Patent US5722221A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5722221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Envelope opening apparatus
Assignee: U S Computer Services
•
Filing: 1996-01-17
•
Granted: 1998-03-03
•
Expires: 2016-01-17
Abstract
Abstract An envelope opening apparatus for mail assembly operations which employs timed intermittent bursts of compressed air or other gas. One or more gas jets are used in association with an inserter arm, and envelopes are sequentially conveyed past the inserter arm and gas jets. As each envelope is positioned adjacent to the inserter arm and gas jets, a controller computer activates a control valve, supplying compressed air to the gas jets, which direct a blast of air at the envelope, opening the envelope to form a pocket suitable for insertion thereinto of mail materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D. Maltman
- 👤 Robert E. Valentine
- 👤 Robert J. Leitner
- 👤 Gerry E. Leick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 01:47
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M3/00; B43M3/04; B43M3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An envelope opening apparatus, comprising: a) positionally adjustable nozzle means for directing compressed gas to open envelopes; b) inserter means for placing mail materials into envelopes; c) envelope transport means for moving a plurality of envelopes horizontally past said inserter means and said nozzle means; and d) an electronic computer control means for activating and deactivating said nozzle means, wherein said electronic computer control means establishes if a correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion into an envelope and open an envelope only if said correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An envelope opening apparatus, comprising: a) positionally adjustable nozzle means for directing compressed gas to open envelopes; b) inserter means for placing mail materials into envelopes; c) envelope transport means for moving a plurality of envelopes horizontally past said inserter means and said nozzle means; and d) an electronic computer control means for activating and deactivating said nozzle means, wherein said electronic computer control means establishes if a correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion into an envelope and open an envelope only if said correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising holding means for keeping envelope flaps in an opened position, said holding means positioned adjacent said inserter means and said nozzle means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising encoder means, interfaced with said computer control means, for monitoring rotational angles for a machine cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising insert transport means for providing assembled mail packets to said inserter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means causes an intermittent release of said compressed gas according to rotational angles detected by said encoder means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle means further comprises valve means, interfaced with said computer control means, for controlling air supply to said nozzle means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said valve means comprises a solenoid control valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
An envelope opening apparatus, comprising: a) at least one positionally adjustable nozzle means for directing compressed gas to open envelopes; b) inserter means for placing mail materials into envelopes, said inserter means associated with said nozzle means; c) envelope transport means for sequentially moving a plurality of open envelopes horizontally past said inserter means and said nozzle means; and d) electronic computer control means, interfaced with said nozzle means, for activating a timed release of said compressed gas and deactivating said timed release of compressed gas by said nozzle means according to the position of said plurality of envelopes on said transport means relative to said nozzle means and said inserter means, wherein said electronic computer control means establishes if a correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion into an envelope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
An envelope opening apparatus, comprising: a) at least one positionally adjustable nozzle means for directing compressed gas to open envelopes; b) inserter means for placing mail materials into envelopes, said inserter means associated with said nozzle means; c) envelope transport means for sequentially moving a plurality of open envelopes horizontally past said inserter means and said nozzle means; and d) electronic computer control means, interfaced with said nozzle means, for activating a timed release of said compressed gas and deactivating said timed release of compressed gas by said nozzle means according to the position of said plurality of envelopes on said transport means relative to said nozzle means and said inserter means, wherein said electronic computer control means establishes if a correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion into an envelope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising encoder means, interfaced with said computer control means, for monitoring rotational angels for a machine cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising insert transport means for sequentially providing assembled mail packets to said inserter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said timed release of said compressed gas produces intermittent bursts of said compressed gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said nozzle means further comprises valve means, interfaced with said computer control means, for controlling air supply to said nozzle means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said valve means comprises a solenoid control valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
173 words
An envelope opening apparatus, comprising: a) an inserter arm, said inserter arm including at least one pusher finger; b) at least one positionally adjustable gas jet, said gas jet coupled to a gas supply line, said gas supply line including valve means for controlling gas supply, said gas jet positioned adjacent said inserter arm; c) an envelope conveyor track, said envelope conveyor track positioned adjacent said gas jet, said envelope conveyor track including a plurality of means for holding envelopes; d) electronic computer control means, interfaced with said valve means, for actuating and deactivating said valve means according to the position of said plurality of envelopes on said envelope conveyor track to produce timed releases of said gas, wherein said electronic computer control means establishes if a correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion into an envelope and open an envelope only if said correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion; and e) an insert conveyor track, said insert conveyor track positioned to provide assembled mail packets to said inserter arm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
An envelope opening apparatus, comprising: a) an inserter arm, said inserter arm including at least one pusher finger; b) at least one positionally adjustable gas jet, said gas jet coupled to a gas supply line, said gas supply line including valve means for controlling gas supply, said gas jet positioned adjacent said inserter arm; c) an envelope conveyor track, said envelope conveyor track positioned adjacent said gas jet, said envelope conveyor track including a plurality of means for holding envelopes; d) electronic computer control means, interfaced with said valve means, for actuating and deactivating said valve means according to the position of said plurality of envelopes on said envelope conveyor track to produce timed releases of said gas, wherein said electronic computer control means establishes if a correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion into an envelope and open an envelope only if said correctly assembled mailing piece is ready for insertion; and e) an insert conveyor track, said insert conveyor track positioned to provide assembled mail packets to said inserter arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising encoder means, interfaced with said computer control means, for monitoring rotational angels for a machine cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for holding envelope flaps in an opened position, said holding means positioned adjacent said inserter arm and said gas jet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An envelope opening apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said timed releases of said compressed gas produce intermittent bursts of said compressed gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3410053A
Cited
US3858381A
Cited
US4149356A
Cited
US4248032A
Cited
US4365458A
Cited
US4393640A
Cited
US4577848A
Cited
US4649691A
Cited
US4712359A
Cited
US4781013A
Cited
US4798040A
Cited
US4922689A
Cited
US4924657A
Cited
US4903456A
Cited
US4903457A
Cited
US5125214A
Cited
US5555703A
Cited
US5097654A
Cited
US5457941A
Cited
US5555701A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-02 | 2001-09-01 | 2002-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-02 | 2005-09-01 | 2006-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-02 | 2009-09-01 | 2010-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |