Mail processing machine

A machine for processing envelopes includes a receiving assembly with a tray where envelopes are received and guided towards an envelope cutting assembly. A sensor determines the width of the envelope to align on of the two longitudinal cutting members. Another sensor detects the leading and railing edge of the envelope and with a circuit control the advancement of the envelope to cooperative positions that permit another cutter member to act transversally. The envelope is then passed to an unfolding assembly where the uppermost and lowermost sheets are loose and sandwich inbetween the contents. The uppermost sheet is pulled out to the display assembly that is hermetically closed. Subsequently, a transversally moving roller is used to lift the folds of the content, if any, and to affix the unfolded contents to protruding pins. The engagement with the protruding pins is slowly undone as the contents are pushed towards the display assembly.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mail-processing machine, and more particularly, to a machine that opens and discards the envelopes, exposing the document contained therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many designs for mail processing machine have been designed in the past. None of them, however, includes a system for receiving envelopes of different sizes, open them and exposed the enclosed document inside hermetically sealed container. Contact with the user is thus avoided.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a mail processing machine that opens, unfolds and displays the documents contained therein avoiding contact with the user.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a machine that processes envelopes of different sizes.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a machine that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10 , it can be observed that it basically includes receiving assembly 20 , cutting assembly 40 , unfolding assembly 60 , outlet assembly 70 and display container assembly 80 .

Receiving assembly 20 includes tray 22 with movable rail 24 , fixed rails 26 and 26 therein, and cap 22 , as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 . Tray 22 can be positioned preferably at an angle, depending on the user's preference. Envelopes E placed inside tray 22 moved downwardly by gravity. Fixed rails 26 and 26 are cooperatively mounted with respect to reference wall 23 to match two standard width dimensions of envelopes E. Movable rail 24 can be moved with respect to reference wall 23 to receive envelopes E of different width dimensions. Once a user manually adjusts movable rail 24 (or uses fixed rails 26 and 26 ) and places envelope E (shown in phantom) inside tray 22 , cap 22 is closed. The leading end of envelope E protrudes outwardly from receiving assembly 20 and comes within cutting assembly 40 . When envelope 20 is detected by sensor assembly 150 a signal is sent to positioning circuit 160 which in turn causes motor assembly 170 to rotate and, through belt assembly 190 , transversally positions cutting member 34 . Cutting member 34 includes blade member 44 that is rotably mounted on member 34 . This mechanism is similar to those used with electric typewriters that bring the typing carriage to a predetermined position along the roller.

Cutting assembly 40 includes roller assemblies 48 , 48 and 48 , as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 . The leading edge of envelope E is positioned between roller assemblies 48 and 48 . Sensor assembly 90 detects the leading edge of envelope E and is connected to control circuit 91 that in turn selectively actuates motor assembly 52 . As envelope E is detected and control circuit 91 activates motor assembly 52 , longitudinal cutting member 44 starts cutting the lateral edge of envelope E aligned with reference wall 23 . Cutting member 44 is rigidly mounted to roller assembly 48 and is driven by gear assembly 51 , which in turn is driven by motor assembly 52 . Envelope E is allowed to go through a predetermined distance by control circuit 91 . This mechanism is similar to what is used in fax equipment today where the roller take in the edge of the paper to place it at a reference position. Cutting member 46 starts to transversally cut envelope E at a predetermined distance from its leading edge. Cutting member 46 moves transversally back and forth by motor assembly 49 over worm gear 47 . Cutting member 46 includes rotably mounted blade member 46 , which coincides with longitudinal grooves 45 in roller 48 .

After the leading edge is cut off, envelope E advances and cutting member 44 continues its longitudinal cut at a predetermined distance from its lateral edge until envelope E goes through. A cooperating groove 45 in roller assembly 48 receives cutting member 44 to ensure a through cutting operation. The trailing edge of envelope E is similarly detected by sensor 90 and circuit 91 immediately stops motor assembly 52 . Envelope E is transversally cut by cutting member 46 at a predetermined distance from the trailing edge. Cutting member 46 is actuated by sensor circuits 90 cooperatively positioned along the path of enveloped E.

Longitudinal cutting member 34 is movable in response to the output generated by sensor assembly 150 applied to circuit 160 , which in turn activates motor assembly 170 , as best seen in FIG. 5 . Roller assembly 48 includes a plurality of grooves 45 that receive blade member 44 to ensure a through cut along the other lateral edge of envelope E.

Envelope E is then introduced into unfolding assembly 60 and deposited on top of surface 60 . Slot 60 allows pin 61 to go through supporting elongated and transversally disposed positioning member 61 . Member 61 pushes envelope E from its trailing end. Motor assembly 61 provides rotation to worm gear 92 , which causes carrier 93 to advance. Pin 61 is mounted to carrier 93 . Once the leading end of envelope E comes in contact with roller member 72 , a user activates motor assembly 75 through switch 71 . Soft nails 73 are cooperatively mounted to roller member 72 to frictionally pull the upper cut sheet of envelope E to advance through duct 76 . In this manner, contents C of envelope E are exposed and rest over the interior surface of the other cut sheet of envelope E.

Transparent cover 50 , as shown in FIG. 1 , is over unfolding assembly 60 of mail processing machine 10 . The user can observe the position of envelope E and decide when to operate the mechanism in unfolding assembly 60 and outlet assembly 70 .

If the folds of contents C are upside down, then an additional step is required. A user actuates switch 176 , which causes relay assembly 174 for roller cover 74 moves blocking the entrance to duct 76 , as shown in FIG. 7 . Contents C is pushed to advance towards roller member 72 and returned to surface 60 with the folds upwardly exposed.

Next, the lower cut sheet of envelope E is below its contents C (typically one or more sheets with two folds). Then, if contents C include folded sheets, unfolding carrier assembly 64 is activated to advance transversally lifting one of the folds. This can be seen in FIGS. 8 a , 8 b and 8 c . Unfolding fin member 65 moves towards the folded contents C to lift the uppermost fold. Roller member 67 is positioned behind fin member 65 pressing the uppermost fold flat against surface 60 . Holding pin assemblies 62 and 62 includes several pin members 68 and 68 that punctures the unfolded portion of contents C.

As seen in FIGS. 8 a , 8 b and 8 c , once it reaches the end, roller member 67 presses the distal portion of the unfolded contents C against pin members 68 and 68 holding it flat against surface 60 . Roller member 67 is made out of a soft material like foam. On its return, fin member 65 of unfolding carrier assembly leads the way and lifts the other fold of contents C. As before, roller member 67 presses against pin members 68 holding this unfolded portion against surface 60 . Carrier assembly 64 is moved transversally by motor assembly 69 , which is activated by switch 169 , causes belt 69 to move in both directions. Limit switch assembly 66 causes the rotation of motor assembly 69 to change in direction.

After the document has been unfolded, the user activates roll member 72 and nails 73 pulling documents towards duct 76 . As the document advance to duct 76 , pin members 62 and 62 retracts below surface 60 releasing the punctured contents C. Contents C are then pulled in towards duct 76 by soft nails 73 . Finally, soft nails 73 pull in the lowermost cut sheet of envelope E and all the components are deposited inside transparent container 80 .

Display container assembly 80 includes hermetically closed cap 82 . Container 80 is made out of a transparent material such as plastic. The base of container 80 is sufficiently large to facilitate the irregular falling of the sheets so the user can inspect the contents and detect any extraneous elements contained therein.

The present invention can be implemented manual or automatic operation depending on how much control a user desires and/or the uniformity of the dimensions of the envelopes being processed. Also, additional fixtures, as shown in FIG. 4 can be added to this invention such as scanners 205 and 210 mounted at the opposite sides of duct 76 , printer 220 and modem 230 . In this way the user can read process and transmit the documents without opening mail processing machine 10 if necessary.