Method and apparatus for processing envelopes containing contents

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021284473-A1
Application number	US-202017103300-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 24, 2020
Priority date	May 7, 2010
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

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.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A method for feeding envelopes containing contents, comprising the steps of:
stacking a plurality of envelopes containing contents in an input bin to form a stack of envelopes in which the envelopes are in a generally vertical orientation; displacing the stack toward a feeder; sensing the pressure of the stack against the feeder; driving the feeder to attempt to feed an envelope from the stack; detecting whether the feeder fed the envelope from the stack; iteratively driving the stack toward and away from the feeder in response to detecting that the feeder did not feed the envelope from the stack.

19 . The method of claim 1 comprising the step of driving the feeder to attempt to feed the envelope during the step of iteratively driving the stack.

20 . The method of claim 1 comprising the step of detecting the angular orientation of the front of the stack adjacent the feeder.

21 . The method of claim 20 wherein the step of iteratively driving the stack toward the feeder is in response to the detected angular orientation of the front of the stack.

22 . An apparatus for feeding envelopes containing contents, comprising:
an input bin configured to receive a stack of envelopes containing contents; a feeder configured to feed an envelope from the stack of envelopes; a pusher configured to displace the stack toward the feeder; a first sensor sensing a characteristic indicative of the pressure of the stack against the feeder; a second sensor operable to detect whether the feeder feeds the envelope; a controller operable to control the feeder and the pusher in response to signals received from the first and second sensors, wherein in response to signals from the first and second sensors the controller provides control signals to the pusher to iteratively drive the pusher toward and away from the feeder.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the controller is configured to provide control signals to drive the feeder to attempt to feed the envelope while the pusher is iteratively driven toward and away from the feeder.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the stack comprises a front end adjacent the feeder and the apparatus comprises a third sensor operable to detect the angular orientation of the front end of the stack.

25 . The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the controller is operable to provide control signal to iteratively drive the pusher toward and away from the feeder in response to the detected angular orientation of the front of the stack.

26 . The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to provide control signals to iteratively drives the stack toward and away from the feeder in response to signals from the third sensor.

Assignees

• Opex Corp

Inventors

• Allen John
• Dewitt Robert R
• Valinsky Joseph

Classifications

• B43M7/02 Primary

  Devices for both opening envelopes and removing contents · CPC title

• B26D1/00

  Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member {or particular materials not otherwise provided for}; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor · CPC title

• B43M7/005 Primary

  with at least two cutting discs · CPC title

• B65H7/04 Primary

  responsive to absence of articles, e.g. exhaustion of pile (B65H7/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H2515/34

  Pressure, e.g. fluid pressure · CPC title