Patent ID: 6688593
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: B65H,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for changing the orientation and direction of envelopes conveyed in a transport path in a mail piece processing system, the apparatus comprising:an first transport forming an upstream portion of the transport path and transporting envelopes in a first direction in a horizontal orientation; a twisted belt transport downstream of the first transport, receiving envelopes from the first transport, the twisted belt transport conveying envelopes in the first direction and reorienting the envelopes from the horizontal orientation to an upright vertical orientation; a turning arrangement downstream of the twisted belt transport, receiving vertically oriented envelopes from the twisted belt transport, the turning arrangement substantially altering the transport path to a second direction, the turning arrangement further comprising; a horizontal wheel and a vertical belt, a length of the vertical belt being urged against an outer radius surface of the horizontal wheel to cooperatively form the transport path, for gripping a lower portion of vertically oriented envelopes, between the outer radius surface of the wheel and the length of vertical belt; and a turning guide comprising a stationary curved vertical surface located substantially over, the outer radius surface of the horizontal wheel, the surface of the turning guide providing vertical support for an upper portion of vertically oriented envelopes as they move through the turning arrangement; and a sloped ramp-transport receiving the vertically oriented envelopes from the turning arrangement at a first height and transporting the envelopes to an output transport having a second height higher than the first height.