Separator for separating envelopes from a stack

Abstract

A method for separating envelopes from a stack using a separator having a feeding roller for exerting a force onto the envelope, urging it in a direction tangential to its circumference and parallel to a separating plane, and having a deflecting surface for deflecting a leading edge of the envelope as it is urged in the tangential direction. The feeding roller and the deflecting surface bound a feeding path having a width, and starting at the separating position. Both feeding roller and deflecting surface include portions each extending from or from beyond opposite lateral sides of the feeding path inwardly across a lateral outer portion of the feeding path.

1 . A method for separating envelopes, in which method
 providing a separator for separating envelopes, said separator comprising:
 a holder including a support and lateral guides defining opposite lateral envelope guide edges; 
 at least one feeding roller having a circumference and at least two portions; 
 at least one deflecting surface including two portions and having a friction coefficient uniform across its width; 
 the at least one feeding roller and the at least one deflecting surface being positioned such that:
 they bound a feeding path, said feeding path having a width defined between opposite lateral edges that are in-line with the opposite lateral envelope guide edges; 
 the two portions of the at least one feeding roller extend from at or from beyond opposite lateral sides of the feeding path inwardly across at least lateral outer portions of the feeding path; 
 the two portions of the at least one deflecting surface extend from at or from beyond opposite lateral sides of the feeding path inwardly across at least lateral outer portions of the feeding path; and 
 the deflecting surface extends at least the width of the feeding path or a width of the at least one feed roller; 
 
   said method further comprising the steps of:
 providing a stack of envelopes in the holder such that an outer one of the envelopes is in a separating position in a separating plane; 
 contacting the outer one of the envelopes in the separating position in a contact area of its circumference by the at least one feeding roller, such that a friction force is exerted onto the envelope; 
 rotating the feeding roller such that the outer one of the envelopes is urged in a direction tangential to the circumference and parallel to the separating plane; 
 wherein when the outer one of the envelopes is provided in the separating position the at least one deflecting surface extends at an angle to said separating plane at least from a position in the separating plane; 
 wherein during contacting of the outer one of the envelopes the at least one deflecting surface is spaced from the contact area in said tangential direction; and 
 wherein when the outer one of the envelopes is urged in a direction tangential to the circumference and parallel to the separating plane the leading edge of the envelope in the separating position is deflected in said tangential direction along the separating plane and is passed along the at least one deflecting surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of using a separator of which the at least one feeding roller extends continuously across the feeding path. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of using a separator of which the at least one deflecting surface extends continuously across the feeding path. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of using a separator in which the angle between the deflecting surface and the separating plane is between 85 and 140°. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of using a separator in which the friction coefficient of the deflecting surface relative to paper is smaller than 1. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of using a separator in which the friction coefficient of the deflecting surface relative to paper is larger than 0.4. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of using a separator in which the angle between the deflecting surface and the separating plane is between 110 and 130°. 
     
     
         8 . A method of to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the step of adjusting said lateral guides for changing a spacing therebetween.