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US 7,096,088 B2Granted
Combined mailing streams
AssigneeQuad/Graphics, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Graushar, John Geres
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of combining mail streams in a printing finishing process including the acts of generating a master mailing list having a sequence, forming a fist mail stream, forming a second mail stream, and combining the first mail stream and the second mail stream according to the sequence of the master mailing list.
Claims24
A method comprising:
- providing a master mailing list including a sequence of recipients;
- assembling printed products from individual printed pieces to form a first mail stream on a finishing line;
- providing a second mail stream of bound printed products to the finishing line;
- and
- combining the first and second mail streams in the sequence of the master mailing list on the finishing line.
2 more elements
A method of combining two mail streams, said method including:
- providing a master mailing list including a sequence of recipients;
- assembling printed products from individual printed pieces to form a first mail stream on a finishing line;
- storing the first mail stream in a buffer on the finishing line;
- providing a second mail stream of bound printed products to the finishing line downstream of the buffer;
- and
- combining the first and second mail streams in the sequence of the master mailing list on the finishing line.
3 more elements
A method of combining two mail streams, said method including:
- providing a master mailing list including a sequence of recipients;
- assembling printed products using pockets and a stitcher to form a first mail stream on a finishing line;
- storing the first mail stream in a buffer;
- providing a second mail stream of bound printed products to the finishing line downstream of the buffer using a shuttle hopper;
- and
- combining the first and second mail streams in the sequence of the master mailing list at a mail table by selectively feeding printed products from the buffer and from the shuttle hopper to the finishing line.
3 more elements
A method for combining two mail streams on one printing finishing line, said method including:
- providing a master mailing list including a sequence of recipients;
- assembling printed products from individual printed pieces to form a first mail stream, said first mail stream including gaps into which printed products from a second mail stream will eventually be placed;
- assembling a third stream of printed products and temporarily positioning them in the gaps;
- diverting the third stream from the finishing line to thereby open the gaps;
- providing the second mail stream of bound printed products to the finishing line downstream;
- and
- combining the first and second mail streams in the sequence of the master mailing list such that the printed products of the second mail stream are placed into the gaps.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.