Appeal No. 95-3178
Application 08/055,477
Clark Corp., 713 F.2d 760, 772, 218 USPQ 781, 789 (Fed. Cir.
1983); cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1026 (1984).
We turn now to the claimed subject matter.
Claim 1 on appeal is drawn to a mechanism for sealing an
envelope comprising, inter alia, stop means displaced from a path
for engaging a lower edge of an envelope and urging an upper edge
of the envelope towards an intake, and resilient deflecting means
for deflecting the lower edge towards the stop means at a
variable rate of deflection, the rate of deflection varying
inversely with the stiffness of the envelope to prevent buckling
of the envelope.
Claim 8 on appeal addresses a method for sealing an envelope
comprising, inter alia, the steps of deflecting a lower edge from
a path as the envelope moves forward; the rate at which the lower
edge is deflected being varied inversely with the stiffness of
the envelope to avoid buckling; after deflecting the lower edge
continuing to apply a first force and simultaneously applying a
second, smaller force to urge the envelope rearward towards an
intake, and when the upper edge is proximate the intake ceasing
to apply the first force; whereby the envelope responds to the
second force to move the upper edge into the intake to fold and
seal a flap.
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