Patent ID: 7637711

Claim:
An envelope system comprising: a support surface; a stack of envelopes positioned on said support surface, said stack of envelopes having a plurality of gaps with each gap being located between an adjacent pair of envelopes of said stack; a stacking system for creating or placing said stack of envelopes on said support surface; and a suction head applying suction to said stack of envelopes and pulling at least 25 static cubic feet per minute of air at a pressure differential of less than about 30 inches Hg through said plurality of gaps to aid in lifting said stack of envelopes, wherein adjacent envelopes have a gap therebetween at locations where the adjacent envelopes are not touching, wherein each gap has a maximum width, and wherein a compression device applies a compressive force to said stack of envelopes upon operation of said compression device such that the maximum width of each gap between adjacent envelopes of said stack is at least about 0.01 inches.