Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8042795 | Transporting apparatus for discrete sheets into envelopes and related methods An apparatus transports a discrete paper or film object in a machine direction for insertion into an envelope. A guide assembly of the apparatus includes opposed first and second channels facing one another for guiding the object in the machine direction, with the c... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8028982 | Method and system for simultaneously processing letters and flat mail The present teachings relate to techniques and equipment to insert documents into either letter envelopes or flat mail envelopes on the same dual mode mailing inserter without the need to do machine setup between letter and flat mail envelope insertion. The dual mod... | 10/04/2011 |
| 7971865 | Inserting apparatus for discrete objects into envelopes and related methods An apparatus for inserting a paper or film object or a stack of such objects into an envelope. A feeding apparatus moves the object toward an insertion station and a vacuum drum has a surface adapted to engage and move the envelope toward the insertion station. A ra... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7950646 | Method for adjusting a folding station and inserting system For determining a setting of an apparatus for folding documents to be inserted into windowed envelopes, a tentative folding setting is determined. Then, an overlay image representing the envelope and at least a portion of a side of the folded document that would be ... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7690635 | Cam driven insert gripper An apparatus includes a frame, a rotatable first shaft, wherein the first shaft includes a first cam, a rotatable second shaft, an item gripper connected to the second shaft by a connection including a link and an offset shaft rotatably connected to the link, and a ... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7637490 | Inserting systems and methods Inserting systems and methods are provided for use in sheet processing. The inserting systems and methods provide improved handling of sheet articles during processing. Sheet articles can be advantageously and efficiently advanced in separate stacks and later combin... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7604227 | System and method for identifying envelope groups Method for producing multiple small custom envelope jobs using a sheet fed envelope machine. Multiple different envelope jobs are provided as stacks of sheets of envelope stock to a high volume envelope machine for processing into folded envelopes. Each envelope job... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7591454 | Paper handling system material feed path arrangement A materials handling system includes a feeder station having a plurality of material feeders and an insertion subsystem. Each of the plurality of feeders are connected to a common material transport path. A first material transport path is connected to the common ma... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7556250 | Hazardous material detector for detecting hazardous material in a mailstream The invention disclosed herein relates generally to mailpieces and more particularly, a hazardous material detector for detecting hazardous material in a mail stream. The present invention is directed, in general to detector for collecting sample(s) of hazardous mat... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7427059 | Paper handling system materials exit path arrangement A materials handling system includes an insertion subsystem for inserting materials into envelopes to form mailpieces of a first type and mailpieces of a second type. The materials handling syatem also includes a first mailpiece transport path located downstream fro... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7406813 | Desktop inserter Inserter with a stuffing assembly for each time inserting a document into an envelope in the stuffing position. In the operating position, a document feeder or the exit for outputting finished mail items is situated at the front side of the housing, and the envelope... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7370456 | Packaging object supplying apparatus, box body supplying apparatus, boxing apparatus, packaging system and packaging method A packaging object supplying apparatus for supplying a packaging object to a packaging unit for packaging the packaging object into a predetermined fashion and specifically, a packaging object supplying apparatus comprising a packaging object combining portion for f... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7233839 | Insertion Control According to the invention, an insertion system for collating sheets of printed material for insertion into an envelope is disclosed. The insertion system includes an insertion machine, application software and an operating system. Included in the application softwa... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7220093 | Flats bundle collator The present invention relates to an apparatus for collating a plurality of separate groups or bundles of similar flats mailpieces arranged in a predetermined delivery point sequence, each mailpiece imprinted with a distinct delivery point or address indicia, to prod... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7077797 | Apparatus and method for creasing media to make booklets This invention relates to an apparatus and method for making booklets. Such structures of this type, generally, employ a variety of creasing techniques in order to form the booklet. ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7073242 | Methods for gripping inserts The present application discloses gripping systems and various uses thereof. As one example, a gripping system including a gripping jaw and an extensible bar is disclosed. The gripping jaw includes two opposing members that are operable to grasp a gripped object bet... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7051496 | Envelope and insert transport and insertion machine A high-speed envelope transport and insertion machine includes a slip-drive system having a plurality of belts configured to move envelopes along an envelope path at a first speed, an envelope transmission device disposed to input envelopes into the slip-drive syste... | 05/30/2006 |
| 6996959 | Envelope-filling station for mail-processing systems An envelope-filling station for mail-processing systems. The station includes an enclosure feeder for transporting enclosures to an inserting arrangement pushing enclosures into envelopes in the same direction as the enclosure feeder. An envelope supply is positione... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6901312 | Apparatus for preparation of mailpieces and method for downstream control of such apparatus A system, method and apparatus for preparing mailpieces. A inserter system for assembling mailpieces in a mailing job is controlled in accordance with mailpiece records in a corresponding mailing control file. The inserter system scans control inserts included in th... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6817518 | Systems for preparing presentation instruments for distribution A system for processing presentation instruments that includes a presentation instrument reservoir, a presentation instrument reader, a distribution stock holder, a distribution stock reader, two or more motor systems for advancing distribution stock and presentatio... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6802500 | Systems and methods of providing inserts into envelopes The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a pa... | 10/12/2004 |
