Apparatus and method for opening and sorting envelopes
AssigneeOpex Corporation
InventorsRobert R. DeWitt, David Helmlinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for processing mail by severing an edge of each envelope in a stack of mail. The apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of mail. A feeder feeds the bottom envelope from the input bin to a transport that conveys the envelope along an envelope path. A cutter positioned along the envelope path severs one edge of the envelopes. A detector detects a characteristic of the envelope and a sorter sorts the envelope in response to the detected characteristic.
Claims27
An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:
- an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes;
- a cutter operable to sever an edge of the envelopes;
- a cutter transport for conveying the envelopes from the input bin past the cutter;
- a sensor for detecting a characteristic of an envelope as the cutter transport conveys the envelope;
- a first sort conveyor having at least a portion positioned underneath a portion of the cutter transport, wherein the first sort conveyor conveys cut envelopes from a drop area to a first output area;
- a second sort conveyor for conveying cut envelopes to a second output area;
- a gate moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the gate is controllable in response to the characteristic sensed by the sensor for each envelope, wherein in the first position, the gate directs the envelope toward the second sort conveyor and in the second position the envelope is directed to the drop area of the first conveyor.
An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:
- an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes;
- a transport for conveying the envelopes along an envelope path;
- a feeder for serially feeding the envelopes from the input bin to the transport;
- a cutter positioned along the envelope path operable to sever an edge of each of the envelopes;
- a detector for detecting a characteristic of an envelope while the cutter severs the envelope;
- a gate moveable between a first position and a second position to direct the envelope toward a first area or a second area after the cutter severs an edge of the envelope;
- a controller operable to control the gate in response to the detected characteristic of the envelope.
A method for processing envelopes, comprising the steps of:
- conveying an envelope from a stack of envelopes;
- cutting an edge of the envelope as the envelope is being conveyed;
- detecting a characteristic of the envelope during the step of cutting the edge of the envelope;
- sorting the envelope based on the step of detecting a characteristic.
An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:
- an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes;
- a transport for conveying the envelopes along an envelope path;
- a sensor for detecting the height of an envelope while the transport conveys the envelope in a face down orientation
- a cutter positioned along the envelope path operable to sever an edge of the envelope;
- a gate moveable between a first position and a second position to direct the envelope toward a first area or a second area after the cutter severs an edge of the envelope;
- a controller operable to control the gate in response to the height of the envelope detected by the sensor.
An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:
- a transport for conveying a batch of envelopes along an envelope path, wherein the transport comprises a base;
- a cutter positioned along the envelope path operable to sever an edge of the envelope;
- a printer operable to print on the envelopes as the transport conveys the envelopes along the envelope path in a face down orientation, wherein the printer is spaced apart from the base to create a gap having a height similar to the maximum thickness anticipated for an envelope in the batch;
- and
- a deflector positioned in the gap to deflect the envelopes upwardly toward the printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.