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US 2001/0010184 A1Published application
Mail opener apparatus
AssigneeNeopost Limited
InventorAnthony Lawrence
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mail opener comprises a cutting device, the cutting device being movable between an operating position and a retracted position where it is inoperative, the position of the cutting device being controllable by a drive means controlled by the postage meter. The arrangement is such that a single post station can be provided for both franking mail and opening mail, the post station incorporating a safety measure to prevent newly franked outgoing mail from being inadvertently opened or damaged by the mail opener.
Claims11
A mail opener for use with a postage meter;
- said postage meter including printing means operable to print postal indicia on amil pieces;
- said mail opener comprising a cutting device, the cutting device being movable between an operative position to open mail pieces and a retracted inopertive position in which the cutting device is maintained out of engagement with mail pieces;
- drive means operable to displace the cutting device between said operative position and said retracted inoperative position, said drive means being operable by said postage meter to maintain said cutting device in said retracted inoperative position when the printing means is operable to print postal indicia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.