Apparatus for opening and sorting envelopes
AssigneeOpex Corporation
InventorsRobert R DeWitt, David Helmlinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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. 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. A detector detects a characteristic of the envelope and a sorter sorts the envelope in response to the detected characteristic.
Claims26
An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:
- an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes;
- a first conveyor for conveying the envelopes along an envelope path;
- a cutter positioned along the envelope path operable to sever an edge of the envelopes;
- a detector for detecting a characteristic of an envelope while the cutter severs the envelope;
- a gate moveable between a first position and a second position to direct the envelope toward a first sort conveyor or a second sort conveyor after the cutter severs an edge of the envelope.
An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:
- an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes;
- a cutter operable to sever an edge of the envelopes;
- a cutter transport for conveying the envelopes from the input bin past the cutter;
- a sensor for detecting a characteristic of an envelope while the cutter transport cuts the envelope;
- a first sort conveyor having at least a portion positioned underneath a portion of the cutter transport, wherein the first sort conveyor conveys cut envelopes from a drop area to a first output area;
- a second sort conveyor for conveying cut envelopes to a second output area;
- a gate moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the gate is controllable in response to the characteristic sensed by the sensor for each envelope, wherein in the first position, the gate directs the envelope toward the second sort conveyor and in the second position the envelope is directed to the drop area of the first conveyor.
An apparatus for opening envelopes, comprising:
- an input bin configured to receive a stack of envelopes;
- a cutter for severing envelope edges;
- a first conveyor for conveying the envelopes from the input bin and past the cutter;
- a sensor for detecting a characteristic of an envelope while the first conveyor cuts the envelope;
- a second conveyor having a portion positioned underneath a portion of the first transport, wherein the second conveyor comprises a drop area and a gap is formed between the end of the first transport and the second transport so that envelopes directed toward the second conveyor drop through the gap and onto the drop area;
- a third conveyor for conveying cut envelopes to a second output area;
- a gate moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the gate is controllable in response to the characteristic sensed by the sensor, wherein in the first position the gate directs the envelope toward the gap so that the envelope drops onto the drop area of the second conveyor and in the second position the gate directs the envelope toward the third conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.