Envelope opener

A double-entry type envelope opener provided with a pair of entries in its opposite sides through which an envelope may enter said opener from either side to have its head automatically cut as it passes through said opener, comprising:

• a reversible electric motor;
• a pair of rotary disc blades driven by said reversible electric motor, said rotary disc blades being vertically arranged;
• a guide lane extending horizontally for guiding said envelope, said guide lane being interrupted by said pair of rotary disc blades so that said pair of rotary disc blades cross said guide lane;
• a pair of bar-type swingable sensors vertically mounted in said guide lane to cross the lane, said bar-type swingable sensors being positioned in opposite sides of said pair of rotary disc blades;
• a link connecting said pair of bar-type swingably sensors with each other to move them in synchronism when one of them is swung by an envelope passing through said guide lane;
• and
• a pair of contact assemblies coupled with said pair of bar-type swingable sensors, one of said contact assemblies being operated by one of said bar-type swingable sensors to establish rotational directions of said reversible electric motor and said rotary disc blades when the head of an envelope enters said opener from either side and passes said guide lane in either direction to swing one of said bar-type swingable sensors, the other of said bar-type swingable sensors being swung through said link into a position where the other of said contact assemblies coupled with the other of said bar-type swingable sensors remains opened or turned off.