Envelope opening apparatus
US5715648A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB43M3/045
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Apparatus for opening an envelope having a front panel, a back panel and a closing flap. The apparatus includes: a device for supporting the envelope in a substantially horizontal plane wherein the back panel is situated above the front panel; a pair of pivotable paddles located beneath the closing flap and the front panel, each of the paddles having an interior end and an exterior end; a pair of pivotable, hold-down fingers located above and spaced from the pivotable paddles; a device for rotating the interior ends of the paddles downward; and a device for pivoting the hold-down fingers into engagement with the paddles when the ends of the paddles are rotated downward, whereby the front and back panels of the envelope is caused to separate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.