75results about "Envelope openers" patented technology

An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail in a continuous and automatic procedure includes an operative combination of processing stations including an input station for receiving incoming mail in bulk fashion and for separating the pieces of mail for individual delivery to the remainder of the apparatus; a station for detecting irregularities in the contents of the envelopes, such as metal items, folded contents, or oversized items; a station for out-sorting envelopes rejected in accordance with determinations made at the detection station; a station for opening the envelopes, preferably along multiple edges; a station for removing the contents from the opened envelopes, for subsequent processing of the contents; and a series of stations for handling, imaging and orienting the contents for subsequent delivery to a plurality of output stackers.

An apparatus is provided for processing mail by severing an edge of each envelope in a stack of mail. The apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of mail. A feeder feeds the bottom envelope from the input bin to a transport that conveys the envelope along an envelope path. A cutter positioned along the envelope path severs one edge of the envelopes. A displaceable outfeed guide is provided for supporting the cut edge of the envelope as the envelop is being cut. Preferably, the outfeed guide is connected with the cutter so that the outfeed guide automatically adjusts position as the depth of cut is adjusted. The transport discharges the opened envelopes onto a return conveyor that conveys the opened envelopes to a stacking area where the opened envelopes are stacked.

A machine for processing envelopes includes a receiving assembly with a tray where envelopes are received and guided towards an envelope cutting assembly. A sensor determines the width of the envelope to align on of the two longitudinal cutting members. Another sensor detects the leading and railing edge of the envelope and with a circuit control the advancement of the envelope to cooperative positions that permit another cutter member to act transversally. The envelope is then passed to an unfolding assembly where the uppermost and lowermost sheets are loose and sandwich inbetween the contents. The uppermost sheet is pulled out to the display assembly that is hermetically closed. Subsequently, a transversally moving roller is used to lift the folds of the content, if any, and to affix the unfolded contents to protruding pins. The engagement with the protruding pins is slowly undone as the contents are pushed towards the display assembly.

A device for opening an envelope is disclosed. In the envelope opening device of the present invention, when a user merely inserts an edge part of an envelope into a guide slot of a casing and pushes or pulls the envelope, the edge part of the envelope is precisely cut by a cutting means to a predetermined length while the edge part is supported and guided by a guide wall, which is provided inside the guide slot, and while the envelope is held and supported by a holding means such that it is prevented from undesirably moving. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to precisely cut the edge part of the envelope to a minimum length. Furthermore, because the present invention does not require the user to pay much attention to the length of the edge part to be cut, there is an advantage in that the opening process is simplified.

There is provided a portable letter opener that is capable of transitioning between an open and a closed position. The letter opener includes a first housing section, a second housing section, a blade, and a pin forming a pivot hinge so that the first housing section and second housing section can move between the open and closed positions. The first housing section defines a slot such that the blade is at least partially positioned within the slot of the first housing section when the portable letter opener is in the closed position. The first housing section may also define an aperture for connecting with a key chain. Both the first housing section and the second housing section may define a pair of tab with a hole therein for receiving the pin. The blade, connected to the second housing section, is at least partially exposed when the portable letter opener is in the open position, and the blade has a sharpened edge capable of slicing open a sealed envelope flap. The first housing section and second housing section may have complementary stop surfaces and rest surfaces whereby contact between the stop surface and rest surface limit movement of the letter opener past the open position. Similarly, the first and housing section have complementary surfaces which come into contact when the letter opener is closed. The blade is preferably positioned well within the opening of the letter opener for safety reasons and is set at a slant for easily slicing open envelopes.

A letter opener includes a main body, a fixing member and a blade. The main body has a cutting opening, a notch, and a trough communicating with the cutting opening and the notch. The fixing member is secured in the notch of the main body. The blade is connected to the fixing member and located in the trough. The blade is exposed in the cutting opening. Thereby, when the cutting edges of the blade are abraded, the blade can be replaced with a new one by disengaging the fixing member from the notch. It is only required to replace the blade, without throwing away the main body. The letter opener of the present invention is cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

A mail opener comprises a cuffily device which is movable between an operating position and a retracted position where it is inoperative. The position of the cutting device is controllable by a drive device controlled by the postage meter. The arrangement is such that a single post station can be provided for both applying postage and opening mail. The post station incorporates a safety measure to prevent newly franked outgoing mail from being inadvertently opened or damaged by the mail opener.

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.

A slitter tool that has a generally flat body portion with a spaced elongated finger along one edge and a razor type blade held between the body and finger, includes a second spring like finger extending toward the blade to prevent side entry by a user's finger tip. A grooved end with the blade tip very slightly protruding permits opening of plastic wrapped CD packages or the like.

A method for expelling air out of mailpieces includes the steps of creating a stack of the mailpieces; cutting an opening in at least some of the mailpieces; jogging the stack of mailpieces; and subjecting the stack of mailpieces to at least one compression/decompression cycle during the jogging step thereby expelling air out of the at least some of the mailpieces through their corresponding openings.

A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. A feeder serially feeds envelope from a stack of mail. Two cutters at a cutting station cuts one or two edges of the envelopes. As the envelopes travel from the feeder to the cutters the envelope is jogged on two edges to justify the contents with the envelopes. Additionally, an improved feeder is provided to reduce the number of jams created when feeding the envelopes from the stack.