Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~134~81~ `:
EXTRACTOR
This invention relates in general to envelope pro-
cessing machinery and deals more particularly with an improved
extractor for removing contents from envelopes.
he large volume of business reply mail being handled
today has created the need for automatic envelope processing
machinery capable of processing large volumes of business reply
., . :
envelopes to rapidly remove and separate contents thereof. The
general purpose of the present invent;on is to provide an im-
proved compact machine or extractor of the aforedescribedgeneral type which remove~ and separates contents from envel-
~; opes, w~ich pref~rably remain in one piece ater separation
to minimize production of scrap, and which veriies that the
,
~,
oontents have been removed from each envelope before the envel-
ope i9 conveyed by the machine to a waste receptacl~ or the
; like. It is a further aim of the invention to provide an
,~.
extractor capable of compensating for minor variations in the
dimensions of standard envelopes, as for example, folding
error~ which may have occurred during envelope manufacture so
that such enevelope~ will not jam in the machine causing inter-
;'..'
ruption in production.
In accordance with ~he present invention, an improved
.... .
~ extractor is provided for removing contents from generally
.....
rectangular envblopes having two panels connected together
., .
along three side edges and open along a fourth side edge. The
extractor comprises means for successively advancing envelopes
~1 along a predetermined path to a cutter assembly which cuts each
envelope along lines of severance which extend from said fourth
sid~ edge and across the envelope whereby to separate one
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~413~38
envelope panel from the other along opposite connected edges
to leave the contents thereof in juxtaposition between the
panels. Separating means receives the severed envelope and
its contents from the cutter assembly and grips and moves one
panel in a direction generally away from the other of the
panels and the contents of the envelope whereby to separate
the contents from the severed envelope.
In the Drawinqs:
. .
Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view
of an extractor embodying the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a typical opened
- envelope of the type processed by the extrac~or of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective botbom view of the envelope
of Fig. 2 after it has been partially processed by the extrac-
tor of Fig. 1.
; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the extractor of Fig.
1 as viewed from above-looking toward the left side o the
machine.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the extractor as
1 20 viewed from above looking toward the right side of the machine.
`~ Fig. 6 is another perspective view of the extractor
: .
- as viewed from above looking toward the front o the machine.
j Fig. 7. is a somewhat enlarqed fragmentary sectionalview taken along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 1, and shown ~omewhat
. ~ .
!~ schematically.
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the extractor.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the
lines 9-9 of Fig. 8. ~;
Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line
., I
.. .. . .
.. 1," ~ , . . .
:.: .: . . ~, , . ." . .-
.. . . . .. . . . .
i38
10-10 of Fig. 9.
Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are fragmentary schematic views
of the extractor and show the sequence of separating content_
from an envelope which has been cut by the extractor.
Fig. 14 i~ a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectiona
view taken along the line 14, 14 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 15 iq a fragmentary sectional view taXen along
the line 151, 15 of Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 (shown on the seventh sheet of drawings) is
a somewhat schematic view of the contents detection mechanism.
Turning now to the drawings, an extractor for removing
contents from previouely opened envelopes and embodying the
present invention iP illustrated and designated by the refer-
ence num~,ral 10. The extractor 10 is particularly adapted to
, .:
process sealec,, generally rectangular enve~opes which have been
opened by a conventional envelop2 opening machine or the like
-, which slits an envelope along one edge. A typical opened ;
" .
`~ envelope ready for processing by the extractor 10 is indicated
j generally by the reEerence numeral 12 in Fig. 2. The envelopeL2 has two panels 14 and 16 connected together along three side
edges 18, 18 and 20 and defining an opening 22 along the fourth
i ~.
side edge of the envelope.
The illustrated extractor 10 is a table top unit and
generally comprises an envelope magazine or input hopper desig-
nated generally by the numeral 24 for containing a stack of
opened envelopes 12, 12. The envelopes are individually with- -
~, drawn in sequence from the hopper by a feed mechanism indicated
`~; generally at 26 which transfers each successive envelope 12 to
an envelope transport designated generally by the numeral 28.
~4
,. ',:;, . .,- ,, . : , , , ., .,: . ' :. .
8~
~e envelope transport 28 advances each envelope along a
generally predetermined path 29 to a cutter assembly indicated
generally at 30 which cuts the envelope inwardly of its oppo-
site side edges 18, 18 to sever the connections between the
panels 14 and 16 along the latter edges to leave the panel 16
connected to the panel 14 along only one long edge 20, as best
shown in Fig. 3. Preferably, the cutter assembly is arranged
to cut through only one of the panelsJ as for example, the
panel 16 shown in Fig. 3, along lines of severance 32, 32 which
extend across the latter panel. The cutter assembly 30 is pre-
ferably further arranged to cut upwardly through the lower
panel of each envelope as ît advances along the path 29 and it
will be noted that the envelope 12, as it appears :in Fig. 3,
has be~n cut in the aforede~cribed manner. A separating mach-
anism indicated generally at 34 receives each severed envelope
from the cutter assembly 30, grips and releasably holds the
severed lower panels 16 and moves it in a direction away from
the upper panel 14 and the envelope contents which is initially
~j
disposed in juxtaposition between the two panels. A deflector
or chute 38 at the ~ront of the extractor lO enters between
; and spreads the two panels as the envelope is advanced by the
; ~eparating mechanism to an envelope conveyor mechanism indicated
generally at 40. The conveyor mechanism defines two envelopes
discharge paths, one path terminating at the front and the
other at the rear of the extractor 10. A two-position gate
:
mechanism indicated generally at 42 cooperates with the con-
veyor mechanism to determine the path along which each severed,
emptied envelope travels to a discharge point. Thus, when the
gate mechanism is in one position, emptied envelopes are dis-
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.;, . . . :. . . , : ..
~4~38 : :
charged at the rear of the extractor whereas when the gate isin its other positionJ emptied envelopes are ejected from the
front of the machine and toward the machine operator. The
position of the ga-te may be manually controlled by an operator
or, if desired, an automatic detection device such as indicated
::
generally at 44 may be provided for moving the gate 42 from
on~ to the other of its positions in response to malfunction
of the appa~atus, as will be hereinafter further described.
i Considering now the extractor 10 in further ~etail,
,
it has a frame indicated generally at 46 which includes right
-j and left side members 48 and 50 connected in transversely
; spaced relation by a plurality of tie rods and an acceleration
~ : .
plate 52 which extends therebetween and as best shown in Fig.
.. .. .
8. The plate 52 i8 inclined in a forward and upward direction
~ and has an upward facing envelope supporting surface which
''~A defines a portion of the path 29. The hopper 24 is supported
generally above the plate 52 and comprises a pair of elongated
rear support members 54J ~4 which generally define the rear of
~i~ the hopper. Each support member 54 carries a side rail 56
. .J
J 20 which defines an associated side of the hopper as best shown
; in Figs. 4 and 5. The rear ~upport members S4J 54 are slidably
~ received on a tie rod 58 and further supported on the frame by
. .j ,
' an adjustment screw 60 which has right and left hand threaded
''t portions each of which respectively threadably engages an
.:, . .
'~'! associated one of the rear æupport members 54J 54. The end
;~ portions of the adjustment screw are respectively journalled
on the frame members 48 and 50. A crank 62 mounted on the
right-hand end of the adjustment screw 60 is opsrable to move
1 the support members 54, 54 transversely of the frame and
' .' ;i ' ' :
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~4~318 .
generally toward and away from each other to adjust the width
of the hopper 24 to accommodate var,ious si~es of envelopes.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 7 and 8, the
'', feed mechanism 26, shown somewhat schematically, comprises a
~' pair of vacuum p:ickexs 64, 64 supported below the plate 52 for
reciprocal movement through apertures in the plate, as shown
~,-, in Fig. 8, and generally toward and away from the hopper 24
.. betwe2n an envelope pick-up position indicated by full lines
and an envelope release positio~ shown in broken lines in Fig.
