US 5,344,274 A · Envelope removal apparatus

Abstract

A sealed envelope, which encloses a rectangular shaped container having an audio or video tape therein to form a package, is automatically removed from the container through cutting a first edge of the envelope during its travel in a first direction and then cutting two substantially parallel edges, perpendicular to the first cut edge, during travel of the container in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. After the three edges of the envelope have been cut, air pressure is selectively applied towards the cut edges. Then, flexible tubes apply forces to the top and bottom of the cut envelope to partially remove it from the container prior to the container being advanced in the second direction to an area in which a vacuum is applied to remove the cut envelope from the container. The packages are initially stacked in a magazine with each package being advanced from the magazine in the first direction in a predetermined spacing from the prior package. When the container has an audio tape, friction wipers on opposite sides of the container partially remove the cut envelope from the container prior to the air pressure being applied.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An apparatus for removing a sealed envelope in one piece from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

first transport means for transporting at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by a sealed envelope in a first direction from a first position to a second position;
first cutting means for cutting a first edge of the sealed envelope on a first side of the container during transport of the container by said first transport means from the first position to the second position;
second transport means for transporting the container in a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction, from the second position to a third position;
second cutting means for cutting a second edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container during transport of the container by said second transport means from the second position to the third position;
third cutting means for cutting a third edge of the envelope on a third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container during transport of the container by said second transport means from the second position to the third position;
each of the first, second, and third cut edges of the envelope and a fourth edge of the envelope on a fourth side of the container and substantially parallel to the first side of the container being in the same plane and at least a portion of the fourth edge remaining attached to the rest of the envelope after cutting is completed so that the envelope remains one piece;
and removal means for removing the cut envelope in one piece from the container after said second and third cutting means have been effective.

4 more elements

An apparatus for removing a sealed envelope from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

first cutting means for cutting an edge of a sealed envelope on a first side of a container;
second cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container;
third cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container;
first relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and said first cutting means to enable said first cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the first side of the container;
second relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and each of said second cutting means and said third cutting means to enable said second cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the second side of the container and said third cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the third side of the container;
removal means for removing the cut envelope from the container after said second cutting means and said third cutting means have been effective;
and said removal means including:
air pressure means for selectively applying air pressure towards the cut edges of the cut envelope after said second and third cutting means have been effective, said air pressure means being disposed further from the second position than each of said second cutting means and said third cutting means;
and vacuum applying means for selectively applying a vacuum to remove the cut envelope from the container after said air pressure means has been effective.

6 more elements

An apparatus for removing a sealed envelope from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

first cutting means for cutting an edge of a sealed envelope on a first side of a container;
second cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container;
third cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container;
first relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and said first cutting means to enable said first cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the first side of the container;
second relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and each of said second cutting means and said third cutting means to enable said second cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the second side of the container and said third cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the third side of the container;
removal means for removing the cut envelope from the container after said second cutting means and said third cutting means have been effective;
and each of said first cutting means, said second cutting means, and said third cutting means being a rotatable wheel having an angled, flat surface for engaging an edge of the envelope to cut the edge.

4 more elements

An apparatus for removing a sealed envelope from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

first transport means for transporting at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by a sealed envelope in a first direction from a first position to a second position;
first cutting means for cutting an edge of the sealed envelope on a first side of the container during transport of the container by said first transport means from the first position to the second position;
second transport means for transporting the container in a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction, from the second position to a third position;
second cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container during transport of the container by said second transport means from the second position to the third position;
third cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container during transport of the container by said second transport means from the second position to the third position;
removal means for removing the cut envelope from the container during transport of the container from the second position to the third position after said second and third cutting means have been effective;
said first transport means including:
a pair of substantially endless chains;
and each of said chains having container engaging means at the same predetermined spaced intervals for engaging at least the one rectangular shaped container within each of the envelopes to be cut to advance each of the containers within each of the envelopes to be cut from the first position to the second position;
said second transport means including:
a pair of substantially endless chains;
and each of said chains having container engaging means at the same predetermined spaced intervals for engaging at least the one rectangular shaped container within each of the envelopes to be cut to advance each of the containers within each of the envelopes to be cut from the second position to the third position;
and driving means for driving each of said chains of said first transport means and each of said chains of said second transport means at the same speed.

10 more elements

An apparatus for removing a sealed envelope in one piece from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

first transport means for transporting at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by a sealed envelope in a first direction from a first a second position;
first cutting means for cutting an edge envelope on a first side of the container during transport of the container by said first transport means from the first position to the second position;
second transport means for transporting the container in a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction, from the second position to a third position;
second cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container during transport of the container by said second transport means from the second position to the third position;
third cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container during transport of the container by said second transport means from the second position to the third position;
removal means for removing the cut envelope in one piece from the container after said second and third cutting means have been effective;
and stopping means for stopping said first transport means and said second transport means only when each of said first cutting means, said second cutting means, and said third cutting means is not being engaged by one of the envelopes to be cut.

4 more elements

An apparatus for removing a sealed envelope in one piece from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

first cutting means for cutting an edge of a on a first side of a container;
second cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container;
third cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container;
first relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and said first cutting means to enable said first cutting means to cut the envelope on the first side of the container;
second relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and each of said second cutting means and said third cutting means to enable said second cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the second side of the container and said third cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the third side of the container;
the cut edges of the cut envelope on the first and second sides of the container intersecting to form an intersection;
the cut edges of the cut envelope on the first and third sides of the container intersecting to form an intersection;
removal means for removing the cut envelope from the container in one piece after said second and third cutting means have been effective;
and said removal means including envelope raising means for raising the cut envelope upwardly at the intersection of the cut edges of the cut envelope on the first and second sides of the container and at the intersection of the cut edges of the cut envelope on the first and third sides of the container.

6 more elements

An apparatus for removing a sealed envelope from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

first cutting means for cutting an edge of a sealed envelope on a first side of at least one container;
second cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container;
third cutting means for cutting an edge of the envelope on a third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container;
first relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and said first cutting means to enable said first cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the first side of the container;
second relative moving means for producing relative movement between the container and each of said second cutting means and said third cutting means to enable said second cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the second side of the container and said third cutting means to cut the edge of the envelope on the third side of the container;
removal means for removing the cut envelope from the container after said second cutting means and said third cutting means have been effective;
each of said first, second, and third cutting means being a rotatable wheel;
and each of said rotatable wheels including:
a cylindrical portion rotatable about a rotary axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between the container and said rotatable wheel;
and a portion extending from one end of said cylindrical portion towards the container, said extending portion having a substantially flat surface rubbing against the edge of the envelope to cut the edge of the envelope without cutting the edge of the container during rotation of said rotatable wheel when there is relative movement between said rotatable wheel and each of the container and the envelope in a direction substantially parallel to the side of the container having the edge of the envelope being cut bearing thereagainst, said flat surface being at an angle to the edge of the envelope against which said flat surface is rubbing.

7 more elements

A method for non-manually removing a sealed envelope in one piece from at least one rectangular shaped container enclosed by the sealed envelope including:

cutting a first edge of a sealed envelope on a first side of the container;
cutting a second edge of the envelope on a second side of the container substantially perpendicular to the first side of the container with the second edge being in the same plane as the first edge after cutting of the first edge has been completed;
cutting a third edge of the envelope on a third side of the container substantially parallel to the second side of the container with the third edge being in the same plane as the first edge and the second edge after cutting of at least the first edge has been completed;
leaving at least a portion of a fourth edge of the envelope on a fourth side of the container substantially parallel to the first side of the container and in the same plane as the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge, integral with the rest of the envelope after cutting is completed so that the envelope is one piece;
and removing the cut envelope as one piece from the container after cutting of the first edge, the second edge, and the third edge has been completed.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Envelope removal apparatus

Life of this patent

Envelope removal apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30