US4635919A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating document throat
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1984-10-31
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Granted: 1987-01-13
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Expires: 2004-10-31
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an envelope hopper for attachment to a printer requiring envelopes. Spring members provided with adjustable throats for permitting passage of a single envelope are biased downward against the upward force of the supply stack for compensating for changes in relative position of the uppermost envelope and the throats during separation from the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Adolph B. Habich
- 👤 Ronald E. Hunt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/46; B65H3/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for providing envelopes one at a time in a reliable manner to a device requiring such envelopes comprising: a base; side frame members attached to the base; a support plate for supporting documents, said support plate being biased away from the base; a cross piece connected between the side frame members; leaf spring throat members attached to the cross piece and positioned to form corner restraint means with the support plate; said throat members being biased in the direction opposite to that of the support plate, whereby contact with friction feed means of documents supported on the support plate lowers the support plate against the upwardly biased force and permits the throat members to revert to their downward bias for maintaining the throat in alignment with the uppermost document in the stack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for providing envelopes one at a time in a reliable manner to a device requiring such envelopes comprising: a base; side frame members attached to the base; a support plate for supporting documents, said support plate being biased away from the base; a cross piece connected between the side frame members; leaf spring throat members attached to the cross piece and positioned to form corner restraint means with the support plate; said throat members being biased in the direction opposite to that of the support plate, whereby contact with friction feed means of documents supported on the support plate lowers the support plate against the upwardly biased force and permits the throat members to revert to their downward bias for maintaining the throat in alignment with the uppermost document in the stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the throat members comprise: horizontal sections; vertical sections; and the distance between the vertical and horizontal sections is adjustable to correspond to the thickness of the envelope to be fed therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the vertical section includes a slidably connected, selectively positionable edge means for adjusting the distance.
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) | 1990-01-12 | 1990-07-14 | 1991-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-12 | 1994-07-14 | 1995-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-12 | 1998-07-14 | 1999-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |