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Beerbrella

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Class 53/381.6 - Including means to apply suction to grip envelope


Subclass of Class 53 - Package making
Definition: Apparatus including means to engage the cover and reduce
No. of patents: 94
Last issue date: 07/08/2008


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NumberTitleIssue Date
7395644Inserting apparatus and method with controlled, master cycle speed-dependent actuator operations
In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operative...
07/08/2008
7303776Automated food processing system and method
An automated food processing system and method that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, such as an individual portion-sized container. The system includes separate automated modules for dispensing, frying and packaging the food. ...
12/04/2007
7292427Pin lift chuck assembly for warped substrates
A vacuum chuck apparatus may include chuck plate having a substantially flat chucking surface, one or more lift pins, and a lifting mechanism. The lift pins are configured to clamp a substrate at three or more locations. The lifting mechanism lifts the heads of the ...
11/06/2007
7219482Method for folding documents for use in windowed envelopes
A method and system for selecting fold lines on a sheet to be inserted into a windowed envelope includes scanning the windowed envelope with a scanner to determine the location of the window on the envelope. The location of a data block on an insert to be inserted i...
05/22/2007
7188460High speed vacuum system for inserters
A vacuum release assist system for a document insertion station is described. The vacuum suction cup system is used for opening an envelope. The vacuum release assist system ensures that the suction cup is timely released during the removal of the envelope from the ...
03/13/2007
7181895Jam tolerant mail inserter
In a mailing machine where an envelope feeder is used to feed envelopes one at a time into a mail inserter and an insert feeder is used to move insert material into the envelope in the mail inserter for mail insertion, a suction cup assembly having two suction cups ...
02/27/2007
7162852Device for filling stand-alone flat-bottom bags
A device for filling stand-alone flat-bottom bags with opposing side edges and a bottom, in particular filling them with liquid including a filling carousel which can rotate about a vertical axis and which has a plurality of holders for one bag each provided on its ...
01/16/2007
7155878Device for opening the throat of an envelope in an insertion station
An envelope insertion station having a plurality of actuating arms affixed to a rotatable shaft and a plurality of fingers pivotably mounted on the actuating arms for opening the throat of an envelope placed at an insertion area. The actuating arms are movable from ...
01/02/2007
7152386Envelope-filling machine
In an envelope-filling machine, a clear and simplified construction of the drive system is achieved for the enclosure-collating path, for the enclosure-feeding stations and for the parts of the envelope-filling station, in that a drive motor and a step-down gear mec...
12/26/2006
6996959Envelope-filling station for mail-processing systems
An envelope-filling station for mail-processing systems. The station includes an enclosure feeder for transporting enclosures to an inserting arrangement pushing enclosures into envelopes in the same direction as the enclosure feeder. An envelope supply is positione...
02/14/2006
6978583High speed vacuum system for inserters
A vacuum release assist system for a document insertion station is described. The vacuum suction cup system is used for opening an envelope. The vacuum release assist system ensures that the suction cup is timely released during the removal of the envelope from the ...
12/27/2005
6973762Method and device for maintaining the opening position of an envelope
A device to lift a throat of an envelope to spread open the envelope. The device comprises a suction cup mounted to a pitching arm; a hook movably mounted adjacent to the suction cup; means for lowering the pitching arm to allow the suction cup to seal with the thro...
12/13/2005
6960157Automated system and method for handling food containers
An automated food processing system and method is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, which may be an individual portion-sized container. In one embodiment, the system includes separate automated modules for dispens...
11/01/2005
6903359Method and apparatus for edge detection
An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method and apparatus of detecting edges. Light directed from any angle at a smooth surface will not cast a shadow regardless of the printing on the surface. Light cast at an appropriate angle on a stepped surface ca...
06/07/2005
6860090Envelope stripping apparatus
An envelope stripping apparatus is disclosed for opening and holding open the flaps of envelopes or mail processed in a mailing machine or other envelope-processing machine. The flaps of the envelopes are held down against a vacuum plenum during transport of the env...
03/01/2005
6813870Method and apparatus for inserting insert material into an envelope
A method and an apparatus of inserting insert or enclosure material into successive envelopes are disclosed. According to the envelope inserting method, the insert material is conveyed along a straight path successively to an envelope inserting position where the in...
11/09/2004
6718731High speed machine for inserting sheets into envelopes
Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a roller and a...
04/13/2004
6718740Inserting apparatus and method with controlled, master cycle speed-dependent actuator operations
In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operative...
04/13/2004
6684682Jogger system having a mail compression capability therein
A method for expelling air out of mailpieces includes the steps of creating a stack of the mailpieces; cutting an opening in at least some of the mailpieces; jogging the stack of mailpieces; and subjecting the stack of mailpieces to at least one compressi...
02/03/2004
6666000High speed machine for inserting sheets into envelopes
Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a r...
12/23/2003
6584751High speed machine for inserting sheets into envelopes
Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a r...
07/01/2003
6530192Envelope stripping apparatus
An envelope stripping apparatus is disclosed for opening and holding open the flaps of envelopes or mail processed in a mailing machine or other envelope-processing machine. The flaps of the envelopes are held down against a vacuum plenum during transport...
03/11/2003
6494019High speed envelope inserter
A system for the automated insertion of documents into envelopes. The system includes a plurality of individual document feeding devices that feed individual documents from an assembled stack onto a moving document conveyor. Each of the document feeding d...
12/17/2002
6453651High speed machine for inserting sheets into envelopes
Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a r...
09/24/2002
6425223Method and device for maintaining the opening position of an envelope
A device to lift a throat of an envelope to spread open the envelope. The device comprises a suction cup mounted to a pitching arm; a hook movably mounted adjacent to the suction cup; means for lowering the pitching arm to allow the suction cup to seal wi...
07/30/2002
6385943Drug filling machine
A drug filling machine having a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of the drugs are discharged from one or some of the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with...
05/14/2002
6293076Method and apparatus for automatically positioning a pneumatic envelope opener
An apparatus and method for automatically positioning a plurality of suction devices over the throat of envelope to lift the throat. The apparatus includes: a base section pivotably mounted on a pivot shaft; a carriage movably mounted on the base section;...
09/25/2001
6230076Method and apparatus for the automation of an envelope opening station
A method and apparatus for the automation of an envelope opening station wherein a plurality of suction cups are placed over the throat section of an envelope to lift the throat in order to spread open the envelope. The method and the apparatus use an ele...
05/08/2001
6164043Method and apparatus for opening an envelope in an inserting machine
A method and an apparatus for opening an envelope for document insertion in a document inserting system. The apparatus includes: an air chamber having a first end and an opposing second end and an inlet in the first end; a piston movably located in the ai...
12/26/2000
6155031Modular automatic envelope inserting machine
An automatic envelope inserting machine which comprises a supporting structure (31, 331) whereon envelopes (17) are made to feed, in said envelopes one or more flat inserts have to be placed (16, 16', 16"), an envelope feeder (18, 318) towards a conveyor ...
12/05/2000
6098374Envelope opening apparatus
Disclosed herein is an envelope opening apparatus, preferably for use in an inserter (210). The envelope opening apparatus comprises means (54) for locating an envelope, having rear and front panels (116, 118) and a flap (64) hinged to the front panel, in...
08/08/2000
5975514Apparatus for inserting a sheet into an envelope to segregate a sheet and an envelope
In a mail inserter machine including at least one subassembly with a component driven in reciprocating fashion, an apparatus for inserting a sheet into an envelope. The apparatus comprises a movable gripper jaw assembly, an envelope vacuum cup assembly, a...
11/02/1999
5970688Apparatus for opening pouches for insertion of objects thereinto
Apparatus for opening an open end of a pouch, an overwrap, or the like so as to facilitate the insertion of an object thereinto includes a number of processing stations, such as a storage station where a supply of pouches is stored and an opening station ...
10/26/1999
5950399Apparatus and method for inserting a product into an envelope and closing same
An apparatus for inserting a folded product into an envelope and closing the flap of the envelope performs a method in which the envelope is transferred from an envelope hopper by a rotatable shuttle unit having cooperating suction cups and a T-shaped fla...
09/14/1999
5924265Vacuum deck stopping mechanism
A backstop member for use in an insertion station operative to insert an enclosure collation into an open end of an envelope. The insertion station having a deck with a transport mechanism for conveying an envelope, an opening mechanism for opening an env...
07/20/1999
5911668Vacuum envelope drive
An insertion station for inserting enclosure collations into an envelope, the insertion station including a deck and at least two transport belts having a top surface disposed atop the top surface of the deck for conveying an envelope along a direction of...
06/15/1999
5716312Vacuum cylinder
A vacuum cylinder is disclosed. The vacuum cylinder may be used in an envelope manufacturing machine, or machines for manufacturing other articles, to facilitate folding of articles about a preformed fold line, such as envelope seal flaps, during the manu...
02/10/1998
5651238Apparatus and method for variable opening of envelopes
Apparatus and method for variable opening of an envelope is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for supporting the front panel and flap of an envelope in a plane, and a vacuum bar assembly situated above the supporting device, the assembly having a...
07/29/1997
5618375Envelope processing unit
A mail enclosing and sealing apparatus (50) in which an envelope (1, 200) is pulled out from an envelope guide (54) in an envelope hopper (52) which stacks the envelopes one by one, the envelope being fed to a gripper means (60) displaced on an envelope t...
04/08/1997
5598686Mail processing equipment
A method and apparatus for exposing the contents of envelopes for removal in which a horizontal stack of envelopes is advanced towards the suction roller. The envelopes have previously been opened along a top longitudinal edge and two vertical side edges....
02/04/1997
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