53
CHAPTER 7
DUKE UNIVERSITY
Pratt School of Engineering
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Duke University
136 Hudson Hall
Durham, NC 27708
Principal Investigator:
Larry Bohs
919-660-5155
lnb@duke.edu
54 NSF 2004 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons with Disabilities
ENVELOPE INSERTING AIDS
Designers: Shin Y. Ong and Shin R. Ong
Client Coordinator: Judy Stroupe, Orange Enterprises
Supervising Professor: Larry Bohs
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Duke University,
Durham, NC 27708
INTRODUCTION
Four devices have been developed to help workers
with physical disabilities insert documents into
envelopes of different dimensions. Each device
holds an envelope in a position for receiving
documents, and aligns paper prior to insertion.
Envelope insertion is then achieved through single-
hand pushing actions. The devices are relatively
inexpensive, portable, easy to operate, and suitable
for use by individuals who lack fine motor control.
SUMMARY OF IMPACT
The client is a non-profit agency that meets the
employment needs of individuals with physical
disabilities by subcontracting mailing and packaging
services.
Employee salary is a function of
competence in areas of mail preparation, such as
document collation and envelope stuffing. The
Envelope Inserting Aids will allow some workers to
perform an additional task in the workplace. The
client coordinator commented that the inserting aids
will "increase production rate and pay, boost
independence, self-esteem and confidence, and
allow them to do much more of the job".
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Four aids (shown in Figures 7.1 and 7.2) were
designed to accommodate the following envelope
sizes: 10” x 13” (Fig. 7.1), 9.5” x 12.75,” 9” x 6,” and
9” x 4.” Each device consists of an aluminum
aligner tray mounted on a plywood base. The tray
has perpendicular, or angled, edges to align
documents. Some perpendicular edges have an
additional lip to ensure that documents stay o