Patent ID: 6666000
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B43M

Abstract:
An apparatus for at least partially opening an envelope flap, comprising:a table having a substantially horizontal support surface adapted for supporting envelopes as they are sequentially displaced from a first location to a second location along a path of travel parallel to a longitudinal axis of said envelopes; a cut-away of predetermined extent formed in said support surface of said table at a preselected location between said first and second locations so that a flap-including longitudinal edge of said envelope is not supported at said preselected location by said support surface; a rigid deflector arm disposed in a preselected position that is in a path of travel of said envelopes as said envelopes are sequentially displaced across said cut-away; said rigid deflector arm having an uppermost end fixedly secured to said apparatus and having a lowermost end disposed below a horizontal plane defined by said support surface of said table so that the respective flap-including longitudinal edges of said envelopes sequentially encounter said lowermost end of said rigid deflector arm and are deflected below said horizontal plane, such that a flap on said flap-including longitudinal edge is partially opened by said rigid deflector arm.