Mail sorting machine with improved conveyor and envelope separating device

Claim 1

In a mail sorting machine having a magazine section for receiving a supply of envelopes and delivering the envelopes to a feed station at which the envelopes are separated individually from the envelope supply, an improved conveyor comprising: a plurality of generally horizontal rollers mounted on the magazine section of the machine for rotation about substantially parallel axes located in a common horizontal plane, said rollers being located to receive the envelope supply with the lower edge of each envelope on the rollers and the envelopes oriented substantially vertical, said horizontal rollers being arranged to present first and second sets thereof; a spiral groove in each roller for receiving the lower edges of the envelopes, said grooves being arranged to convey the envelopes lengthwise along the rollers toward the feed station of the machine in response to rotation of the rollers; at least one raised roller mounted on the magazine section of the machine for rotation about an axis oriented generally parallel to the rotational axes of said horizontal rollers, said raised roller being elevated relative to said horizontal rollers at a location to engage a vertical edge of each envelope loaded on the horizontal rollers, said raised roller being adjacent said first set of horizontal rollers and being remote from said second set of horizontal rollers; a spiral groove in said raised roller arranged to receive said vertical edges of the envelopes to assist in conveying the envelopes and maintaining the vertical orientation thereof; and drive means for effecting rotation of each roller to convey the envelopes along the magazine section to the feed station of the machine, said drive means including first power means operable to effect rotation of said first set of horizontal rollers and said raised roller when activated and second power means operable to effect rotation of said second set of horizontal rollers when activated.