Patent ID: 7437862

Claim:
An inserting machine for inserting sheets into an envelope, comprising: an assembly for unfolding a flap of an envelope, which flap is connected with a holder portion of the envelope along a fold edge, has a free edge on a side situated remote from the fold edge, and is folded as far as the flap's free edge against the holder portion; means for transporting the envelope along a transport path which passes through the assembly, said transporting path including a plurality of supports for conveying the envelope along an envelope feed plane; a drive for driving displacement of the holder portion along the envelope transport path with the fold edge of the envelope in a trailing position; wherein the assembly includes: a scraper roller including a plurality of scraper teeth for unfolding the flap, said scraper roller being rotatably provided between two of said supports and on an opposite side of the envelope feed plane from the two supports; and a scraper drive for rotating the scraper roller in a forward direction in which the scraper teeth unfold the flap, wherein each of the scraper teeth has an arcuate shape curving such that a sharp distal end is directed obliquely radially and tangentially in the forward direction, wherein upon rotation, the distal ends of the teeth define a circulation path which intersect the envelope feed plane such that upon initial contact with the envelope, the distal ends of the scraper teeth apply pressure to the envelope to create a bend in the envelope between the two supports, whereupon at least one of the teeth scrapes the flap in the area of the free edge of the flap of the envelope off the holder portion that is displaced along the envelope transport path, and pivots the flap open about the fold edge.