' 10 7. The pickers 64, 64 are driven by a pair of cam~ 66, 66
,-,~ mounted on a cam shaft 68 which is journalled on the side
~3l members 48 and 50 and extends therebetween. Another cam 7~.
mounted on the cam shaft 68 operates a control valve 71 con-
~ nected in series between section pads carried by the pickers
''' 64~ 64 and a vacuum pump indicated by the numeral 72 and
" j
mounted on the frame 46. The envelope transport 28 generally
,:~ comprises an accelerator or pusher mechanism which includes a
',;'ll p~hurality of transversely spaced pusher fingers 74, 74 mounted
'~ on a sliding pin carrier and received in slots formed in the
~ 20 pla~e 52. Another cam 76 mounted on the cam shaft 68 coop- ~:
:.:,, erates with a foLlower lever 78 mounted on ia rocker shaft 80
;l to rock another lever 81 connected between the shaft 80 and
~ the pin carrier to impart reciprocal movement to the pusher
`~ fingers 74, 74 generally toward and away from the cutter as-
',"''~A sembly 30. ~ ~'
',.,,:1 ::~ The cutter assembly 30 generally comprises a pair of
, cutter units which includes right and left hand units 82 and '
',,:, 82' mounted in transversely spaced relation on the frame to
.~ respectlvely engage and cut the opposite side edges 18, 18
~, of each envelope 12 as it advances along the path 29.
.,
.: -7-
,:,
i~4~3E~8 `
Referring particularly to Figs. 8~ 9 and 10, a typical cutter ~ ;~
unit 82 includes a cutter frame 84 supported for transverse
movement relative to the extractor frame 46 by a pair of tie
~i rods 81 and 83 connected between the side members 48 and 50.
The cutter frame 84 has a cutter shaft 86 journalled therein
which carries a cutter wheel 88 at its inner end. The shaft ,
86 also has a lower feed roller 90, made from rubber or like
material, mounted at its inner end inward of the cutter wheel
:,
88. An adjustable anvil block 92 slidably received in an up-
~`: 10 wardly extending slot in the frame 84 has an anvil shaft ~4
,~ journalled therein parallel to the shaft 86. At its inner
~¦ end, the anvil shaft 94 carries an anvil w~eel 96 spaced slight-ly above the cutter wheel 88 and arranged to cOQperate with the
cutter wheel to define a nip. An upper eed roller 90' mounted
on the inner end of the anvil shaft 94 cooperates with the lower
' !j :
i, feed roller 90. The anvil block 92 is biased downwardly by a
compression spring 97 which acts between the anvil block 92
~j and the cutter frame 84. An adjustment screw 99 passes down-
ward through the cutter frame 84 and threadably engages the ;
~ 20 anvil block 92 to facilitate adjustment of the space between
~' .,
' the anvil wheel and the cutter wheel. Intermeshing gears g8
and 100 mounted on the outer ends of the shafts 86 and 94 drive
~ the latter shafts in opposite directions. Each cutter unit 82,
;, 82 iS driven by an associated hubless gear 102 carried by a
:. drive shaft 104 journalled on the retractor frame 46. Each
' ' .
~ gear 102 is arranged for axial sliding movement along its drive
.. ~ ,
... ....
~ shaft 104 in driving engagement therewith. Each cutter unit
-: ~
;l 82~ 82' has a gear retaining bracket 105 mounted on its frame
' 84 to maintain its associated drive gear 102 in driving engage-
. ~ ri
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~ 8-
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; . . ., . . . . . , . . -, . . , ;
~0~8~ ~
ment with the gear 98 mounted on its cutter shaft. A cutter
adjustment screw 106 extends transversely of the extractor
frame and has right and left-hand threaded portions respec-
tively threadably engaging the right and left hand cutter
units 82, 8~ crank 107 mounted on the left~hand end of
the adjustment screw 106 may be employed to simultaneously
move the cutter units 82, 82' toward or away from each other
to adjust the extractor 10 to accommodate envelopes of varying
lengths. Each cutter units 82, 82' carries an envelope edge
;~ 10 guide 108 for engaging an associated envelope side~edge 18 as
the enve}ope is advanced into the cutter assembly 30 by the
envelope transport 28. Each edge guide is arranged for trans-
verse adjustment relative to its associated cutter unit 82, 82'.
, Another plate 110 d:i.sposed between the cutter units 82, 82'
., forms an extension of the acce}erator plate 52 to further de-
fine the envelope path 29. The latter plate is arranged to
pivot upward in the manner of a trap door to facilitate ready
', access to the cutter wheels and lower drive rolls.
The separating mechanism 34 generally comprises a
~ 20 hollow cylindrical vacuum drum 112 supported at one end or
;l rotation by a stub drive shaft 114 which extends through the
right-hand side member 48 and carries a drive sprocket 116 at
, its outer end. The left-hand end of the drum 36 is supported
1 by a journal block 118 mounted on the left-hand frame member
~ 50. The block 118 has a passageway 120 which extends coaxially
i~ therethrough to communicate with the interior of the drum 112
and with vacuum ports 122, 122 which open through the peri-
pheral surface of the drum. The drum 112 also has a pair of
,
axially spaced apart annular grooves la4, 124 which open out~
''''~ -9~ ~,'
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: ~ , . . . ,, - :,
1(~4131~S
wardly through its peripheral surface. A flexible air conduit
126 connects the passageway 120 to a blower 127 mounted at the
rear of the frame 46 for drawing a vacuum on the drum 112.
The separator mechanism 34 further includes the drum
follower 128 which comprises a follower block 130 supported
for sliding movement transversely of saicl drum 112 by a tie
... .
rod 131 which extends across the front of the frame~ 46J as
best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The drum follower carries a pair
of endless belts 132, 132 mounted on pulleys journalled on the
foll~wer block 130 at opposite sides thereo. The belts 132,
132 are arranged ko engage an associated portion of the peri-
'~ pheral surface of the drum 112 near the forward terminal end
of the plate 110. A pair of strippers 133, 133, mounted in
; fixed position on another tie rod supported on the frame 46 - '
generally below the drum 112 have free end portions which ex- ;
tend upward and into the annular grooves 124~ 124 as best
, shown in Figs. 6 and 10-12.
, The chute 38 is mounted on the front end of the frame
~l 46 to pivot between active and inactive positions, respectively
`l 20 shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The chute is pivoted at its lower end
and in its active position, Fig. 5, the upper end of the chute
rests on a tie rod 135 near the drum 112 so that the upper end
~;~! of the chute is disposed in close proximity to the peripheral
:! surface of the drum. The chute is inclined in a forward and
downward direction in generally tangential relation to the drum
112. The chute may be pivoted to its inactive positionJ as it
j appears in Fig. 6~ to permit ready access to mechanisms located
therebehind.
.. I .
' The envelope conveying mechanism 40J which receives
1 0--
1~4~88
each envelope advanced by the separator drum 112 preferably
comprises thxee endless belt conveyors respectively indicated
at 134, 136 and 138 and best shown in Fig. 1. Each of tile
conveyors includes a set of transversely spaced endless belts
carried by pulleys moun-ted on shafts which are journalled on
the side members 48 and 50 and extend therebetween. The con-
veyor 134 is supported on pulleys carried by shafts 140 and
142 and defines a generally horizontal path which extends from
the front to the rear of the extractor 10. The conveyorrl36J
; ! ,
arranged in driving engagement with the conveyor 134, is sup-
ported by shafts 146, 148, 150 and 152. The shaf-t 146 com-
prises a drive shaft and has a drive pulley 144 mounted at
`~ its left-hand end. The conveyor 138 has a generally trianyu-
, lar configuration as viewed in Fig. 1~ is supported by shafts
''. .1
,',i 154~ 156 and 158J and runs in d~iven engagement with an asso-
ciated portion of the conveyor 136~ substantially as shownJ ~ ;
, Thus, the drive shaft 146 comprises a common drive for the
three belt conveyors which make up the conveyor system 40.
, . .~ .
` Each of the latter conveyors has a pair of belt tensioners
mounted at opposite ends of an associated one of its shafts.
A pair of typical belt tensioners associated with the shaft
. 154 are indicated at 160, 160 in Fig. 6. It will be further
noted that the shafts 146 and 158 respectively carry a pair of
pinch rolls 162 and 164 which run in peripheral engagement.
Another pinch roll 166 carried by a shaft 154 runs in peripheral
engagement with an associated portion of the drum 112.
~ The extractor 10 is preferably driven by a variable
,~ speed DC motor 168 which drives a sprocket 170 at the left hand
~ side of the extractor as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. A chain 172
.: .. . .
~' connects the sprocket 170, the ~onveyor drive sprocket 144 and
- 1 1-
:- J
: '"`.'' :' : . .. ' . , . ;:
~()41;~8~3
another sprocket 174 carried by a shaft 176 which extends
-transversely of the frame 46. The opposite end of the shaft
176 is connected through an electric clutch 178 to another - ?
,: :
drive sprocket 180 a-t the right hand side of the machine, best
shown in Fig. 5. A chain 182 driven by the sprocket 180 is
:''
drivingly connected to the cam shaft 68, the cutter drive shaft
~ .
`~ L04 and the drum 112 through associate~ sprockets. ThusJ the
feed mechanism 26, the envelope transport 28, the cutter as-
sembly 30, the separating mechanism 34 and the conveyor mech-
anism 40 are driven in timed relation with each other. Another
motor 184 mounted at the fro~t of the machine, as best shown
. i
j in Fig. 9, drives a belt 186 at the right hand side o~ the
~ machine which runs over an idler pulley 188 and drives the
,:
blower 127.
j The gate mechanism 42 includes a gate rocket shaft
-~ 194 located at the front of the machine orward of the conveyor ;
~; shaft 146, as best shown in Fig. 1. A plurality of gate mem- ~
. :, .,
bers 196, 196 are mounted in axially spaced series along the
shaft 194. Each of the gates has an arcuate concave surface
.':' ;1 ' ~ . '
198 facing in the direction of the conveyor 136 and generally
complementing the forward end of the latter conveyor. Each
gate member also includes a generally upwardly facing surface
200. The gate members 196, 196 are arranged to rock with the ;;
shaft 194 between a first or full line position and a second
`¦ position indicated in broken lines in Figs. 1 and 16. A
torsion spring 202, which surrounds the right-hand end of the
shaft 194J acts between a collar on the shaft and the side
.~ ,
`j member 48 to bias each gate member 1~, to its first position.
:, A solenoid, 204, mounted on the side member 48 acts upon a
:~$
.,
,,
~ -12-
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; .. ~::: :;: : . ,: : . . . ..
1(~4~8~3
lever 206 mounted on the gate rocket shaft to move the gate
mechanism to its second position. A manually operated recall
buttom 208 is provided for energizing the gate solenoid 204,
however, the solenoid 204 may also be operated by the detec-
tion device 44.
Considering now the automatic recall or contents
detection devioe 44 in further detail ancl referring particu-
larly to Figs. 14-16, the detection device 44 is disposed in
the path of envelope travel between the separating mechanism
34 and the yate mechanism 42. Preferably, and as shown/ it
is mountèd in a fixed position relative to the common belt
; runs of the conveyor 136 and 138 and in the space hetween the
transversely spaced belts which comprise the latter conveyors
substantially as shown. The illustrated detection device
, :
comprises two sensing elements indicated generally at 210, 210.
Each sensing element includes a photocell 212 and an opposing
light source or light emitting diode 214 located in the take-
away path of enevelopes, after extraction. The sensing ele-
ments 210, 210 are spaced apart in the direction of envelope
travel and each is arranged to respond to a predetermined con-
dition of an envelope as, for example~ the amount of infrared
energy which passes through a single thickness of the paper
which comprises the main portion of an opened, emptied envel-
ope. When two thicknesses of paper are encountered as, for
example, when an envelope secmor a document passes one sPnsing
element 210 the change in the amount of energy received by the
photocell 212 thereof is sufficient to trigger an associated
circuit. The information imparted by the triggered circuit is
trans~itted to a logic circuit which determines if both photo-
-13-
: : , , ................... .: . ,: ,. . .: . .
. ~ ~ . , .
1¢~41;~88
cells 212, 212 are simultaneously blocked. The sensing ele-
ments 210, 210 are so spaced along the envelope path that
both elements will not be simultaneously blocked by the passage
of an envelope seam, however, simultaneous blockage of both
sensing elements 210, 210 will indicate presence of a docu- .
ment or other undesirable material which may comprise the
contents of the opened envelope. Th~ gate solenoid operates
,. i
~ in response to detection of a desired predetermined condition
--~ by the detection device to divert the envelope and document or
~ 10 the like to and along the second conveyor path where it is
ejected at the front end of the machine. A logic circuit for
`i~ accomplishing the aforedescribed purpose i9 illustrated some- : :
¦ what schematically in Fig. 16 where the two sensing devices
.~ ', ':
~:~ are shown connected to the inputs of a NOR gate 216. The NOR :~ ~
`.~ gate output is connected in series with an inverter 218, an :
amplifier 220 and the conveyor gate solenoid 204. Simultane~
ous detectio.n of a desired predetermined condition by both .
sensing devices, as for example, the presence of two thi~k- .. ~:~
.~ nesses of paper which simultaneously blocks both sensing ele-
~l 20 ments 210, 210 will cause the conveyor gate solenoid 204 to be
, .
.~: activated whereby to recall the envelope or eject it at the :~.
;i front of the machine and toward the operator. Preferably,. ~ .
... . .
. drive mechanism which operates the envelope transport, the
-.. cutter assembly, and the separating mechanism is disabled, as : ~ .
. l .:
I by de-energizing the electric clutch 178, each time the gate ~:.
. solenoid 204 is operated, either manually or in response to
` . -`1
.. ~ the automatic recall device 44. .
i.~ The illustrated clutch circuit includes a timer 222
:: ,j
:~ for disengaging the clutch to stop the separating mechanism
' :i
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~6341388
at a predetermined position, wherein an envelope carried
thereby is approaching its contents extracting position each
time the conveyor gate solenoid 204 is operated.
After envelopes 12, 12 of a generally predetermined
size have been opened along one long sidle edge thereof, as,
for exampleJ by slitting on a conventional envelope opening
machine or the LiXe, the envelopes are stacked into the input
. ~.,
~` hopper 24 with the open edges thereof facing toward the front
of the extractor 10. The hopper is then adjusted, as neces-
sary, by operating the crank 62 to bring the side rails 56,
56 thereof into light contact with opposite side edge~ 18, 18
, ........................................................................ .
of the envelopes 12~ 12. The rearwardly inclined arrangement
;j of the hopper prevents coins or other loose contents from
~alling from the envelopes. A single envelope 12 is withdrawn
from the hopper by the vacuum pickers 64, 84 which deposit the
envelope on the acceleration plate 52 whereupon picker vacuum
is cut-off by the valve 71 The transport device 28 then oper-
, ~ .
ates to advance the envelope along the path 29 to the cutter
assembly 30. As the envelope is advanced, the pusher fingers
74, 74 square the envelope or align it with its longitudinal
axis generally normal to its path of advance. The edge guides
108, 108 which have been adjusted to touch each side edge 18
of the advancing envelope to laterally align the envelope and :
guide each of its ends into the nip ~etween a pair of upper
~ and lower feed rolls ~0, 90'. The edge guides 108~ 108 are
j adjusted to accommodate an envelope of standard length there-
between and control the distance from each envelope edge 18
to an associated cutter wheel 88. The distance inwardly from
~, each side edge 18 to an associated line of severance is
'',;
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:, ~. . . . , ~ . .;- . . .. .
. . : .. . i: . . . - . ~ .,,:
4:;11 35~
established by adjusting the edge guides 108, 108 and once
the edge guides have been adjusted this distance cannot in-
crease even though the le~igth of the envelopes may vary. If
a slightly longer than standard envelope is fed into the cutter
assembly, the envelope will be bowed upwardly at its center as ;
it is advanced through the cutter assembly by the feed rolls.
If, however, the length of the envelope is substantially
greater than standard, the envelope will be halted by engage-
" . , .
ment with the edge guides 108, 108 and will not pass into the
cutter assembly.
~: As each envelope 12 passes through the cutter assem-
3 bly 30, the cutter wheels 88, 88 cut upwardly through only the ;~
Lower envelope pane.L 16 due to the spacing between each cutter
wheel 88 and its associated anvil wheel. The depth of each
,, .
cut is determined by adjusting each cutter adjustment screw 99,
~ so that each cutter wheel 88 cuts through all but one thickness
....~
of envelope material~. Thus, the lower or back panel 16 of the
envelope 12 is separated from its upper panel along its connec- ~ ;
..
~-¦ ted edges 18, 18 or more specifically along the lines of sev-
erance 32, 32 without trimming or removing material from the
envelope. The cut i5 made on the down or lower side of the
:, .
~ envelope to provide a lower cut-off panel in the envelope which
-~ is of substantially only one thickness and has a less resist-
l~ ance to flexure than the upper panel which includes small un-
3''.. 1 .
cut portions at its opposite edges 18, 18. Thius, the lower ;~
~ panel more readily adapts to follow the cont0ur of the sepa-
i3
rator drum 112. The æevered envelope advanced by the cutting
assembly 30 enters the nip between the saparator drum 112 and
the drum follower 128. As the envelope 12 leaves the cutter
. .,
~; ~
~ -16-
:-.
... ... . . . .
3~313
assembly it is timed so that the leading edge of its lower or
back panel 16 ovierlies the vacuum ports 1~2, 122 which hold
the panel down tightly against the peripheral surace of the
drum. ~he drum follower 128 causes the somewhat stiffer upper
panel 14 and the envelope contents to follow a portion of the
- peripheral surface of the drum. Referring now to Figs. 11-13,
it will be noted that as the envelope and its contents, indi-
cated at C, leave the nip between the drum follower 128 and
the drum 122 the contents C and the upper panel 14 tend to
follow a tangential path relative to the drum 112. As the
drum continues to rotate in a clockwise direction, as it
appears in Figs. 11-13, the upper end of the chute 3~ enters
the space between the two panels 14 and 16 below the contents
C and catches the contents to dlrect it away from the emptied
envelope which then follows the path of the drum 112. The
upper end of the chute 38 acts to plow or fald the upper panel
14 toward a trailing position relative to the lower panel 16.
As the drum 112 continues to rotate, the leading edge of the
panel 16 is drawn into the nip between the pinch roll and the
drum and is xemoved from the drum by the strippers 133, 133
which guide it along a generally tangential path relative to
;, the drum and into the envelope conveyor system 40. The envel-
ope 12 is conveyed through the document detection device 44
- and if no document or contents is detected, the gate mechanism
42 remains in its first position so that the leading edge of
~I the emptied envelope engages the arcuate surfaces 198, 198 on
the gate members 194, 194 which divert the envelope along the
common run between the conveyors 134 and 136 to a discharge
point at the rear of the machine and into a trash container
-17-
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~J41388
or the like (not sho~n). However, i~ the detection device 44
detects the presence of a document the logic circuit afore-
described operates the conveyor gate mechanism 42 to shift
the gate mechani~,m to its second or full line position as it
appears in Fig. ].. In the latter position of the gate, the
surfaces 200, 200 of the various gate members 196, 195 are
aligned with the common run between the conveyors 138 and 136
so that the envelope and its contents are ejected from the
. ,.j . .
front of the machine below the chute 38 and toward the opera- ~.
.,. . . ~ , ,
`- 10 tor. The extractor operator may also recall any desired
envelope by operating the recall buttom 208 which energizes
, the solenoid 204 to change the position of the gate mechanism
; 4Z.
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