US3363783A - Document processing device - Google Patents

Document processing device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3363783A
US3363783A US514469A US51446965A US3363783A US 3363783 A US3363783 A US 3363783A US 514469 A US514469 A US 514469A US 51446965 A US51446965 A US 51446965A US 3363783 A US3363783 A US 3363783A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contents
envelopes
conveyor
envelope
belts
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US514469A
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English (en)
Inventor
Rehm Karl
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Telefunken Patentverwertungs GmbH
Original Assignee
Telefunken Patentverwertungs GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telefunken Patentverwertungs GmbH filed Critical Telefunken Patentverwertungs GmbH
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3363783A publication Critical patent/US3363783A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C1/00—Measures preceding sorting according to destination
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43M—BUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B43M7/00—Devices for opening envelopes
    • B43M7/02—Devices for both opening envelopes and removing contents

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The contents of opened envelopes are removed and stacked by means of (1) an inclined suction conveyor which transports the opened envelopes upside down and spreads the sides of the envelopes to allow the contents to fall out, (2) a conveyor for receiving the contents of the envelopes and for holding them ina vertical position while they are being conveyed horizontally, and (3) a stacker for receiving and stacking the contents of the envelopes.
  • the present invention relates to a document processing device, and particularly to a device for automatically removing the contents of opened envelopes.
  • Such arrangements find a wide variety of uses. For example, they are of great value in expediting the handling of postal check vouchers.
  • the vouchers after having been removed from the envelopes, should preferably be finally stacked in such a way that further automatic processing can be carried out by removing individual vouchers in succession from the stack.
  • the presently known envelope emptying de vices perform their intended function reasonably well, they require a substantial amount of additional apparatus to place the envelope contents in a readily usable stack because it is necessary, in order to obtain such a result, to provide substantially the same elements, such as guiding paths, separating belts, etc., as are used for the input units of letter separating arrangements.
  • a considerable expenditure is required for the provision of apparatus for stacking the vouchers removed from envelopes by these known removal devices.
  • the present invention contemplates a novel device for automatically removing the contents of a succession of opened envelopes and for stacking the contents thus removed.
  • Such an arrangement primarily includes means defining a substantially horizontal conveyor path having an initial portion for conveying the envelopes in an upright manner with their opened edge directed downwardly and a second portion for conveying the envelope contents as they leave their envelopes, with the conveyor path transporting the envelopes and contents at a predetermined speed.
  • a device also includes suction conveyor means for drawing the sides of each succeeding envelope away from each other to permit its contents to readily slip out of the envelope, the conveyor means being arranged in the path of the envelopes being transported by the initial portion of the conveyor path and being oriented to move the envelopes in an upward direction which forms an acute vertical angle with the direction of travel of the envelope contents being transported on the conveyor path.
  • the suction conveyor means are arranged to convey the envelopes at a speed whose component parallel to the direction of travel of the envelope contents on the second portion is equal to the above-mentioned predetermined speed.
  • the suction conveyor means is constituted by two opposed, parallel suction conveyor belts which are spaced apart from each other by a sutficient distance to ensure an adequate separation of the sides of each envelope and which are oriented to branch oif upwardly from the conveyor path to a sufficient height to permit the complete separation of each envelope from its contents.
  • the conveyor path maintains the envelope contents in an upright position as they travel over the second portion.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, partly in cross section taken along the plane defined by the line 22 of FIGURE 1.
  • the device according to the present invention includes a horizontal conveyor path for conveying the envelopes 1d and their contents 10' in a horizontal direction while maintaining the envelopes and contents in an upright position.
  • This conveyor path includes a horizontal conveyor belt 3 which is driven by a drive roller 1 and a return roller 2 in the direction of the horizontal arrow.
  • the conveyor path further includes a pair of upright conveyor belts 4 and 5 which are arranged on either side of the envelope contents 10 for maintaining these contents in an upright position and which are driven at the same speed as the belt 3 by the rollers 6, 7 and 8, Q respectively.
  • the envelopes 16, which have previously had their lower edge slit opened, are delivered to the initial portion of the conveyor belt 3 from some preliminary positioning or processing unit by a pair of upright delivery conveyor belts 13 and 14 which are driven at the same speed as the belt 3 by drive rollers 11 and 12, respectively. Only a portion of each of the belts 13 and 14 is shown and the return rollers for these belts are not visible in the figures. Rollers 11 and 12 are driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 1. At the output end of the conveyor path defined by belts 3, 4 and there are disposed a pair of upright, opposed conveyor belts 19 and 20 driven by rollers, or pulleys, 15, 16 and 17, 18, respectively.
