Vibrating tray for diverted card inserts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016159576-A1
Application number	US-201414561653-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2014
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automated apparatus and method for collecting and dispensing rejected cards in a tray in a card attaching system. Sheets are transported on a moving belt. Cards are fed from a feeder above the moving belt. Cards are deposited onto the sheets. When a card rejection condition is detected, a rejected card is diverted and deposited in a tray having a sloped chute. The sloped chute extends down to a lower position beyond an outside edge of the moving belt. To facilitate movement down the chute, the tray is vibrated. This vibration is accomplished by supporting the tray on a roller assembly that rolls on a surface of the moving belt as it passes under the sloped chute. The roller is non-circular or of an eccentric configuration, such that the axis of the roller will experience a vertical displacement as the roller rotates, jogging the tray.

First claim

1 . A tray for collecting and dispensing diverted cards in a card attaching system, wherein the card attaching system includes a card feeder positioned above a moving belt for depositing cards onto sheets of paper transported on the moving belt, and wherein the card feeder includes a divert mechanism for diverting rejected cards onto an alternate card path so that the rejected cards are not deposited, and are collected in the tray, the tray comprising:
a sloped chute positioned to receive diverted cards from the card feeder at an elevated position over the moving belt and extending down to a lower position beyond an outside edge of the moving belt; a chute support extending from the chute to a surface of the moving belt; the chute support resting on a roller that is positioned to roll on a surface of the moving belt as it passes under the sloped chute; and wherein the roller has a configuration selected from one or more of a non-circular or an eccentric configuration, such that the roller will experience a vertical displacement as the roller rotates, imparting a vertical jogging motion on the chute support and the sloped chute.

2 . The tray of claim 1 wherein the roller configuration includes a circular wheel with at least one flattened side on its perimeter.

3 . The tray of claim 1 wherein the roller configuration includes a circular wheel with an off-center axis of rotation.

4 . The tray of claim 1 wherein the roller configuration includes an oval wheel.

5 . The tray of claim 1 further including a support bracket for supporting the tray on the card attaching system, and wherein the support bracket uses a vibration isolation mounting to connect to the card attaching system.

6 . A card attaching system with a tray for collecting and dispensing diverted cards, including:
a moving belt that transports sheets of paper on which cards will be deposited; a card feeder positioned above the moving belt and depositing cards onto sheets of paper transported on the moving belt, the card feeder including a divert mechanism for diverting rejected cards onto an alternate card path to a tray, so that the rejected cards are not deposited; wherein the tray comprises:
a sloped chute positioned to receive diverted cards from the card feeder at an elevated position over the moving belt and extending down to a lower position beyond an outside edge of the moving belt;
a chute support extending from the chute to a surface of the moving belt; the chute support resting on a roller that is positioned to roll on a surface of the moving belt as it passes under the sloped chute; and
wherein the roller has a configuration selected from one or more of a non-circular or an eccentric configuration, such that the roller will experience a vertical displacement as the roller rotates, imparting a vertical jogging motion on the chute support and the sloped chute.

7 . The card attaching system of claim 6 wherein the roller configuration includes a circular wheel with at least one flattened side on its perimeter.

8 . The card attaching system of claim 6 wherein the roller configuration includes a circular wheel with an off-center axis of rotation.

9 . The card attaching system of claim 6 wherein the roller configuration includes an oval wheel.

10 . The card attaching system of claim 6 further including a support bracket for supporting the tray on the card attaching system, and wherein the support bracket uses a vibration isolation mounting to connect to the card attaching system.

11 . A method of collecting and dispensing rejected cards in a tray in a card attaching system, the method including:
transporting sheets of paper on a moving belt; feeding cards from a card feeder positioned above the moving belt and depositing cards onto the sheets of paper transported on the moving belt; receiving rejected cards from the card feeder in a tray at an elevated position over the moving belt and extending down to a lower position beyond an outside edge of the moving belt; vibrating the tray by supporting the tray on a chute support resting on a roller that is positioned to roll on a surface of the moving belt as it passes under the sloped chute and wherein the roller has a configuration selected from one or more of a non-circular or an eccentric configuration, such that the axis of the roller will experience a vertical displacement as the roller rotates, imparting a vertical jogging motion on the chute support and the sloped chute.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the roller configuration includes a circular wheel with at least one flattened side on its perimeter.

13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the roller configuration includes a circular wheel with an off-center axis of rotation.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the roller configuration includes an oval wheel.

15 . The method of claim 11 further including step of supporting the tray on the card attaching system with a vibration isolation mounting to connect to the card attaching system.

Assignees

• Pitney Bowes Inc
• Pitnet Bowes Inc

Inventors

• Defigueiredo Carlos L
• Masotta John R

Classifications

• B65H29/52 Primary

  Stationary guides or smoothers · CPC title

• B65H39/06

  from delivery streams · CPC title

• B65H2404/731

  moved in a path enclosing an area · CPC title

• B65H29/62

  diverting faulty articles from the main streams (control devices detecting faulty articles B65H43/04) · CPC title

• B07C5/36

  Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} · CPC title