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US 8,783,094 B2Granted
Envelope seal verification system and method
AssigneeFmr LLC
InventorsRaymond Mark Lutz, Steven Carl Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imperfection in a seal of an envelope can be identified. The envelope is moved laterally, and a positive flow of air is delivered to a leading edge of a top flap of the envelope to separate the top flap from a bottom flap or a side flap of the envelope at the imperfection in the seal of the envelope. Based on the separation of the top flap from the bottom flap or the side flap of the envelope, it can be determined whether the seal has the imperfection.
Claims15
A method of identifying an imperfection in a seal of a sealed mail envelope, comprising:
- moving a sealed mail envelope laterally on a surface of a feed member relative to an air delivery system, the sealed mail envelope having a seal positioned between a top flap and a bottom flap or side flap of the envelope;
- delivering a positive flow of air from the air delivery system to a leading edge of the top flap of the envelope at a pressure and angle to at least partially separate the top flap from the bottom flap or the side flap of the envelope at an imperfection in the seal without removing the envelope from the feed member;
- further moving the envelope on the surface of the feed member under a stationary wedge, the wedge being spaced above the feed member such that sealed mail envelopes having imperfect seals engage the wedge and sealed mail envelopes having adequate seals only pass under the wedge;
- and
- as the envelope advances past the wedge, engaging the partially separated top flap with the wedge and unfolding the top flap of envelope to a substantially 180 degree position relative to a sealed position of the top flap, the wedge having a shape that increases in height and width with a direction of travel of the feed member for unfolding the top flap from the envelope.
2 more elements
An apparatus for identifying an imperfection in a seal of a sealed mail envelope comprising:
- a feed member having a surface to move a plurality of sealed mail envelopes, each sealed mail envelope having a seal positioned between a top flap and a bottom flap or side flap of the envelope;
- an air delivery system positioned relative to the feed member, the delivery system configured to deliver a positive flow of air to a leading edge of the top flap of an envelope at a pressure and angle to at least partially separate the top flap from the bottom flap or the side flap of the envelope at an imperfection in the seal without removing the envelope from the feed member;
- and
- a stationary wedge positioned downstream from the air delivery system and spaced above the feed member such that sealed mail envelopes having imperfect seals engage the wedge and sealed mail envelopes having adequate seals only pass under the wedge;
- wherein as the envelope advances past the wedge, the wedge engages the partially separated top flap and unfolds the top flap of envelope to a substantially 180 degree position relative to a sealed position of the top flap, the wedge having a shape that increases in height and width with a direction of travel of the feed member for unfolding the top flap from the envelope.
2 more elements
An apparatus for identifying an imperfection in a seal of a sealed mail envelope comprising:
- a feed member having a surface to move a plurality of sealed mail envelopes, each sealed mail envelope having a seal positioned between a top flap and a bottom flap or side flap of the envelope;
- and
- an air delivery system positioned relative to the feed member, the delivery system configured to deliver a positive flow of air to leading edges of top flaps of the envelopes at a pressure and angle to at least partially separate the top flap from the bottom flap or the side flap of the envelope at an imperfection in the seal without removing the envelope from the feed member;
- a stationary wedge positioned downstream from the air delivery system and spaced above the feed member such that sealed mail envelopes having imperfect seals engage the wedge and sealed mail envelopes having adequate seals only pass under the wedge;
- wherein as the envelope advances past the wedge, the wedge engages the partially separated top flap and unfolds the top flap of envelope to a substantially 180 degree position relative to a sealed position of the top flap, the wedge having a shape that increases in height and width with a direction of travel of the feed member for unfolding the top flap from the envelope;
- the delivery system further comprising:
- a source of compressed air;
- a housing defining a buffer volume in fluid communication with the source;
- at least one articulable segment connected to the housing;
- and
- a nozzle connected to the at least one articulable segment, the nozzle defining an orifice through which the flow of positive air is directed to the plurality of envelopes, the at least one articulable segment configured to adjust angle of delivery of the flow of positive air relative to the feed member.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.