Patent · US Expired

Envelope flap opener apparatus

US5729954A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
12References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 4, 1996
Grant dateMar 24, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 4, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB43M3/045
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A flap opening apparatus wherein envelopes are sequentially conveyed past a jet nozzle, which delivers timed blasts of air to open the flaps of each envelope. A computer controller tracks the position of the envelopes by a shaft encoder, and activates the jet nozzle when each envelope is correctly positioned. The opened flaps of the envelopes are held in an open position by a plate so that mail materials may be inserted into the envelopes.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.