US3797350A

US3797350A - Envelope opening apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3797350A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Orrick; W Sottle; Hart J De
Original assignee: United States Envelope Co
Current assignee: United States Envelope Co
Priority date: 1973-07-27
Filing date: 1973-07-27
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19

Abstract

Apparatus for opening letter envelope work items or the like, each having a folded edge margin. A supply of envelope work items are clampingly conveyed in successive order by mating belt means and conveyed transversely across the cutting periphery of a circular cutting element which removes the folded edge margin of each envelope item for permitting access to the envelope contents.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Orrick et a].

[ Mar. 19, 1974 ENVELOPE OPENING APPARATUS [73] Assignee: United States Envelope Company,

Springfield, Mass.

[22] Filed: July 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.1 383,278

. Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 57,045, July 22, 1970,

abandoned.

83/912 [51] Int. Cl......, H B26d 1/20, 826d 7/06 [58] Field of Search 83/49, 355. 418, 422, 912, 1 83/425 [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,047,493 12/1912 Bryant...'..' 83/912 /6e &

1,109,958 9/1914 Bryant 153/912 1,689,703 10/1928 Vidaver i 83/912 3,613,315

10/1971 Schickling.... 83/912 Primary Examiner-Francis S. Husar flttomey, Agent, or Firm-McCormick, Paulding &

Huber [57 ABSTRACT Apparatus for opening letter envelope work items or the like, each having a folded edge margin. A supply of envelope work items are clampingly conveyed in successive order by mating belt means and conveyed transversely across the cutting periphery of a circular cutting element which removes the folded edge margin of each envelope item for permitting access to the envelope contents.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAR 19 m4 3; 7971350 SHEET 2 BF 3 A'TTOFFAJEX ENVELOPE OPENING APPARATUS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 57,045, filed July 22, 1970, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to envelope opening apparatus generally and particularly relates to such apparatus operative for successively opening a supply of envelopes by edging or removing a fold edge margin of each envelope.

Apparatus for rapidly successively opening letter envelopes or the like have been developed and marketed in the past, however, various disadvantages are noted in the design and operation of the prior art machines: The typical letter opening apparatus is of substantially complex design and operation and may include complicated electronic components or the like subject to malfunction. In the operation of the prior art letter opening apparatus, an envelope work item may be mishandled in the envelope-opening process and jam the apparatus, resulting in work stoppage or downtime for clearing the apparatus. Moreover, the envelope work item jamming the machine and the succeeding work items may be mutilated or damaged along with the envelope contents. Such occurrences may necessitate additional time and effort in repairing or replacing the envelope or envelope contents with the resulting additional expense involved. The complicated design and electronic circuitry of certain prior art apparatus also requires the services of experienced, highly skilled personnel in the operation and maintenance of such apparatus resulting in substantially high operating cost for such apparatus.

, A principal object of the instant invention is to provide an envelope opening apparatus which is uniformly consistently operative in successively opening a supply of envelopes.

A further object is to provide envelope opening apparatus of substantially simple mechanical design, and such apparatus which ,does not include complicated electroniccomponents or the like subject to malfunctron.

tended by an operator of negligible skill or practice.

A further object is to provide rapidlyoperative direct acting letter opening apparatus which substantially obviates mishandled envelope work items and resulting work stoppage or downtime resulting from such occurrences. n

A further object is to provide such apparatus which substantially obviatesdamage or mutilation to the envelope work items during the envelope opening process.

A further object is to provide envelope opening apparatus of mechanically simple durable design and construction, admitting of economical manufacture and marketing. t

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the envelope opening apparatus of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal. sectional view of the apparatus taken as on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the envelope guid and crowder means of the apparatus;

FIG. 4is a bottom view of an envelope guide element of the apparatus;

A further object is to provide envelope opening apparatus which is easy to operateand which may be at- FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, taken as on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the circular saw means of the invention and the envelope carrier belts and guide means;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective fragmen'tary'view of the envelope edging means of the invention and illustrating an envelope work item in a partially edged or opened configuration.

