Method and apparatus for extracting the contents of envelopes
First Claim
1. A method of extracting the contents of envelopes, each of which has been opened along at least one edge and has an opposite edge which is unopened, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a travelling belt having an adhesive surface;
causing each of a succession of said envelopes to adhere to the belt transversely thereof, by projecting each envelope against said surface with its unopened edge leading;
subsequently orienting the belt so that the envelopes are suspended from the belt; and
,vibrating the belt while the envelopes remain suspended therefrom, to cause the contents of the envelopes to migrate downwardly and leave the envelopes.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for extracting the contents of envelopes, each of which has been opened along at least one edge and has an opposite edge which is unopened. The envelopes are successively projected with their unopened edges leading, against an adhesive surface of a travelling belt. The belt is subsequently oriented so that the envelopes are suspended therefrom and the belt is simultaneously vibrated to cause the contents of the envelopes to migrate downwardly and leave the envelopes. The contents are conveyed in an orderly fashion on a belt conveyor and formed into a stack. The empty envelopes are stripped from the belt. The adhesive surface on the belt is formed by renewable adhesive strips.
12 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of extracting the contents of envelopes, each of which has been opened along at least one edge and has an opposite edge which is unopened, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a travelling belt having an adhesive surface; causing each of a succession of said envelopes to adhere to the belt transversely thereof, by projecting each envelope against said surface with its unopened edge leading; subsequently orienting the belt so that the envelopes are suspended from the belt; and
,vibrating the belt while the envelopes remain suspended therefrom, to cause the contents of the envelopes to migrate downwardly and leave the envelopes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for extracting the contents of envelopes, each of which has been opened along at least one edge and has an opposite edge which is unopened, the apparatus comprising:
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a belt having an adhesive surface; means for transporting the belt in the direction of its length; means for projecting against said adhesive surface of the belt, a succession of said envelopes each with its unopened edge leading and disposed transversely of the belt, so as to cause the envelope to adhere to the belt by its said unopened edge; said belt transport means being adapted to orient the belt so that the envelopes hang down from the belt; and
,means for vibrating the belt so as to cause the contents of the envelope to migrate downwardly and leave the envelopes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification