Automated envelope handling system

An envelope handling system for receiving pre-slit content-bearing envelopes, separately displaying each of the envelope sidewall and the contents of the envelope in independent planes, thereby enabling the efficient removal of the contents from the envelope, while also assuring that all of the contents has been removed prior to discarding the envelope, the system comprising:

• A. envelope transfer means for automatically advancing the envelope through the system at a substantially fixed speed;
• B. an envelope and contents processing zone comprising channel-defining means forming three independent, substantially parallel, longitudinally extending transfer planes for separately and simultaneously accommodating one of the following in one of said planes
• a. the contents of the envelope,
• b. a first sidewall of the envelope, and
• c. a second sidewall of the envelope;
• C. a first detector
• a. mounted in association with the transfer plane of the first sidewall of the envelope, and
• b. comprising a first pair of sensor means mounted in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship on opposed sides of the first envelope sidewall transfer plane for independently sensing the first envelope sidewall to determine the presence of material in addition to the first sidewall, the first pair of sensor means comprising
• 1. a photo-detector mounted on a first side of the transfer plane of the first sidewall of the envelope,
• 2. a variable intensity light source mounted on a second side of the transfer plane of the first sidewall of the envelope in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with the photo-detector,
• 3. control means connected to the light source for adjustably varying the intensity of the light source to enable the light source to be sensed by the photo-detector when the envelope sidewall passes between said first pair of sensor means,
• 4. means for generating a contents alert whenever the photo-detector fails to receive the output from the light source, and
• 5. alarm means responsive to the contents detected signal for initiating an alarm signal,
• D. a second detector
• a. mounted in association with the transfer plane of the second sidewall of the envelope, and
• a. mounted in association with the transfer plane of the second sidewall of the envelope, and
• b. comprising a second pair of sensor means mounted in juxtaposed, spaced cooperating relationship on opposed sides of the transfer plane of the second envelope sidewall for independently sensing the second envelope sidewall to determined presence of material in addition to the second sidewall, said second pair of sensor means comprising
• 1. a photo-detector mounted on a first side of the transfer plane of the second sidewall of the envelope,
• 2. a variable intensity light source mounted on a second side of the transfer plane of the second sidewall of the envelope in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with the photo-detector,
• 3. control means connected to the light source for adjustably varying the intensity of the light source to enable the light source to be sensed by the photo-detector when the envelope sidewall passes between said second pair of sensor means,
• 4. means for generating a contents alert signal whenever the photo-detector fails to receive an output from the light source, and
• 5. alarm means responsive to the contents detected signal for initiating an alarm signal,
• E. timing means mounted in cooperating relationship with the envelope transfer means and constructed for measuring the speed of the transfer means, producing a timing pulse signal corresponding to the transfer means speed, and transmitting said timing pulse signal to the first and second detectors for use in eliminating false readings due to variations in the speed of the transfer means and comprising
• a. a timing wheel
• 1. incorporating a plurality of timing marks formed thereon, and
• 2. movably connected to the transfer means for alternatingly presenting said timing marks to a timing sensor in direct relationship to the speed of the transfer means, and
• b. a timing sensor assembly
• 1. fixedly mounted in juxtaposed, spaced cooperating relationship with the timing wheel, and
• 2. constructed for generating and transmitting a timing pulse for every timing mark sensed;
• and
• F. signal processing means
• a. constructed for receiving the contents alert signal from the detectors and the timing pulses from the timing sensor assembly,
• b. storing the contents alert signal while simultaneously counting the timing pulses,
• c. outputting a contents detected alarm signal in response to the presence of a contents alert signal for a predetermined number of timing pulses,
• d. comprising a first counter for receiving a pre-set number of timing pulses and generating a reset signal in response thereto,
• e. a second counter
• 1. constructed for receiving and storing a predetermined plurality of timing pulses,
• 2. generating an output signal when the second counter has been filled, and
• responsive to a reset signal from the first counter for clearing and re-starting the storing of the timing pulses, and
• f. a signal steering circuit constructed for
• 1. receiving the timing pulses and the contents alert signal,
• 2. normally transmitting the timing pulses to the first counter, and
• 3. redirecting and transmitting the timing pulses to the second counter only when the contents alert signal is detected.

An envelope handling system for receiving pre-slit content-bearing envelopes, separately displaying each of the envelope sidewalls and the contents of the envelope in independent planes, thereby enabling the efficient removal of the contents from the envelope, while also assuring that all of the contents has been removed prior to discarding the envelope, the system comprising:

• A. envelope conveyor transfer means for automatically advancing the envelope through the system at a substantially fixed speed;
• and
• B. timing means mounted in cooperating relationship with the envelope transfer means and comprising
• a. a timing wheel
• 1. incorporating a plurality of timing marks formed thereon, and
• 2. movably connected to the transfer means for alternatingly presenting said timing marks to a timing sensor in direct relationship to the speed of the transfer means, and
• b. a timing sensor assembly
• 1. fixedly mounted in juxtaposed, spaced cooperating relationship with the timing wheel, and
• 2. constructed for generating and transmitting a timing pulse for every timing mark sensed wherein the speed of movement of the envelope is measured to compensate for variations in at least envelope length.