Apparatuses and methods for registering sheet articles

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are provided for improving handling of sheet articles during processing within sheet processing machines, particularly for apparatuses and methods for registering sheet articles within a sheet or mail processing machine. A registration apparatus can be provided that aligns sheet articles, such as envelopes, by using negative pressure to register the sheet articles. The registration apparatus can have an elongated housing defining a slit therein for receiving a sheet article. At least a portion of a sheet article may be advanced within the slit of the registration apparatus. A negative pressure may be applied within the housing to pull the sheet article into alignment within the registration apparatus.

1 . A registration apparatus for aligning a sheet article, the registration apparatus comprising:
 (a) an elongated housing defining a slit along at least a portion of a length of the housing for receiving at least a portion of a sheet article, the housing further defining an interior in communication with the slit; and   (b) a vacuum connection attached to the housing and in communication with the interior of the housing, the vacuum connection configured for pulling a portion of a sheet article within the slit to align the sheet article.   
     
     
         2 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the slit in the housing extends in a straight plane. 
     
     
         3 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the slit in the housing extends in a concave or convex shape. 
     
     
         4 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the housing comprises a hollow chamber running along the length of the housing, the chamber being in communication with the slit and the opening. 
     
     
         5 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a front wall, back wall, top wall and bottom wall that define the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the slit is defined in the front wall of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing and the vacuum connection are configured for creating negative pressure within the housing whereby the vacuum connection can pull a sheet article against an interior of the back wall of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a first end and a second end with an opening leading into the chamber defined in both the first and second ends, the opening on the second end having the vacuum connection attached thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the slit extends through the first end of the housing defining an entrance in which the sheet article is received. 
     
     
         10 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the width of the entrance is greater than the width of the slit. 
     
     
         11 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the entrance converges to the slit. 
     
     
         12 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the slit extends across the length of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of holding pins disposed in the housing proximal to the slit. 
     
     
         14 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed on the housing for determining the presence of a sheet article within the slit in the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stopper device positioned proximal to the slit within the housing configured to stop the envelope after entry of the sheet article into the slit. 
     
     
         16 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a depth adjuster configured to move the registration apparatus between different positions to accommodate for different sized sheet articles. 
     
     
         17 . The registration apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the slit in the housing is greater than a length of a sheet article to be received therein. 
     
     
         18 . A registration apparatus for aligning an envelope in an inserter system, the registration apparatus comprising:
 (a) an elongated housing having a front wall, back wall, top wall and bottom wall forming a chamber within the housing running along a length of the housing, the housing defining an opening at a first end and a second end of the housing and the housing defining a slit along at least a portion of the length that extends through the first end of the housing to define an entrance therein, the slit and the entrance being configured to receive an envelope;   (b) a plurality of holding pins disposed in the housing proximal to the slit; and   (c) a vacuum connection communicating with the chamber of the housing whereby the vacuum connection can cause a negative pressure within the housing for pulling an envelope into the slit to align the envelope within the housing by pulling the envelope against an interior of the back wall of the housing.   
     
     
         19 . A method of registering a sheet article within a sheet processing machine, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a registration apparatus having a slit therein for receiving a sheet article;   (b) advancing a sheet article at least partially within the slit of the registration apparatus; and   (c) applying a negative pressure within the registration apparatus to pull the sheet article into alignment within the registration apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the negative pressure is continuously applied within an interior of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the negative pressure is removed when the sheet article is removed from the slit of the registration apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising stopping the sheet article once it is fed into the slit of the registration apparatus before the step (c) of applying a negative pressure. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising detecting the presence of a sheet article within the registration apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein, if no sheet article is detected, step (b) of feeding a sheet article into the slit of registration apparatus occurs. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising adjusting the position of the registration apparatus to accommodate for different sized sheet articles. 
     
     
         26 . A method of registering an envelope within an inserter system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a registration apparatus having a slit therein for receiving envelopes;   (b) advancing an envelope within the slit of the registration apparatus;   (c) detecting the presence of an envelope within the registration apparatus;   (d) stopping the envelope once it is fed into the slit of the registration apparatus; and   (e) applying a negative pressure within the registration apparatus, whereby the envelope is pulled into alignment within the registration apparatus.