The envelope opening apparatus is designated by numeral 12 and primarily includes a circular saw element 14, saw housing structure 16 dependingly supported on the underside of horizontal planar support structure 18, and includes envelope carriage means 20 adapted for guidingly conducting in edgewise successive order a series of envelope work items E and guidingly conducting the lower folded edge margin M of each envelope E across the cutting periphery of the circular saw element 14 (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7).

The envelope carriage means 20 preferably includes an upper pair of

flat belts

22, 22" drivingly supported on pulley means 24 24r'; 24f, 24r' and defining confronting belt reach portions 26', 26". The carriage means 20 includes also a lower pair of

flat belts

28, 28" drivingly supported respectively on pulleys 32f, 322'; 32], 32r and defining respectively mating belt reach

portions

34, 34". The upper and lower pairs of flat carrier bolts 22', 22"; 28', '28" are runningly supported on the respective pulley means, fixedly secured in turn on respective vertical shaft means 36 36f"; 36r', 36r. The forward pulley means 24]", 24f; 32], 32 are idly journalled respectively to the vertical shaft means 36], 36)" fixedly securedrespectively in pedestal structure 38]", 38f" fixedly secured in turnon the upper surface 40 of the horizontal support structure '18. The rearward shaft means 361'", 36f" provide the drive shaft structure. for the belt pairs 22', 22"; 28, 28", and are turnably supported respectively in bearing pedestals 38r, 38r fixedly supported on the upper surface 40 of the horizontal support structure. Drive belt and pulley means 42; 44, 46, 48, driven by electric motor means 50, simultaneously rotate the

vertical shaft structure

36r, 36r"and correspondingly drives the upper and lower belt pairs 22', 22"; 28', 28". The electric motor is dependingly supported to the underside of the horizontal support structure 18 by vertical truss-

rods

52, 52.

Although the drive belt and pulley means 42 44, 46, 48, driving the vertical shaft means 361-, 36r" is not specifically shown in the drawings, it willbe understood that the particular configuration of the belt and pulley means 42, 44, 46, 48 are arranged for providing contradirectional rotation respectively of the vertical shaft means 36r', 36r" and respectively counterclockwise and clockwise simultaneous rotation rspectively of the flat belt means 22', 28'; 22", 28", as viewed in FIGS.

.1 and 2. The configuration permits the reach portionsv 26., 26"; 34, 34" respectivelyof the upper and lower belt pairs 22', 22";28', 28" to simultaneously move' forwardly along a vertical plane of movement and to clampingly convey a series of envelope work items E from the infeed side 54 to the outfeed side 56 of the apparatus. The belt reach portions26', 28; 26", 28" respectively of the belts 22', 28-; 22", 28" simultaneously engage respectively opposite envelope side surfaces S, S and operatively successively convey a series of envelopes intermittently across the cutting periphery of the circular saw element 14 (see FlGS. 1 and 5).

The circular saw element 14 is supported on shaft structure 58 transversely arranged of the

carrier belts

22, 22"; 28, 28"; the saw element 14 is arranged with its upper periphery received in a slot opening 60 formed in the planar support structure 18 and in a disposition whereat the extreme cutting periphery of the teeth 62 of the saw element project slightly above the upper surface 40 of the planar support structure. Each envelope work item is edgewise conveyed and with its lower folded edge margin M runningly engaging the upper surface 40 of the horizontal support structure. As each work item intersects the upper extremity of the cutting periphery of the saw element 14, saw teeth 62 sever the fold edge M of the envelope body B (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

The envelope sawdust or waste material from the cutting element 14 is conducted through the housing 16, and a conduit 64, and through the discharge opening 66 of a centrifugal fan unit 70. Vertical and horizontal support structure 72, 74, fixedly supported respectively on the horizontal planar support structure 18 and the housing of'electric motor 50, stationarily mount the centrifugal fan 70 on a vertical axisfThe horizontal support member 74 is of elongate plate configuration and is fixedly secured to the motor housing by nut means 76, 76 threadedly engaging the lower end portions of

trussrods

52,52. Drive belt and pulley means 78, 80, 82, drivingly connect the impeller shaft 84 of the fan 70 to the output shaft 86 of the motor 50. An electric motor 88 drives the circular cutting element 14 through belt and pulley means 90; 92, 94. The motor 88 is fixedly supported on a horizontal axis by a mounting plate 96 fixedly secured to the vertical support 72.

The circular saw assembly, as indicated by numeral 98, preferably is of the form illustrated in the drawings; the saw housing 16 preferably is of two part configuration, including an upper and a lower housing section 16a, 16b, fixedly secured together by cap screws 160 along a horizontal plane of intersection 16d (see FIG. 5). A plurality of screw elements 100 extend respectively upwardly through external flange structure 162 of housing section 16a and threadedly engage the planar support structure 18. The saw assembly 98 is dependingly supported on the underside of the planar support structure with the upper periphery of the saw received in the slot opening 60 formed in the support structure. The saw shaft 58 preferably is journalled in radial ball bearing means 102]", 102r friction-fitted respectively in apertures l04f, l04r defined by mating semi-circular bearing recesses formed in the upper and lower saw housing portions 16a, 16b. A nut 106 is threaded on the rearward end of the saw shaft 58 and clampingly secures'the bearing 102r against a shoulder portion 108 of the shaft. The pulley 94 is of threaded nut form and is threadedly fixed on the forward end portion of the saw shaft 58. The pulley 94 clampingly secures the bearing l02f against a spacer member 110, which in turn clampingly secures the saw element 14 against the shoulder portion 108 of the saw shaft.

The letter opening apparatus preferably includes a left envelope guide and crowder assembly 112 and a right envelope guide and crowder assembly 112". The left and right envelope guide and

crowder assemblies

112', 112" are arranged in corresponding relation and superjacently transversely symmetrically of the circular cutting element 14. The left and

right assemblies

112', 112 include respectively guide plate elements 114', 114 having respectively inner and outer edge portions 114a, 114b'; 114a", 1l4b", and respectively crowder roller elements 116', 116 turnably mounted respectively to the guide plate elements 114', 114 by vertical bearing pin means 118, 118" threadedly engaging the respective guide plates; the threaded shoulder portions 120', 120 of the bearing pins 118, 118" fixedly secure respectively the bearing pins to the

guide plates

114, 114" and journal respectively the

crowder rollers

116, 116" in horizontal generally coplanar relation.

The

crowder rollers

116, 116" preferably are provided respectively with resilient circular tread structure for resiliently engaging mating reach portions 34', 34" respectively of the lower pair of carrier belt members 28', 28". The left and right guide and crowder assemblies 112 112 are adjustably mounted respectively by

cap screw elements

122, 122 threadedly fitted in the planar support structure 18; the

cap screw elements

122, 122" are received respectively in slotted

apertures

124, 124 formed respectively in the

guide plates

114, 114". Turnably manipulating the cap screws 122, 122" permits lateral'adjustment respectively of the guide and

crowder assemblies

112', 112" and corresponding adjustment of the assemblies relative to the carrier-belt means and the path of the envelope work'items. I

The guide and crowder assemblies 112", 122" are of somewhat different design particularly in that the guide plate 114 of assembly 112" functions as fender or fence means in guiding the envelopes'E and in receiving the tangential cutting thrust of the sawelement 14. As may well be appreciated, the inner edge 114a of the guide plate 114" receives substantially the total cutting thrust of the saw element 14, and with extended operation of the apparatus, the inner edge 114a" may be worn away by friction of the passing envelope work items: the guide plate 114" preferably is of symmetrical form longitudinally and laterally thereof for permitting adjustment manipulation of the guide plate and for changing positions of the inner and outer edge portions 114a, 114b. By removal and reinsertion of the cap screws 122", the right envelope guide and crowder assembly 112 may be turned end for end, for arranging an unused outer edge 1l4b" of the guide plate on the inner side thereof when the inner edge 114a" is worn away in use.

