EP0247523A1 - Vorrichtung zum Öffnen von Briefumschlägen - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zum Öffnen von Briefumschlägen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0247523A1
EP0247523A1 EP87107408A EP87107408A EP0247523A1 EP 0247523 A1 EP0247523 A1 EP 0247523A1 EP 87107408 A EP87107408 A EP 87107408A EP 87107408 A EP87107408 A EP 87107408A EP 0247523 A1 EP0247523 A1 EP 0247523A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
envelope
roller
chute
rollers
extraction
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP87107408A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0247523B1 (de
Inventor
Gérard Dimur
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.)
Alcatel Satman SA
Original Assignee
SMH Alcatel SA
Alcatel Satman SA
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 SMH Alcatel SA, Alcatel Satman SA filed Critical SMH Alcatel SA
Publication of EP0247523A1 publication Critical patent/EP0247523A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0247523B1 publication Critical patent/EP0247523B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43M—BUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B43M3/00—Devices for inserting documents into envelopes

Definitions

  • the present invention is in the field of automatic or semi-automatic mail processing machines. It relates to the envelope opening devices received separated from each other and with their non-glued flap folded against the envelope body.
  • envelope opening devices received separated from each other and with their non-glued flap folded against the envelope body.
  • such devices allow, in particular, manual or automatic loading of envelopes; they can also allow a detection of loading of the envelopes before closing and franking or even the unfolding of the flap of loaded envelopes, with a view to wetting the gummed parts of the flaps for their closure.
  • envelopes are picked up one by one from a store where they are in a stack, with their flaps folded over the envelope body.
  • An unstacking device ensures this removal and delivers on a conveyor, at its exit, the envelopes being separated from each other to a processing station, for example an opening station for envelopes for their subsequent loading.
  • the presentation of open envelopes assists the operator manually loading the envelopes and is essential in automatic loading mail processing machines.
  • the document FR-A-1 584 973 describes a conveyor device for envelopes, allowing the automation of the separation, opening, filling, moistening and closing of the envelopes.
  • elements are provided to ensure the opening of their shutter.
  • These elements consist of two pairs of rollers, which are arranged one after the other so that each envelope arriving foot at the front is, at a given moment, caught between these two pairs of rollers, and in a articulated lever then giving the envelope taken between the pairs of rollers a significant curve, to separate the flap from the body of the envelope.
  • the pair of rollers furthest down the course gives the envelope a speed less than that given to it by the pair of upstream rollers.
  • a pallet arranged upstream of the pair of downstream rollers retains the flap for the complete opening of the envelope.
  • the aim of the present invention is to produce a device for opening envelopes of very high reliability and allowing a high rate and adapted to that of loading and being, moreover, of small bulk and easily integrated into the processing machines, whatever regardless of the type of envelope stripper that is selected.
  • the present invention relates to a device for opening envelopes received from a conveyor separated from one another and with their flap folded over the envelope body, comprising first means ensuring the drive of the envelopes by giving them a curve, to yawn their shutter, and an associated pallet ensuring the retention of the shutter of each envelope, characterized in that it comprises a substantially horizontal chute coupling said conveyor and said first means, arranged to receive said conveyor said envelopes with their edge upper coming to the bottom of the chute and for positioning the lower edge of the envelopes at the level of said first means and in that said first means comprise said pallet associated with a first pair of rollers mounted above the chute and made up of a side of the chute, by a first extraction drive roller whose periphery partially fits into the defined envelope path by said chute and against which the envelope present in the chute comes to bear freely, and on the other side, by a second associated roller carried by a first pivoting arm controlled by an actuating means between an extraction position, for which said second roller is in pressure against the first roller, and a rest position, for
  • the chute has a so-called extraction part substantially below said first pair of rollers and an upstream part known as an inlet for separate envelopes equipped with a second pair of rollers comprising a third drive roller of envelope transfer to said extraction part, the periphery of which partially engages in the envelope path defined by the chute and a fourth associated roller mounted on a second pivoting arm controlled between a transfer position for which said fourth roller is in pressure against the third roller and a rest position for which said fourth roller is separated from the third roller.
  • a pair of additional rollers downstream of the second pair of rollers ensures the transfer of each envelope into said extraction part and comprises a fifth transfer roller and its associated counter pressure roller mounted on an arm whose end, forming a deflector flap, fits into the extraction part beyond the pressure zone between these rollers.
  • the device comprises, along its length, a substantially horizontal chute 1, it is of U-shaped section.
  • the chute 1 receives in one of its end parts, called the inlet part 2, the separate envelopes to be opened.
  • the envelopes received in the entry part have their upper edge coming at the bottom of the chute. They are issued, for arrive in this position in the input part 2, by a conveyor 3, of the type with pairs of belts opposite, mounted according to the height of the chute and passing through suitable windows not referenced its input part 2.
  • the envelopes are delivered by the conveyor 3 in the envelope path defined by the chute, substantially in the median plane of this path or median longitudinal plane of the chute, indicated in phantom in 4.
  • An envelope is illustrated at 5 present in input part 2.
  • this conveyor 3 is coupled to the outlet of an envelope unstacker device, not shown which can be of any known type, or constitutes the outlet conveyor of this unstacker device.
  • This conveyor 3 ensures, if necessary, the change (s) of direction of the envelopes taken one after the other so that they are delivered in vertical position, with their upper edge coming at the bottom of the entry portion of the chute.
  • a first pair of rollers 6 and 7 ensures the transfer of the envelope received in the inlet part. These rollers are mounted slightly above the chute.
  • the roller 6 is powered, it is disposed on a first side of the chute and at its periphery which partially fits into the vertical path of envelopes defined by the chute 1, while remaining slightly behind the median plane from the chute.
  • the roller 7 constitutes the counter-roller associated with the roller 6. It is mounted opposite the roller 6, on the second side of the chute, being carried by the movable end of a pivoting arm 8.
  • This arm 8 is biased according to arrow 9 by an electromagnet not shown between two positions. For one of these positions taken by the arm 8, its end roller shown in dotted lines is outside the envelope path, it is therefore distant from the roller 6 and leaves the insertion of the envelope free in the entry portion of the chute.
  • the roller 7 shown in solid lines is pressed against the roller 6; the envelope present in the entry part has its lateral edge taken between these rollers and is driven for its clearance from the entry part 2.
  • a second pair of rollers 10 and 11 supports the envelope which is released from the inlet part, for its drive to the other end part of the chute, called part d extraction, 12.
  • These two rollers 10 and 11 are also slightly above the chute, substantially at the same level as the rollers 6 and 7. They are separated from the rollers 6 and 7 by a distance less than the length of the envelopes smaller formats that can be processed.
  • the roller 10 is powered, it is mounted on the side of the chute opposite to that on which the drive roller 6 is located, that is to say on the second side of the chute. Its periphery fits into the path of envelopes, beyond the median plane of the chute.
  • the roller 11 is the counter roller associated with the roller 10. It is mounted on the first side of the chute with, with respect to the first roller 10, a slight offset downstream of the chute. It is carried by an arm 14 urging it elastically under pressure against the roller 10, under the effect of a spiral spring 15 mounted on a first end portion of the arm, external to the chute and extending towards the roller 6.
  • This arm 14 carrying the roller 11 and resiliently biased, has a second end portion which is inserted at an angle in the path of envelopes, beyond the point of contact between the rollers 10 and 11, substantially up to the median plane. 4 of the chute.
  • This second end part of the arm 14 forms downstream of the rollers 10 and 11 a deflector flap 16 causing a deformation of the envelopes entrained by the rollers and deviating their trajectory in the extraction part 12.
  • the envelope is therefore immediately immobilized in the extraction part at the front of the counter roller 11 and just downstream of the roller motor 10.
  • the pair of rollers 10 and 11 and the stopper 18 between which the extraction part 12 is defined on the chute are mounted adjustable opposite one another, their spacing is defined by the length of the envelopes being processed .
  • the pair of rollers 10 and 11 and the arm 14 are mounted on a first support 20, the stop on a second support 21 and the supports 20 and 21 connected by a control screw 22 whose threads are not reverse from one support to another.
  • the rotation of this screw from the control head 23, on its end external to the device, moves the two supports 20 and 21 inversely from one another, to adjust the length of the extraction part of the chute while now centered identically.
  • the chute 1 is also mounted adjustable in height, according to the height of the treated envelopes. It is carried by supports 25 crossed by adjustment screws 26, the controls of which are coupled by a chain 27, for their simultaneous actuation from one of the accessible screws.
