative between an upper non-clamping position and a lower sheet-clamping position and moving a roller folding assembly into engagement with the clamp assembly when in the lower sheet-clamping position to fold said letter sheet along a crease line at a desired location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.