Low friction envelope feeder
US6425579B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1916
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An envelope hopper having a plurality of bottom rods to form a supporting surface for supporting a stack of envelopes and a paddle to push the envelopes towards an envelope feeder at the downstream end. A scrub wheel is rotatably mounted on a fixed, rotation axis on the paddle and is in contact with one of the bottom rods. The rotation axis of the scrub wheel is oriented at an angle relative to the rotation axis of the contacting rod, so that when the contacting rod rotates, it causes the scrub wheel to rotate, thereby producing a force on the paddle urging the paddle to move towards the downstream end. Preferably, the envelope hopper has a side rod on one side of the envelope stack, and the supporting surface is tilted from the horizontal surface, so that the envelopes are moved towards the side rod by gravity in order to register against the side rod. Preferably, the side rod also rotates in order to reduce the friction between the envelope stack and the side rod.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.