US3828634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic envelope opener
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-25
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-06-25
Abstract
Abstract An automatic envelope opener is described wherein a housing having an envelope infeed platform and envelope outfeed platform enables envelopes to be automatically opened. The envelopes are retained on edge in a generally vertical orientation on the platforms and moved one at a time from the infeed platform along a travel path, where a cutter is located, to the outfeed platform for stacking. The envelopes have a small edge segment severed by a cutter horizontally operative in the travel path and are automatically stacked against a movable retainer at the outfeed platform with a stacker and a diverter wall placed in the travel path to deflect envelopes towards the retainer. An envelope jogger is mounted on the housing to urge envelope contents to one edge and enable envelope opening without damage to the contents.
Inventors
- 👤 H Luperti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:11
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M7/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/912; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/202; Y10T83/2033; Y10T83/2037; Y10T83/2057; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/6584; Y10T83/6633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for automatically opening envelopes comprising an envelope opening housing having an envelope infeed platform and an envelope outfeed platform; the envelope infeed platform being provided with means for retaining envelopes in a stack with each envelope being oriented on an edge in a generally vertical position on the infeed platform; the envelope outfeed platform being provided with means for retaining opened envelopes in stack relationship with generally the same envelope orientation as on the infeed platform; means defining a generally narrow envelope travel path interconnecting said infeed and outfeed envelope platforms; envelope cutting means having a pair of generally horizontally rotating cutting wheels located to sever a segment of the envelope edges resting on the infeed platform to open the envelopes; and means for driving the envelopes from the infeed platform along the envelope travel path towards the cutting wheels for opening thereof along said edges.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for automatically opening envelopes comprising an envelope opening housing having an envelope infeed platform and an envelope outfeed platform; the envelope infeed platform being provided with means for retaining envelopes in a stack with each envelope being oriented on an edge in a generally vertical position on the infeed platform; the envelope outfeed platform being provided with means for retaining opened envelopes in stack relationship with generally the same envelope orientation as on the infeed platform; means defining a generally narrow envelope travel path interconnecting said infeed and outfeed envelope platforms; envelope cutting means having a pair of generally horizontally rotating cutting wheels located to sever a segment of the envelope edges resting on the infeed platform to open the envelopes; and means for driving the envelopes from the infeed platform along the envelope travel path towards the cutting wheels for opening thereof along said edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outfeed platform is further provided with an upright envelope support wall located in general alignment with the envelope travel path; an envelope support oriented to receive and retain opened envelopes arriving along the travel path, the envelope support being spring loaded towards the envelope support wall to capture opened envelopes therebetween and retain the envelopes in a generally vertical orientation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outfeed platform envelope support wall is provided with a deflecting wall segment facing the opened envelopes arriving along the travel path; an adjustable envelope stop located for positioning arriving envelopes to protrude past the deflecting wall segment and enable arriving envelopes to be stacked on edge against the envelope support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outfeed platform envelope support wall is provided with means for urging arriving envelopes against the envelope edge locator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 4 wherein the urging means includes a plurality of axially aligned rotatably mounted drive wheels, each wheel having a radial protrusion extending past the envelope support wall for contact with opened envelopeS located on the outfeed platform; and means for rotating the drive wheels in a direction selected to seat arriving opened envelopes against the envelope stop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 5 wherein the infeed platform is inclined towards the travel path and wherein the outfeed platform is downwardly inclined away from the travel path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes as claimed in claim 6 and further including a vertically movable horizontal envelope supporting platform, and means for vertically vibrating the envelope platform at a frequency selected to jog envelope contents towards the edge of the envelopes resting on the envelope platform.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes comprising a housing having an envelope infeed platform terminating at a generally vertically oriented envelope support wall and an envelope outfeed platform commencing at a generally vertically oriented stacking wall; means defining a generally narrow envelope travel path interconnecting the infeed platform with the outfeed platform and being shaped to maintain envelopes traveling therealong on a bottom edge; means for advancing envelopes from the infeed platform to the outfeed platform; means located along the travel path for cutting the bottom edge of the envelopes to open said envelopes; and a movable envelope retainer located on the outfeed platform and being oriented to enable opened envelopes to be stacked on edge between said stacking wall and said retainer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for automatic opening of envelopes comprising a housing having an envelope infeed platform terminating at a generally vertically oriented envelope support wall and an envelope outfeed platform commencing at a generally vertically oriented stacking wall; means defining a generally narrow envelope travel path interconnecting the infeed platform with the outfeed platform and being shaped to maintain envelopes traveling therealong on a bottom edge; means for advancing envelopes from the infeed platform to the outfeed platform; means located along the travel path for cutting the bottom edge of the envelopes to open said envelopes; and a movable envelope retainer located on the outfeed platform and being oriented to enable opened envelopes to be stacked on edge between said stacking wall and said retainer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automatic envelope opener as claimed in claim 8 wherein the outfeed platform is further provided with an envelope stacker mounted between the retainer and the stacking wall to urge arriving opened envelopes in a desired direction for stacking.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The automatic envelope opener as claimed in claim 9 wherein the outfeed platform is further provided with an adjustable envelope stop located to receive and align the front edge of opened envelopes thereby positioning the trailing edge of said envelopes to provide a clear path of travel for the next envelope to be received.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automatic envelope opener as claimed in claim 9 wherein the envelope stacker is formed of a plurality of stacking wheels having protrusion for impacting contact with opened envelopes and means for rotating the stacking wheels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The automatic envelope opener as claimed in claim 8 wherein the housing is further provided with a movable envelope support plate, and means for vertically vibrating envelopes placed on the support plate to jog envelope contents against one side of the envelopes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |