Method and apparatus for feeding envelopes
US6446955B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1916
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for feeding envelopes in an envelope insertion machine, wherein a rotatable pneumatic feeding head is used to pick up an envelope from an envelope stack by a negative air pressure. The pneumatic feeding head is also used to move the envelope to a pair of take away rollers so that the envelope picked up by the feeding head can be moved further away from the envelope stack. It is preferred that the feeding head includes an outer cylinder having a row of vacuum ports and an inner cylinder having a plurality of apertures for air passage operatively connected to a vacuum pump. The inner cylinder is independently rotatable relative to the outer cylinder so that the negative air pressure is provided to the vacuum ports when the apertures of the inner cylinder are aligned with the vacuum ports, and the negative air pressure is turned off from the vacuum parts when the apertures and the vacuum ports are out of alignment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.