US3627196A

US3627196A - Machine openable envelope

Info

Publication number: US3627196A
Application number: US1938*[A
Authority: US
Inventors: William W Smith
Original assignee: FMC Corp
Current assignee: FMC Corp
Priority date: 1969-12-29
Filing date: 1969-12-29
Publication date: 1971-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-14

Abstract

An envelope having front and back panels defining a cavity therebetween with lines of weak tear strength extending longitudinally across each panel from one side edge to the other overlapping the cavity so that when the lower tear strip portion of the envelope is removed, any contents within the envelope will be exposed sufficiently for gripping along that portion thereof which projected into the tear strip cavity, and restricting means to prevent contents within the tear strip cavity from intruding between front and back panels in an area about which the tear strip portion is gripped for severing from the envelope.

Description

i lie States ateni 72] Inventor William W. Smith San Jose, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 1,938 [22] Filed Dec. 29, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee FMC Corporation San Jose, Calif. Original application May 2, 1968, Ser. No. 726,176. Divided and this application Dec. 29, 1969, Ser. No. 11,939

[54] MACliilNE OPENABLIE ENVlELQlPE 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.5. C1 229/85 [51] int. C1 843m 7/00 [50] Field oi Search 229/81, 85, 86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,097,505 11/1937 Arp et a1 229/86 FOREIGN PATENTS 955,114 11/1947 France 229/81 477,738 10/1951 Canada 229/85 22,509 12/1892 Great Britain 229/85 Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorneys- F. W. Anderson and C. E. Tripp ABSTRACT: An envelope having front and back panels defining a cavity therebetween with lines of weak tear strength extending longitudinally across each panel from one side edge to the other overlapping the cavity so that when the lower tear strip portion of the envelope is removed, any contents within the envelope will be exposed sufficiently for gripping along that portion thereof which projected] into the tear strip cavity, and restricting means to prevent contents within the tear strip cavity from intruding between front and back panels in an area about which the tear strip portion is gripped for severing from the envelope.

PATENTED DEC 1 4 12m SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM W. SMITH I 6 ATTORNEYS PATENTED DEC I 4197! sum 2 0F 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM W. SMITH MTTORNEYS MACHINE OPENABLE ENVELOPE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of applicant's copending application Ser. No. 726,176, filed May 2, 1968, and entitled EN- VELOPE AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING SAME."

This invention relates to an envelope and more specifically, to an envelope which may be readily opened by a machine without damaging the contents of the envelope and when so opened the contents of the envelope are exposed sufiiciently for gripping and removal by another machine.

Machines for opening envelopes are not novel per se. For example, in one type of machine the envelope is slit along the top edge so that the front and back panels may be spread apart by hand for removal of the contents. Such devices suffer a disadvantage in that they occasionally sever the contents of the envelope and, in fact, it is difficult to avoid this when the contents extend to the edge being slit. This is particularly troublesome when the contents include coded punched cards which are commonly employed in billing statements that need to be returned in good condition for subsequent computer operation. i

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved envelope having a tear strip to facilitate opening thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an envelope which can be readily opened, and which when opened exposes the contents to facilitate removal thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an envelope having a tear strip which may be grasped for opening the envelope without damaging the contents.

In carrying out this invention, an envelope including front and back panels is provided with a scalable. closure flap along the top edge and a tear strip along the bottom of the envelope. The tear strip is formed beneath perforations extending through both panels along coincidental lines parallel to and spaced from the bottom edge so that contents of the envelope extending to the bottom edge will protrude from the severed opening after the tear strip is removed. The envelope panels are adhered together along both sides in strips sufficiently wide to permit engagement by grasping means. The adhered side strips prevent the contents of the envelope from extending to the side edge so that when the tear strip is gripped at an edge, the contents will not be disturbed. The tear strip is preferably provided with reinforcing lining to increase the tear strength of the tear strip so the tearing will be restricted to along the perforated lines.

The envelope-opening apparatus includes a conveyor with means for gripping the envelope firmly to carry it along a fixed path. Such means may include adjacent pinch-grip belts which firmly engage opposite sides of the envelope with the tear strip extending beyond adjacent edges of the belts. A rotating stripping wheel is positioned adjacent to the conveyor and is rotated in timed relationship with the conveyor and at the same linear velocity. The stripping wheel is provided with a pair of grip fingers which embrace the tear strip at the leading edge within the area of the adhered side strips. Then, after the grip fingers are actuated to grasp the tear strip, continued rotation of the wheel carries the stripping fingers away from the conveyor to pull the tear strip free of the remainder of the envelope. Thereafter the fingers are spread to release the tear strip.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description that follows when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is an isometric view of an envelope embodying features of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I.

FIG 4 is an isometric view partially broken away, of an apparatus for opening the envelope of FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 but showing the

fingers

38a, 38b at an open position just prior to engagement with cams 45.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of envelope and opening apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial section of a modified form of envelope taken on line 99 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. I to 3, the envelope 10 comprises from and rear panels I2 and M which may simply be folded over at lb to form the lower edge and glued together in strips 18 extending along the side edges to form a complete enclosure. As is customary, a flap 19 extends from the front panel in order to seal the envelope in the conventional manner. The width of the glued side strips 18 must be sufficient to accommodate grasping means hereinafter to be described.

Along lines generally parallel to the bottom edge I6 and spaced inwardly therefrom are coextensive perforations 20 in both front and

rear panels

12 and 14 forming a tear strip 22 which may be severed from the remainder of the envelope Ill. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tear strip is preferably provided with a lining 24 of some suitable reinforcing material such as polyester or Mylar bonded to the strip to give additional tear strength thereto so that tearing will be confined to the perforated lines 20 and will not wander toward the lower edge 116 of the envelope and separate the tear strip 22 before it has severed across the full length of the envelope to open it completely.

The glued side strips 13 not only secure the envelope sides to complete the enclosure, but prevent the intrusion of envelope contents into the strip along the side edges. Hence, the tear strip 22 may be grasped in the corner areas 26 common to the tear strip 22 and the glued edges 18 and severed from the remainder of the envelope without touching the contents within.

Apparatus 30 for opening the envelope of FIGS. I to 3 is illustrated generally in FIG, 4 and may comprise suitable con veyor means such as the three

pinch belts

32a, 32b and 33b to which envelopes 10a, 10b are fed by any suitable means, as by a conveyor 31. The rate at which the envelopes are fed by conveyor 31 is greater than the speed of the three pinch belts. Alignments lugs 33 project from one pinch belt 32a and corresponding mating slots 33a are provided between the

pinch belts

32b and 33b. Thus, each envelope is aligned with the leading edge Itibabutting an alignment lug 33. In the position of envelope 10b, it is firmly grasped between the

belts

32a, 32b and 33b and between a pair of pinch rolls 34 (one only being shown), with the tear strip 22b being below and free of the gripping pressure.

Rotatably mounted adjacent to pinch

belts

32a, 32b and 33b is a stripping wheel 36 which rotates at a rate to carry a pair of stripping

fingers

38a and 38b (FIG. 5), which are pivotally carried in side-by-side relation in a recess M in the circumference of the wheel, at the same velocity as the

pinch belts

32a, 32b and 33b. As shown in FIG. 6 in connection with fingers 38b, each finger includes a pair of curled projections 39 which are rotatably mounted on a pin 40 that is threaded into the wheel and spans the recess 41 in the periphery of the wheel. A coil spring 42, disposed around the pin 40, has end portions 42a and 52b which bear against the inside surfaces of the fingers 3% and 38b, respectively, and pivot then to pin 40 in an outward direction to the open position shown in FIG. 5 wherein the outer surfaces of the fingers bear against the side edges of the opening ll in the wheel periphery. Hence, by proper timing of the wheel 36, with the alignment lugs 33 on the pinch belts 32a, 32band 3312, the gripping fingers can be moved upwardly to embrace the tear strip 22 within the adhered area 26!; at the leading edge 18b of the envelope 10b.

