this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2025
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What is this thing?

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Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.

Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.

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Some light hints that may point you in the right direction:

Hint 1The assembly is a part of a larger machine.

Hint 2Several assemblies are meant to move side by side in unison.

Hint 3The square-ish shaped piece is plastic that will wear down and be replaced.

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[–] Majorllama@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Is this like a part of something off the marble machine x?

https://youtu.be/qjkIMxmSeIc

Is it playing music from a large drum? Haha

[–] Bubs@lemm.ee 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Lol, that's a no. It's for an industrial machine.

[–] Majorllama@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Does this push paper along a track or converor by its edge? For like a newspaper or something?

[–] Bubs@lemm.ee 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Spot on.

AnswerIt's for pushing mail into an envelope. Three or four of them work in unison to push a stack of papers/inserts into an envelope.

[–] Majorllama@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

God damn. That's the hardest one I've seen in a long time. Very nice.

[–] Bubs@lemm.ee 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I figured it would be a tough one.

These are mail insertion machines I worked on for several months as a mechanic. It's a little blurry since that were moving, but here it is in action:

[–] Majorllama@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

That's cool. Never seen anything like that. I love big industrial machines that exist only to recreate an action a single human can do easily lol

[–] Bubs@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

Look up a Pitney Flowmaster if you're curious for more.

Collates the inserts into stacks, aligns and opens the envelopes, pushes the insert stack into the envelope, folds and seals the flap, flips the envelope, applies a stamp, prints addresses or data, reads the barcode, ejects any flagged envelopes, and finally stacks them all in a neat row.