US 6,612,211 B1 · Apparatus for opening envelopes

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. An agitator confronting the stack of envelopes in the input bin reciprocally displaces the bottom envelope in the stack of mail to provide separation between the bottom envelope and the remaining envelopes in the stack. 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. The transport discharges the opened envelopes onto a return conveyor that conveys the opened envelopes to a stacking area where the opened envelopes are stacked.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:

an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes;
a cutter operable to sever one edge of each of the envelopes;
a transport for forwardly conveying the envelopes from the input bin to the cutter;
a feeder for serially feeding the envelopes from the input bin to the transport;
an envelope discharge disposed at the end of the transport;
a stop for stopping the forward movement of envelopes discharged from the transport;
a return conveyor positioned vertically below the transport for receiving envelopes discharged from the transport, comprising a rotatable member operable to move envelopes away from the stop, wherein the return conveyor is disposed at an angle relative to the transport;
and
a reorienting element extending vertically upwardly from the return conveyor, configured to reorient the envelopes from a generally horizontal disposition to generally vertical disposition.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for opening envelopes

Life of this patent

Apparatus for opening envelopes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29