  • the chute 1 is also associated with two cells 30 and 31 for detecting the envelope in the chute.
  • the cell 30 is mounted on one of the edges of the chute, with a lamp 32 opposite on the other edge, they are located upstream of the rollers 6 and 7 on the inlet part 2.
  • the cell 31 and an associated lamp 33 are mounted facing each other at the extraction part 12.
  • This cell 31 controls, in the absence of an envelope in the extraction part 12, while the cell 30 indicates that it there is an envelope in the inlet part 2, the actuation of the pivoting arm 8 for putting its terminal roller 7 under pressure against the drive roller 6 and therefore the transfer along the chute of the envelope present in the entrance part.
  • the cell 30 also controls, by a clutch, or other equivalent means, the drive of the conveyor 3 for the supply of a new envelope when the input part is detected free.
  • the roller 35 is a motor roller. It is mounted on the same side of the envelope path as the rollers 6 and 11, that is to say on the first side of the chute; its periphery is partially inserted in the envelope path, coming substantially to the median plane 4 of the chute.
  • the roller 36 is the associated counter roller. It is mounted on the second side of the chute but at a slightly lower height than that of the first roller. It is carried by the free end of a pivoting arm 37 controlled from a rest position to a so-called extraction position, according to arrow 38. An electromagnet 39 controls this arm 37, against 'a spiral return spring 40 mounted on its pivot end. For the rest position of the arm 37, the roller 36 is distant from the roller 35, for the extraction position of the arm, it is under pressure against the roller 35.
  • a fixed pallet 42 mounted inclined towards the chute, partially fits into the envelope path substantially beyond the pressure zone between the rollers 35, 36.
  • a lateral flap 43 allows the envelope to be held in the extraction part 12, when the roller 36 is distant from the roller 35 or erased.
  • a window 44 in this shutter allows the free insertion of the roller 36 in the envelope path, when the arm 37 is actuated by the electromagnet.
  • rollers 35 and 36 a pair of flaps 45 and 46 open in a V, an ejection drive roller 47 and a counter roller 48 provide the guide and the grip of the envelope which is delivered by the rollers 35 and 36 They constitute the output of the device to a processing station, in particular for loading envelopes, not shown.
  • the chute 1, at least in its extraction part 12 has its lateral edges of height different from one another and remaining small relative to that of envelopes, such as envelope 50 illustrated.
  • envelopes such as envelope 50 illustrated.
  • the envelope 50 in the extraction part is positioned offset on the median axis 4 of the chute; it is only held very loosely in the extraction part of the chute, between the upper side flap 43 on the one hand and the roller 35 and the pallet 42 on the other which prevent it from falling on one side or the other.
  • the electromagnet 39 actuated the pivoting arm 37 and the end roller 36 is applied under pressure against the drive roller 35.
  • These rollers enclose the lower part of the envelope between their pressure zone 55, located set back on the median plane 4 of the chute, on the side of the large lateral edge 51 of the chute.
  • the envelope 50 thus pinched is deformed by pressing against the end of the pallet 42, while its upper edge abuts against the lateral edge 52 of the chute.
  • FIG. 4 the envelope has been shown, the upper edge of which has escaped from the rim as soon as it has been extracted from the chute.
  • the propagation of the curve formed on the envelope, the non-retained upper edge of the envelope and the air movement due to the extraction of the envelope made at high speed, of the order of 1 m / s, accentuate the opening of the envelope flap.
  • the flap remains under the pallet while the lower part of the guided envelope is directed and taken between the output rollers 47 and 48.
  • the rollers 47 and 48 deliver the envelope with its completely unfolded flap for loading.
  • the electromagnet 39 will be controlled, as soon as an envelope is present in the extraction part 12, from the processing station located downstream of rollers 47 and 48, to allow delivery of the open envelopes, as and when requested by this processing station. Equivalently, in the envelope opening device, the envelopes are successively "called" to the extraction part 12 as soon as this is detected free by the detection cell 31 (FIG. 1) and as soon as an envelope is present in the inlet part 2.
  • the cell 31 and its associated lamp 33 can be mounted on the edges of the chute itself and assigned to detecting the release of the upper edge of the envelope from the chute, the total envelope extraction time by the rollers 35, 36 and 47, 48 and that of the envelope transfer from the inlet part 1 to the extraction part 12 of the chute compensating for each other.
  • the cell 31 and its lamp can also be mounted at the level corresponding to that of the pallet 42 and the roller 35.
  • This extraction device easily adapts to the output of any unstacker, at the front thereof or laterally. It has the advantage of allowing and ensuring the total opening of the envelope flap in a very safe manner and over a short distance. It is compact and is also inexpensive.

Landscapes

  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Special Articles (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
EP87107408A 1986-05-26 1987-05-21 Vorrichtung zum Öffnen von Briefumschlägen Expired - Lifetime EP0247523B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8607472 1986-05-26
FR8607472A FR2598975B1 (fr) 1986-05-26 1986-05-26 Dispositif d'ouverture d'enveloppes.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0247523A1 true EP0247523A1 (de) 1987-12-02
EP0247523B1 EP0247523B1 (de) 1991-07-03

Family

ID=9335605

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87107408A Expired - Lifetime EP0247523B1 (de) 1986-05-26 1987-05-21 Vorrichtung zum Öffnen von Briefumschlägen

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4766715A (de)
EP (1) EP0247523B1 (de)
CA (1) CA1288649C (de)
DE (1) DE3771125D1 (de)
FR (1) FR2598975B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2623750B1 (fr) * 1987-11-26 1990-03-09 Smh Alcatel Dispositif d'ejection d'enveloppes chargees et machine d'insertion en faisant application
FR2623752B1 (fr) * 1987-11-26 1990-03-09 Smh Alcatel Dispositif de commande d'avance et de positionnement d'enveloppes dans une machine d'insertion
US4955483A (en) * 1988-12-28 1990-09-11 Pitney Bowes Inc. Mail handling machine with mis-sealed envelope detector
JP2896027B2 (ja) * 1992-11-12 1999-05-31 ジューキ株式会社 封筒の封入封緘機
GB2284794B (en) * 1993-12-20 1998-03-04 Pitney Bowes Plc Inserter machine for stuffing envelopes
NL1002002C2 (nl) * 1995-12-29 1997-07-02 Hadewe Bv Inrichting en werkwijze voor het couverteren van documenten.
US5715648A (en) * 1996-01-18 1998-02-10 Pitney Bowes Inc. Envelope opening apparatus

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2668053A (en) * 1950-12-07 1954-02-02 Pitney Bowes Inc Envelope flap opening device
DE1561881A1 (de) * 1967-06-29 1970-04-02 Hadewe Eerste Nl Duplicatorfab Foerdereinrichtung fuer Briefumschlaege od.dgl.

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE387461A (de) * 1931-03-25
US2114814A (en) * 1936-05-13 1938-04-19 Waldo E Rosebush Stuffing and sealing machine
US2766569A (en) * 1952-10-01 1956-10-16 Pitney Bowes Inc Mail treating and inserting device
US2915863A (en) * 1954-11-15 1959-12-08 Ernst W Kummer Apparatus for handling and filling envelopes
US3797196A (en) * 1972-12-04 1974-03-19 Pitney Bowes Inc Letter folder and envelope inserter

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2668053A (en) * 1950-12-07 1954-02-02 Pitney Bowes Inc Envelope flap opening device
DE1561881A1 (de) * 1967-06-29 1970-04-02 Hadewe Eerste Nl Duplicatorfab Foerdereinrichtung fuer Briefumschlaege od.dgl.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1288649C (fr) 1991-09-10
FR2598975A1 (fr) 1987-11-27
FR2598975B1 (fr) 1991-10-25
EP0247523B1 (de) 1991-07-03
US4766715A (en) 1988-08-30
DE3771125D1 (de) 1991-08-08

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