Jam release mechanism for a mailing machine

Abstract

The present invention includes apparatus and methods for feeding a mailpiece along a feed path in a mailing machine. An endless drive belt has a lower belt run adapted to feed a mailpiece in a downstream direction. A plurality of pivot arms are mounted in a sequence below the lower belt run. Each pivot arm has a respective pressure roller mounted on a free end of the pivot arm. A respective bias mechanism associated with each pivot arm biases the pivot arm in an upward direction such that the pressure roller contacts the lower belt run. A jam-relief mechanism selectively and simultaneously pivots the pivot arms against the respective biasing force applied to each of the pivot arms by the bias mechanism. The pivoting of the pivot arms by the jam-relief mechanism moves the pressure rollers in a downward direction away from the lower belt run of the endless belt.

1 . A device for processing a mailpiece, comprising: 
 an endless belt having a lower belt run that extends in a generally horizontal direction and is adapted to feed the mailpiece in a downstream direction;    a plurality of pivot arms mounted in a sequence below the lower belt run of the endless belt, each pivot arm having a respective pressure roller mounted on a free end of the pivot arm and a having a respective bias means associated with the pivot arm for biasing the pivot arm in an upward direction such that the pressure roller contacts the lower belt run of the endless belt; and    jam-relief means for simultaneously pivoting the pivot arms against a respective biasing force applied to each of the pivot arms by the bias means, said pivoting to move the pressure rollers in a downward direction away from the lower belt run of the endless belt such that the pressure rollers do not contact the lower belt run of the endless belt.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said jam-relief means includes an actuator arm for simultaneously contacting each pivot arm at a respective lower end of said each pivot arm.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said actuator arm extends in a direction parallel to said downstream direction and includes a plurality of contact rollers, each contact roller for contacting a respective one of said pivot arms at the respective lower end of the respective pivot arm.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said contact rollers are mounted on the actuator arm in a manner to allow rotation of said contact rollers.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said contact rollers are fixedly mounted on said actuator arm.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said jam-relief means includes: 
 a lever to receive force from a human operator's hand to actuate the jam-relief means; and    coupling means coupled to said lever and in contact with said actuator arm for transmitting to said actuator arm the force from the human operator's hand.    
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said coupling means includes: 
 a shaft, said lever being mounted on a first end of said shaft; and    an actuation cam finger extending radially outwardly from a second end of said shaft, said second end opposite said first end, said actuation cam finger in contact with said actuation arm;    wherein: 
 movement of said lever causes said shaft to rotate about a longitudinal axis of said shaft; and  
 said rotation of said shaft causes said actuation cam finger to pivot to shift said actuation arm in a direction opposite to said downstream direction.  
   
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said shift of said actuation arm is in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said actuation arm.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a support that extends in said downstream direction, said pivot arms mounted along said support, said actuation arm supported on said support.    
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 means for locking said lever in an actuated position such that said pressure rollers are held spaced from said lower belt run of said endless belt.    
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of pivot arms includes at least five pivot arms.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of pivot arms includes seven pivot arms.  
   
   
       13 . A method for clearing a jammed mailpiece from a mailpiece transport device, the method comprising: 
 applying force to a lever to shift an actuating arm to simultaneously lower a plurality of pressure rollers from a first position in which said rollers apply pressure to a drive belt to a second position in which said rollers are spaced from the drive belt; and    removing the jammed mailpiece from the transport device.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said force is applied to the lever by a human operator's hand.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the human operator applies said force to the lever using one of the human operator's hands and, while applying said force, removes the mailpiece from the transport device using the other of the human operator's hands.  
   
   
       16 . A device for processing a mailpiece, comprising: 
 feed means for feeding the mailpiece along a feed path in a feed path direction;    a support extending parallel to and below the feed path;    a plurality of roller assemblies, each roller assembly including: 
 a pivot arm having a proximal end mounted to the support and a distal end opposite to the proximal end;  
 a roller mounted for rotation at the distal end of the pivot arm; and  
 bias means to bias the distal end of the pivot arm in an upward direction;  
   an actuation arm in contact with the respective proximal end of each of the pivot arms; and    means for shifting the actuation arm in a direction opposite to said feed path direction to simultaneously pivot the pivot arm to move downward said distal ends of said pivot arms.    
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein said means for shifting includes a lever operatively coupled to said actuation arm to transmit force to the actuation arm from a human operator's hand in contact with said lever.  
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein said support has a substantially U-shaped cross-section to define a channel below said feed path, said actuation arm being located in said channel.  
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein said means for shifting further includes a shaft having said lever mounted at an inboard end of said shaft and having an actuation cam finger extending radially outwardly from an outboard end of said shaft, said actuation cam finger in contact with said actuation arm.  
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a weighing scale on which said support and said feed means are mounted.