| US 7,523,931 B2 | ||
| Forward and reverse media accumulation system | ||
| Anthony W. Chiappetta, Milford, Conn. (US); James A. Fairweather, Milford, Conn. (US); James A. Salomon, Cheshire, Conn. (US); Steven A. Supron, Ithaca, N.Y. (US); and Joseph K. Patterson, Monroe, Conn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, Conn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 26, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/411,684. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0252324 A1, Nov. 01, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B65H 31/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 271—207 [271/220; 271/223; 271/241; 271/3.01; 271/3.08] | 8 Claims |
| 1. A system for accumulation of media, comprising:
a series of upper and lower transport belts for feeding media seriatim along a path of travel;
an accumulator pocket between said upper and lower drive belts and positioned along the said path of travel;
an upper and a lower accumulator ramp positioned adjacent said accumulator pocket, said upper and lower accumulator ramp moveable
between a first position and a second position; and
wherein said upper accumulator ramp positioned to be out of engagement with media moved seriatim along said path of travel
when in said first accumulator ramp position and said lower accumulator ramp is positioned to be out of engagement with media
moved seriatim along said path of travel moved along said path of travel when in said second accumulator ramp position; and
a roller mounted to cooperate with said lower accumulator ramp and a roller mounted to cooperate with said upper accumulator
ramp which reduce forces which would tend to cause previously assembled media collations to shear apart during transport into
said accumulator pocket; and
further comprising a lower guide mounted along said media path of travel downstream of said upper accumulator ramp and said
lower accumulator ramp and below said accumulator pocket and an upper pivotable guide mounted along said media path of travel
downstream of said upper accumulator ramp and said lower accumulator ramp and above said accumulator pocket, and
wherein said upper accumulator ramp, said lower accumulator ramp, said lower guide and said upper pivotable guide are moveable
as an assembly along said media path of travel; and
said first accumulator ramp position such that said lower ramp is positioned to engage media moved seriatim along said path
of travel to guide said media to form a forward accumulation of media in said accumulator pocket; and,
said second accumulator ramp position such that said upper accumulator ramp is positioned to engage media moved seriatim along
said path of travel to guide said media to form a reverse accumulation of media in said accumulator pocket.
|