Abstract: The present invention provides a machine and method wherein envelopes are removed from a supply hopper, one by one, and then transmitted to a plurality of sequentially disposed cutting stations wherein one end edge of the envelope is first severed, and thereafter an adjacent side edge of the envelope is severed. The envelope with two adjacent edges thus severed is transmitted to a processing station at which the envelope is opened and held open by suction cups, for removal of contents by an operator. The envelope is thereafter transmitted to a detector station to confirm content removal and then to a recovery station, and then to a point of discharge. Means is provided for adjusting the opening of the suction cups at the processing station, and stop means is provided for positioning the envelope as it reaches the processing station.

Abstract: There is disclosed a new and improved envelope processing machine. The machine includes an envelope hopper for storing a quantity of envelopes to be processed, an envelope processing station, spaced from the hopper, a table top surface adjacent the processing station providing a work surface for an operator, and incrementing conveyor means extending beside the table top surface and from the hopper past the processing station. The conveyor means is arranged for incrementally conveying the envelopes a predetermined distance in immediate succession from the hopper to the processing station through at least one intermediate stop position between the hopper and the processing station. As a result, sufficient spacing between the hopper and the processing station is provided to permit the table top surface to be dimensioned for providing a sufficient work surface area for an operator while still maintaining an efficient processing rate.

Abstract: There is disclosed an envelope processing machine in the form of an improved envelope cutter apparatus adapted to sever one edge of envelopes in one by one relationship. The apparatus includes a supply hopper for retaining the envelopes to be processed, cutting means for severing one edge of the envelopes, means for removing envelopes in one by one relationship from the supply hopper and for transmitting the removed envelopes to the cutting means, and means for orienting the envelopes in respect to the cutting means. The orienting means includes a plurality of angularly disposed feed belts operable upon the envelope and an abutment member against which an envelope is engaged in its movement to the cutting means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine and method wherein envelopes are removed from a supply hopper, one by one; transmitted to a cutting station wherein one edge of the envelope optionally may be severed; the envelope then being transmitted to a processing station at which the envelope is opened and held open by suction cups, for removal or insertion of contents by an operator. The envelope is thereafter transmitted to a detector station and then to a recovery station and then to a point of discharge. The dwell time of the envelope at the processing station may be adjusted as desired by the operator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a new and improved envelope processing machine. The machine includes a supply hopper for retaining a quantity of envelopes to be processed, an envelope processing station, means for removing envelopes from the supply hopper and for transmitting the removed envelopes to the envelope processing station, and envelope opening means at the processing station including a pair of reciprocating envelope gripping means arranged to grip and separate opposite panels of an envelope to facilitate the removal of the contents therefrom. The envelope gripping means include bending means for bending the envelope panels inwardly as the envelope panels are separated for displacing the envelope contents from the envelope panels towards the center of the opened envelope. As a result, the envelope contents are disposed within the opened envelopes in a position which enables convenient grasping of the contents by an operator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a new and improved envelope processing machine. The machine includes a supply hopper for retaining a quantity of envelopes to be processed, cutting means for severing an edge of an envelope, an envelope processing station, envelope feed means, and envelope transmitting means. The envelope feed means removes the envelopes from the hopper and places them onto the transmitting means one at a time in succession. The transmitting means conveys the envelopes to the cutting station whereat an edge of each envelope is severed. The transmitting means then conveys the envelopes one at a time to the envelope processing station which includes envelope opening means having a pair of reciprocating tacky adhesive pads arranged to grip and separate opposite panels of the envelopes to facilitate the removal of contents therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine and method wherein envelopes are removed from a supply hopper, one by one; transmitted to a cutting station wherein one edge of the envelope optionally may be severed; the envelope then being transmitted to a processing station at which the envelope is opened and held open by suction cups, for removal or insertion of contents by an operator. The envelope is thereafter transmitted to a detector station and then to a recovery station and then to a point of discharge. The dwell time of the envelope at the processing station may be adjusted as desired by the operator.

Abstract: An apparatus for an envelope processing machine in which opened envelopes are serially presented by the machine to a work station in the machine for manual removal of the contents of each serially presented envelope. The apparatus comprises means operating responsive to the hand of a person being moved into and out of a contents removal attitude to a presented envelope to control the serial presentation of envelopes. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus comprises a light source and a photoelectric cell mounted in a spaced apart relationship to each other and to a presented envelope in the machine.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for opening an envelope upon three sides. The apparatus employs a circular rotating wheel which supports a plurality of complementary pairs of paddles which are designed to open at predetermined times to receive an envelope and close upon the envelope in a protective manner. The envelope is first received in the paddles with the leading edge thereof slightly exposed. As the paddles progress in their circular motion, the leading edge is engaged by means which weaken the edge. Thereafter, the paddles are opened and a conveyor below the paddles repositions the envelope between the paddles so as the trailing and bottom edges thereof are slightly exposed. As the paddles progress, the trailing and bottom edges are likewise weakened after which the envelope is discharged to an opening means.

Abstract: Improved monovinyl aromatic monomer-acrylonitrile copolymers are prepared by polymerizing at temperatures above 80.degree. C in the presence of certain free radical initiators, the resultant polymers are prepared at high rates of conversion, have relatively high heat distortion temperatures, have a low oligomer content and generate relatively little additional acrylonitrile under fabrication conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for extracting and sorting mail from envelopes which have had one edge thereof already severed. The plurality of envelopes with their edges already severed are placed into a hopper and fed from the hopper to a pair of conveyor belts operating along a vacuum manifold through which a vacuum is drawn. The conveyor is indexed to move the envelope to a work station at which two opposed vacuum cups pull the sides of the envelope into an open position to facilitate quick removal of the contents. While the operator is sorting the contents of the envelope into sorting compartments, the conveyor is again indexed to bring the next envelope into place whereupon it is drawn into an open position. An inspection device, such as a photocell arrangement, is positioned at an inspection station to check that the contents have been completely removed.