Patent ID: 6234468
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: B43M,B65H

Abstract:
An envelope transport system, comprising:a) an envelope hopper, for holding and feeding envelopes on edge;b) a flipper gate, for receiving envelopes, in turn, and for providing the envelopes alternately to either of two parallel transport paths;c) the two parallel transport paths, each of the paths for conveying the envelopes provided to the path by action of a sequence of nips arranged along the path; andd) a merge station for receiving the envelopes, in turn, from the two parallel transport paths, for plowing open the flaps of the envelopes, and for redirecting the envelopes, with flaps open, all to a final, common path at substantially ninety degrees from the two parallel transport paths, the substantially ninety degrees measured with respect to the direction of the parallel transport paths at the point of entry to the merge station.