US3910007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for opening the flaps of envelopes
Assignee: Bauerle Mathias GmbH
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Filing: 1974-03-25
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A stripper device for lifting and opening the flaps of envelopes transported by a conveyor to a work station prior to transport of the envelopes to a filling station of an envelope stuffing machine includes a pair of conveyor rollers for advancing an envelope in a transport plane to the work station and a pair of discharge rollers for transporting the envelope from the work station towards the filling station. At a position spaced above the transport plane and extending transversely thereto there is provided a stripper member adapted to be moved between an inoperative position spaced above the envelope and an operative position in which the stripper member is effective to engage and lift up and open the flap of the envelope. The lead edge of the stripper member, intermediate the ends of the stripper member, is provided with a recessed knife edge for entering between the body and the flap of the envelope to provide positive gripping and opening of the flap. A spring element is provided at a position beneath the transport plane and acts to urge the envelope in an upward direction towards the knife edge of the lowered stripper member to further assure that the envelope in the zone of the flap is pressed firmly against the knife edge of the stripper member thereby facilitating the entry of the knife edge between the envelope body and the flap.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfried Dorer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:59
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M3/00; B43M3/04; B43M3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A stripper device for lifting and opening a flap of an envelope at a work station prior to transporting the envelope to a filling station of an envelope stuffing machine, comprising: means for transporting an envelope having a folded flap closure to the work station with the flap facing upwardly and trailing a lead edge of the envelope in the direction of envelope transport; a guide plate defining a transport plane for supporting an envelope at the work station; a stripper member pivotally mounted above and transverse to the transport plane for movement between an inoperative position spaced from the envelope at the work station and an operative position in engagement with the envelope, said stripper member comprising a continuous singular member having a lead edge comprising rounded segments at its lateral ends and a knife blade section intermediate said ends and recessed from the rounded lead edges; biasing means for urging the envelope against said stripper member; and means actuable by the lead edge of the envelope transported to the work station for moving the stripper member from the inoperative position to the operative position whereby the knife blade engages and lifts the flap of the envelope and the rounded lead edges open and fold back the flap of said envelope and prevent the knife blade from coming into cutting engagement with the fold of the flap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A stripper device for lifting and opening a flap of an envelope at a work station prior to transporting the envelope to a filling station of an envelope stuffing machine, comprising: means for transporting an envelope having a folded flap closure to the work station with the flap facing upwardly and trailing a lead edge of the envelope in the direction of envelope transport; a guide plate defining a transport plane for supporting an envelope at the work station; a stripper member pivotally mounted above and transverse to the transport plane for movement between an inoperative position spaced from the envelope at the work station and an operative position in engagement with the envelope, said stripper member comprising a continuous singular member having a lead edge comprising rounded segments at its lateral ends and a knife blade section intermediate said ends and recessed from the rounded lead edges; biasing means for urging the envelope against said stripper member; and means actuable by the lead edge of the envelope transported to the work station for moving the stripper member from the inoperative position to the operative position whereby the knife blade engages and lifts the flap of the envelope and the rounded lead edges open and fold back the flap of said envelope and prevent the knife blade from coming into cutting engagement with the fold of the flap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A stripper device as set forth in claim 1 in which the biasing means includes a spring pressure element positioned beneath the transport plane and having a surface thereof acting against the envelope at the work station for pressing the envelope firmly against the knife blade when the stripper member is in the operative position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A stripper device as set forth in claim 2 in which the surface of the spring pressure element extends laterally a distance less than the length of the knife blade so as to act against the envelope in a zone of the envelope flap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A stripper device as set forth in claim 1 in which the stripper member is moved from the operative position to the inoperative position in response to actuation of the last-named means which is actuated in response to movement of the envelope out of the work station and towards the filling station by the transport means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
197 words
A stripper device for lifting and opening a flap of an envelope at a work station prior to transport of the envelope to a filling station of an envelope stuffing machine, comprising: means for delivering an envelope having a folded flap closure to the work station; a transport plane for supporting an envelope at the work station; a stripper member pivotally mounted above the transport plane for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position in engagement with the envelope at the work station, said stripper member comprising a continuous singular member having a lead edge comprising rounded segments at its lateral ends and a knife blade section intermediate said ends and recessed from the rounded lead edges; biasing means for urging the envelope against said stripper member; and means responsive to the presence of an envelope at the work station for moving the stripper member from the inoperative position to the operative position whereby the knife blade engages and lifts the flap of the envelope and the rounded lead edges open and fold back the flap of said envelope and prevent the knife blade from coming into cutting engagement with the fold of the flap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
197 words
A stripper device for lifting and opening a flap of an envelope at a work station prior to transport of the envelope to a filling station of an envelope stuffing machine, comprising: means for delivering an envelope having a folded flap closure to the work station; a transport plane for supporting an envelope at the work station; a stripper member pivotally mounted above the transport plane for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position in engagement with the envelope at the work station, said stripper member comprising a continuous singular member having a lead edge comprising rounded segments at its lateral ends and a knife blade section intermediate said ends and recessed from the rounded lead edges; biasing means for urging the envelope against said stripper member; and means responsive to the presence of an envelope at the work station for moving the stripper member from the inoperative position to the operative position whereby the knife blade engages and lifts the flap of the envelope and the rounded lead edges open and fold back the flap of said envelope and prevent the knife blade from coming into cutting engagement with the fold of the flap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A stripper device as set forth in claim 5 in which the biasing means includes a spring pressure element positioned beneath the transport plane and having a surface thereof acting against the envelope at the work station for pressing the envelope firmly against the knife blade when the stripper member is in the operative position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A stripper device as set forth in claim 6 in which the surface of the spring pressure element extends laterally a distance less than the length of the knife blade so as to act against the envelope in a zone of the envelope flap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A stripper device as set forth in claim 5 in which the stripper member is moved from the operative position to the inoperative position in response to actuation of the last-named means which is actuated in response to movement of the envelope out of the work station and towards the filling station by the transport means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
139 words
A device for lifting and opening a flap of an envelope at a work station prior to transporting the envelope to a filling station of an envelope stuffing machine, comprising: means for transporting the envelope having a folded flap closure along a path to a work station in a position that exposes the flap containing side of the envelope so that the flap is transverse to the path of movement and opens in a direction counter-current the envelope transport direction; a separator member pivotally mounted above and transverse to the path of the envelope, said separator member comprising a continuous singular member having a lead edge comprising rounded segments at its lateral ends and a knife blade section intermediate said ends and recessed from the rounded lead edges; and biasing means for urging the envelope against said separator member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
A device for lifting and opening a flap of an envelope at a work station prior to transporting the envelope to a filling station of an envelope stuffing machine, comprising: means for transporting the envelope having a folded flap closure along a path to a work station in a position that exposes the flap containing side of the envelope so that the flap is transverse to the path of movement and opens in a direction counter-current the envelope transport direction; a separator member pivotally mounted above and transverse to the path of the envelope, said separator member comprising a continuous singular member having a lead edge comprising rounded segments at its lateral ends and a knife blade section intermediate said ends and recessed from the rounded lead edges; and biasing means for urging the envelope against said separator member.
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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) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |