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:
Sep. 02, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1998
Dominic Stigliano, Williamstown, NJ (US);
John Forbes, Media, PA (US);
Thomas DiBiaso, Mount Laurel, NJ (US);
Robert R. DeWitt, Marlton, NJ (US);
Opex Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US);
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. An agitator confronting the stack of envelopes in the input bin reciprocally displaces the bottom envelope in the stack of mail to provide separation between the bottom envelope and the remaining envelopes in the stack. 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. The transport discharges the opened envelopes onto a return conveyor that conveys the opened envelopes to a stacking area where the opened envelopes are stacked.