The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 1990
Filed:
May. 06, 1988
Robert J Russell, Marlton, NJ (US);
Comtrex Systems Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US);
Abstract
A three sided envelope opening and extraction apparatus and method are disclosed. The envelopes pass from a supply hopper to three envelope slicing devices which open three sides of the envelope and thereafter, the envelopes are disposed into a transport system for conveyance to the opening apparatus with the unopened edge positioned generally downwardly. The opening apparatus includes opposed elongate folder blades which close upon the side panels of the envelope approximately one third of the distance above the unopened edge thereof to clamp the envelope therebetween. An opposed pair of elongate grasping members including suction cups engage the opposed panels of the envelope above the folder blades and pull the opposed panels downwardly and tautly against the folder blades to provide a deformed and permanent crease in the envelope panels along the folder blade edges whereupon the folder blades and grasping members release the envelope panels and are withdrawn away from the envelope panels. An envelope transport is provided to convey the envelopes in time sequence into the envelope opening apparatus and thereafter from the envelope opening apparatus, following the opening operation thereof, into an envelope receiving track at which point the contents thereof are extracted and sorted.