US 6,568,671 B1 · Method and system for determining if a mailpiece has properly exited from a mailing machine

Abstract

A method and system for determining if envelopes are properly exiting a mailing machine, and if not, halting operation of the mailing machine before a jam occurs inside the mailing machine is provided. A guide member is placed at the output of the mailing machine. The guide member includes a conductive fiber brush that mates with a corresponding conductive brush to complete a conductive circuit that is monitored by a controller in the mailing machine. An envelope exiting the mailing machine will pass between the conductors, thereby opening the conductive circuit. The controller, by monitoring the status of the circuit, determines if an envelope has properly exited the mailing machine. If an envelope has not properly exited the mailing machine, the controller will halt operation of the mailing machine, thereby preventing a jam from occurring in the mailing machine.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A mailing machine comprising:

a controller to control operation of said mailing machine;
a transport deck to transport mailpieces through said mailing machine, said transport deck including a first conductor at an exit end of said mailing machine;
and
a guide member including a second conductor, said guide member traversing at least a portion of said transport deck near said exit end of said mailing machine, said second conductor aligning with said first conductor, said first and second conductors closing a portion of a circuit when making contact,
wherein a mailpiece exiting from said mailing machine passes between said guide member and said transport deck, thereby separating said first and second conductors and opening said circuit, and said controller monitors said closing and opening of said circuit to determine if said mailpiece has exited from said mailing machine.

2 more elements

A method for determining if a mailpiece has exited from a mailing machine, said mailing machine including a controller to control operation of said mailing machine and a transport deck for transporting said mailpiece through said mailing machine, said method comprising the steps of:

traversing at least a portion of said transport deck near an exit end of said mailing machine with a guide member, said guide member including a first conductor;
contacting said first conductor with a second conductor on said transport deck, said first and second conductors closing a portion of a circuit when making contact,
passing a mailpiece between said guide member and said transport deck as said mailpiece exits from said mailing machine;
separating said first and second conductors and opening said circuit when said mailpiece passes between said guide member and said transport deck;
contacting said first and second conductors and closing said circuit when said mailpiece has exited said mailing machine;
and
monitoring, with said controller, said closing and opening of said circuit to determine if said mailpiece has exited from said mailing machine.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for determining if a mailpiece has properly exited from a mailing machine

Life of this patent

Method and system for determining if a mailpiece has properly exited from a mailing machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29