  • These belts are disposed relatively close to the output end of belts 3, 4 and S for receiving the envelope contents in an upright position, for maintaining these contents in such a position, and for delivering them in that position to a conventional stacking device 21, with the front roller of belt 19 acting as a stacking roller for these contents.
  • the illustrated device also includes suction conveyor means constituted by two opposed parallel suction conveyor belts which are spaced apart from each other by a sutlicient distance to assure an adequate separation of the sides of each envelope. These conveyor belts are oriented to branch upwardly away from the substantially horizontal conveyor belt at an acute angle with respect to the latter conveyor belt. Belt 22 is driven by rollers 24 and 25, while belt 23 is driven by rollers 26 and 27. Each of the suction conveyor belts is perforated in a conventional manner and is associated with a respective one of the suction enclosures 28 and 29 which are, in turn, connected to a low pressure, or suction, source in a manner which is well known per se.
  • an arrangement for conveying the empty envelopes 10 to a suitable collector includes a pair of substantially upright conveyor belts 31 and 32 each of which is driven by a respective one of the rollers 33 and 534. The other roller for each of these belts, as Well as portions of these belts, are not shown in the figures.
  • the belts 31 and 32 can convey the empty envelopes 10 to any suitable collector container.
  • a pair of vertical, triangular guide panels are disposed in the triangular gap existing between the conveyor belt 3, the suction conveyor belts 22 and 23, and the rollers 6 and 8.
  • the suction belts 22 and 23 are driven at a speed whose component parallel to the direction of travel of the envelope contents on the second portion of the conveyor path, which portion is defined by the region occupied by panels 30 and belts 4 and 5, is equal to the speed at which the conveyor belts 3, 4 and 5 convey the contents 10'.
  • envelopes whose lower edge has been preliminarily opened are delivered by the conveyor belts 13 and 14 onto the horizontal belt 3. Their advance brings them into the region between belts 22 and 23 where the suction produced by these belts draws the sides of each envelope away from each other, as is best seen in FIG- URE 1, and also causes these envelopes to move upward along the belts. Because the envelope sides are drawn away from each other and the envelopes are moved progressively upwardly, the envelope contents 1% are permitted to easily slip out of their associated envelopes 10 until the latter move upwardly to such a height that they are completely separated from their contents.
  • the contents 10' Prior to the complete separation of the contents 10' from the envelopes It), the contents 10' have moved in the region between belts and 5 so that they will be maintained in an upright position after their complete separation from the envelopes 10. As a result, if a particular envelope 10 contains several sheets, the edges of these sheets will remain aligned with one another, thereby facilitating the subsequent stacking of the contents 10'.
  • the contents are then fed to the stacking device 21 by the conveyor belts 19 and 20.
  • the empty envelopes 10 are simultaneously conveyed to a suitable collector container by the belts 31 and .32.
  • the stacked documents 10, which may be constituted by vouchers, are then properly stacked in the stacking device 21 and are in a condition to be transferred to suitable apparatus where they can undergo further processing.
  • a device for automatically removing the contents of a succession of opened envelopes and stacking the contents thus removed comprising, in combination:
  • a device for automatically removing the contents of a succession of opened envelopes and stacking the contents thus removed comprising, in combination:
  • suction conveyor means for drawing the sides of each succeeding envelope away from each other to permit its contents to readily slip out of the envelope, and for conveying the envelopes at a speed whose component parallel to the direction of travel of the envelope contents on said second portion is equal to said predetermined speed, said conveyor means being arranged in the path of the envelopes being transported by said initial portion of said conveyor path and being oriented to move the envelopes in an upward direction which forms an acute vertical angle with the direction of travel of the envelope contents being transported on said conveyor path, said suction conveyor means including two opposed, parallel suction conveyor belts which are spaced apart from each other by .a suflicient distance to assure an adequate separation of the sides of each envelope, and which are oriented to branch 05 upwardly from said conveyor path to a suificient height to permit the complete separation of each envelope from its contents.
  • An arrangement as defined in claim 3 further comprising: a stacking device for stacking the contents re- References Cited moved from the envelopes; a first auxiliary conveyor disposed between the outlet end of said second portion of UNITED STATES PATENTS said conveyor path and said stacking device for convey- 2,683,560 7/1954 Keller,

Landscapes

  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
US514469A 1964-12-28 1965-12-17 Document processing device Expired - Lifetime US3363783A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DET27721A DE1215027B (de) 1964-12-28 1964-12-28 Vorrichtung zur selbsttaetigen Entnahme des Inhaltes von geoeffneten Briefumschlaegen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3363783A true US3363783A (en) 1968-01-16

