Envelope closer
US5904644A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 18, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB43M5/042
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Apparatus and method for closing an envelope having a body portion and a flap, and a crease between the body portion and the flap. An open envelope is gripped and transported toward an abutment, which can be either a leaf spring or a slideable weight. The abutment is biased toward the envelope, but the force of the advancing envelope moves the abutment in a direction opposite the direction of bias, until the crease clears the transport structure that is moving the envelope. Once this happens, then the advance of the envelope stops and the bias of the abutment forces the envelope, crease first, between rollers that press the folded flap against the envelope. Any size envelope can be handled, because the abutment can move under the force of the envelope, any distance required to accommodate the size of the envelope.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.