Apparatus and method for envelope flap opening
US6640521B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB43M3/045
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An unflapped envelope (60) is fed, with its crease line trailing, along a path (42) from an envelope feeder and between the rollers of a reversibly driveable roller pair (43), for onward transfer to, for example, an insertion station. When the crease line reaches a predetermined point in front of the roller pair (43), the drive is reversed and the envelope with the crease line leading directed along a flapper path, including a deflecting surface 46; to a flapping chamber or zone (47), at least until the flap (61) is engageable by a flapper blade (44;44a). The drive is then reversed again and the envelope driven back along the flapper path, a flap opening surface (49) of a flapper blade (44) or a pair of flapper blade elements (44a), causing the flap (61) to be stripped from the body of the envelope (60) as it exits the flapping zone, and proceeds to the insertion station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.