US3838771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for inverting mailing envelopes
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-10-05
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1992-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A housing is disclosed having upper and lower spaced pulleys at each end. A pair of endless belts are provided, with each belt being operatively connected between an upper pulley at one end and the lower pulley at the other end. The belts are each provided with a single twist between the ends thereof. A mailing envelope inserted between the pulleys at one end will be engaged by the belts which are being driven to thereby carry the envelope to the other end. The envelope is inverted as it is carried by the twisted belts.
Inventors
- 👤 B Whiteford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:01
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/24; B65G47/248; B65H; B65H15/00; B65H15/008; B65H15/012; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/30; B65H2301/33; B65H2301/332; B65H2301/3321; B65H2301/33212; B65H2301/3322; B65H2301/33224; B65H2404/00; B65H2404/20; B65H2404/26; B65H2404/261; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
Apparatus for inverting mailing envelopes, comprising: a. a housing having a pair of parallel side walls, and a pair of parallel end walls with an envelope inlet opening in one end wall and an envelope outlet opening in an opposite end wall; b. a first pair of parallel shafts extending between said side walls adjacent said inlet opening, and a second pair of shafts parallel with said first pair extending between said side walls adjacent said outlet opening; c. first and second correspondingly located pulleys on each pair of shafts positioned adjacent said openings, said pulleys lying in a common plane extending normal to said shafts; d. a pair of flexible endless belts having external envelope engaging surfaces, each of said belts having a single twist between the ends thereof and being operatively engaged with a first pulley adjacent the other opening, said pulleys on each pair of shafts being spaced a predetermined distance apart such that an envelope engaging surface of one belt opposes an envelope engaging surface of the other belt so that an envelope inserted therebetween will be engaged by said pair of belts, said envelope engaging surfaces comprising matching, engageable teeth; and e. means for driving said first pulleys in one direction and said second pulleys in the other direction so that the envelope engaging surfaces of said belts move in the same direction to carry envelopes from said inlet opening to said outlet opening and to invert the envelopes as They are being carried therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
Apparatus for inverting mailing envelopes, comprising: a. a housing having a pair of parallel side walls, and a pair of parallel end walls with an envelope inlet opening in one end wall and an envelope outlet opening in an opposite end wall; b. a first pair of parallel shafts extending between said side walls adjacent said inlet opening, and a second pair of shafts parallel with said first pair extending between said side walls adjacent said outlet opening; c. first and second correspondingly located pulleys on each pair of shafts positioned adjacent said openings, said pulleys lying in a common plane extending normal to said shafts; d. a pair of flexible endless belts having external envelope engaging surfaces, each of said belts having a single twist between the ends thereof and being operatively engaged with a first pulley adjacent the other opening, said pulleys on each pair of shafts being spaced a predetermined distance apart such that an envelope engaging surface of one belt opposes an envelope engaging surface of the other belt so that an envelope inserted therebetween will be engaged by said pair of belts, said envelope engaging surfaces comprising matching, engageable teeth; and e. means for driving said first pulleys in one direction and said second pulleys in the other direction so that the envelope engaging surfaces of said belts move in the same direction to carry envelopes from said inlet opening to said outlet opening and to invert the envelopes as They are being carried therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for inverting mailing envelopes, comprising: a. a housing having opposite first and second ends; b. first and second rotatable, spaced pulleys mounted adjacent said first end, and first and second correspondingly positioned, rotatable spaced pulleys mounted adjacent said second end, said pulleys being mounted in generally the same plane for rotation about generally parallel axes; c. a pair of endless belts extending between said ends, each of said belts operatively engaging one of said first pulleys and the second pulley at the opposite end of the housing, and each of said belts having a single twist between the pulleys obtained by rotating one pulley engaging end thereof 180* with respect to its other pulley engaging end, each of said belts comprising an inner span and an outer span extending between said pulleys and said inner spans extending in aligned, substantially contacting relationship; d. said pulleys at each end being spaced apart so that an envelope inserted therebetween will be engaged between said two inner spans of said belts mounted thereon substantially throughout the length thereof; e. means for driving said first pulleys in one direction and said second pulleys in the other direction to carry envelopes between said belts from said first end to said second end and to invert the envelopes as they are carried therebetween; and f. said belts having envelope engaging surfaces comprising matching, engageable teeth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for inverting mailing envelopes, comprising: a. a housing having opposite first and second ends; b. first and second rotatable, spaced pulleys mounted adjacent said first end, and first and second correspondingly positioned, rotatable spaced pulleys mounted adjacent said second end, said pulleys being mounted in generally the same plane for rotation about generally parallel axes; c. a pair of endless belts extending between said ends, each of said belts operatively engaging one of said first pulleys and the second pulley at the opposite end of the housing, and each of said belts having a single twist between the pulleys obtained by rotating one pulley engaging end thereof 180* with respect to its other pulley engaging end, each of said belts comprising an inner span and an outer span extending between said pulleys and said inner spans extending in aligned, substantially contacting relationship; d. said pulleys at each end being spaced apart so that an envelope inserted therebetween will be engaged between said two inner spans of said belts mounted thereon substantially throughout the length thereof; e. means for driving said first pulleys in one direction and said second pulleys in the other direction to carry envelopes between said belts from said first end to said second end and to invert the envelopes as they are carried therebetween; and f. said belts having envelope engaging surfaces comprising matching, engageable teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
Article inverting apparatus, comprising: a. a first pair of first and second rotatable pulleys; b. a second pair of first and second rotatable pulleys correspondingly positioned with respect to said first pair of rotatable pulleys and spaced therefrom; c. means mounting said pulleys on parallel axes for rotation in a common plane and to permit an article to be inverted to pass between each pair of said pair of pulleys; d. a pair of endless belts having outer article engaging surfaces, one of said belts extending between said first pulley and said second pulley on said first and second pair of pulleys respectively and the other of said belts extending between said second pulley and said first pulley of said first and second pair of pulleys respectively so that portions of said belts extend substantially parallel with said surfaces in substantial contact; e. each of said belts having a single twist between the pulleys on which it is mounted; f. means for driving said first pulleys in one direction and said second pulleys in the opposite direction so that the article engaging surfaces thereof move in the same direction to carry articles received between said belts from said first pair of pulleys to said second pair of pulleys and invert the articles as they are carried therebetween; and g. said article engaging surfaces comprising matching engageable teeth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
227 words
Article inverting apparatus, comprising: a. a first pair of first and second rotatable pulleys; b. a second pair of first and second rotatable pulleys correspondingly positioned with respect to said first pair of rotatable pulleys and spaced therefrom; c. means mounting said pulleys on parallel axes for rotation in a common plane and to permit an article to be inverted to pass between each pair of said pair of pulleys; d. a pair of endless belts having outer article engaging surfaces, one of said belts extending between said first pulley and said second pulley on said first and second pair of pulleys respectively and the other of said belts extending between said second pulley and said first pulley of said first and second pair of pulleys respectively so that portions of said belts extend substantially parallel with said surfaces in substantial contact; e. each of said belts having a single twist between the pulleys on which it is mounted; f. means for driving said first pulleys in one direction and said second pulleys in the opposite direction so that the article engaging surfaces thereof move in the same direction to carry articles received between said belts from said first pair of pulleys to said second pair of pulleys and invert the articles as they are carried therebetween; and g. said article engaging surfaces comprising matching engageable teeth.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |