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:
Dec. 15, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 17, 1997
Vincent D Bufalini, Norwalk, CT (US);
Christopher DeBarber, Woodbury, CT (US);
Thomas M Lyga, Torrington, CT (US);
William A Ross, Darien, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An envelope throat opening mechanism for an envelope inserting machine includes a pair of envelope throat opening claw assemblies mounted adjacent an envelope inserting position for opening the outer ends of an envelope disposed in the envelope inserting position to permit insert material to be inserted into the envelope. An envelope throat opening tongue assembly is also disposed adjacent the envelope inserting position and in substantial alignment with the center of an envelope, the tongue assembly having a tongue mounted therein for movement into the throat of the envelope adjacent the center thereof to ensure that the center portion of the throat is opened sufficiently to permit the insert material to be inserted into the envelope. There is means for driving the claw assemblies and the tongue assembly in a timed sequence with the arrival of an envelope at the inserting position, and with the claw assemblies operating asynchronously with respect to the mounting means for the tongue to move the claws into the throat of the envelope in advance of the tongue entering the throat, so that both the outer ends of the envelope and the center portion thereof are effectively opened by the claws and the tongue respectively.