Envelope processing machine

Claim 2

A machine for processing an envelope including two panels having connected edges comprising means for advancing the envelope along a generally predetermined path, and cutter assembly for engaging the advancing envelope and severing only one of the panels inwardly of at least one associated connected edge thereof and along a line of severance generally parallel to the one associated connected edge, said cutter assembly including at least one rotary cutting unit, said cutting unit having a cutter wheel supported for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said path and an anvil wheel supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said cutter wheel and having an annular groove in its peripheral surface receiving an associated peripheral edge portion of said cutter wheel therein, said groove having a cross sectional configuration substantially complementing the cross sectional configuration of said associated peripheral edge as viewed in a radial plane, said peripheral edge portion and said groove defining a nip therebetween, and means for maintaining said associated peripheral portion in spaced relation to said anvil wheel within said groove.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said maintaining means comprises means for biasing said anvil wheel and said cutter toward each other.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said maintaining means comprises means for adjusting the spacing between said peripheral portion and said anvil wheel.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cutting unit includes a frame having one part mounted in fixed position relative to said path and another part supported for movement relative to said one part, one of said wheels comprising said cutter wheel and said axial wheel being journalled on said one part and the other of said wheels being journalled on said other part.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring acting between said one part and said other part.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said maintaining means includes means for adjusting the position of said one part relative to said other part to adjust the spacing between said peripheral portion and said anvil wheel.

Claim 8

The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said adjusting means comprises an adjustment screw acting between said one part and said other part.

Claim 9

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutter assembly comprises said advancing means.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said advancing means comprises a pair of feed rolls, one of said feed rolls being supported for coaxial rotation adjacent said cutter wheel and the other of said feed rolls being supported coaxially adjacent said anvil wheel, said feed rolls generally defining a nip therebetween.

Claim 11

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutter assembly includes drive means for simultaneously rotating said cutter wheel and said anvil wheel in opposite directions.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said drive means comprises a gear train.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said machine comprises an envelope opener and said path is at least partially defined by an envelope guide surface disposed in a plane passing through said nip and envelope support surface disposed in a radial plane and axially spaced from said nip.

Claim 14

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said machine comprises an extractor for removing contents from a generally rectangular envelope having two panels connected together along three side edges and having an opening along a fourth side edge and said cutter assembly comprises a pair of rotary cutter units disposed at transversely opposite sides of said path for engaging the advancing envelope and severing the one panel thereof inwardly of its opposite side edges leaving the one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge opposite its fourth side edge and the contents of the envelope in juxtaposition between the two panels.

Claim 15

The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said extractor includes separating means disposed to receive the severed envelope and its contents from said cutter assembly for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, and means for directing the contents away from the severed envelope carried by the separating means whereby to separate the contents from the severed envelope.

Claim 16

In an extractor for removing contents from a generally rectangular envelope having two panels connected together along three side edges and having an opening along a fourth side edge thereof, the extractor having envelope transport means for receiving and advancing an envelope along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage the advancing envelope for cutting it inwardly of its opposite side edges to sever the connections between the panels thereof along the opposite side edges thereof leaving one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge opposite its fourth side edge and the contents of the envelope juxtaposition between the two panels, separating means disposed to receive the severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement wherein said severing means comprises a a pair or rotary cutting units disposed at transversely opposite sides of said path for cutting through only one panel of the envelope and along lines of severance extending across the one panel from its fourth side edge to one side edge of the one panel opposite the fourth side edge, each of said rotary cutter units including a cutter wheel supported for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said path and an anvil wheel supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said cutter wheel and having its peripheral surface spaced from the peripheral edge of said cutter wheel, said anvil wheel and its associated cutter wheel defining a nip therebetween.

Claim 17

In an extractor for removing contents from a generally rectangular envelope having two panels connected together along three side edges and having an opening along a fourth side edge thereof, the extractor having envelope transport means for receiving and advancing an envelope along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage the advancing envelope for cutting it inwardly of its opposite side edges to sever the connections between the panels thereof along the opposite side edges thereof leaving one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge opposite its fourth side edge and the contents of the envelope juxtaposition between the two panels, separating means disposed to receive the severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement wherein said severing means comprises a a pair or rotary cutting units disposed at transversely opposite sides of said path for cutting through only one panel of the envelope and along lines of severance extending across the one panel from its fourth side edge to one side edge of the one panel opposite the fourth side edge, each of said rotary cutter units including a cutter wheel supported for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said path and an anvil wheel supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of said cutter wheel and having its peripheral surface spaced from the peripheral edge of said cutter wheel, said anvil wheel and its associated cutter wheel defining a nip therebetween.

Claim 18

The combination as set forth in claim 15 including means for directing the contents away from the severed envelope carried by the separating means whereby to separate the contents from the severed envelope.

Claim 19

The combination as set forth in claim 15 including a pair of transversely opposed envelope edge guides releasably secured in fixed position along said path for engaging the connected opposite side edges of the envelope to guide it into cutting engagement with the cutter wheels as the envelope is advanced along said path by said transport means, each of said edge guides being adjustable in a transverse direction.

