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. 26, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 29, 1999
John Miller, Shelton, CT (US);
William B Riley, Alexandria, VA (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for opening an envelope for document insertion in a document inserting system. The apparatus includes: an air chamber having a first end and an opposing second end and an inlet in the first end; a piston movably located in the air chamber for dividing the air chamber into a first chamber near the first end and a second chamber near the second end; a suction cup operatively connect to the air inlet to pick up the throat of an envelope; a spring operatively connect with the piston; and a cam operable at a first position to compress the spring and to keep the piston near the first end, and at the second position to release the spring which urges the piston to move away from the first end and expand the first chamber, thereby creating a suction force for the suction cup. Accordingly, the method of opening an envelope includes the steps of: 1) keeping the cam at the first position; 2) causing the suction cup press against the envelope throat; 3) cause the cam to operate at the second position to release the spring, creating a suction force for the suction cup; 5) moving the suction cup together with the throat of the envelope to spread open the envelope; and 6) after the document is inserted past the throat entrance, recompressing the spring by causing the cam to operate at the first position, as in step 1.