The right envelope guide and crowder assembly 112" also preferablyincludes anvil means 126 transversely fitted in the underside of the guide plate 114" and defines shear edge means adapted for shearing cooperation'with the circular series of cutting teeth 62 of the saw element 14. The a'nv'il member 126 is generally of bar-like inverted U transverse section, and is snugly fitted in a grooveway 128 formed transversely in the underside of the guide plate 114" by a pair of flush head screws 130. The anvil member 126 extends coextensive with the width of the guide plate 114" and the opposite end surfaces respectively of the anvil define opposite vertical. face surfaces 126a,- l26b arranged generally flush respectively with the inner and outer vertical surfaces 114a", ,b" of the guide plate. The recessed horizontal undersurface 132 of the anvil 126 intersects at opposite end portions thereof the vertical face surfaces 126a, 1261) and defines the horizontal shearing edges 126aa, 126kb, each being selectively positionable for coaction with the circular saw teeth 62. As may well be appreciated, when the right guide and crowder assembly 1 12" is turned end for end, as for example, when arranging the guide edge 1 14b contiguous to the carrier belt reach 34", the shear edge l26bb of the anvil will likewise be turned to a disposition contiguous to the carrier belt reach and to a disposition for shear-cutting action with the teeth 62 of the circular saw.

Also, the location of the guide plate 114" is such that the active one of the vertical surfaces 114a" and 11412, that is, the one facing the other guide plate 1 14', is located in a vertical plane parallel to and spaced from the vertical plane containing the axis of rotation of the cutter 14, as seen in FIG. 5. Therefore, by adjusting the guide plate 114 laterally, toward or away from the other guide plate 114, as permitted by the cap screws 122 and slots 124" and as previously described, the spacing between the cutter teeth 62 and the active horizontal shearing edge 126aa or 1261212 may be adjusted to provide that spacing which yields optimum shearing action on the envelope work items. Further, the offset of the vertical guide surface 114a or ll4b" from the plane containing the axis of cutter rotation causes the shearing of the work items to take place at a point on the cutter periphery at which the cutter teeth have a component of downwardmovement, as evidenced from FIG. 7; As aresultthefshean ing action exerts a downwardlydirected force on each work item tending to hold it in place on the upper surface of the support 18, thereby inhibiting'tipping of the work item and assuring cutting of its edge margin to the desired depth; I

The left envelope guide and crowder assembly 112', or particularly the guide plate structure 114' thereof, is of asymmetrical form and is not intended to be turned end for end for presenting a new wear surface as does the right guide and crowder assembly 112". During operation of the envelope opener apparatus, there is negligible wear on the inner edge1l4a' of the guideplate 114' and thus the left guide and crowder assembly 112 may be maintained at an optimum setting indefinitely. The guide plate 114 is provided with a transverse recessed undersurface 134 for permitting free passage of the cutting periphery of the circular saw element.

In operation, a series of envelope work items E are individually successively introduced simultaneously between the belt reach portions 26', 26", 28', 28" and on the infeed side 54 of the apparatus. The envelopes are clampingly conveyed between the belt reach portions and with the lower folded edge margin M of each envelope being slidably conveyed'along the upper surface 40 of the horizontal support structure 18. The cutting periphery of the circular saw protrudes slightly above the planar surface 40 of the support structure and as each envelope passes across the cutting periphery of the saw, the lower fold margins M of the series of envelopes are removed, providing access to the envelope contents. i

While the instant invention is shown and described in an embodiment presently conceived as being a preferred embodiment, various changes and modification in the structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for opening in successive order a supply of sealed envelope work items or the like, each having a folded edge margin, the apparatus comprising a circular cutter driven on a horizontal axis so that said cutter rotates in a vertical plane, said cutter having a circular series of unidirectionally oriented cutting teeth on its outer periphery, envelope carriage means adapted for guidingly conducting in edgewise successive order a supply of envelopes along a generally horizontal path lying generally crosswise of the plane of rotation of said circular sawing element, said carriage means including means for guidingly conducting said folded edge margin of each work item longitudinally of itself and in a path crosswise intersecting the cutting periphery of said cutter to a depth radially of said cutter sufficient substantially only for removing said folded edge margin of each work item, and an anvil means for cooperation with said cutting teeth of said cutter, said anvil means providing a generally horizontal shearing edge and a generally vertical surface extending upwardly from said shearing edge, said shearing edge and said generally vertical surface of said anvil means being located in a vertical plane spaced from the vertical plane containing said axis of cutter rotation with said generally vertical surface facing said vertical plane containing said axis of cutter rotation whereby said cutting teeth of said cutter as they pass said shearing edge of said anvil means have a downwardly directed component of movement.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by meansfor adjustably positioning said anvil means in a horizontal plane toward and away from said vertical plane containing said axis ofcutter rotation to adjustably vary thespacing between said shearing edge of said anvil means and said teeth of said cutter.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said carriage means including a stationary horizontal guide plate having a first planar vertical edge surface facing said vertical plane containing said axis of cutter rotation and arranged adjacent said path of said work items so as to engage the lower margin of each work item conductedalong said path, said anvil means being part of said guide plate and said shearing edge of said anvil means being located in the plane of said first vertical edge surface of said guide plate.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said guide plate having a second planar vertical edge parallel to said first planar vertical edge, said anvil means providing a second shearing edge located in the plane of said second vertical edge, and means for alternativelyfixing said guide plateto the remainder of said apparatus with either said first vertical surface thereof or said second vertical surface thereof adjacent said path of said work items.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said anvil means comprising an anvil member separate from theremainder of said guide plate,

said anvil member being of inverted U-shape in transverse section, and said remainder of said guide plate having a downwardly facing grooveway receiving said anvil member. r

6. The apparatus as set forth in ciaim 3 further characterized by said anvil means comprising an anvil mem ber separate from the remainder of said guide plate, said anvil member extending transversely of said guide plate'from said first to said second planar vertical edges thereof and defining both of said two shearing edges. a t t a =l= UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFIQATE ()F CORRECTION 3 Patent: No. 3,797 ,350 Dated March 19 1974 Inventor(S) W.E. Orri'ck, William Sottle and John R. DeHart It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, line 56, "rspectively" should read --respective1y- Col. 4, line 65, "114a" b" should read --114a" 114b" Col. 6, line 48, after each occurrence of "edge" insert -surface- 1ine 5O, after "edge" insert --surfaceline 52 after"vertica1" insert ---edge-, line 53, after "vertical" insert edge-- line 2, "claim 3" should read --c1aim 4-- line 66, cancel "edges" and substitute --edge surfaces-- Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974.

Attest: v I

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means for adjustably positioning said anvil means in a horizontal plane toward and away from said vertical plane containing said axis of cutter rotation to adjustably vary the spacing between said shearing edge of said anvil means and said teeth of said cutter.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said carriage means including a stationary horizontal guide plate having a first planar vertical edge surface facing said vertical plane containing said axis of cutter rotation and arranged adjacent said path of said work items so as to engage the lower margin of each work item conducted along said path, said anvil means being part of said guide plate and said shearing edge of said anvil means being located in the plane of said first vertical edge surface of said guide plate.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said guide plate having a second planar vertical edge parallel to said first planar vertical edge, said anvil means providing a second shearing edge located in the plane of said second vertical edge, and means for alternatively fixing said guide plate to the remainder of said apparatus with either said first vertical surface thereof or said second vertical surface thereof adjacent said path of said work items.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said anvil means comprising an anvil member separate from the remainder of said guide plate, said anvil member being of inverted U-shape in transverse section, and said remainder of said guide plate having a downwardly facing grooveway receiving said anvil member.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said anvil means comprising an anvil member separate from the remainder of said guide plate, said anvil member extending transversely of said guide plate from said first to said second planar vertical edges thereof and defining both of said two shearing edges.