| 6755411 | Envelope transport module with vacuum ports for use in an envelope inserting machine A module in an envelope insertion station for transporting an envelope to an enclosure material insertion location, which uses endless belts to move the envelope until it is stopped by rotatable stops. A fixedly-mounted vacuum module having vacuum ports provides a s... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6747749 | Document reprint method and system A method for reprinting a plurality of documents includes obtaining exceptions associated with multiple processed enclosing jobs. The method further includes creating a reprint job that includes documents corresponding to a portion of the exceptions, wherein the por... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6732011 | Apparatus for preparation of mailpieces and method for downstream control of such apparatus A system, method and apparatus for preparing mailpieces. A inserter system for assembling mailpieces in a mailing job is controlled in accordance with mailpiece records in a corresponding mailing control file. The inserter system scans control inserts included in th... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6714835 | System and apparatus for preparation of mailpieces and method for file based setup of such apparatus A system, method and apparatus for preparing mailpieces. A inserter system for assembling mailpieces in a mailing job is controlled in accordance with mailpiece records in a corresponding mailing control file. The inserter system scans control documents included in ... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6629690 | Apparatus and method for conveying a product An apparatus and method for high-speed conveying of product along a product conveying path and permitting products of different widths to be conveyed utilize six primary assemblies: outer rail assembly, inner rail assembly, pusher assembly, strap-ramp ass... | 10/07/2003 |
| 6561502 | Double-layered width-adjustable inserter tracks A document transporter apparatus for use on an envelope inserter comprises a first track, for moving a first type of document, mounted to the envelope inserter, a second track, for moving a second type of document, mounted above the first track, and a mec... | 05/13/2003 |
| 6547233 | Dual bin envelope supply device and method A method and system for transporting envelopes from an envelope feeder to an envelope staging area in an envelope insertion machine. The envelope transport system includes two envelope bins and two envelope supply paths linking the envelope bins to an env... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6499731 | High speed pusher apparatus for sheet feeders A high speed sheet feeder machine includes at least one pusher that follows a loop-shaped path of travel as the machine operates. The pusher pushes an insert into an envelope during a forward and downward part of its path of travel and then retreats rearw... | 12/31/2002 |
| 6418357 | Method for synchronizing an envelope inserter A method for dynamically determining a motion control profile used in controlling motion of an axis of an overhead transport motor so as to be synchronized to the motion of a collating transport motor of an insertion engine used to insert a collation into... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6332605 | Reversible document manipulating device A document handling device (12) comprises a first endless conveyor (6), which is arranged to be intermittently driven in a first direction of feed (F) and has drivers to fetch documents (2) at document discharging stations (5) and put them together into s... | 12/25/2001 |
| 6311104 | System and method for controlling the inserter chassis speed in an inserter system A method for controlling an inserter system having a chassis for assembling mailpieces, the chassis operating cyclically with successive accumulations advancing at the end of each cycle. The inserter system further includes a document feeder for feeding a... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6250625 | Method for supplying envelopes to an inserter system by way of multiple supply paths A method for supplying envelopes to an inserter system, including the steps of providing an envelope supply structure having an exit point, providing at least first and second supply paths from the exit point of the envelope supply structure and providing... | 06/26/2001 |
| 5975514 | Apparatus for inserting a sheet into an envelope to segregate a sheet and an envelope In a mail inserter machine including at least one subassembly with a component driven in reciprocating fashion, an apparatus for inserting a sheet into an envelope. The apparatus comprises a movable gripper jaw assembly, an envelope vacuum cup assembly, a... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5954323 | Computer controlled apparatus and method for inserting mail into envelopes In a mail inserter having a 360 degree operational cycle and a plurality of subassemblies, a computer issues a plurality of electrical control signals having predetermined rotational positions and durations within the operational cycle at a given inserter... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5944304 | Envelope feeding and staging machine for high speed inserting apparatus An separating and staging machine is disclosed which is used in conjunction with high speed document processing apparatus in which a succession of collations of insert material moving along an insert material feed path to an insert location are inserted i... | 08/31/1999 |
| 5941516 | Computer controlled apparatus and method for inserting mail into envelopes A method of producing at least one control signal data look-up table for a mail insertion machine having a 360 degree cycle of operation and capable of variable operating speeds within a given cycle. The mail insertion machine possesses predetermined elec... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5911416 | Variable height pocket for sheet material conveying apparatus A sheet material conveying apparatus includes a plurality of sheet material feeders. A plurality of pockets are movable past each of the sheet material feeders in turn to sequentially feed sheet material into the pockets. Each pocket has an upper end port... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5862754 | Inserter module adaptable for use with both preprinted and in-line printed carriers and method A card insertion system (10) and method in which a free standing inserter module (12) for inserting cards into carriers has a carrier inlet (14) at a preselected elevation (14') for selectively, alternatively interfacing with, and receiving carrier forms ... | 01/26/1999 |
| 5823521 | Computer controlled apparatus and method for inserting mail into envelopes An apparatus and method for computerized control of a "Phillipsburg-type" mail insertion machine. The mechanical timing and drive mechanisms of the prior art inserter are replaced with a programmable computer, solenoid valves, and pneumatic cylinders, or ... | 10/20/1998 |