Since the gripping fingers are normally held in the open position of FIG. 5 by the coil spring 32, they will be in that position as they move up to embrace the corner area of the tear strip 22b. Then, as the stripping fingers and envelope move along at the same velocity, the fingers are forced together to grasp the tear strip firmly, This may be accomplished by suitable means such asa pair of identical oppositely disposed arcuate cams 45 disposed in opposed side-by-side relation on each side of the path of movement of the gripping fingers to force them together when they first engage the cams at 45a. Thereafter, as continued rotation of the stripping wheel 36 carries the grip fingers 38a 38b away from the path traversed by the

belts

32a, 32b and 33b the fingers pull the tear strip 22b away from the envelope held in the firm grip of the pressure rolls 34 and the

pinch belts

32a, 32b and 33b. Finally, when the envelope is completely severed, the grip fingers 'move free of the pressure cams 45b and separate to release the tear strip 22b and drop it into a suitable waste container (not shown). In the meantime, the envelope continues along a conveyor 43, as shown by envelope a with the contents 46 protruding from the severed opening a so that they may be readily removed manually or by any suitable automatic means without requiring the envelope panels 120 to be spread to facilitate removal.

In a preferred embodiment the glued strips 18 are threeeighth inch wide and the distance between the strips 18 is about 8 inches. The tear strip 22 is three-fourth inch and the overall height of the envelope is 3% inch. With these dimensions, a business card 3% inch X 7% inch will be free of the side strips 18, as shown in FIG. 2 and will project down into the cavity provided by the tear strip 22, as shown in FIG. 4.

The modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 eliminates the need for precise timing between envelopes 10 and an opening apparatus 50. The envelopes are fed by a conveyor 51 to a position between a pair of pinch belts 52. No alignment lugs are provided on the pinch belts since timing is unnecessary. A pair of pinch shoes 53 (only one being show in FIG. 7) resiliently urge the pinch belts into gripping relationship with an envelope 10d that has a tear strip 22d extending below the belts. This tear strip is removed by the letter-opening apparatus and opened envelopes 100 are carried away from the pinch belts by a conveyor 54.

Spaced bearing blocks 56 and 58 are positioned below the pinch belts 52 on opposite sides thereof. A drive shaft 60 is journaled in the bearing blocks and driven by a motor, not shown. Mounted on the drive shaft are a pair of

flexible discs

62 and 64 which can be made of rubber, a suitable plastic or a plasticized cloth. The peripheral portions of the flexible discs extend upwardly on opposite sides of the tear strip 22d with those portions facing conveyor 51 being spread apart in an envelope receiving position while those portions facing conveyor 54 are resiliently urged together in an envelope-gripping positron.

A mounting arm 65 extends inward from bearing block 56 and spread roller 66 is rotatably mounted thereon in a position to engage the inner face of the peripheral portion of flexible disc 62. Mounting arm 67 extends inward from bearing block 58 and spread roller 68 is rotatably mounted thereon in a position to engage the inner face of the peripheral portion of flexible disc 64, These spread rollers are actuating means to open the flexible discs in an envelope-receiving position facing conveyor 51.

The

flexible discs

62 and 64 are resiliently urged together by actuating means such as tapered rollers 70 through a quadrant extending from the uppermost portion of the discs to the disc portion facing conveyor belt 54. These rollers are mounted in upper, intermediate and lower pairs of opposite sides of the flexible discs. Each tapered roller is rotatably supported at the inner end of an arm 71 and each arm is pivotably supported at its midportion on a pin 72 that projects outward from one of the bearing blocks. The outer end of each arm is connected to a bearing block by a spring 73 that resiliently urges the inner end of the arm to force the tapered roller against its associated flexible disc. In order to compensate for the angular disposition of the flexible discs due to bending into a gripping position, the rollers are tapered inwardly towards shaft 60.

The envelope opened by opening apparatus 50 can be the same as envelope 10, shown in FIG. 1. Even though the contents of the envelope extend downward between the tear strip 22, the pressure of the pinch belts 52 gripping that portion of the envelope above perforation line 20 is sufficient to prevent the contents from being withdrawn with the tear strip.

For extra safety, a modified form of envelope 10d, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, can be used. Throughout the lower portion of a tear strip 22d, both top panel 12d and bottom panel 14d are glued together. Thus, the contents 46d of the envelope are restricted above the glued portion of the lower tear strip and out of gripping position between the

flexible discs

62 and 64.

