Patent ID: 7497435
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A backing plate support system for a mailpiece feeder mechanism, the feeder mechanism delivering mailpieces vertically, on-edge along a transport deck to a transfer station, comprising: a guide track disposed along and adjacent to the transport deck; a plurality of backing plates disposed linearly along the transport deck to accept stacks of mailpieces between pairs of backing plates, each of the backing plates having a guide support fitting at its base, the guide support fitting engaging the guide track and supporting the backing plate in an orthogonal position relative to the transport deck; an advancing belt disposed adjacent the guide track and adapted to be driven linearly along the transport deck, a mechanism for coupling each backing plate to the advancing belt, the mechanism facilitating movement of the backing support plate relative to the advancing belt in one direction while inhibiting motion thereof in an opposing direction, the coupling mechanism facilitating variable spacing between the pairs of backing plates when mailpieces are stacked therebetween, a track including a horizontal drive section, first and second gravity feed sections and a vertical drive section, the horizontal drive section disposed adjacent to and aligned with the drive track of the transport deck for conveying mailpieces between pairs of backing plates to a transfer belt assembly, the vertical drive section for raising each of the backing plates through the transport deck to preposition each of the backing plates for use in the horizontal drive section, and the first and second gravity feed sections for conveying the backing plates from the horizontal drive section to the vertical drive section, the gravity feed sections employing gravity to convey the backing plates from the horizontal to the vertical drive sections.