# US 7,611,141 B2 · Top registered item transport system

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- Number: US 7,611,141 B2
- Document ID: US7611141B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/200,633
- Filed: 2008-08-28
- Published: 2009-06-25
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2007-12-20
- Assignees: Pitney Bowes Inc.
- Inventors: Daniel J. Williams; Luciano P. Dos Santos; Russell W. Holbrook
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611141B2

## CPC

- G07B 17/00467: {Transporting mailpieces (postal sorting B07C)}
- B41J 13/12: specially adapted for {small} cards, envelopes, or the like {, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards}
- B65G 15/14: the load being conveyed between the belts {(B65G15/18, B65G15/20 take precedence)}
- G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

An item transport system includes a first transport element rotating around a plurality of first transport rollers in a first direction, a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, the second transport element rotating around a plurality of second transport rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a guide plate proximate to the first transport element for engaging the items during processing by an item processing element, and an item registration device configured to maintain the items in registration with the guide plate. The item registration device includes a plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies biased to engage the second transport element with the first transport element and a plate associated with each pivot assembly. Each plate is fixedly constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at one end and slidably constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at another end.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An item transport system, comprising:
a first transport element rotating around a plurality of first transport rollers in a first direction;
a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, the second transport element rotating around a plurality of second transport rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein items received between the transport elements are conveyed along a transport path;
a guide plate proximate to the first transport element for engaging the items during processing by an item processing element; and
an item registration device configured to maintain the items in registration with the guide plate, the item registration device comprising:
a plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies biased to engage the second transport element with the first transport element; and
a plate associated with each pivot assembly, wherein each plate is fixedly constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at one end and slidably constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at another end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the pivot assemblies are configured to provide positive control between the transport elements for consecutive items having a thickness differential.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the thickness differential is up to approximately 1.75 inches.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies comprises:
an upstream angle pivot assembly;
a downstream angle pivot assembly; and
at least one intermediate pivot assembly disposed between the upstream angle pivot assembly and the downstream angle pivot assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein each pivot assembly comprises:
a first member pivotable about a pivot axis;
at least one of the second transport rollers disposed on the first member; and
a plate support element disposed on the first member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the transport path.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the upstream angle pivot assembly and the downstream angle pivot assembly further comprise:
a second member arranged at an angle with respect to the first member and pivotable with the first member about the pivot axis; and
at least one of the second transport rollers disposed on the second member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the item registration device further comprises:
an upstream roller assembly supporting at least one of the second transport rollers and comprising a plate support element; and
a downstream roller assembly supporting at least one of the second transport rollers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein each plate is fixedly constrained at an upstream end and slidably constrained at a downstream end.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein each plate is connected to respective plate support elements.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each pivot assembly comprises a follower.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising:
an elongated member;
a plurality of cams disposed on the elongated member, wherein each cam engages a respective follower; and
an actuator for translating the elongated member, wherein translation of the elongated member causes rotation of the cams and corresponding motion of the respective followers to move the pivot assemblies to a deactivated position in which the second transport element is spaced from the first transport element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the item processing element comprises an inkjet printer.

### Claim 14

An item transport system, comprising:
a first transport element rotating around a plurality of first transport rollers in a first direction;
a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, the second transport element rotating around a plurality of second transport rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein items received between the transport elements are conveyed along a transport path;
a guide plate for maintaining the items at a fixed distance from an item processing element during processing by the item processing element; and
an item registration device configured to maintain the items in registration with the guide plate, the item registration device comprising:
an upstream roller assembly supporting at least one of the second transport rollers;
a downstream roller assembly supporting at least one of the second transport rollers;
a plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies biased to engage the second transport element with the first transport element; and
a plate associated with each pivot assembly, wherein each plate is fixedly constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at one end and slidably constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at another end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the pivot assemblies are configured to provide positive control between the transport elements for consecutive items having a thickness differential of up to approximately 1.75 inches.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies comprises:
an upstream angle pivot assembly;
a downstream angle pivot assembly; and
at least one intermediate pivot assembly disposed between the upstream angle pivot assembly and the downstream angle pivot assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein each pivot assembly comprises:
a first member pivotable about a pivot axis;
at least one of the second transport rollers disposed on the first member; and
a plate support element disposed on the first member.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the upstream angle pivot assembly and the downstream angle pivot assembly further comprise:
a second member arranged at an angle with respect to the first member and pivotable with the first member about the pivot axis; and
at least one of the second transport rollers disposed on the second member.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein each plate is fixedly constrained at an upstream end and slidably constrained at a downstream end.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the item processing element comprises an inkjet printer.

### Claim 21

A method of conveying items, comprising:
receiving the items in an item transport system, wherein the item transport system comprises:
a first transport element rotating around a plurality of first transport rollers in a first direction; and
a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, the second transport element rotating around a plurality of second transport rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
conveying the items between the transport elements along a transport path; and
maintaining the items in registration with a guide plate during processing of the items by an item processing element using an item registration device, the item registration device comprising:
a plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies biased to engage the second transport element with the first transport element; and
a plate associated with each pivot assembly, wherein each plate is fixedly constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at one end and slidably constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at another end.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, further comprising providing positive control between the transport elements for consecutive items having a thickness differential of up to approximately 1.75 inches.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the item processing element comprises an inkjet printer.