Method and apparatus for exposing contents of an opened envelope with gravity assist

Claim 1

The method for exposing the contents of an envelope which has two opposing panels wherein the panels have been separated from each other along all but one edge portion where the panels remain connected, said method comprising the steps of: (a) gripping at least one of said panels; and (b) while continuing to grip said one panel, moving said envelope to an orientation wherein the other envelope panel falls away from said gripped panel to expose said contents.

Claim 2

The method for exposing the contents of an envelope which has two opposing panels wherein the panels have been separated from each other along all but one edge portion where the panels remain connected, said method comprising the steps of: (a) gripping at least one of said panels; and (b) while continuing to grip said one panel, moving said envelope to an orientation wherein the other envelope panel falls away from said gripped panel to expose said contents.

Claim 6

The method for exposing the contents of an envelope which has first and second opposing panels wherein the panels have been separated from each other along all but one edge portion where the panels remain connected, said method comprising the steps of: (a) gripping said first paneli (b) moving the envelope in a first path to at least momentarily orient the connected edge portion in the first path below the elevation of the adjacent portions of the envelope whereby said second panel falls outwardly away from said gripped first panel about said connected edge portion; (c) arresting the falling movement of said ungripped second panel in a second path; and (d) moving said envelope along said second path with said first and second panels opened and lying in said second path on opposite sides of said connected edge portion with the envelope contencsthereby exposed on at least one of said panels.

Claim 7

The method for exposing the contents of an envelope which has first and second opposing panels wherein the panels have been separated from each other along all but one edge portion where the panels remain connected, said method comprising the steps of: (a) gripping said first paneli (b) moving the envelope in a first path to at least momentarily orient the connected edge portion in the first path below the elevation of the adjacent portions of the envelope whereby said second panel falls outwardly away from said gripped first panel about said connected edge portion; (c) arresting the falling movement of said ungripped second panel in a second path; and (d) moving said envelope along said second path with said first and second panels opened and lying in said second path on opposite sides of said connected edge portion with the envelope contencsthereby exposed on at least one of said panels.

Claim 8

An apparatus (20) for exposing the contents (32) of an envelope (24) which has two opposing panels (26, 28) wherein the panels have been separated from each other along all but one straight edge portion (30) where the panels remain connected, said apparatus comprising: (a) means (60, 62) for gripping at least one of said panels (26, 28); and (b) means (70) for tilting said envelope (24) to an orientation wherein the other (28) of said envelope panels falls away from said gripped panel (26) to expose the contents (32) while the gripping of said one panel is continued.

Claim 9

An apparatus (20) for exposing the contents (32) of an envelope (24) which has two opposing panels (26, 28) wherein the panels have been separated from each other along all but one straight edge portion (30) where the panels remain connected, said apparatus comprising: (a) means (60, 62) for gripping at least one of said panels (26, 28); and (b) means (70) for tilting said envelope (24) to an orientation wherein the other (28) of said envelope panels falls away from said gripped panel (26) to expose the contents (32) while the gripping of said one panel is continued.

Claim 10

An apparatus for feeding envelopes seriatim which have been arranged and aligned in face-to-face relationship to form a batch with at least one of the edges of each envelope in substantial registration with the corresponding edges of the other envelopes in the batch, said apparatus comprising: (a) holder means (200, 205, 206) for holding said batch of envelopes (24) with at least a portion of the panel of an outermost envelope (24) being exposed; (b) means (184.) for attaching to the exposed portion of an outermost panel of the batch; and (c) means (170, 179) for moving said attaching means (184) and an attached envelope (24) to transfer said envelope (24) from said batch to a discharge position.

Claim 11

An apparatus for feeding envelopes seriatim which have been arranged and aligned in face-to-face relationship to form a batch with at least one of the edges of each envelope in substantial registration with the corresponding edges of the other envelopes in the batch, said apparatus comprising: (a) holder means (200, 205, 206) for holding said batch of envelopes (24) with at least a portion of the panel of an outermost envelope (24) being exposed; (b) means (184.) for attaching to the exposed portion of an outermost panel of the batch; and (c) means (170, 179) for moving said attaching means (184) and an attached envelope (24) to transfer said envelope (24) from said batch to a discharge position.

Claim 12

A method for closing opened, emptied envelopes wherein each envelope has first and second panels separated from each other along all but one straight edge portion where the panels remain connected and wherein the first and second panels are opened and lie on opposite sides of said connected edge portion, said method comprising the steps of: (a) supporting and moving said empty envelopes along a first path seriatim with said first and second panels positioned on opposite sides of said connected edge portion and with said first panel trailing said second panel; (b) deflecting said second panel upwardly and terminating the support of said first panel to permit said envelope to fall downwardly with the envelope oriented with said connected edge portion below the remaining portions of the envelope; and (c) deflecting said connected edge portion to guide said connected edge portion and the first panel downwardly along a second path whereby the first and second panels are closed.

Claim 13

A method for closing opened, emptied envelopes wherein each envelope has first and second panels separated from each other along all but one straight edge portion where the panels remain connected and wherein the first and second panels are opened and lie on opposite sides of said connected edge portion, said method comprising the steps of: (a) supporting and moving said empty envelopes along a first path seriatim with said first and second panels positioned on opposite sides of said connected edge portion and with said first panel trailing said second panel; (b) deflecting said second panel upwardly and terminating the support of said first panel to permit said envelope to fall downwardly with the envelope oriented with said connected edge portion below the remaining portions of the envelope; and (c) deflecting said connected edge portion to guide said connected edge portion and the first panel downwardly along a second path whereby the first and second panels are closed.

Claim 14

An apparatus for closing opened, emptied envelopes wherein each envelope (24) has first and second panels (26, 28) separated from each other along all but one straight edge portion (30) where the panels (26, 28) remain connected and wherein the first and second panels (26, 28) are opened and lie on opposite sides of said connected edge portion (30), said apparatus comprising: (a) means (280) for moving said empty envelopes (24) along a path seriatim with said first and second panels (26, 28) positioned on opposite sides of said connected edge portion (30) and with said first panel (26) trailing said second panel (28); (b) deflecting means (286) in said path for presenting a deflecting surface (288) against which said second panel (28) impinges and moves upwardly along; (c) abutment means (292) be.low said deflecting means (286) for presenting an abutment surface (294) against which said connected edge portion (30) and said first panel (26) fall and slide downwardly along; and (d) rotating roller means (304), adjacent said deflecting means (286) and said abutment means (292), for engaging said second panel (28) and propelling said envelope (24) along said abutment surface (294) to close said first and second panels (26, 28).

Claim 15

An apparatus for closing opened, emptied envelopes wherein each envelope (24) has first and second panels (26, 28) separated from each other along all but one straight edge portion (30) where the panels (26, 28) remain connected and wherein the first and second panels (26, 28) are opened and lie on opposite sides of said connected edge portion (30), said apparatus comprising: (a) means (280) for moving said empty envelopes (24) along a path seriatim with said first and second panels (26, 28) positioned on opposite sides of said connected edge portion (30) and with said first panel (26) trailing said second panel (28); (b) deflecting means (286) in said path for presenting a deflecting surface (288) against which said second panel (28) impinges and moves upwardly along; (c) abutment means (292) be.low said deflecting means (286) for presenting an abutment surface (294) against which said connected edge portion (30) and said first panel (26) fall and slide downwardly along; and (d) rotating roller means (304), adjacent said deflecting means (286) and said abutment means (292), for engaging said second panel (28) and propelling said envelope (24) along said abutment surface (294) to close said first and second panels (26, 28).