EP0319888A1 - Envelope flap-folding - Google Patents

Abstract

The device receiving the open envelopes (10) on a guide path (2) comprises a pair of pulleys (44, 45) between which pass the bodies (12) of the envelopes (10), one of which pulleys (44) has a cylindrical portion (44A) to support the end part of the envelope body, to which the flap (11) is attached, and this portion is extended by a bevelled portion (44B) receiving the flap (11), and the second pulley (45) has a terminal disc (45A) projecting around its perimeter, in line with and a short distance from the junction between the cylindrical portion and bevelled portion of the first pulley (44). …<IMAGE>…

Description

The present invention relates to automatic mail processing. It relates in particular, to a device for folding envelopes flaps, to allow the closing of loaded envelopes.

Such a device can be one of the devices belonging to an inserting machine in which it is integrated. Under these conditions, the insertion machine is supplied with separate plies from a folder and empty envelopes from an envelope destacker. It includes a device for transferring empty envelopes to an insertion station where they are kept open, a device for transferring folds and inserting the folds into the successive envelopes present at the insertion station, for example at transfer and insertion carriage, a device for ejecting loaded envelopes that are still open and a device for folding the flap of the ejected envelopes.

Such a device can alternatively be semi-independent of an inserting machine and be simply coupled to the output of its loaded envelope ejection device which feeds it, or be completely independent of an inserting machine and be coupled to an unstacker of envelopes removing them from each other from a store where they are stored loaded and with their flap wide open.

In general, the folding of the envelope flap which is open is therefore done during their movement on a guide path. After folding the flap, this guide path can in turn feed a further processing device, such as a franking machine, or a stacker.

French utility certificate no. 2 195 532 describes such a device intended to supply a franking machine. In the embodiment described in this document, the open envelopes are received separated from each other on a platform which constitutes the guide path for the envelopes. The body of the received envelopes rests and is drawn along the upper surface of the platform, while their flap overflows on one of the edges of the platform and falls freely. A first deflector member guides the flap and applies it against a wetting member mounted under the platform and consisting of a wicking wicking supplied by a reserve of water in which it soaks. This first deflector member has a complex shape so as to guide the flap and firmly apply its gummed region against the wick. It extends beyond the wetting member and / or is associated with a second deflector member, to guide the moistened flap, above the platform, through an opening in the platform, where a counter -pressure plate then ensures its sealing on the body of the envelope, for the supply of the franking machine.

This known device is relatively complex to produce and leads to a large bulk. In addition, it has the drawback of linking the folding operation of the flap to that of wetting in order to lead, at the end of folding, to a final sealing of the flap on the body of the envelope. It is therefore not suitable for automatic mail processing, which can be sent sealed or unsealed and which benefits from reduced shipping rates for unsealed mail.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for folding the flap of envelopes, in particular avoiding these drawbacks.

It relates to a device for folding the flap of envelopes received, separated from each other and with their flap open on an entrance to a guide path, comprising means for driving the envelopes along said path and means deflectors ensuring the folding of the flap from the open position to a closed position, characterized in that said deflector means comprise a pair of pulleys of parallel axes mounted on one side and the other of the path and coupled to the entry of the path, to receive the envelopes therebetween, and having for one of them, located opposite the front face of the body of the envelopes and called the first pulley, a storied peripheral surface comprising a first cylindrical zone, of support of the body of the envelopes by at least their part adjoining the flap, and a second zone chamfered extending the first zone by flaring against the flap, and for the other pulley called second pulley a peripheral surface comprising a first cylindrical zone, opposite the first cylindrical zone of the first pulley while being set back on the body of the envelopes, and a projecting terminal disc engaging under the second chamfered zone of the first pulley and coming substantially opposite the junction between the first and the second zone of said first pulley, to ensure a first folding of the flap from its position d opening to an intermediate position in which the flap is substantially perpendicular to the body of the envelopes.

According to another characteristic, the device further comprises a deflector flap mounted facing the end disc of the second pulley and facing the first pulley and extending downstream of said pulleys, to form an obstinate object to the unfolding of said flap and define with said pulleys a folding station.

According to another characteristic, the pulleys each carry a first roller belonging to the means for driving the envelopes and each first roller is coupled to a second downstream roller also belonging to the means for driving the envelopes.

According to another characteristic, the guide path is a horizontal U-shaped chute at the bottom of which the envelopes rest by their feet.

According to another characteristic, the device comprises downstream of the pulleys and of the flap a mooring station with a mooring roller receiving the gummed part of the flap and with a countermooring roller controlled in a pressure position against the mooring roller for wetting the gummed part or in a retracted position to allow the flap to pass freely without wetting the gummed part.

This mooring station is advantageously adjustable transversely to the guide track and carried by a station for closing the flap mounted downstream on the terminal part of the track.

According to another characteristic, the closing station comprises a closing assembly with a pair of pressure motor rollers. one against the other, mounted remote from the path to be without direct grip on the envelopes in the path, and a transfer assembly ensuring the coupling between the closure assembly and the chute, by transferring the envelopes present in the chute to the closure assembly, with the departure of their front flap.

A stopper stops envelopes from the mooring station in the transfer assembly. Advantageously, a non-return pawl prevents the return, in the wetting station, of the envelopes stopped against the stopper.

• - la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'ensemble d'un dispositif de pliage de rabat d'enveloppes selon la présente invention,
• - la figure 2 est une vue en élévation d'un poste dit poste de pliage de rabat d'enveloppes appartenant au dispositif selon la figure 1,
• - la figure 3 est une vue de dessus selon la flèche III de la figure 2 dudit poste de pliage,
• - la figure 4 est une de côté, selon la flèche IV de la figure 2, dudit poste de pliage,
• - la figure 5 est une vue en élévation, avec arrachement partiel, d'un autre poste dit poste de mouillage appartenant au dispositif selon la figure 1, comme ledit poste de pliage auquel il est associé dans le dispositif,
• - la figure 6 est une vue de dessus du poste de mouillage représenté dans la figure 5
• - la figure 7 est une vue en coupe verticale brisée du poste de mouillage représenté dans les figures 5 et 6,
• - la figure 8 est une vue en coupe, selon la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 1, d'un autre poste dit poste de fermeture appartenant au dispositif de pliage selon l'invention et délivrant les enveloppes fermées.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings. In these drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of a device for folding the envelope flap according to the present invention,
• FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a station known as a station for folding envelopes flaps belonging to the device according to FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a top view according to arrow III in FIG. 2 of said folding station,
• FIG. 4 is a side view, along arrow IV of FIG. 2, of said folding station,
• FIG. 5 is an elevation view, partially broken away, of another station known as a mooring station belonging to the device according to FIG. 1, like said folding station with which it is associated in the device,
• - Figure 6 is a top view of the mooring station shown in Figure 5
• FIG. 7 is a view in broken vertical section of the mooring station shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
• - Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 1, of another station called closing station belonging to the folding device according to the invention and delivering the closed envelopes.

In the overview of the folding device, which is given in Figure 1, there is shown by a simple arrow 1 its feed tion in envelopes, deliberately failing to represent the device or machine that provides this supply. These envelopes, such as 10, are received on a guide path 2 of the envelopes, in an entry station 3 for the folding device. They arrive separated from each other in the entry station 3 and with their flap 11 open, substantially in the extension of the body 12 of the envelope. They have been previously loaded and contain a fold 13. The entry station 3 is defined on the guide path 2. It constitutes the entrance to the device. It is formed over a length of path 2 which is at least equal to the maximum length of the envelopes which the folding device processes.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the feed according to arrow 1 translates that it is made from above the guide path 2. As a variant, it can just as easily be made from the end or one of the sides side of path 2, depending on the nature of this path. The envelopes received rest on guide path 2.

The envelope flap folding device according to the invention comprises, from the entry station 3, three successive stations along the path 2:
a flap folding station 4 receiving the envelopes of the input station 3 and in which a first folding of the flap is provided in an intermediate position between that of initial opening and that of closing,
- a mooring station 5, receiving the envelopes of the folding station 4 and in which is ensured, at will, the wetting or non-wetting of the gummed part of the flap
- And an envelope closing station 6 receiving the envelopes having passed through the wetting station 5 and delivering them with their flap 11 folded against their body 12, as shown.

The folding station 4 includes a folding assembly 40 of the flap. The mooring station 5 comprises a wetting assembly 50. The closing station 6 comprises a closing assembly 60.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the closure station 6 is mounted above the guide path 2, just downstream of the folding and mooring stations 4 and 5. This path guide 2 is constituted by a U-shaped chute from which one of the vertical legs has been started, known as a large leg 20. On this guide path, the envelopes rest by their feet 14 on the bottom 21 of the chute. A transverse stop 25 stops the envelopes on the guide path opposite the closing station. This stop 25 is at a distance from the mooring station 6, at least equal to the length of the envelopes used. It is preferably adjustable according to arrow 25A as a function of the lengths of the different envelope formats, in order to center the envelopes facing the closure assembly 60 or allow the envelopes to be jogged against the same lateral edge whatever the dimensions. of these envelopes.

In this embodiment, the closing station 6 is also equipped with a transfer assembly 61 from the envelopes of the chute to the closing assembly 60.

This arrangement ensures that the trajectory of the envelopes is folded back into the device according to the invention. It makes the final folding of the flap particularly easy, from its intermediate position to that of closure, as will be seen below. In addition, it limits the length of the guide path 2 and allows a compact overall organization.

Of course, as a variant, as for the supply of envelopes to the device, the closing station can be arranged laterally or in the extension of the guide path 2, depending on the nature of the guide path 2.

The folding device also comprises means for driving the envelopes from the entry station 3 through the folding and wetting stations 4 and 5 and into the closing station 6. These driving means act on the body of the envelopes for their advance along the guide path 2. The envelopes received vertically in the entry station of the guide path constituted by the U-shaped chute, are driven in this vertical position along the guide path. On the casing 10, the start of its flap 11 on its body 12 has also been identified at 15. A line 16 in phantom lines above the chute, level mark, relative to the bottom 21 of the chute, this departure 15 of the flap, as the envelope advances along from the chute.