In operation, envelopes 10 are fed by conveyor 51 to a position between pinch belts 52. Shoes 53 maintain the pinch belts in gripping relationship with an envelope such as 10a. The tear strip 22d extends below the pinch belts and is drawn between the

flexible discs

62 and 64. Regardless of timing, the flexible discs griping the tear strip when it reaches a point opposite the upper tapered rollers 70 and sever the envelope along perforated line 20d as the tear strip is drawn downward. The opened envelope, such as 10c, together with contents 46c are carried away by conveyor 54.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that modifications and changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing form the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

I. An envelope comprising a front panel; a back panel connected to the front panel along common longitudinal and side edges to define a cavity therebetween; said front and back panels having lines of weak tear strength that extend longitudinally across each panel from one side edge to the other for severing a lower tear strip portion from an upper portion of the envelope; said lines of weak tear strength being located sufficiently above the lower longitudinal edge of the envelope for the tear strip portion to include enough of the front and back panels overlapping the cavity that when the tear strip portion is removed, any contents within the envelope will be exposed sufficiently for gripping along that portion which projected into the cavity within the tear strip portion; and restricting means within part of the tear strip portion for preventing envelope contents from intruding between front and back panels in an area about which the tear strip portion is gripped for severing the envelope.

2. An envelope as described in claim I wherein said restricting means within the tear strip portion extends inward form one side edge a width sufficient for gripping engagement and upper from the lower longitudinal edge to the liens of weak tear strength; said envelope further including restricting means within the upper portion of the envelope along the one side edge between front and back panels above the restricting means within the tear strip portion to limit the cavity above the tear strip portion as it is limited in the tear strip portion.

3. An envelope as described n claim 2 including restricting means along the other side of the envelope between front and back panels extending inward therefrom a width sufficient for gripping engagement and upward from the lower longitudinal edge to the top longitudinal edge to provide a second gripping area in the tear strip portion and to limit the envelope cavity above the tear strip portion uniformly along the said other side edge.

4. An envelope as described in claim 1 wherein said restricting means within the tear strip portion extends between opposite side edges of the envelope and upward from the lower longitudinal edge a distance sufficient for gripping engagement below the cavity within the tear strip portion.

D STATES PATENT OFFICE CEMNCATE F uom'uu fimzeut No. 3,627, 196

mvenmyw WILLIAM w SMITH It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

"then 110" should read them on. Column 3 line 26, change "5/8" to --3/8--n Column 3, line 65,

change of (1st occurrence) to --on--. Column 4 line 4,, Chang "envelope" to -envelopes-. Column 4, line 21, "griping" should be --grip--q Column 4, line 29, "form" should be --from-- Column 4, line 50 "form" should be --from-. Column l line 52 "liens" should be ---lines- Column 4, line 58,

"n should be -=--in--.

Column 2, line 65,

Signed and sealed thie 18th day of July 1972 QSEAL) Ala-test: v

RQBERT GQTTSGHALK Commissioner of Patents EDWARD MQFLETCHERMR. AtteetiugOfflcer

Claims

1. An envelope comprising a front panel; a back panel connected to the front panel along common longitudinal and side edges to define a cavity therebetween; said front and back panels having lines of weak tear strength that extend longitudinally across each panel from one side edge to the other for severing a lower tear strip portion from an upper portion of the envelope; said lines of weak tear sTrength being located sufficiently above the lower longitudinal edge of the envelope for the tear strip portion to include enough of the front and back panels overlapping the cavity that when the tear strip portion is removed, any contents within the envelope will be exposed sufficiently for gripping along that portion which projected into the cavity within the tear strip portion; and restricting means within part of the tear strip portion for preventing envelope contents from intruding between front and back panels in an area about which the tear strip portion is gripped for severing the envelope.

2. An envelope as described in claim 1 wherein said restricting means within the tear strip portion extends inward form one side edge a width sufficient for gripping engagement and upward from the lower longitudinal edge to the lines of weak tear strength; said envelope further including restricting means within the upper portion of the envelope along the one side edge between front and back panels above the restricting means within the tear strip portion to limit the cavity above the tear strip portion as it is limited in the tear strip portion.

3. An envelope as described in claim 2 including restricting means along the other side of the envelope between front and back panels extending inward therefrom a width sufficient for gripping engagement and upward from the lower longitudinal edge to the top longitudinal edge to provide a second gripping area in the tear strip portion and to limit the envelope cavity above the tear strip portion uniformly along the said other side edge.