Claim 20

The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said transport means includes means defining an envelope support surface, each said cutter wheel is journalled for rotation about an axis below said support surface, and each said anvil wheel is journalled for rotation about an axis above said support surface.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said cutting mechanism includes for adjustably positioning each anvil wheel relative to its associated cutter wheel to vary the spacing therebetween.

Claim 22

The combination as set forth in claim 19 wherein said means for adjustably positioning each anvil wheel includes means for biasing each anvil wheel toward its associated cutter wheel.

Claim 23

The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said severing means comprises a portion of said envelope transport means.

Claim 24

The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said separating means comprises a separator drum journalled for rotation about an axis extending generally transversely of said path having at least one vacuum port opening through the peripheral surface thereof and a drum follower for maintaining the envelope received by said separator drum in engagement with an associated portion of the peripheral surface of said drum as the envelope is advanced by said drum.

Claim 25

The combination as set forth in claim 22 wherein said drum follower comprises an endless belt.

Claim 26

In an extractor for removing contents from a generally rectangular envelope having two panels connected together along three side edges and having an opening along a fourth side edge thereof, the extractor having envelope transport means for receiving and advancing an envelope along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage the advancing envelope for cutting it inwardly of its opposite side edges to sever the connections between the panels thereof along the opposite side edges thereof leaving one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge opposite its fourth side edge and the contents of the envelope in juxtaposition between the two panels, separating means disposed to receive the severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement wherein said transport means includes an envelope supporting surface defining a portion of said path and said severing means comprises a cutting mechanism for cutting through only one panel of the envelope and along lines of severance extending across the one panel from its fourth side edge to one side edge of the one panel opposite the fourth side edge and including a pair of rotary cutter units disposed at transversely opposite sides of said supporting surface, each of said cutter units including a cutter frame, a cutter wheel journalled on said cutter frame for rotation about a transversely extending axis below said supporting surface, an anvil block supported on said cutter frame for movement relative thereto, a generally cylindrical anvil wheel journalled on said anvil block above said supporting surface for rotation about a transversely extending axis, said anvil wheel and said cutter wheel generally defining a nip therebetween, and means for adjustably positioned said anvil block relative to said cutter frame to vary the nip between said cutter wheel and said anvil wheel, means supporting said cutter units for transverse movement toward and away from each other and relative to said supporting surface, and means for simultaneously moving said cutter units in a transverse direction toward and way from each other.

Claim 27

In an extractor for removing contents from a generally rectangular envelope having two panels connected together along three side edges and having an opening along a fourth side edge thereof, the extractor having envelope transport means for receiving and advancing an envelope along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage the advancing envelope for cutting it inwardly of its opposite side edges to sever the connections between the panels thereof along the opposite side edges thereof leaving one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge opposite its fourth side edge and the contents of the envelope in juxtaposition between the two panels, separating means disposed to receive the severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement wherein said transport means includes an envelope supporting surface defining a portion of said path and said severing means comprises a cutting mechanism for cutting through only one panel of the envelope and along lines of severance extending across the one panel from its fourth side edge to one side edge of the one panel opposite the fourth side edge and including a pair of rotary cutter units disposed at transversely opposite sides of said supporting surface, each of said cutter units including a cutter frame, a cutter wheel journalled on said cutter frame for rotation about a transversely extending axis below said supporting surface, an anvil block supported on said cutter frame for movement relative thereto, a generally cylindrical anvil wheel journalled on said anvil block above said supporting surface for rotation about a transversely extending axis, said anvil wheel and said cutter wheel generally defining a nip therebetween, and means for adjustably positioned said anvil block relative to said cutter frame to vary the nip between said cutter wheel and said anvil wheel, means supporting said cutter units for transverse movement toward and away from each other and relative to said supporting surface, and means for simultaneously moving said cutter units in a transverse direction toward and way from each other.

Claim 28

The combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein each of said cutter units includes a pair of feed rolls, one of said feed rolls being journalled coaxially adjacent said cutter wheel, the other of said feed rolls being journalled coaxially adjacent said anvil wheel, said feed rolls generally defining a nip therebetween.

Claim 29

The combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said extractor includes a tie rod extending transversely of the extractor frame, each of the cutter frames is slidably received on said tie rod, and said means for moving said cutter units comprises at transversely extending screw threadably engaging said cutter frames.

Claim 30

In an extractor for removing contents from a generally rectangular envelope having two panels connected together along three side edges and having an opening along a fourth side edge thereof, the extractor comprising envelope transport means for receiving and advancing an envelope along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage the advancing envelope for cutting it inwardly of its opposite side edges to sever the connections between the panels thereof along the opposite side edges thereof leaving the one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge opposite its fourth side edge and the contents of the envelope in juxtaposition between the two panels, and separating means disposed to receive the severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement comprising conveying means for receiving the severed envelope from said separating means and conveying it in a direction way from its contents, said conveying means defining a first path terminating at one location and a second path terminating at another location, said extractor including a conveyor gate movable between first and second positions relative to said conveying means, said conveyor gate in its first position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby to and along said first path, said conveyor gate in its second position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby to and along its second path, and means for moving said gate from one to the other of its positions.

