| 摘要 |
The envelope feeder apparatus of the present invention is suitable for use with conventional mail sorting machines. The envelope feeder apparatus is capable of receiving a supply of envelopes on a feeder magazine which is incorporated into the body of the apparatus. The individual envelopes are picked off in succession at a feeder station by means of a suction device which operates in combination with a pair of conveying belts having a friction surface facing the incoming envelopes. The suction device acts through holes in the conveying belts to draw the lead envelope against the friction surface of the conveying belts for separation of the lead envelope from the rest of the supply. The separated envelope is then conveyed through an arcuate path and introduced into a transport channel which is positioned parallel to the feeder magazine of the apparatus. Within the transport channel, the envelope is transferred to a read station where the envelope is held in a stationary position until a sort code or other identifying data on the envelope is read by the operator of the apparatus. At the read station, the envelope is held in a stationary position such that the operator of the apparatus has an unobstructed view of the side surface of the envelope. From the rear station, the envelope is advanced to the sort bins of the machine through a transport channel which is also parallel to the feeder magazine.
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