Patent ID: 6817608
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An apparatus for stacking mailpieces received from an output device in consecutive order, the apparatus comprising:a. a frame; b. a plurality of conveying sections, the plurality of conveying sections comprising a receiving conveying section having an upstream portion and a downstream portion and a stacking conveying section having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the receiving conveying section is positioned at a first height and in line with the exit from a mail processing machine at the upstream portion and orthogonal to the stacking conveying section at the downstream portion, the stacking conveying section is at a second height, the first height is greater than the second height; c. a ramp extending from the downstream portion of the stacking conveying section; d. a first continuous belt extending along the receiving conveying section in a first direction and positioned centrally along a second direction of the receiving conveying section, and having a top surface that extends above the receiving conveying section and which contacts the mailpieces; e. a second continuous belt extending along the stacking conveying section in the second direction and positioned along the first direction of the stacking conveying section, the second continuous belt having a top surface which extends above the stacking conveying section and which contacts the mailpieces received from the mail processing machine; f. means for driving the first continuous belt at a first speed on the receiving conveying section and for driving the second continuous belt at a second speed on the stacking conveying section, the second speed of the second continuous belt is slower than the first speed of the first continuous belt on the receiving conveying section; and, g. a positioning and guiding means positioned at the downstream portion of the receiving conveying section, the positioning and guiding down means comprising normal force rollers that contact the receiving conveying belt to align the mailpieces at the receiving conveying section and guide, the mailpieces onto the stacking conveying belt.