Claim 31

In an extractor for removing contents from a generally rectangular envelope having two panels connected together along three side edges and having an opening along a fourth side edge thereof, the extractor comprising envelope transport means for receiving and advancing an envelope along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage the advancing envelope for cutting it inwardly of its opposite side edges to sever the connections between the panels thereof along the opposite side edges thereof leaving the one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge opposite its fourth side edge and the contents of the envelope in juxtaposition between the two panels, and separating means disposed to receive the severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement comprising conveying means for receiving the severed envelope from said separating means and conveying it in a direction way from its contents, said conveying means defining a first path terminating at one location and a second path terminating at another location, said extractor including a conveyor gate movable between first and second positions relative to said conveying means, said conveyor gate in its first position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby to and along said first path, said conveyor gate in its second position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby to and along its second path, and means for moving said gate from one to the other of its positions.

Claim 32

The combination as set forth in claim 27 including deflecting means disposed to receive contents from said separating means.

Claim 33

The combination as set forth in claim 28 wherein said deflecting means comprises a plate mounted in fixed position relative to said separating means.

Claim 34

The combination as set forth in claim 29 wherein said separating means comprises a generally cylindrical separator drum and said plate comprises a chute arranged in generally tangential relation to said separator drum.

Claim 35

The combination as set forth in claim 27 wherein said conveying means comprises a plurality of endless belt conveyors and means for driving one of said belt conveyors, the other of said belt conveyors being driven by engagement with said one belt conveyor.

Claim 36

The combination as set forth in claim 27 wherein said gate is biased to one of its positions and said gate moving means comprises means for moving said gate from its one to its other position.

Claim 37

The combination as set forth in claim 27 wherein said gate moving means comprises manually operably means.

Claim 38

The combination as set forth in claim 27 wherein said means for moving said gate comprises detecting means mounted in fixed position relative to said conveying means between said separating means and said conveyor gate and responsive to a predetermined condition of an envelope advanced by said conveying means.

Claim 39

The combination as set forth in claim 27 including first drive means for driving said envelope transport means, said severing means and said separating means, second drive means for driving said conveying means, and means for disabling said first drive means in response to operation of said gate moving means.

Claim 40

In an extractor for removing contents from generally rectangular envelopes having front and back panels connected along side edges, the extractor having envelope transport means for sequentially advancing envelopes along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage and cut each successive envelope to seperate one of said panels from the other along connected edges leaving the one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge normal to said path and the contents in juxtaposition between the panels, and separating means disposed to receive each successive severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement comprising conveying means for receiving each severed envelope from said separating means, said conveying means defining a first path terminating at one location and a second path terminating at another location, a conveyor gate movable between first and second positions relative to said conveying means, said gate in its first position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby along said first path, said gate in its second position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby alobg said second path, means for moving convleyor gate from one to the other of its positions, detecting means mounted in fixed position relative to said conveying means between said separating means and said conveyor gate for operating said moving means in response to detection of a predetermined condition of a severed envelope carried by said conveying means.

Claim 41

In an extractor for removing contents from generally rectangular envelopes having front and back panels connected along side edges, the extractor having envelope transport means for sequentially advancing envelopes along a generally predetermined path, severing means disposed along said path to engage and cut each successive envelope to seperate one of said panels from the other along connected edges leaving the one panel connected to the other panel along one side edge normal to said path and the contents in juxtaposition between the panels, and separating means disposed to receive each successive severed envelope and its contents from said severing means for engaging and releasably holding one of the panels and moving it in a direction generally away from the other of the panels and away from the contents, the improvement comprising conveying means for receiving each severed envelope from said separating means, said conveying means defining a first path terminating at one location and a second path terminating at another location, a conveyor gate movable between first and second positions relative to said conveying means, said gate in its first position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby along said first path, said gate in its second position cooperating with said conveying means to divert each envelope carried thereby alobg said second path, means for moving convleyor gate from one to the other of its positions, detecting means mounted in fixed position relative to said conveying means between said separating means and said conveyor gate for operating said moving means in response to detection of a predetermined condition of a severed envelope carried by said conveying means.

Claim 42

The combination as set forth in claim 36 wherein said detecting means comprises a plurality of sensing devices mounted in spaced relation along the path of said conveying means, each of said sensing devices being responsive to said predetermined condition, and means for moving said gate in response to simultaneous response to said sensing devices to said predetermined condition.

Claim 43

The combination as set forth in claim 37 wherein said sensing devices comprise photo-electric sensing means responsive to thickness of material associated with the envelope and said means for moving said gate includes a logic circuit.

Claim 44

The combination as set forth in claim 36 including first drive means for driving said envelope transport means, said severing means, and said separating means, second drive means for driving said conveying means, and means for disabling said first drive means in response to operation of said gate moving means.

Claim 45

The combination as set forth in claim 39 wherein said disabling means comprises means for disabling said first drive means to stop said separating means at a predetermined position.

Claim 46

The combination as set forth in claim 40 wherein said disabling means comprises a clutch operably connected to said first drive means and operably in response to operation of said gate moving means.