Patent ID: 6199348
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: B43M,B65H

Abstract:
An envelope opening assembly for opening a flap of an envelope such that said flap is moved from a closed position, at an acute angle to the envelope, to an open position, at least at an obtuse angle to the envelope, said assembly comprising:at least one opening element; anda conveying assembly adjacent to said at least one opening element for advancing said envelope into contact with and past said at least one opening element, said at least one opening element being actuated solely by contact with the advancing envelope such that said envelope flap is forced from said closed position to said open position as said envelope advances past said at least one opening elementwherein said at least one opening element is freely rotatable about an opening element shaft and is configured to be biased to a first position, and to be rotated to a second position by said envelope when advanced by said conveying assembly and said at least one opening element is configured to rotate from said second position to said first position when said envelope is removed from contact with said at least one opening element.