Family

ID=7553691

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US514469A Expired - Lifetime US3363783A (en) 1964-12-28 1965-12-17 Document processing device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3363783A (de)
BE (1) BE673313A (de)
DE (1) DE1215027B (de)
FR (1) FR1479274A (de)
NL (1) NL6515346A (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3862694A (en) * 1972-08-24 1975-01-28 Wells Fargo & Company Method for removing articles from envelopes
US3870176A (en) * 1972-08-24 1975-03-11 David W Gernetzke Apparatus for removing articles from envelopes
US4863037A (en) * 1986-09-05 1989-09-05 Opex Corporation Apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail and the like
US4986730A (en) * 1988-11-23 1991-01-22 Ferag Ag Stacking apparatus for continuously arriving generally rectangular printed products
US5310062A (en) * 1986-09-05 1994-05-10 Opex Corporation Apparatus for automated mail extraction and remittance processing
US5397003A (en) * 1986-09-05 1995-03-14 Opex Corporation Method and apparatus for determining the orientation of a document
US5460273A (en) * 1986-09-05 1995-10-24 Opex Corporation Apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail having varied characteristics
US5842693A (en) * 1986-09-05 1998-12-01 Opex Corporation Automated mail extraction and remittance processing
US10124959B2 (en) 2014-06-30 2018-11-13 Qualysense Ag Transport apparatus with vacuum belt

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3979884A (en) * 1974-09-30 1976-09-14 Opex Corporation Mail extracting and sorting desk

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2683560A (en) * 1951-11-27 1954-07-13 Stroehmann Brothers Company Method and apparatus for delidding baking pans
US3022912A (en) * 1958-12-10 1962-02-27 Continental Can Co Package opening machine
US3051332A (en) * 1957-12-19 1962-08-28 Int Standard Electric Corp Stacking device

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE164068C (de) *
DE608923C (de) * 1935-02-04 Zwietusch E & Co Gmbh Briefsortierwerk
DE611794C (de) * 1932-06-25 1935-04-06 Zwietusch E & Co Gmbh Briefverteiler, bei welchem ein Foerderband o. dgl. die Briefe auf verschiedenen Empfangsstellen selbsttaetig abwirft
DE963125C (de) * 1955-03-28 1957-05-02 Standard Elek K Ag Vorrichtung zum OEffnen von Briefumschlaegen, Beuteln und aehnlichen Gegenstaenden
DE963126C (de) * 1955-11-10 1957-05-02 Gustav Schickedanz Fa Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum OEffnen von Briefen

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2683560A (en) * 1951-11-27 1954-07-13 Stroehmann Brothers Company Method and apparatus for delidding baking pans
US3051332A (en) * 1957-12-19 1962-08-28 Int Standard Electric Corp Stacking device
US3022912A (en) * 1958-12-10 1962-02-27 Continental Can Co Package opening machine

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3862694A (en) * 1972-08-24 1975-01-28 Wells Fargo & Company Method for removing articles from envelopes
US3870176A (en) * 1972-08-24 1975-03-11 David W Gernetzke Apparatus for removing articles from envelopes
US5518121A (en) * 1986-09-05 1996-05-21 Opex Corporation Method for automated mail extraction and remittance processing
US5310062A (en) * 1986-09-05 1994-05-10 Opex Corporation Apparatus for automated mail extraction and remittance processing
US5397003A (en) * 1986-09-05 1995-03-14 Opex Corporation Method and apparatus for determining the orientation of a document
US5439118A (en) * 1986-09-05 1995-08-08 Opex Corporation Apparatus for extracting documents from envelopes
US5441159A (en) * 1986-09-05 1995-08-15 Opex Corporation Apparatus for handling documents for delivery to remittance processing equipment
US5460273A (en) * 1986-09-05 1995-10-24 Opex Corporation Apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail having varied characteristics
US4863037A (en) * 1986-09-05 1989-09-05 Opex Corporation Apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail and the like
US5540338A (en) * 1986-09-05 1996-07-30 Opex Corporation Method and apparatus for determining the orientation of a document
US5842693A (en) * 1986-09-05 1998-12-01 Opex Corporation Automated mail extraction and remittance processing
US4986730A (en) * 1988-11-23 1991-01-22 Ferag Ag Stacking apparatus for continuously arriving generally rectangular printed products
US10124959B2 (en) 2014-06-30 2018-11-13 Qualysense Ag Transport apparatus with vacuum belt
EP3160876B1 (de) * 2014-06-30 2019-07-24 QualySense AG Transportvorrichtung mit einem vakuumband

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE673313A (de) 1966-04-01
NL6515346A (de) 1966-06-29
FR1479274A (fr) 1967-05-05
DE1215027B (de) 1966-04-21

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