Envelope opening apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for opening in successive order a supply of sealed envelope work items or the like, each having a folded edge margin, the apparatus comprising a circular cutter driven on a horizontal axis so that said cutter rotates in a vertical plane, said cutter having a circular series of unidirectionally oriented cutting teeth on its outer periphery, envelope carriage means adapted for guidingly conducting in edgewise successive order a supply of envelopes along a generally horizontal path lying generally crosswise of the plane of rotation of said circular sawing element, said carriage means including means for guidingly conducting said folded edge margin of each work item longitudinally of itself and in a path crosswise intersecting the cutting periphery of said cutter to a depth radially of said cutter sufficient substantially only for removing said folded edge margin of each work item, and an anvil means for cooperation with said cutting teeth of said cutter, said aNvil means providing a generally horizontal shearing edge and a generally vertical surface extending upwardly from said shearing edge, said shearing edge and said generally vertical surface of said anvil means being located in a vertical plane spaced from the vertical plane containing said axis of cutter rotation with said generally vertical surface facing said vertical plane containing said axis of cutter rotation whereby said cutting teeth of said cutter as they pass said shearing edge of said anvil means have a downwardly directed component of movement.