These drive means comprise a non-visible drive roller and an associated counter roller 30, mounted on one side and the other of the part of the path 2 upstream of the folding and mooring assemblies 4 and 5 and defining therewith. the entrance station. This counter-roller 30 is mounted at the end of a pivoting arm 31, pivotally actuated by a controlled electromagnet not shown, to make the counter-roller retractable in front of the roller with which it is associated. The advancement of the envelopes from the entry station 3 to the folding and mooring assemblies 4 and 5 is ensured when the counter roller 30 is under pressure against its roller, to enclose the envelope body caught between them. It is illustrated by arrow 32.

These drive means further comprise a pair of drive belts, such as the only visible belt 41. These belts are also mounted on one side and the other of the path 2. The pair of belts is supported with the folding assembly 40 of the folding station 4. It ensures the advance of the envelopes in the folding stations and wetting 4 and 5, along arrow 42A, and downstream of these stations, along arrow 42B, to bring the successive envelopes into the extraction assembly 61 of the closing station 6.

In the closing station 6, the drive of the envelopes is illustrated by an arrow 62A associated with the extraction assembly 61, by an arrow 62B associated with the closing assembly 60 and by an arrow 62C leaving this station .

In this figure 1, it appears that the general organization of the folding device according to the invention remains unchanged, even if the envelopes are received and driven flat on a horizontal platform. Such a horizontal platform can be assimilated to one of the legs, such as the leg 20, placed horizontally so that the body of the envelope rests on it, while the envelope flap overflows on one of its longitudinal edges.

The folding 4, wetting 5 and closing 6 stations entering the folding device according to FIG. 1 are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8. In these figures, we have identified by the same references, the elements already cited with regard to FIG. 1.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the folding station 4. In this station 4, the folding assembly 40 essentially comprises a pair of pulleys 44 and 45. These pulleys have their vertical axis and are mounted on one side and the other of the guide path 2 to receive the envelopes therebetween. A deflector flap 46 is associated with them, to extend their action.

The arrangement and relative arrangement of the pulleys 44 and 45 appear very clearly in FIG. 4. The pulley 44, which must receive against it the front face of the body of the casing, has its peripheral peripheral surface. This stepped peripheral surface successively defines a first cylindrical zone 44A of support for the upper part of the body 12 of the casing 10, a second chamfered zone 44B, above the first and flaring, then a third cylindrical area 44C.

This third zone forms the upper end part of the pulley 44. It projects radially from the first zone to which it is coupled by the chamfered zone. The chamfered zone 44B has its junction with the first zone 44A situated at the level of the line of intersection 15 of the flap 11 with the body 12 of the envelope. It thus receives against it at least the part of the flap which is adjacent to the body of the envelope to impose a folding on the flap.

This pulley 44 also extends towards the bottom 21 of the trough 2 in a U, the legs of which at the pulleys 44 and 45 are truncated. The periphery defines in addition to the three zones 44A, 44B and 44C above, a fourth cylindrical zone 44D, less protruding than the first zone 44A which it extends towards the bottom 21 of the chute. This fourth zone is largely set back on the body 12 of the envelope.

The pulley 45, mounted opposite the pulley 44, has its periphery recessed on the body 12 of the envelope. It forms at its upper end a projecting terminal disc 45A. This salient disc 45A is located to the right of the junction between the first cylindrical zone 44A and the second chamfered zone 44B of the pulley 44. It engages under the second chamfered zone 44B of the pulley 44, while leaving between it and the pulley 44 an interval for the passage of the flap 11 of the envelope , forced into folding on the start 15 of the flap 11. Under the protruding end disc 45A, the periphery of the pulley 45 defines a first cylindrical zone 45B coming opposite the first cylindrical zone 44A and part of the fourth zone 44D of the pulley 44. It then defines a second cylindrical zone 45C more projecting than the first 45B but always remaining slightly behind the body of the envelope.

The deflector flap 46 is mounted just above the upper end of the two pulleys. With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it can be seen that this deflector flap 46 is carried by a support arm 46A which is bent and itself fixed on a flange, not referenced, of the device. The support arm 46A is inclined on the center distance of the pulleys and on the horizontal. It extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pulley 44 and downstream of the axis of the pulley 45.

The deflector flap extends, from the support arm which carries it, downstream of the two pulleys 44 and 45, above the guide path of the envelopes. Furthermore, above the guide path, it extends laterally, on the side of the pulley 45, at least over the width of the envelope flap. It receives against it the front side of the flap from the forced folding action of the flap performed by the two pulleys. It therefore extends their action downstream on the guide track and maintains this forced folding up to the mooring station 5.

With reference to FIG. 2 and / or to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the two pulleys 44 and 45 both have, at their lower end, two rollers 47 and 48 mounted on the axis of the pulley concerned. The roller 47 is motor, it frictionally drives the roller 48 by means of the belts they wear. The aforementioned belt 41 and the other driving belt, facing it and denoted 43, are mounted on one and the other of these rollers respectively. The belt 41 is stretched on one side of the path 2 between the roller 48 and a roller 48A further down the path. The belt 43 is similarly stretched on the other side of the path between the roller 47 and a roller 47A, further downstream on the path and opposite the roller 48A. These two belts 41 and 43 come into pressure one against the other, to enclose between them the lower part or a substantially median part of the body 12 of the envelope and drive the envelope. These drive rollers 47 and 48 make the two pulleys 44 and 45 also drive and give them the same speed of rotation as them.

With reference to these FIGS. 2 and 3, it can also be seen that each pulley 44, or 45, the roller 47, or 48, carried by the pulley considered and the associated downstream roller 47A, or 48A, are mounted on the same support 70, or 71.

One of the sets, defined by one of the pulleys and the two rollers on the same side of the path on their support, here the pulley 45 and the rollers 48 and 48A on the support 71, is mounted to be resiliently stressed in look of the other clearance defined by the pulley 44 and the rollers 47 and 47A on their support 70.

To this end, the support 71 is pivotally mounted on an intermediate axis 72 and coupled by this axis to a connecting rod 73. The axis 72 is substantially on the middle of the center distance of the rollers 48 and 48A. The connecting rod itself has one of its ends pivoting about the axis 72. This connecting rod is moreover articulated around a fixed axis 73A which carries it. It also has a spring 74 coupled at its other end at 73B and on a flange 75 of the device, called the flange of the folding station. This spring urges the connecting rod 73 and the support 71, to pressurize one and the other of the rollers 48 and 48A against the rollers 47 and 47A opposite. It also allows an elastic thrust on one or other of the rollers 48 and 48A, exerted against its own action, during the passage between each pair of rollers 47, 48 or 47A and 48A of an envelope more or less loaded and therefore more or less thick.

For reasons of sufficient strength, the support 71 is of U-shaped cross section mounted inverted and the connecting rod 73 of L-shaped cross section.

A non-return envelope ratchet 77 in the path of guide is associated with the roller 48A. It is mounted above the roller 48A and extends upstream of this roller and slightly downstream, along the guide path. It consists of a flat profile transverse to the body of the envelopes. Its edge 77A facing the body of the envelopes is first of all set back on the body of the envelopes, then at an angle, in a direction substantially tangential to the roller 48A, for its part upstream of the roller 48A, and is slightly projecting on the periphery of the roller 48A, for its downstream part.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show that the pawl 77 is on the one hand coupled to the roller 48A and on the other hand pivoting about the above-mentioned axis 72 by which it is coupled with the support 71 to the connecting rod 73.

For its coupling with the roller 48A, it has an oblong slot 77B, extending along the distance between the rollers 48A and 47A. A lug 48B centered on the axis of the pulley 48A is held in this light 77B. A spring 78 couples, in addition, the end part of the pawl, upstream from the axis 72, to the connecting rod 73 in the vicinity of its fixed articulation axis 73A. Opposite the casing 10 driven along arrow 32 along its guide path, it urges the pawl so that its part downstream of the roller 48A is slightly protruding from the roller 48A in the guide path for envelopes, in the absence of an envelope between the rollers 47A and 48A. On the other hand, during the passage of an envelope, this same downstream part of the pawl retracts from the path with the roller 48A. In addition, the coupling by the lug 48B in the light 77B allows a clearance between the roller 48A and this pawl 77, which means that the pawl is no longer projecting on the roller in path 2. As soon as an envelope has crossed by the rollers 47A and 48A and stops on the stopper 25 (FIG. 1), this pawl protrudes and then forms an anti-return obstacle of the envelope between the rollers, in the event of possible rebound of the envelope on the stopper.

As shown in Figure 3, a ratchet 79 is mounted opposite the downstream end portion of the ratchet 77 which abuts against it by closing the path of envelopes, in the absence of envelopes. This counter-pawl 79 is fixed. It is shown secured to the support 70.

In this folding station 4, the pulleys 44 and 45, the rollers they carry and those downstream 47, 48 and 47A, 48A are fixed in height in the device. On the other hand, as symbolized in FIG. 4 at the level of this folding station, or in FIGS. 7 and 8 at the level of the mooring and closing stations then concerned, the chute 2 is adjustable in height in the device. The arrows 2A reflect this setting, which allows the device to receive different envelope formats, without adjusting the height of the different stations 3 to 6.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the mooring station 5 mounted just downstream of the folding station 4 which has just been described. In these figures, this folding station 4 has been illustrated in a finer line so as to make better understand the functions of the anchoring station after the folding of the flap in the station 4. The essential elements of the folding station 4 have been identified by the references designating them previously.

These FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show that the dampening post is mounted on the same side of the path 2 as the pulley 45 and the rollers 48 and 48A on the aforementioned support 71 and above this support 71. Along the path, it is set back on the periphery of the rollers 48 and 48A carried by the support 71. It is slightly distant from the roller 48 and extends partly above the roller 48A. The wetting assembly 50 which it comprises is mounted on a flange 51, called the wetting station flange. This flange 51 is itself carried by one of the flanges 63A of the closing station which follows on from the mooring station in the device according to the invention and which has been shown in these figures although belonging to the closing station located downstream from the berth.

The wetting assembly 50 comprises a wetting roller 53, of horizontal axis, and a water tank 54. This tank is at water level 54A kept substantially constant. A water level detector or other means, not shown, controls the supply of water to the tank for substantially constant level maintenance. The wetting roller 53 partially soaks in the water of the tank. An anchor counter roller 55 is associated with the wetting roller 53. The wetting tale roller 55 is mounted retractable opposite the wetting roller 53, as will be specified below. This wetting counter roller 55 is shown in solid lines, in FIG. 5, at a short distance from the wetting roller; it is then said to be in the wetting position. In the wetting position, it gives a curve to the flap to force the gummed part of the flap against the wetting roller, over an area which is designated by the reference 53A and is called wetting area. This same wetting counter-roller 55 is shown, in dotted lines, in FIG. 5, at a greater distance from the wetting roller 53; it is then said to be in the retracted non-wetting position.

In FIG. 5, line 16 is illustrated, which locates the start of the envelope flap on the body of the envelope and corresponds to the level of the terminal disc 45A of the pulley 45 and also to the junction between the cylindrical zone d support 44A and the chamfered area 44B of the pulley 44. It can thus be seen that the reservoir 54 is entirely below this line 16 and that the wetting area 53A on the roller 53 is itself below this line 16. This wetting zone 53A is below the tangency zone 53B on the roller 55 of the line 16 or of the plane of the projecting disc 45A, while being on the side of the deflector flap 46.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it can be seen that the deflector flap 46, which maintains the folding performed by the pulleys 44 and 45, couples with the wetting counter-roller 55 the folding station 4 at the wetting station 5. It guides the gummed end part of the envelope flap under the wetting counter-roller 55, whether the latter is in one or the other of its two positions. In its wetting position, this counter-roller guides the gummed end part of the flap against the wetting roller 53. It gives a deformation to the gummed end part of the flap and firmly applies the gummed face to the wetting roller. In its retracted non-wetting position, it leaves the passage of the flap free above the wetting roller, without there being any contact with the gummed face of the flap on the wetting roller 53.

The wetting assembly 50 also includes a laminating roller 56 associated with the wetting roller 53. It is mounted under pressure against the wetting roller 53, above the water level 54A and below the wetting area 53A, on the side of the folding station 4.

The wetting counter-roller 55 is mounted at the end of a lever 57 ensuring the setting of the wetting counter-roller in its wetting position or in its retracted non-wetting position. This lever extends above the reservoir 54 and the line 16, it has the counter-roller 55 projecting on its end opposite the reservoir 54 and the roller 53. This lever is pivotally mounted on a fixed articulation axis 57A . It carries or forms, opposite the counter-roller 55, a handle 57B accessible at the upper part of the mooring station. Its articulation axis 57A is offset laterally with respect to the wetting counter roller, towards the flange 51. This lever is shown in solid lines in correspondence with the wetting position of the counter roller 55 which it carries; it is shown in dotted lines in correspondence with the retracted non-wetting position of the counter-roller 55 which it carries. The arrow 57C associated with the handle 57B translates its actuation for placing the counter-roller 55 from the wetting position to that retracted from non-wetting.

In the mooring station 5, a horizontal support 58 carries the water tank 54. It is fixed to the base of the flange 51. A vertical support 59 is also fixed to the flange 51 and to the horizontal support 58. It defines the wall of the anchor station, slightly recessed on the front edge of the flange 51. It is U-shaped, for sufficient rigidity. It carries the axes, not referenced, of the dampening rollers 53 and laminator 56 and the articulation axis 57A of the lever 57.

This same vertical support 59 also carries the mechanism for driving the wetting roller 53, visible in FIG. 7 and produced from a driving belt 80 received by the front face on a pulley 81 for driving the wetting roller. Ball bearings 82A and 82B guide the rotation of the dampening roller shaft.

The vertical support 59 also makes it possible with the lever 57 to define the two wetting positions and retracted from no wetting of the wetting counter roller. To this end, the lever 57 carries a positioning mechanism, with finger or ball 57D projecting towards the support 59, simply called ball, and the support 59 has in correspondence two small circular openings 59A and 59B for receiving the ball for the one and the other of the two respective positions of the wetting counter-roller 55. The openings 59A and 59B define the limit positions of the lever 57 actuated in pivoting and ensure that it is held stable in each of these limit positions. The ball also ensures, by friction against the support 59, a guide of the lever during its actuation from one position to another.

In operation of the device according to the invention, the wetting counter roller is placed in the wetting position or in the retracted non-wetting position, depending on whether it is desired that the envelopes are wetted or not for their closure with the flap sealed on the envelope body or without sealing the flap. When wetting is desired, the wetting roller is driven at substantially the same linear speed as that applied by the pair of belts of the folding station to the body of the envelopes or at a lower speed for a lower supply of water. This wetting roller may or may not remain entrained when wetting is not desired, since it remains without action on the gummed part of the flaps.

The mounting of the mooring station 5 in the device is described with reference also to these FIGS. 5 to 7 in which the flange 63A which carries it has been made to appear, although this flange belongs to the closing station 6 and not to the wetting 5.

Maintaining the mooring station 5 on the flange 63A is ensured by a rod 85 and, moreover, by fingers 88. The rod 85 is horizontal, it is locked relative to the flange 63A, against a lug 63B which it crosses freely and which is the result of a puncture in the flange 63A. It extends through the mooring station 5, at its upper part, being above the articulation axis 57A of the lever 57 so as to be above the envelopes which pass through the mooring station (FIG. 5), and is mounted through the vertical support 59 of the station 5 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

This rod 85 is threaded for a possible depth adjustment of the mooring station in the device, that is to say for a particular desired positioning of the mooring station relative to the envelopes driven through it. The threaded part of this rod 85 is received in a threaded sleeve 86 fixed on the vertical support 59. In contrast, the rod 85 carries a knurled end button 87, at the level of the tab 63B, for its actuation from above the anchorage station and the displacement resulting from the anchorage station according to one or other of the arrows 5A. Such an adjustment is easy to carry out; it makes the mooring station adaptable to different dimensions of the envelope flaps and therefore to different envelope formats, in order to receive only between its wetting roller and its counter-roller only the gummed end portion of the flaps, whether the latter is wet or not.

Two of the fingers 88, which secure the rod 85 with the rod, are mounted between the front end portion of the flange 51 of the anchor station and the flange 63A (FIG. 5 and FIG. 7). A third finger at the rear couples the mooring station on the flange 63A. They also provide guidance for the berth during its depth adjustment in the device. Each of the fingers 88 is on the one hand held in a horizontal oblong slot 89, which has the flange 51 in the vicinity of its lower and upper edges, and on the other hand locked in the flange 63A. When the rod is actuated, the fingers slide freely in their slot, the ends of which define the limit positions of the station.

Like the pulleys 44 and 45 of the folding station, the mooring station is kept at the same level and it is the chute 2 which is adjustable according to the size of envelopes processed by the device.

In Figure 8, there is shown in section the closing station 6 entering the device according to Figure 1 where we see this station 6 mounted between the flange 63A above and another similar flange 63C. From this figure 1, it can be seen that the closing device extends above the chute 2, its flange 63A is notched to allow free passage to the envelopes driven by the pairs of belts such as 41 of the folding station and stopped by the stopper 25 in the transfer assembly 61 of the closing station 6. The description of the closing station is given with reference essentially to FIG. 8.

In the closing station 6, the transfer assembly 61 which it comprises is above the chute 2 but below the aforementioned line 16 (FIG. 1) corresponding to the start level 15 of the flap 11 on the body 12 of the envelope 10. This transfer assembly 61 comprises a drive roller 64 and an associated counter-roller 65 mounted to receive the body of the envelope 10 between them. The roller 64 is mounted between the flanges 63A and 63C. The counter-roller 65 is mounted to come into pressure against the roller 64 or to be removed therefrom. It is carried by a pair of arms such as 66 which, opposite the tale-roller, are coupled to one another and pivoting on an axis 66A carried by the flanges 63A and 63C.

A spring 67 coupled to the arms 66 urges them along arrow 67A against a stop 67B for placing the counter-roller 65 in position spaced from the roller 64. An electromagnet 68 also coupled to the arms controls them in pivoting according to arrow 68A, against the action of the spring 67, for putting the counter-roller under pressure against the roller. In the separated position of the roller 64, the counter-roller 65 authorizes the arrival of an envelope between it and the roller 64 for its stopping against the stopper and its waiting for transfer. In the pressure position against the roller 64, the counter-roller 65 encloses between it and the roller the envelope awaiting for its transfer. An envelope presence detector awaiting transfer, not shown, controls the electromagnet 68 or authorizes its control when it is made at the operating rate of the device.

This transfer assembly is further equipped with a horizontal plate 69 for holding the folded flap 11. This plate is mounted above the roller 64 and the counter-roller 65 to receive under it the end part of the envelope flap. It extends the folding carried out in the folding station, as do the deflector flap of this folding station and the wetting counter roller of the mooring station. This plate 69 has its edge 69A which, towards the start 15 of the flap 11 is folded upwards to form a guide entry for the flap in the closing station 60.

The closing station 60 is mounted just above the plate 69 so as to be above the level of the envelope 10 arriving awaiting transfer and then being without contact with it during this awaiting transfer. It comprises two motor rollers 90 and 91 under high pressure against each other, substantially in line with the body of the envelope awaiting transfer. During the transfer of the envelope, the folded edge 69A guides the flap 11 by folding it completely over the body of the envelope. The start 15 of the flap and the entire flap are then firmly crushed on the body of the envelope between the two rollers 90 and 91. The flap is sealed on the body of the envelope when its gummed part has been previously wet, otherwise it is unsealed.

Advantageously as shown in FIG. 8, to remove any jams that may take place at the transfer and closure assemblies 61 and 60, the rollers 64 and 90, located on the same side, are not carried directly by the flanges 63A and 63C but by a pair of arms such as 92. These arms 92 are pivotally mounted around a terminal axis 92A opposite the roller 90 and mounted between the flanges 63A and 63C. As symbolized by the arrow 92B, they allow the opening of the closing station. These arms are normally kept locked in position between the flanges by a pair of locking pawls 93 engaged in a hooking tooth provided on the arms. These pawls are pivotable for unlocking. They are carried by an axis 93A passing through the flanges 63A and 63C. A lever 94, on the outside of one of the flanges and actuable according to arrow 94A ensures the unlocking of the pawls 93 on the arms 92. For the purposes of its representation, in the sectional view given in FIG. 8, the lever 94 appears mounted on the side of the flange 63A which carries the anchoring station described above. In practice, it is preferably mounted on the outside of the other flange of this closing station, which is free on the side of the device.

This closing station is also equipped with a set of outlet 96 of the envelopes closed in the closure assembly 60. It extends above the closure assembly 60 and is mounted between the flanges 63A and 63C to give the envelopes an arcuate trajectory, for their inversion of 90 ° and their exit flat. This outlet assembly 96 comprises a pair of belts 97 and 98 ensuring between them the driving of the envelopes along this arcuate outlet path.

Among the advantages of this device, we can cite in particular:
- the particularly easy production of the device, which does not comprise any profile part of complex shape,
- the small size of the device,
- the independence between the operations of folding the flap and wetting the gummed part, which allow the envelopes to be closed with their sealed or unsealed flap and shipments at the corresponding different tariffs,
- easy adaptation of the device to different envelope formats, both for folding the flap and for wetting or not wetting the gummed part of the flaps of different dimensions,
- the reliability and speed of operation of the device, with rates made easily variable,
- easy accessibility inside the device, in the event of any jams to be removed,
- the simplicity of mounting the posts of the device, with automatic adaptation to different thicknesses of envelopes.

The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is obvious that it is possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to replace certain means by other equivalent means and / or to make adaptations according to the mode of supply of envelopes to be closed or of the subsequent treatment of closed envelopes, who is retained. In particular, thus when the envelopes are driven flat on a horizontal guide path the wetting roller with an axis perpendicular to the movement of the envelopes, is mounted under the guide path with its vertical axis. The mooring area will be always slightly set back from the gummed part of the forced folding flap, the counter-roller, controlled in the wetting position, coming to guide this gummed part against the wetting area or, commanded in the retracted non-wetting position, allowing free passage the gummed area without contact with the mooring area.

Claims (24)

1 / Device for folding the flap of envelopes received, separated from each other and with their flap open, on an entrance to a guide path, comprising means for driving the envelopes along said path and deflector means ensuring folding the flap from the open position to a closed position, characterized in that said deflector means comprise a pair of pulleys (44, 45) of parallel axes mounted on one side and the other of the path ( 2) and coupled to the entrance (3) of the path, to receive the envelopes (10) therebetween, and having, for one of them, located opposite the front face of the body of the envelopes and said first pulley (44), a stepped peripheral surface comprising a first cylindrical zone (44A), for supporting the body (12) of the envelopes (10) by at least their part adjoining the flap (11), and a second chamfered zone (44B) extending the first zone (44A) by flaring against the flap (11), and, for the other pulley said second pulley (45), a peripheral surface comprising a first cylindrical zone (45B), opposite the first cylindrical zone (44A) of the first pulley (44) while being set back on the body (12) of the envelopes (10 ), and a projecting terminal disc (45A) engaging under the second chamfered zone (44B) of the first pulley (44) and coming substantially opposite the junction between the first and the second zone (44A, 44B) of said first pulley (44) to ensure a first folding of the flap from its open position to an intermediate position in which the flap (11) is substantially perpendicular to the body (12) of the envelopes (10). 2 / folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral surface of said first pulley (44) further comprises a third cylindrical end zone (44C) projecting relative to the first (44A) to which it is coupled by said second chamfered zone (44B). 3 / folding device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it further comprises a deflector flap (46) mounted opposite the end disc (45A) of the second pulley (45) and facing the first pulley (44) and extending downstream of said pulleys (44, 45), to form an obstacle opposing the unfolding of said flap (11) and defining with said pulleys a folding station ( 4). 4 / folding device according to claim 3, characterized in that said flap (46) is, from upstream to downstream, inclined towards the drive direction of the envelopes. 5 / folding device according to claim 4, characterized in that said flap (46) is transversely to the direction of drive of the envelopes, mounted inclined towards said second pulley (45). 6 / folding device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that at least said first pulley (44) is driven and driven to have the same linear speed as that of said drive means. 7 / folding device according to claim 6, characterized in that said first pulley (44) and said second pulley (45) carry, on their respective axes, two first rollers (47, 48) of a first pair of rollers in pressure, belonging to said drive means. 8 / folding device according to claim 7, characterized in that said pulleys (44, 45), with their first roller (47, 48), are respectively coupled to two second rollers (47A, 48A) forming a second pair of rollers in pressure, downstream of the first pair of rollers and belonging like it to said drive means. 9 / folding device according to claim 7, characterized in that one of said pulleys (45), the first and the second roller (48, 48A) concerned by the pulley considered and located on the same side as this pulley, are mounted on a pivoting support (71), articulated around an axis (72), intermediate on the center distance of the first and second roller concerned, and resiliently biased for the pressurization of each of the rollers (48, 48A) that it bears against the other corresponding rollers (47, 47A) of each of said first and second pairs of rollers. 10 / folding device according to claim 9, characterized in that said stacks (44, 45) and the deflector flap (46) are fixed and the guide path (2) adjustable to bring the start (15) of the flap (11) on the body (12) of the envelopes on a same reference line (16) extending opposite the terminal disc (45A) of the second pulley (45) and passing substantially through the junction between the first and the second zones (44A, 44B) of the first pulley (44) . 11 / folding device according to claim 10, further comprising a wetting station and wherein said deflector means further comprise a closure assembly of the flap after wetting, characterized in that said wetting station comprises, d firstly, a wetting roller (53), extending transversely downstream of said second pulley (45) and on the same side of the guide path, with the plane of the terminal disc (45A) of said second pulley (45) substantially tangential on its periphery, and on the other hand, a wetting counter roller (55) extending opposite the deflector flap (46) and defining on said wetting roller a wetting zone (53A), on the side of said deflector flap (46) and set back on the plane of the terminal disc (45A) of the second pulley (45), said dampening counter-roller (55) and said deflector flap (46) coupling the folding and dampening stations ( 4, 5) and extending the folding operation performed by said po ulies (44, 45). 12 / folding device according to claim 11, characterized in that the wetting counter roller (55) is retractably mounted opposite the wetting roller (53), between a wetting position for which it is close to the area wetting (53A) and a retracted non-wetting position for which it is distant from the wetting roller (53) and allows the flap to pass freely without contact with the wetting roller. 13 / folding device according to claim 12, characterized in that said wetting counter-roller (55) is mounted on a pivoting lever (57) controlled. 14 / folding device according to claim 13, characterized in that said wetting roller (53), said counter-roller wetting (55) and the lever (57) of the wetting counter roller are carried by the same support (59) fixed on a flange (51) of the mooring station and in that said lever (57) and said support ( 59) of the mooring station are coupled by a positioning mechanism (57D; 59A, 59B) defining two limit positions of the lever for the two positions of the dampening counter-roller. 15 / folding device according to claim 14, characterized in that said wetting station (5) is carried by a flange (63A) of the device, using an adjustment rod (85) and guide fingers (88) flowing the flange (63A) of the device and the flange (51) of the mooring station (5), to be made adjustable in a direction transverse to the guide path (2). 16 / folding device according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that said flap closure assembly (60) consists of a pair of motor rollers (90, 91), pressurized one against the other facing and at a distance from the guide path, so as to be without direct contact with the envelopes present in the path, and in that it further comprises an envelope transfer assembly (61) mounted downstream of the mooring station, on one side and the other of the guide path and of the body of the envelopes, for transferring said envelopes, with the start (15) of their flap (11) at the front, to said closure assembly ( 60) with which it forms a closing station (6). 17 / folding device according to claim 16, characterized in that said transfer assembly (61) comprises a drive roller (64) and a transfer counter roller (65) mounted on a pivoting arm (66) controlled for placing the transfer counter roller (65) under pressure against the transfer roller (64) or in the separated position. 18 / folding device according to claim 17, characterized in that at least the transfer roller (64) of the closing station is carried by a pair of arms (92) held by locking pawls (93) actuable in unlocking for opening the closing station. 19 / folding device according to claim 16, characterized in that said guide path (2) is constituted by a horizontal channel of U-shaped cross section on the bottom (21) from which rests the foot (14) of the envelopes driven vertically in the channel. 20 / folding device according to claim 19, characterized in that the entry of the guide path (2) is equipped in entry station (3) and comprises a drive roller on one side of the chute and a counter roller (30) controlled by pressure or in the retracted position on the other side of the chute, belonging to said means for driving the envelopes. 21 / folding device according to one of claims 19 and 20, characterized in that said closing station (6) is mounted, opposite the entry station, on the end part of the chute (2) whose the end is closed by a stopper (25). 22 / folding device according to claim 21, characterized in that said end portion of the chute is of length substantially equal to the maximum length of the envelopes and the stopper (25) is adjustable on said end portion. 23 / folding device according to one of claims 21 and 22, characterized in that it further comprises a non-return pawl (77) carried by the pivoting support (71) of one of the pulleys and first and second rollers concerned (48, 48A), one of the edges of which protrudes from the periphery of the second roller (48A) in said chute. 24 / folding device according to claim 23, characterized in that said non-return pawl (77) is on the one hand pivoting on the articulation axis (72) of the pivoting support (71) and resiliently biased projecting on the periphery of the second roller (48A), and on the other hand coupled to said second roller (48A) by a connection (48B, 77A) with a clearance transverse to the chute (2).

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