Apparatus for inserting material into envelopes
AssigneePrinted Forms Equipment Limited
InventorDavid M. Dronsfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An envelope opening apparatus is provided which conveys envelopes with envelope flap fold lines parallel to the direction of conveyance toward distortion means and restraining means in the path of conveyance which distortion means partially opens the envelope, and which envelope is further conveyed to a device which completes the opening of the envelope in preparation for inserting material into the envelope.
Claims7
An apparatus for opening envelopes, each envelope having a flap portion folded on a fold line to overlie a main portion of said envelope, said apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor adapted to convey said envelopes along a conveyor path with said fold lines parallel to the direction of movement of said conveyor,
- means on said conveyor path adapted to distort each envelope so that said flap portion thereof is hinged upwardly from said main portion thereof, said distortion means comprising a projection extending adjacent said fold lines of said envelopes, a first guide member restraining upward movement of said envelopes at said fold line, and a second guide member restraining lateral movement of said envelopes away from said first guide member, and
- means downstream of said distorting means on said conveyor path and adapted to enter between said flap portion and said main portion of each envelope to bring said flap portion and said main portion substantially into co-planar alignment.
An apparatus for opening an envelope, the envelope having a flap secured to the body of the envelope at a fold line extending parallel to an end edge of the envelope body, said apparatus comprising:
- distortion means providing opposed convergent surfaces, and
- conveyor means for relatively moving said envelope and said distortion means with said fold line and end edge engaged with said opposed convergent surfaces respectively whereby said envelope body bends to effect angular separation of said flap from said body about said fold line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.