Registration power stacker

An improved power stacker for receiving lengthwise orientated envelopes projected longitudinally onto said power stacker at a receiving end of said power stacker from a feed device, said feed device for feeding said envelopes each having a leading edge in a direction of travel along a feed plane, said power stacker having a base supporting both an elongated deck and a laterally positioned vertical registration wall, an envelope transport means for transporting envelopes along said deck from said receiving end to a stack end of said deck, said transport means including a plurality of friction belts extending partly along said deck and a power stack wheel pivotally mounted to the registration wall, wherein said improvement comprises:

• a first deflector means having a deflector ramp for deflecting the leading edge of said envelope upward above said feed plane of said feed device and away from said deck, and
• a second deflector means downstream in the direction of envelope travel from said first deflector means for deflecting the leading edge of said envelope downward onto said deck and in communication with said transport means;
• said deflector ramp fixably mounted to said deck at said receiving end of said power stacker below said second deflector means and transversely displaced from said registration wall, said deflector ramp being horizontally elongated and set at a fixed inclining horizontal angle between 10 and 30 degrees from said feed plane.

An improved power stacker for receiving lengthwise orientated envelopes projected longitudinally onto said power stacker at a receiving end of said power stacker from a feed device, said feed device for feeding said envelopes each having a leading edge in a direction of travel along a feed plane, said power stacker having a base supporting both an elongated deck and a laterally positioned vertical registration wall, an envelope transport means for transporting envelopes along said deck from said receiving end to a stack end of said deck, said transport means including a plurality of friction belts extending partly along said deck and a power stack wheel pivotally mounted to the registration wall, wherein said improvement comprises:

• a deflector ramp for deflecting the leading edge of said envelope upward above said feed plane of said feed device and away from said deck, said deflector ramp being fixably mounted to said deck at said receiving end of said deck, said deflector ramp being horizontally elongated and set at a fixed inclining horizontal angle between 10 and 30 degrees from said feed plane;
• a deflector bench fixably mounted to said registration wall at said receiving end of said power stacker at a vertical elevation just below said feed plane of said feed device for preventing opening of said envelope;
• a side guide mounted to said deck at said receiving end of said power stacker below said upper deflection flap and laterally displaced from said registration wall, said side guide having both a laterally positioned vertical surface for aligning said envelope to said registration wall and a horizontal surface vertically spaced above said deck for restricting said upward deflection of said envelope;
• a lateral positioning means adjustably mounted to said deck having said side guide fixably mounted thereto, said lateral positioning means for selectively positioning said side guide laterally with respect to said registration wall;
• and
• an upper deflector flap having one end pivotally mounted to the registration wall at said receiving end of said power stacker at a vertical elevation above that of said feed plane of said feed device, said upper deflector flap to contact said deck downstream in the direction of travel from said deflector ramp at its other end, said deflector flap contacting said deck to form a predetermined nominal angle and forward of said power stack wheel, and means for restricting the pivot angle of said upper deflector flap.