Patent ID: 6425579
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An envelope hopper having an upstream end and a downstream end for providing a stack of envelopes to an envelope feeder located near the downstream end, said envelope hopper comprising:a rod, having a first rotation axis substantially parallel to a moving direction, running from the upstream end to the downstream end; supporting means, which is co-located on a plane with the rod in order to form a supporting surface to support the stack of envelopes; a pushing device, located behind the stack of envelopes and pivotally mounted at a pivot positioned above the supporting surface, for urging the stack of envelopes to move along the moving direction towards the envelope feeder; and rotation means, having a second rotation axis, rotatably mounted on the pushing device and positioned to make contact with the rod, with the second rotation axis oriented at an angle relative to the first rotation axis, wherein the rod is adapted to rotate along the first rotation axis, causing the rotation means to rotate along the second rotation axis in response to the rotation of the rod, thereby producing an urging force on the pushing device towards the downstream end.