Patent US3733982A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3733982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Machine for producing self-opening envelopes
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-09-03
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A machine for producing self-opening envelopes, feeds precut envelope blanks and advances them, transversely oriented, longitudinally along a path where successively: score lines are impressed in the blank to delineate the flaps from the front panel; the side flaps are folded and adhesive applied to its borders; the bottom flap is folded over the side flaps; a tear strip is advanced from a continuous length transversely across and above the envelope path and severed from the continuous length and depressed into engagement with an underlying envelope along a line delineating the front panel and closure flap, an adhesive having been previously applied to the tear strip; an adhesive is then applied to the closure flap border and the envelopes are then dried, closed and stacked. The tear strip applying mechanism includes a horizontal endless chain positioned above the envelope path and regularly spaced fingers depend from the chain and terminate in tear strip gripping notches. Transversely spaced severing blade and transfer fingers sever a length of tear strip from the conveyor fingers and transfer it to an underlying envelope.
Inventors
- 👤 J Manolis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:55
CPC Classifications
B; B31; B31B; B31B70/00; B31B70/74; B31B70/81; B31B70/813; B31B70/8134; B31B70/8136; B31B2150/00; B31B2160/00; B31B2160/10; B31B2160/104; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S493/00; Y10S493/916; Y10S493/917; Y10S493/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A machine for producing self-opening envelopes comprising means for feeding and longitudinally advancing precut envelope blanks in Longitudinally spaced relationship along a predetermined path, said blanks including a front panel transversely spaced side flaps and longitudinally spaced bottom and closure flaps, means for folding said bottom and side flaps into border overlapping relationship and applying an adhesive to the confronting faces of said borders, means for advancing a tear strip transversely across and above said path, and including an endless conveyor having a horizontal transverse run across and over said predetermined path, a plurality of regularly spaced downwardly directed fingers mounted on said endless conveyor and provided with grip elements for releasably engaging said tear strip, and means for guiding a continuous length of tear strip from a source thereof into engagement with successive grip elements, means for severing and depressing a predetermined length of said tear strip into engagement with an underlying envelope proximate a line delineating said front panel from said closure flap and means for applying an adhesive to the inside outer border of said closure flap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A machine for producing self-opening envelopes comprising means for feeding and longitudinally advancing precut envelope blanks in Longitudinally spaced relationship along a predetermined path, said blanks including a front panel transversely spaced side flaps and longitudinally spaced bottom and closure flaps, means for folding said bottom and side flaps into border overlapping relationship and applying an adhesive to the confronting faces of said borders, means for advancing a tear strip transversely across and above said path, and including an endless conveyor having a horizontal transverse run across and over said predetermined path, a plurality of regularly spaced downwardly directed fingers mounted on said endless conveyor and provided with grip elements for releasably engaging said tear strip, and means for guiding a continuous length of tear strip from a source thereof into engagement with successive grip elements, means for severing and depressing a predetermined length of said tear strip into engagement with an underlying envelope proximate a line delineating said front panel from said closure flap and means for applying an adhesive to the inside outer border of said closure flap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 1 including means for applying score line delineating said front panel and said closure flap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine of claim 1 including means for drying said adhesive on said closure flap, and means for closing said closure flap following said drying.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 1 including means for applying adhesive to said tear strip prior to application thereof to an envelope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said grip elements are defined by the free ends of said fingers, said finger free ends having notches formed therein with upwardly converging opposite edges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said tear strip depressing means comprises a pair of elements transversely spaced approximately the distance between successive fingers and movable between raised and depressed positions above and below the level of said predetermined path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein one of said depressing elements includes a severing blade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 1 including means for applying adhesive to said tear strip between successive fingers for less than the length thereof between said fingers.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for applying tear strips to envelopes comprising means for longitudinally advancing along a predetermined path envelope bodies having front panels and open closure flaps delineated by transversely extending lines, means for advancing a tear strip transversely across and over said path, and including an endless conveyor having a horizontal transverse run across and over said predetermined path, a plurality of regularly spaced downwardly directed fingers mounted on said endless conveyor and provided with grip elements for releasably engaging said tear strip, and means for guiding a continuous length of tear strip from a source thereof into engagement with successive grip elements, and means for severing and transferring a predetermined length of said tear strip from said tear strip advancing means into engagement with an underlying envelope body parallel to and proximate by a respective panel closure flap delineating line.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for applying tear strips to envelopes comprising means for longitudinally advancing along a predetermined path envelope bodies having front panels and open closure flaps delineated by transversely extending lines, means for advancing a tear strip transversely across and over said path, and including an endless conveyor having a horizontal transverse run across and over said predetermined path, a plurality of regularly spaced downwardly directed fingers mounted on said endless conveyor and provided with grip elements for releasably engaging said tear strip, and means for guiding a continuous length of tear strip from a source thereof into engagement with successive grip elements, and means for severing and transferring a predetermined length of said tear strip from said tear strip advancing means into engagement with an underlying envelope body parallel to and proximate by a respective panel closure flap delineating line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said envelope body advancing means advances a plurality of transversely spaced side by side envelopes, and said severing and transferring means simultaneously severs and transfers a plurality of tear strips to underlying side by side envelope bodies.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |