EP0009323B1 - Machine d'introduction semi-automatique de documents dans des enveloppes - Google Patents

Machine d'introduction semi-automatique de documents dans des enveloppes Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0009323B1
EP0009323B1 EP19790301693 EP79301693A EP0009323B1 EP 0009323 B1 EP0009323 B1 EP 0009323B1 EP 19790301693 EP19790301693 EP 19790301693 EP 79301693 A EP79301693 A EP 79301693A EP 0009323 B1 EP0009323 B1 EP 0009323B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
envelope
envelopes
machine
flaps
further characterized
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19790301693
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0009323A1 (fr
Inventor
Robert James Russell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MAIL-EX Corp
Original Assignee
MAIL-EX Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MAIL-EX Corp filed Critical MAIL-EX Corp
Publication of EP0009323A1 publication Critical patent/EP0009323A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0009323B1 publication Critical patent/EP0009323B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43MBUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B43M3/00Devices for inserting documents into envelopes

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a machine for inserting materials into envelopes, and more particularly to a semi-automatic machine for assisting an operator in placing materials into envelopes.
  • U.S. Patent Specification No. 3368321 discloses such a fully automatic machine for the placing of materials into envelopes of the type having a body and an adjacent seal flap pre- folded in an unsealed closed position over said body, the machine comprising a plurality of process stations, conveying means for transporting a plurality of envelopes in succession to each of said process stations, enveloped storing means adjacent said conveying means for maintaining a plurality of envelopes to be processed in a ready condition, envelope transferring means for transferring envelopes one at a time in succession from said envelope storing means to said conveying means, envelope flap unfolding means at a first one of said process stations for bending the flap of each envelope from its prefolded unsealed position to a position substantially in line with its body, and envelope opening means at a second one of said process stations for disposing each envelope in an opened condition.
  • Such a machine will be referred to as being of the kind
  • U.K. Patent Specification No. 944255 discloses a semi-automatic insertion machine satisfying such criterions.
  • the machine suffers from at least one disadvantage in that it has no means for facilitating the manual placing of materials into opened envelopes by an operator.
  • an insertion machine of the kind specified is characterised by a table top extending along and adjacent to said conveying means defining an operator work position on its side opposite said conveying means, and a guide plate associated with said table top adjacent to and facing said opening means to facilitate the placing of materials into the opened envelopes by an operator.
  • the machine 10 there illustrated and which embodies the present invention includes a substantially horizontal frame 11 which is supported by a pair of pendant legs 12, 13. On top of the frame 11 is an upper horizontally disposed surface 14 upon which envelopes and materials to be inserted therein may be placed for convenient access.
  • a lower horizontal surface 15 is provided to form a work surface for the operator. Within the work surface 15 is a push or press bar 16 which is depressed by the operator to cause the machine to sequence for processing the envelopes in a manner to be described subsequently.
  • a conveying means which includes a substantially horizontal top plate 17.
  • the conveying means also comprises a pair of belts 20 and 21 which are caused to travel along the conveyor top plate 17 by rotating wheels 22 and 23.
  • An envelope storing means in the form of an envelope hopper or stacker 25 is disposed adjacent to the conveying means and more particularly above the conveyor.
  • An envelope feed means to be described hereinafter is located beneath the conveyor top surface and transfers the bottom envelope of the envelope stack 26 one at a time in succession upon each depression of the press bar 16.
  • a foot pedal or other actuating device may be utilized as well in serving the function of press bar 16.
  • the machine 10 is particularly adapted for processing envelopes of the kind which have a body comprising a pair of side walls or panels and an adjacent seal flap adjoining one of the sidewalls and prefolded in an unsealed closed position, over the body.
  • the machine 10 includes along the horizontal conveyor a plurality of processing stations.
  • a first processing station 30 unfolds the prefolded unsealed envelope flaps to dispose the envelope flaps in a substantially in line orientation with respect to the envelope bodies.
  • a second processing station 35 is also provided along the horizontal conveyor which opens the envelopes and presents the envelopes to the operator in an opened condition in manner which facilitates the ready insertion of materials into the envelopes.
  • a third processing station 45 may be provided to facilitate weighing of the processed envelopes to facilitate sorting of the processed envelopes by weight, for example, or can be utilized as an idle station for conveniently discarding defective envelopes.
  • the envelope storing means or hopper 25 includes a horizontal support for the envelopes which comprises a substantially U-shaped member 50 and a link member 51.
  • a horizontal support for the envelopes which comprises a substantially U-shaped member 50 and a link member 51.
  • the envelope feed means beneath the top plate of a conveyor includes a pair of suction cups 55 and 56 which are arranged for reciprocating movement and which are also coupled to a source of negative pressure by a line 57.
  • the suction cups 55 and 56 are caused to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly by a mechanism which includes a cam 58, a link 59, a yoke shaped coupling member 60, and a vertical rod 61.
  • the vertical rod 61 as best seen in Fig. 9a, is coupled to the yoke member 60 by a collar 62 which receives the rod 61 through a pair of slots 63 in the coupling member 60.
  • the link member 59 will pivot about a pivot point 64 to cause the coupling member 60 to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly.
  • the rod 61 Because the rod 61 is confined on the coupling member 60 by the collar 62, the rod in turn will reciprocate in movement and cause the suction cups 55 and 56 to reciprocate upwardly and downwardly.
  • the source of negative pressure is actuated to cause the suction cups 55 and 56 to grip the bottom envelope of the stack 26 and carry it downwardly into engagement with the conveyor belts 20 and 21.
  • the suction cups 55 and 56 After bringing the bottom envelope into engagement with the conveyor, the suction cups 55 and 56 will retract into a pair of apertures 70 and 71 within the conveyor top plate 17 where they will remain until the next envelope is to be transferred from the stack 26 to the conveyor belts.
  • the members 50 and 51 of the envelope storing means include an elongated lip portion 75 and 76 having an inclined surface which aids the suction cups in pulling the bottom envelope from the stack.
  • a pair of idler pressure rollers schematically illustrated at 77 and 78 are brought into engagement with the envelope to releasably hold the envelope in engagement with the conveyor belt 20 immediately prior to and during the transportation of the envelope from the feed station to the envelope flap unfolding station.
  • the horizontal bottom support for the envelope stack 26 which comprises the members 50 and 51 may be adjusted to accommodate envelopes of many different sizes.
  • the substantially U-shaped member 50 includes a bore 80 which receives an elongated threaded member 81 having an end knob 82.
  • the threaded member 81 extends through the bore 80 and into a threaded bore 83 of member 51.
  • guide rod 85 extends from the substantially U-shaped member 50 to and through a second bore 89 of the member 51.
  • the conveyor belts 20 and 21 will increment causing the envelope to travel from the feed station to the first processing station which unfolds the pre- folded unsealed flap of the envelope.
  • the flap unfolding processing station includes a pair of pressure rollers 31 and 32, a deflection post 33, and a straightener post 34.
  • the rollers 31 and 32 are vertically disposed with respect to the horizontal belts and are mounted to shafts fixed to a vertical panel 41 of the machine. Referring specifically to Figs. 4 and 5, the body 90 of the envelope comprising side panels 91 and 92 is captured between the pressure rollers 31 and 32 and the conveyor belt 20.
  • the flap 93 of the envelope which adjoins the envelope sidewall 92 and which was pre-folded over the envelope body is deflected to a partially unfolded position by the deflection post 33.
  • the deflection post 33 engages the external surface 94 of the flap 93 causing the envelope sidewall 92 to bend at 95 around the comer edge 96 of the conveyor top plate 17.
  • the flap 93 is partially unfolded as illustrated in Fig. 5 and is ready to be received by the straightener post 34.
  • the straightener post 34 engages the internal surface 97 of the flap 93 and is disposed at an angle both vertically and horizontally with respect to the corner edge 96 of the conveyor top plate 17. As a result, the straightener post 34 will cause the envelope flap 93 to further unfold and pass underneath the straightener post 34 as the envelope travels from the flap unfolding processing station 30 to the envelope opening processing station 35.
  • the envelope opening processing station 35 includes a guide plate 36, a suction cup 37, an arm 38 connected to the suction cup 37, and a pair of pressure rollers 39 mounted on shafts which extend through a pair of slots 40 of the vertical panel 41 of the machine. Likewise, the arm 38 extends through a slot 42 of the vertical panel 41.
  • the bottom surface 100 of the guide plate 36 at its end 101 is spaced slightly above the upper surface of the conveyor belts 20 and 21.
  • the envelope flap 93 passes beneath the guide plate 36.
  • the conveyor stops and the arm 38 lowers so that the suction cup 37 grips the side panel 91 of the envelope which is opposite the flap 93 and its adjoining side panel 92.
  • the suction cup 37 is coupled to a source of negative pressure through the arm 38.
  • a pressure pad 120 is provided and also is arranged for reciprocal movement.
  • the pressure pad 120 prior to the raising of the suction cup 37, is caused to move upwardly and confine the flap 93 between the pressure pad 120 and the bottom surface 100 of the guide plate 36.
  • the suction cup 37 raises and causes the envelope panel 91 to in turn raise, the envelope will open due to the fact that the flap 93 is confined in a substantially horizontal position in line with its adjoining panel 92.
  • the pressure rollers 39 although not engaged with the envelope as the envelope is opened, are spaced just above the envelope so that the end of the envelope opposite the flap 93 will not rise up as the envelope is opened by the suction cup 37.
  • the guide plate 36 is positioned so that the operator may place the materials to be inserted into the envelope on the guide plate and merely pushes the materials along the guide plate and into the envelope.
  • the guide plate 36 is provided with a curved side portion 121 to further aid in the guiding of the materials into the envelope 26.
  • the operator then depresses the press bar 16 which causes a solenoid to act to release the air pressure within the arm 38 and suction cup 37.
  • the envelope panels 91 and 92 will rapidly collapse to ready the envelope for further transportation to the next processing station.
  • the pressure roller 39 will be caused to pivot about a pivot point 122 by a linkage 123 to cause the envelope to engage the conveyor to assure transportation of the envelope from the envelope opening station to the next processing station.
  • the linkage 123 has a pair of collars 124 and 125 which include set screws 126 and 127 which provide an adjustment for the degree of travel of the pressure roller 39. Because the pressure rollers are pivotal about the pivot point 122, they releasably hold the envelope into engagement with the conveyor and may be readily moved out of the way during the envelope opening process.
  • the third processing station 45 which may be an idle station as previously described or may be a station which provides an ancillary function which contributes to the efficiency of the mail preparation process afforded by the machine of the present invention.
  • the third processing station may be of the type which weighs the processed envelopes to facilitate sorting of the processed envelopes by weight.
  • Figs. 7 and 8 which illustrate such a weighing mechanism.
  • a criss-cross aperture 130 is provided within the conveyor top plate 17. Through the criss-cross aperture 130 a weighing platform may be raised to engage the envelopes.
  • Fig. 8 shows the weighing apparatus prior to engagement of the platform 131 with an envelope 26.
  • the weighing apparatus includes the platform 131, a rod 132 coupled to the platform 131, a guide 133 for the rod 132, a first arm 134, a second arm 135, a pivot 136, and a spring 139.
  • the first arm 134 and second arm 135 are independently pivotal about the pivot 136 but are coupled together by the spring 139 which extends between the first arm 134 and an extension 137 of the second arm 135.
  • a rotating eccentric cam 138 is provided which, when rotated, deflects the first arm 134 to place the spring 139 under tension.
  • the second arm 135 pivot about the pivot point 136 and to in turn cause the rod 132 to rise vertically for engaging the platform 131 with the envelope 26.
  • the platform will not be able to rise up a sufficient distance so as to cause a pair of contacts 140 and 141 to make contact.
  • the platform will be caused to rise up a sufficient distance so that the contacts 140 and 141 will engage.
  • These contacts may be utilized in an indicating system for turning on a light or a buzzer for example to indicate that the envelope is below a predetermined weight for sorting purposes.
  • the tension of spring 139 may be adjusted for different predetermined envelope weights to be detected by the turning of a threaded member 142 arranged to vary the spring tension in a known manner.
  • Figs. 1, 9 and 10 The operation of the machine will now be summarized by making reference to Figs. 1, 9 and 10. Assuming that a plurality of envelopes 26 have been placed into the hopper 25 for ready use, and assuming that sufficient envelopes have been processed so that there is an envelope at each of the processing stations, the machine will be in a condition such that a first envelope 151 will be resting on the conveyor at the feed station, a second envelope 152 will be partially opened at the unfolding station, a third envelope 513 will be at the envelope opening station and have materials inserted therein, and a fourth envelope 154 will be at the weighing station and has been weighed.
  • the suction cup 37 holding envelope 153 open will release the envelope through the termination of the air suction therethrough by a fast-acting solenoid in a time indicated by the arrow 160.
  • the pressure pad 120 (Fig. 6) will release the flap of the envelope during the time indicated by arrow 161.
  • the feed means at the feed station will feed a new envelope onto the conveyor by the raising of the suction cups 55 and 56 into engagement with the bottom envelope of the stack 26.
  • the air suction through the suction cups 55 and 56 is initiated immediately prior to the engagement of the suction cups with the bottom envelope.
  • the suction cups 55 and 56 are then caused to move downwardly in a manner previously described to place the envelope onto the conveyor.
  • the envelope is thereby placed onto the conveyor and is ready for processing during the time period indicated by the arrow 163, which terminates at t 4 , the ending of the processing cycle.
  • the envelope just conveyed to the opening station is caused to be opened during a time indicated by the arrow 164 which terminates at t 3 .
  • the arm 38 and suction cup 37 are lowered into engagement with the envelope with negative air pressure being initiated immediately prior to the suction cup 37 engaging the envelope.
  • the suction cup 37 after gripping the envelope is then caused to move upwardly to open the envelope and present it to the operator in a condition to facilitate the ready insertion of the materials into the envelope.
  • This function is completed by t 3 .
  • the time period between t 3 and t 4 is provided to give the operator time to place the materials into the envelope. If the operator is operating the machine at maximum efficiency, he will be afforded the time period indicated by the arrow 165 for accomplishing that function. However, it is to be understood that the operator could take a longer period of time to insert the materials into the envelope before the press bar to initiate a new cycle.
  • the weighing station is caused to weigh the envelope just conveyed to it during the time period indicated by the arrow 166.
  • the cam 138 (Fig. 8) is caused to rotate in the direction indicated to place the spring 139 under tension to cause the platform 131 to rise up in the manner previously described for weighing the envelope above the platform.
  • the operator can then take the envelope just weighed and send it down a discharge ramp 155 into a receiving and storage tray 156 for placing of the envelopes into suitable postage machines which are well known in the art. These postal machines are adapted to reclose the flaps of the envelopes, seal the envelopes, and place the appropriate amount of postage onto the envelopes.
  • the present invention provides a new and improved apparatus for processing mail pieces. More particularly, the present invention provides a semi-automatic mail insertion machine which assists an operator in the placing of materials into envelopes for mailing.
  • the machine of the present invention presents each of the envelopes to be processed to the operator in an open condition in a manner which facilitates the ready placement of the materials into the envelopes.
  • the machine also automatically unfolds the prefolded envelope flaps and presents the opened envelopes to the operator in rapid succession under control by the operator.
  • large numbers of mailing pieces may be processed without the need of employing a fully automatic envelope stuffing machine which, as previously explained, is very expensive and complicated.
  • the semi-automatic mail insertion machine of the present invention provides a better solution to the problem.
  • the machine of the present invention provides sufficient assistance to an operator so that mail processing workloads which are too large to be handled by manual personnel, but which are too small to substantiate investment of a fully automatic machine may be satisfied.

Landscapes

  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Special Articles (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)

Claims (19)

1. Machine d'insertion destinée à faciliter la disposition, par un opérateur, de matières dans des enveloppes (26) du type qui comporte un corps (90) et un rabat adjacent (93) de collage préalablement plié en position fermée mais non collé sur le corps, la machine comprenant plusieurs postes de traitement (30, 35 et 45), un dispositif (20, 21) de transport de plusieurs enveloppes successivement à chacun dès- postes de traitement (30, 35, 45), un dispositif de stockage d'enveloppes (25) adjacent au dispositif de transport (20, 21) et destiné à maintenir plusieurs enveloppes (26) à traiter sous forme prête, un dispositif de transfert d'enveloppes (55, 56) destiné à transférer les enveloppes une à une et successivement du dispositif de stockage d'enveloppes (25) au dispositif de transport (20, 21), un dispositif de dépliage de rabat (33, 34) placé à un premier poste de traitement (30) et destiné à faire fléchir le rabat (93) de chaque enveloppe (26) de sa position fermée préalablement pliée mais non collée à une position sensiblement alignée sur le corps correspondant (90), et un dispositif d'ouverture d'enveloppes (38) placé à un second poste de traitement (35) et destiné à mettre chaque enveloppe sous forme ouverte, caractérisée par un dessus de table (15) disposé !e long du dispositif de transport (20, 21) et adjacent à celui- ci, délimitant une position de travail pour un opérateur, sur le côté opposé au dispositif de transport, et par une plaque de guidage (36) associée au-dessus de table (15), adjacente au dispositif d'ouverture (38) et tournée vers celui- ci afin qu'elle facilite la disposition des matières dans les enveloppes ouvertes, par un opérateur.
2. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les dispositif de transport (20, 21) est destiné à transporter les enveloppes (26) avec une orientation sensiblement horizontale vers chacun des postes de traitement (30, 35, 45).
3. Machine selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que les dispositif de transport (20, 21) comprend deux courroies mobiles de transporteur destinées à supporter les enveloppes avec leur orientation sensiblement horizontale et à les transporter pas pas successivement vers les postes de traitement (30, 35, 45).
4. Machine selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de transport comporte un dispositif (39, 40) destiné à maintenir temporairement les enveloppes en coopération avec le dispositif de transport.
5. Machine selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif (39, 40) de maintien temporaire des enveloppes en coopération avec le dispositif de transport (20, 21) comporte deux galets (39) placés à l'un des postes de traitement (35), ces galets (39) étant destinés à se déplacer alternativement afin qu'ils soient distants des enveloppes (26) pendant le traitement et qu'ils soient au contact des enveloppes (26) pendant leur transport par le dispositif de transport (20, 2 1 ).
6. Machine selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de transport comporte une plaque supérieure sensiblement horizontale (17) et deux courroies mobiles (20, 21) placées le long de la plaque supérieure et destinées à supporter les enveloppes avec leur orientation sensiblement horizontale, et les galets (39) sont destinés à être au contact des enveloppes et à repousser celles-ci, en coopération étroite avec l'une des courroies (20, 2 1 ).
7. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de dépliage de rabat d'enveloppe comprend un premier dispositif (33) de dépliage partiel des rabats (93) des enveloppes et un second dispositif (34) de dépliage des rabats (93) d'enveloppes de la position partiellement dépliée à la position totalement alignée sur les corps (90) des enveloppes.
8. Machine selon la revendicaton 7, caractérisée en ce que le second dispositif (34) est destiné à agir sur les rabats (93) des enveloppes après que le premier dispositif (33) a été au contact de ces rabats (93).
9. Machine selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de transport (20, 21) comporte une plaque supérieure sensiblement horizontale (17) et est disposé de manière qu'il transporte les enveloppes avec une orientation sensiblement horizontale le long de la plaque supérieure (17), et le premier dispositif (33) comporte un organe déflecteur destiné à coopérer avec la surface externe (94) des rabats (93) des enveloppes afin qu'il plie les rabats vers la position partiellement dépliée et le second dispositif (34) comporte un organe de mise à plat destiné à coopérer ensuite avec la surface interne (97) des rabats partiellement dépliés (93) afin qu'il les déplient vers la position pratiquement alignée sur les corps des enveloppes (90).
10. Machine selon la revendication 9, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de dépliage de rabat (33, 34) comporte en outre un dispositif presseur (31, 32) destiné à être au contact des corps des enveloppes (90), et à les maintenir contre la plaque supérieure du dispositif de transport (17) lorsque l'organe déflecteur et l'organe de mise à plate agissent sur les rabats des enveloppes.
11. Machine selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif presseur comporte au moins un galet presseur (31) disposé verticalement par rapport à la plaque supérieure du dispositif de transport (17).
12. Machine selon la revendication 11, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif presseur comporte deux galets (31,32).
13. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les enveloppes à traiter sont du type qui comporte deux parois latérales (91, 92) délimitant les corps d'enveloppe (90), les rabats (93) sont portés par l'une des parois latérales (92), et le second poste de traitement (35) comporte un dispositif (100) destiné à retenir les rabats dépliés (93) et un dispositif d'ouverture d'enveloppe (36) destiné à tirer les parois latérales (91) opposées aux rabats à distance des rabats (93) et des parois latérales adjacentes (92) et que les enveloppes (26) soient mises en position ouverte.
14. Machine selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de transport (20, 21) comporte une plaque supérieure sensiblement horizontale (17) et est destiné à transporter les enveloppes le long de la plaque supérieure (17) avec une orientation sensiblement horizontale, et le dispositif (100) destiné à retenir les rabats comprend la plaque de guidage (36) destinée à supporter les matières destinées à être placées dans les enveloppes, la plaque de guidage ayant un bord (101) adjacent à la plaque supérieure (16) et étant destiné à recevoir le rabat déplié (93) au-dessous d'elle afin qu'elle retienne les rabats (93) et les parois latérales adjacentes (92) en les empêchant de se rapprocher des parois latérales opposées (91).
15. Machine selon la revendication 14, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de retenue de rabat (100) comporte en outre un patin presseur mobile (120) placé au-dessous de la plaque de guidage (36), le patin presseur (120) étant destiné à être au contact des rabats d'enveloppes (93) et à les retenir entre la plaque de guidage (36) et lui-même lorsque les enveloppes sont ouvertes.
16. Machine selon la revendication 14, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif destiné à tirer les parois latérales des enveloppes (38) comporte un bras alternatif destiné à venir au contact des parois latérales (14) des corps d'enveloppe placés horizontalement qui sont opposées aux rabats (93) et aux parois latérales adjacentes (92) et à les tirer en direction sensiblement verticale afin que les enveloppes soient ouvertes.
17. Machine selon la revendication 16, caractérisée en ce que le bras alternatif (38) a une ventouse (37) à son extrémité, destinée à coopérer avec les parois latérales (91) des enveloppes, et la ventouse (37) est reliée à une source d'une dépression permettant la coopération du bras (38) avec les parois latérales des enveloppes (92) par aspiration transmise par la ventouse (37).
18. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce qu'un troisième poste de traitement (45) comporte un dispositif (131) de pesée des enveloppes et des matières placées à l'intérieur afin que le tri par poids des enveloppes traitées soit facilité.
19. Machine selon la revendication 18, caractérisée en ce que le dispositif de pesée (131) est destiné à transmettre un signal indicateur sous la commande des enveloppes traitées dont le poids dépasse un poids prédéterminé.
EP19790301693 1978-09-07 1979-08-17 Machine d'introduction semi-automatique de documents dans des enveloppes Expired EP0009323B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US94072878A 1978-09-07 1978-09-07
US940728 1978-09-07

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0009323A1 EP0009323A1 (fr) 1980-04-02
EP0009323B1 true EP0009323B1 (fr) 1982-07-07

Family

ID=25475324

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19790301693 Expired EP0009323B1 (fr) 1978-09-07 1979-08-17 Machine d'introduction semi-automatique de documents dans des enveloppes

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0009323B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS5537399A (fr)
AU (1) AU524757B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA1124694A (fr)
DE (1) DE2963298D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4974825A (en) * 1988-09-09 1990-12-04 Ciba-Geigy Corporation Envelope feeder with separator shuttle assembly
GB9204944D0 (en) * 1992-03-06 1992-04-22 Printed Forms Equip Envelope opener mechanism
DE10101545C1 (de) * 2001-01-15 2002-08-14 Pitney Bowes Technologies Gmbh Kuvertierstation

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1543842A (en) * 1924-04-05 1925-06-30 American Mach & Foundry Envelope-charging device
US2058005A (en) * 1935-01-16 1936-10-20 Edward P Donnellan Mechanism for assembling and inserting enclosures in envelopes
FR958858A (fr) * 1945-02-20 1950-03-21
US3015926A (en) * 1960-05-23 1962-01-09 Galambos Max Apparatus for selectively opening and closing envelope flaps
GB944255A (en) * 1961-03-24 1963-12-11 Hilda May England Improvements in and relating to office mailing machines
US3368321A (en) * 1964-10-30 1968-02-13 Bell & Howell Co Inserter
US3474711A (en) * 1967-08-14 1969-10-28 Theodore C Swinyar Envelope flap deflecting apparatus
US3935800A (en) * 1974-04-08 1976-02-03 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Flap separating mechanism
FR2304528A1 (fr) * 1975-03-19 1976-10-15 Testut Aequitas Dispositif distributeur d'etiquettes
US4079576A (en) * 1975-04-21 1978-03-21 Bell & Howell Company In-line inserter
US3965644A (en) * 1975-10-31 1976-06-29 Bell & Howell Company Apparatus and method for mail preparation
DE2749095A1 (de) * 1977-11-02 1979-05-03 Gruner & Jahr Vorrichtung zum oeffnen von druckprodukten

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2963298D1 (en) 1982-08-26
EP0009323A1 (fr) 1980-04-02
CA1124694A (fr) 1982-06-01
AU524757B2 (en) 1982-09-30
AU5064579A (en) 1980-03-13
JPS5537399A (en) 1980-03-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4527378A (en) Semi-automatic insertion machine
SE8103852L (sv) Arkhanteringssystem
GB2139176A (en) Method and apparatus for inserting sheet material into envelopes
CA1078320A (fr) Appareil servant a extraire et a trier le contenu des enveloppes
US4161095A (en) Flat article stacking system
US20080086983A1 (en) Apparatuses and methods for variably opening envelopes
US5503388A (en) Buffered stacker
US3822793A (en) Apparatus for stacking flexible sheets
US2941676A (en) Apparatus for handling flexible walled bags
US3044772A (en) Method of and means for handling and stacking folded sheets
US4840016A (en) Paper bag feeder for bag-filling operations and process
US4899518A (en) Envelope packing apparatus
US4537208A (en) Horizontal flat destacker
US4930977A (en) Envelope handling system
EP0009323B1 (fr) Machine d'introduction semi-automatique de documents dans des enveloppes
US4453870A (en) Accumulator
US3410053A (en) Machine for the automatic insertion of enclosures, such as letters, printed matter and the like
JPS624495Y2 (fr)
US5524417A (en) Envelope opening mechanism for inserter apparatus
US4838430A (en) Side loading carton
US4319444A (en) Envelope processing machine with incremental feed mechanism
US6524058B1 (en) Assembly and method for stacking, conveying and lifting lids
US4949835A (en) Envelope handling system
US3089693A (en) Signature handling apparatus
US5538234A (en) Automatic mailing machine

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT NL SE

17P Request for examination filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: SOCIETA' ITALIANA BREVETTI S.P.A.

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 2963298

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19820826

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19840824

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19840824

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19840831

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19840910

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19840930

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19840930

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19850818

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19850831

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19860301

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19860430

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19860501

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: MAIL-EX CORP.

Effective date: 19860831

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19881118

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19890831

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 79301693.2

Effective date: 19860729

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT