Method and apparatus for processing envelopes containing contents
First Claim
9. A device for processing a stack of envelopes containing contents, comprising:
- a feeder operable to feed an envelope from a stack of envelopes, wherein the feeder comprises;
a feed belt having an engagement portion having at least one hole through the belt, and a smooth section extending substantially the entire length of the belt wherein the smooth section has a lower coefficient of friction than the engagement portion;
a manifold having at least on hole to cooperate with the hole in the engagement portion of the feed belt;
a vacuum source for providing negative pressure to the manifold, so that when the feed belt rotates to align the belt hole with the manifold hole, negative pressure is provided through the aligned holes to pull the envelope from the stack, wherein the vacuum source provides a constant negative pressure to the manifold;
a cutter configured to receive the envelope from the feeder and sever the envelope along one or more edges;
an extractor operable to open the envelope along one or more severed edges to present contents of the envelope to an operator so that the contents can be manually removed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mail processor and a method for processing mail is provided. The mail processor severs envelopes along one or more edges and transports the envelopes to a work desk where an operator removes contents from the envelopes. A feeder draws envelopes from the bottom of a stack of mail placed in a hopper. The envelopes are serially fed by the feeder to a cutting assembly that severs each envelope along one or more edges. A transport assembly tilts each envelope in an inclined plane and presents the tilted envelope to an operator. An extractor opens the severed faces of the envelope to expose the contents to the operator and permit the operator to remove the contents from the envelope. In one embodiment of the invention, the envelope is discharged from the extractor to a verifier that confirms that the envelope is empty prior to disposal of the envelope.
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Citations
29 Claims
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9. A device for processing a stack of envelopes containing contents, comprising:
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a feeder operable to feed an envelope from a stack of envelopes, wherein the feeder comprises;
a feed belt having an engagement portion having at least one hole through the belt, and a smooth section extending substantially the entire length of the belt wherein the smooth section has a lower coefficient of friction than the engagement portion;
a manifold having at least on hole to cooperate with the hole in the engagement portion of the feed belt;
a vacuum source for providing negative pressure to the manifold, so that when the feed belt rotates to align the belt hole with the manifold hole, negative pressure is provided through the aligned holes to pull the envelope from the stack, wherein the vacuum source provides a constant negative pressure to the manifold;
a cutter configured to receive the envelope from the feeder and sever the envelope along one or more edges;
an extractor operable to open the envelope along one or more severed edges to present contents of the envelope to an operator so that the contents can be manually removed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for processing envelopes containing contents, comprising:
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a feeder operable to feed an envelope from a stack of envelopes;
a cutter for cutting the envelope along an edge;
a pivotable gate adjacent the cutter operable to selectively impede forward movement of the envelope past the cutter, wherein the gate is operable between an opened position in which the envelope can be readily displaced past the gate, and a closed position in which the gate impedes forward movement of the envelope;
a controller operable to control operation of the gate to decelerate the gate as the gate is displaced between the opened and closed positions to dampen the noise made by the gate as the gate is displaced between the opened and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for processing envelopes containing contents, comprising the steps of:
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providing a stack of envelopes;
feeding an envelope from the stack of envelopes;
cutting the envelope along an edge;
selectively impeding forward movement of the envelope past the cutter with a gate, wherein the gate is operable between an opened position in which the envelope can be readily displaced past the gate, and a closed position in which the gate impedes forward movement of the envelope;
controlling the operation of the gate to decelerate the gate as the gate is displaced between the opened and closed positions to dampen the noise made by the gate as the gate is displaced between the opened and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22)
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22-1. The method of claim 20 comprising the step of cushioning the gate when the gate is displaced into the opened or closed position.
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23. A device for processing envelopes containing contents, comprising:
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a feeder operable to feed an envelope from a stack of envelopes;
a cutter for cutting the envelope along an edge;
an extractor comprising;
a pair of arms pivotable between a first position in which the arms are pivoted away from one another and a second position in which the arms are pivoted toward one another so that an end of each arm contacts the envelope;
a vacuum source for selectively providing negative pressure to the end of each arm;
a controller operable to control the displacement of the arms and the vacuum source, wherein the controller is operable to decelerate the arms as the arms are displaced toward the second position, and the controller operates to control the vacuum source to provide negative pressure while the arms decelerate toward the envelope; and
a transport for conveying the envelope from the cutter to the extractor;
- View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for processing envelopes containing contents, comprising the steps of:
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feeding an envelope from a stack of envelopes;
cutting the envelope along an edge;
conveying the cut envelope to an extractor comprising a pair of arms pivotable between a first position in which the arms are pivoted away from one another and a second position in which the arms are pivoted toward one another so that an end of each arm contacts the envelope;
pivoting the arms from the first position to the second position while the envelope is positioned between the arms;
decelerating the arms as the arms are pivoted toward the second position; and
providing negative pressure to the arms while the arms decelerate toward the envelope. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification