EP0352692B1 - Integrated office machine for folding mailing material and for inserting it into envelopes - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an office machine intended to produce envelopes for mail folds, as and when these folds are made.

Many machines already exist for automatic mail processing. These are collators, folding machines or folding assemblers, for processing documents, such as mail folds previously made and to be put in envelopes; these are inserter machines for loading folded documents in envelopes and envelope closing machines for wetting and folding the gummed flap on the body of each loaded envelope. At least some of these machines are coupled to each other and grouped together to define an automatic mail processing installation.

Automatic mail processing facilities are complex and bulky; they must respond to high processing rates while being reliable. They have internal document paths, envelopes initially empty and envelopes loaded to close, coupled to each other at the inserter that each of them has. These paths are long and with complicated trajectories to facilitate the execution of the operations to be performed on each of them.

Access to these paths, for the removal of any jams that may occur, is not easy and requires often long interventions. The synchronism between the operations to be carried out on these paths requires a complex and costly control, which contributes to a non-negligible part to the large bulk that these installations present.

Such installations therefore absolutely do not meet the requirements of office equipment which, in order to carry out comparable operations, must above all be compact and easy to use and practical in the manner of any work equipment of a secretarial station.

The present invention aims to meet its objectives by proposing an integrated document folding office machine and envelopes loading which carries out envelopes of mail folds, as and when they are made.

• lesdits premier et deuxième chemins sont définis à l'intérieur du châssis supérieur et ledit troisième chemin entre lesdits châssis supérieur et inférieur, ledit deuxième chemin aboutissant sur ledit troisième chemin,
• ledit poste de chargement forme un module fonctionnel de chargement sur ledit troisième chemin, à l'opposé de l'entrée d'enveloppes sur le deuxième chemin, monté pour une partie dans le châssis supérieur et pour l'autre dans le châssis inférieur, et
• ladite plieuse forme un module fonctionnel de pliage entre lesdits premier et troisième chemins, monté pour une partie de l'ensemble de rouleaux de pliage et l'une des poches de pliage dans le châssis supérieur et pour l'autre partie de l'ensemble des rouleaux de pliage et l'autre poche de pliage dans le châssis inférieur, en présentant une entrée du module de pliage à l'opposé de l'entrée des plis sur le premier chemin et une sortie du module de pliage en regard dudit module de chargement auquel elle est couplée directement.

It relates to an integrated office folding and enveloping machine for mail folds, comprising a first path coupled to a fold entry and feeding a folder with two folding pockets associated with a set of folding rollers, a second path coupled to an inlet of empty envelopes and supplying a loading station itself coupled to the folder to receive the folds delivered, and a third path coupled to an outlet of loaded and closed envelopes and to the loading station and equipped with envelope closing means, characterized in that it is mounted in a quasi-closed machine chassis formed by an upper chassis articulated on a lower chassis for its opening around an axis of articulation at the end of the lower chassis, known as rear axle, and in that

• said first and second paths are defined inside the upper chassis and said third path between said upper and lower chassis, said second path leading to said third path,
• said loading station forms a functional loading module on said third path, opposite the entry of envelopes on the second path, mounted partly in the upper chassis and for the other in the lower chassis, and
• said folder forms a functional folding module between said first and third paths, mounted for part of the set of folding rollers and one of the folding pockets in the upper frame and for the other part of the set of folding rollers and the other folding pocket in the lower chassis, presenting an entry of the folding module opposite the entry of the folds on the first path and an exit of the folding module opposite said loading module to which it is directly coupled.

According to another characteristic, the first and second paths are defined inside the upper frame in which they intersect and on which the entry of folds and the entry of envelopes are on its upper part, with the entry of more pleats at the front as the entry of envelopes.

According to another characteristic, the machine comprises a reversible motor for driving the envelopes on said second and third paths, coupled to a control circuit ensuring, from a position detection of each envelope on said third path, the immobilization of the envelope in a defined loading position in the loading module for its loading, the advance of the loaded envelope on the third path to a defined closed position and the retraction of the envelope on said third path for its complete closure.

According to another characteristic, the closing means comprises a pair of pressing rollers pivotally mounted facing the third path and controlled between a rest position outside the third path during the advancement of the envelope on the third path and a working position on the third path, with said pressure rollers on either side of this third path, during the retraction of the envelope on this third path.

• La figure 1 représente schématiquement la machine selon la présente invention.
• La figure 2 représente plus schématiquement cette même machine ouverte.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings. In these drawings:

• Figure 1 shows schematically the machine according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 shows more schematically this same open machine.

The office machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended to ensure the envelopes of mail folds, preferably as and when these folds are made. It is part of the equipment of a secretarial workstation where it constitutes one of the machines available to the person working at this workstation. Such a secretarial position has not been illustrated. The machine according to the invention is simply placed on the work plan of the station while being made easily accessible for the person at this station, in particular for the presentation of the folds of which it ensures the enveloping.

The machine has an entry 1 for folds, a magazine for 2 envelopes empty and an outlet 3 of loaded and closed envelopes, which are formed on a machine frame 5. The chassis 5 is formed in two parts called the upper chassis 5A and the lower chassis 5B. The lower chassis has its open underside and is mounted articulated on the lower chassis 5B with an open upper face, around an axis 5C. This 5C axis is carried by the lower chassis and is close to its rear wall, considering the machine installed in a secretarial position. The lower chassis 5A is also locked on the lower chassis 5B which it then closes, by known unlockable means, not shown.

The entry 1 of the folds and the store 2 of empty envelopes are defined on the upper wall of the upper frame 5A, with the entry 1 more at the front than the store 2 of empty envelopes. The outlet 3 of the loaded and closed envelopes is defined at the bottom and at the front of the lower chassis 5B. The mail folds made up are thus easily introduced on entry 1, while the closed envelopes are very easily taken on exit 3; the empty envelopes are in turn loaded by pack into the magazine 2 which constitutes the entry of empty envelopes and avoids manual introduction of each empty envelope onto this entry of empty envelopes.

At the entrance 1 of the folds there corresponds a path 10 of the folds into the machine, which feeds a functional folding module 11. The folding module 11 has two folding pockets 12 and 13 associated with a set of folding rollers 14. This path 10 defines the trajectory of the folds transferred from the entry 1 to the folding module 11. It forms a bend guiding the folds from the entry 1 towards the rear part of the lower chassis 5A, to supply the folding module, mounted in part in the rear part of the chassis 5A and for the other part in that of the chassis 5B. This folding module itself ensures at the end of the path 10, a folding of the path of the folds during the folding that it performs.

The store 2 of empty envelopes, constituting the entry of empty envelopes, corresponds to a path 20 of the empty envelopes in the machine. This path 20 intersects path 10 of the folds to reach in the substantially middle part of the machine. It has a broken trajectory, substantially S-shaped and is equipped with means for opening the flap of the empty envelopes, 21.

At the outlet 3 of closed envelopes, there is a path 30 of loaded envelopes. This path 30 is substantially linear; it extends above the outlet 3, between the upper and lower chassis 5A, 5B, from the front of the machine to the path 20 of empty envelopes and is substantially aligned with the outlet of the folds of the folding module 11. This path 30 is equipped with a functional module for loading the folds into the empty envelopes, a functional module for wetting the flaps 32 and a folding and closing module for the flaps 33.

The folding 11, loading 31 and wetting 32 modules are said to be functional because they become disorganized with the opening of the upper chassis 5A on the lower chassis 5B.

A control circuit 6 defines the controls of the machine, during a control cycle.

The various elements of the machine are specified below.

The entry 1 of the folds on the machine is equipped with a display unit which extends above the upper chassis 5A, with a slight inclination, foot at the front, on the vertical. This display consists of an input tray 1A which receives flat against it each fold to put in envelopes. The foot of the input tray 1A is partially inserted into the upper frame 5A, through its upper wall on which it is held. A small counter-plate 1B mounted slightly projecting on either side of the upper wall of the chassis 5A is associated with the input plate and mounted opposite its foot. It defines with the foot of the input tray an inlet chute, of short length, crossing the upper wall of the frame 5A. This inlet chute bears the reference 1 for the entry of the folds.

On the outside of the chassis, this inlet chute 1 is flared, to facilitate the introduction of the folds resting moreover against the inlet tray 1A. Inside the chassis it is coupled to path 10 and is equipped to constitute controlled access on path 10 of the folds.

The input tray 1A advantageously has lateral edges, not shown, over at least part of its height. It also has, just above the upper wall of the upper chassis 5A, side windows, illustrated in 1F. These windows 1F allow, before the enveloping of a fold with multiple sheets, consisting for example of a check and a cover letter, with the cover letter put in front of the check and covering it, to come correct by hand from the front of the machine any improper arrangement of the check under the letter.

This input tray 1A is advantageously made of plastic; it comes from molding and is transparent. It allows from the front of the machine to see the filling state of the empty envelope magazine 2, directly through it.

The path 10 of the folds is defined by two sets of drive rollers 15A, 16A with their two sets of associated counter-rollers 15B, 16B and an intermediate guide chute 17, which is bent and formed by a pair of deflectors. It may include a coupling chute, not shown, between the set of rollers and counter-rollers 16A, 16B and the folding module. This coupling chute is substantially linear; it is interrupted for the path 20 of empty envelopes, which intersects the path 10 of the folds at its level, or extends only on one side of this path 20. The rollers and counter-rollers 15A, 15B and 16A and 16B and the chute 17 are mounted in the upper chassis 5A.

The pair of sets of rollers and counter-rollers 15A, 15B is mounted with a set of shutter fingers 18 on the terminal part of the chute 1 inside the chassis 5A, to constitute a controlled access to the path 10 of the folds.

The set of rollers 15A is mounted on one side of the chute 1, it comes through the foot of the inlet plate slightly inside the chute 1. The set of counter-rollers 15B is pivotally mounted on the other side of the chute 1, facing the set of rollers 15A. It is carried by an axis resting in a window allowing its clearance opposite the set of rollers 15A. The pebble game 15 is controlled by a pair of arms 19 articulated around an axis 19A carried by the upper chassis 5A. It pivots about this axis 19A between a position outside the chute 1 and without contact with the set of rollers 15A, which is its rest position, and a position where it comes to interpose in the chute 1, and in pressure against the set of rollers 15A, which is its control position.

The set of shutter fingers 18 is also pivotally mounted opposite the inlet chute 1, under the pair of sets of rollers 15A and counter-rollers 15B.

It is advantageously carried by the pair of arms 19 controlling the set of counter-rollers 15B, for the same simultaneous control. It then pivots around the axis 19A between an obstacle position through the chute 1, which it closes, which is its rest position, and a position cleared out of the chute, which is its control position.

The set of counter-rollers 15B and the set of shutter fingers 18 being in their rest position, the fold introduced on the inlet 1, slides along the inlet tray 1A, is inserted between the sets of rollers and against -galets 15A, 15B and comes to stop on the set of shutter fingers 18 which closes the chute 1. This set of shutter fingers also acts as a jogging stop for several documents introduced at the same time into the inlet chute 1 This set of shutter fingers in its rest position isolates the inlet 1 and the internal path 10. In its control position, the set of shutter fingers is erased and opens the chute 1, while the set of counter-rollers 15B by pressing on the set of rollers 15A allows the fold to be driven on the path 10 of the folds.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pair of arms 19 is articulated around the axis 19A carried by the upper chassis 5A, substantially at its lower and middle part. This pair of arms extends upwards from the upper frame, on either side of the bent chute 17. Its upper end serves as a stop for the axis of the set of rollers 15B, so that this set of rollers 15B remains at a distance from the set of rollers 15A or elastically presses against it. She carries the set of fingers below this end shutters which comes, from the inner side of the elbow defined by the chute 17, to be inserted between this chute 17 and the inlet chute by isolating them or which comes to disappear below the set of rollers 15A. This pair of arms 19 extends beyond the axis of articulation in the lower chassis for its control. Each arm has a substantially L-shaped profile with the articulation axis at an intermediate point of the large leg of the L. This pair of arms 19 actuates the shutter fingers 18 and the counter-rollers 15B, giving an actuation delay to the counter-rollers 15B with respect to the fingers 18.

The folding module 11 has its two pockets 12 and 13 which extend along the branches of a truncated V on all of the folding rollers 14. The opening of the V faces the rear walls of the upper frame 5A and the lower chassis 5B. The folding pocket 12 is mounted in the upper frame and called the upper pocket; the other 13 is mounted in the lower chassis 5B and called the lower pocket.

The set of rollers 14 has four rollers associated with pockets 12 and 13. The rollers have not been referenced individually. One of them, called the central roller, has the other three rollers, called peripheral rollers, which are tangent to it. Two of the peripheral rollers are substantially diametrically opposite on the central roller with which they define the inlet 11A of the folding module, directly coupled to the path 10, and the outlet 11B of the folding module, aligned with the path 30 and at a short distance from the loading module 31 to which it is coupled. The pockets 12 and 13 have their open entry inserted between the third peripheral roller and the two aforementioned peripheral rollers. Two of the rollers, here the central roller and the peripheral roller defining with it the entry 11A of the module, are mounted with the upper pocket 12 in the upper chassis 5A. The other two rollers and the other pocket 13 are mounted in the lower chassis 5B.

In this folding module, each pocket is formed by a pair of facing plates, denoted 12A and 12B for the pocket 12 and 13A and 13B for the pocket 13 and is closed opposite to its Entrance. Each pocket has one of its two plates, called upper plate 12A for the pocket 12 and lower plate 13A for the pocket 13, which is fixed in the frame 5A or 5B which carries the pocket considered; the other of its plates 12B, 13B, which is disposed on the side of the chassis which does not carry the pocket concerned, is articulated around a terminal axis of this pocket, opposite its entry and denoted 12C and 13C according to the pocket. The lower plate 12B of the pocket 12 and the upper plate 13B of the pocket 13 are thus made pivoting, each around their axis. A cable 12D couples the pivoting plate 12B of the upper pocket 12 to the rear wall of the lower chassis 5B. Another cable 13D couples the pivoting plate 13B of the lower pocket 13 to the rear wall of the upper chassis 5A. These cables thus allow the simultaneous opening of the pockets with the opening of the chassis 5A on the chassis 5B.

Advantageously, a finger 1E is associated with the chute 1 and a comparable not shown finger is associated with each of the pockets 12 and 13 to allow detection of the presence of a fold at their level. These fingers each form an obstacle through the chute or one or other of the pockets, as the case may be, in the absence of a fold at their level, and are erased by the mere presence of a fold. A photoelectric detector, not shown, is coupled to each of these fingers, outside the chute and the pockets, to deliver a corresponding signal of presence, or not, of a fold which is transmitted to the control circuit 6.

A motor 10A is coupled to the rollers 15A and 16A as well as to one of the rollers 14, moreover coupled together, of the folding module 11, for the transfer of the folds on their path 10 and their folding. This motor is controlled by the control circuit 6, it is said fold transfer motor.

The magazine 2 for the entry of empty envelopes or the entry of the empty envelopes has an inclined bottom and a vertical front edge, not referenced, which come from a profile given to the upper wall of the frame 5A and which define the exit between them. empty envelopes on the store. The bottom is equipped with a set of rollers 2A, with one of these rollers associated with a counter roller 2B on the outlet of the store and forming with it a separator of empty envelopes extracted from store 2 and delivered on path 20. These envelopes are extracted, foot of the envelope at the front, from store 2.

The path 20 of the empty envelopes is defined in the upper chassis 5A by a first set of drive rollers 22A and a corresponding set of counter rollers 22B, with which a downstream deflector 23 is associated, and by a second set of drive rollers 24A with its play against rollers 24B, with which is associated an upstream deflector constituting the abovementioned opening means 21. The two deflectors 21, 23 are on one side and the other of the path 20 and offset along the path 20, the path 10 of the folds cut the path 20 of empty envelopes between these deflectors 21, 23. They define with the rollers 22A, 22B and 24A, 24B two bends opposite to each other on the path 20, giving a camber to the envelope to promote the partial opening of the flap upstream of the deflector 21 and ensure the retention of the flap and therefore its full opening against the edge of this deflector 21. Downstream of the rollers 24A, 24B and at a short distance from them, the path 20 intersects path 30, at ni loading module calf 31 thus receiving each envelope with its flap open from path 20.

A photoelectric detector 25 is mounted on the path 20, near the loading module 31. It has been illustrated for ease of representation between the rollers 24A, 24B and the deflector 21 for opening the flap. It is preferably located just downstream of the rollers 24A, 24B. It is coupled to the control circuit 6. It makes it possible to define the defined position for loading the envelope into the loading module 31, in particular for immobilizing the envelope, with its opening facing the output 11B of the module. folding for loading the envelope.

The path 30 is defined in turn by a first set of rollers 31A and the associated counter rollers 31B which belong to the loading module 31 and a second set of rollers 34A and the associated counter rollers 34B. This path 30 extends between the chassis 5A and 5B, the rollers 31A and 34A being mounted in the upper chassis 5A and the counter-rollers 31B and 34B in the lower chassis, with the outlet 11B of the folding module 11 aligned with the rollers 31A, 31B and 34A, 34B and opposite the rollers 34A, 34B on path 30.

On this path 30, the loading module 31 includes the rollers and counter-rollers 31A and 31B and opening fingers of the casing body 35 mounted, at the front of the counter-rollers 31B, at the end of a support 36. This support extends down from the lower chassis where it is articulated around an axis 36A. It maintains the fingers 35 in a retracted position under the path 30 in front of the counter-rollers or puts and maintains the fingers 35 in an open position for which they are inserted on the path 30 between the rollers 31A and the counter-rollers 31B.

These counter-rollers 31B are themselves retractable mounted under the path 30 opposite the rollers 31A. They are carried by arms 37 articulated around an axis 37A ensuring their pivoting, with a relatively small clearance, to come into pressure against the rollers 37A or to be retracted under the path 30. These counter-rollers 31B which belong to the module of loading 31 are also coupled to the peripheral roller on the outlet 11B of the folding module for their drive with all of the rollers 14. A connection 31C schematizes this coupling. This coupling 31C is carried out through a free wheel 31B ′ which allows the rotation of counter rollers 31B during the drive of the envelopes and from the motor 10A for transferring the folds.

As a variant of the illustrated embodiment, the articulation axis 37A of the arms 37 is formed directly by the axis of the peripheral roller on the outlet 11B of the folding module.

The opening fingers 35 are placed in the open position while the counter-rollers 31B are held in the retracted position.

The rollers 24A in counter-rollers 24B mentioned above cooperate with the rollers 31A in counter-rollers 31B and the opening fingers 35 of the loading module, ensuring the retention of the open flap of the envelope during loading, as well as will be seen below.

On this path 30, the wetting module 32 and the closing module 33 are both mounted, one after the other, between the rollers 31A and counter-rollers 31B and the rollers 34A and 34B. They are close to each other, with the wetting module 32 on the side of the rollers 31A and against rollers 31B, the rollers 31A and 34A being themselves separated by a distance slightly less than or close to the height of the body of the envelopes.

The wetting module 32 comprises an element such as a wetting roller 32A mounted under the path 30, with its periphery remaining slightly recessed below the path, and an associated wetting deflector 32B mounted above the path. The wetting roller partially soaks in the water of a 32D reserve tank. This tray 32D is equipped with two studs 32E on each of its two side faces. It simply comes to rest in a housing 32F provided or attached to the lower chassis 5B, its studs 32E being received in retaining notches formed on this housing 32F.

The anchoring deflector, of semi-circular section, is mounted at the end of an arm 38 articulated around an axis 38A carried by the upper chassis 5A. The arm 38 extends beyond this axis 38A in the lower chassis for its actuation. This arm 38 ensures the resting at rest of the wetting deflector, for which the deflector is facing the wetting roller but above the path 30 or the setting and maintaining of the deflector 32B in its wetting position. In this wetting position, the deflector interferes with the path 30 on which it forms an obstacle interposed on the path slightly in front of the wetting roller 32A. The mooring deflector is placed in this wetting position when the envelope flap to be wetted reaches its level on path 30.

The flap folding and envelope closing module 33 comprises a pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B held elastically in pressure against one another. The pair of pressure rollers is mounted on the end part of a pair of bent arms substantially in L, 39. These arms are articulated at their other end part around an axis 39A carried by the lower chassis 5B. The arms 39 come from either side of the path 30 which it cuts. They are controlled around this axis 39A to rotate the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B between a rest position and a working position. In its rest position, the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B is outside the path 30, the two pressure rollers one above the other are both above the path 30. In its working position, the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B is interposed on path 30, the two rollers still in pressure one above the other are on either side of path 30.

In its rest position, the pair of pressing rollers allows an envelope to pass freely under it, on path 30. Actuated from this rest position to its working position when the open flap of the envelope is at its level, it comes fold the flap substantially 90 ° over the body of the envelope. The flap having thus received a first fold extends from one side of the pair of rollers vertical to the path 30 towards the bottom of the lower frame 5B. Maintaining the pair of pressure rollers in this position and the passage of the envelope between these pressure rollers, with the fold line between its flap and the envelope body in mind, allow the envelope to be completely closed.

When the closed envelope is no longer engaged between one of the sets of rollers and counter-rollers of path 30, it will fall freely from this path 30. The outlet 3 of closed envelopes has, in the illustrated example, been provided under path 30, at the front of the machine, for the gripping facilities of the loaded and closed envelopes which are delivered.

The counter-rollers 34B are also advantageously mounted retractable below the path 30, opposite the rollers 34A. The supports carrying the counter-rollers 34B have been designated by 34. These supports 34 are articulated around the axis 39A of the arms 39 carrying the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B. They rotate the counter-rollers 34B around the axis 39A, for putting them in the pressure position against the rollers 34A or in the retracted position under the path 30.

In the machine, a motor 30A is provided for the proper drive of the envelopes on path 20 as on path 30. It is coupled to the drive rollers 22A and 24A of path 20 and to the drive rollers 31A and 34A of path 30. This 30A motor is preferably a stepper motor or a DC motor. It is controlled in one direction or the other to allow the advance of each envelope on paths 20 and 30, from the exit of store 2 through the modules which equip these paths, or the retreat of each envelope on path 30 in particular. It also allows the envelope to be stopped in one or other of the modules along path 30.

A motor 20A is provided to ensure the removal of each envelope from the magazine 2. This motor 20A is coupled to the rollers 2A equipping the bottom of the magazine and the envelope outlet on this magazine.

A detector 40 is shown between the output 11B of the folding module and the rollers and counter-rollers 31A, 31B of the path 30. It is connected to the control circuit 6 for controlling the loading module 31.

The control circuit 6 ensures the control of the machine by control cycle for each ply introduced on the input 1 of the plies, which is to be delivered in a sealed envelope. For the course of the control cycle, the control circuit 6 is coupled to the motors 10A, 20A and 30A which it controls. It is also coupled to the detector 25 which supplies it with a reference signal from which the arrival of the envelope in the loading position in the loading module and the successive positions or movements of the envelope on the path 30 are detected. It is also coupled to the detector 40 to allow the insertion of the fold in the corresponding envelope. This control circuit 6 comprises a counter triggered by the reference signal given by the detector 25 and counting the unitary movements or not of the envelope from its triggering in counting. This counter is coupled to the 30A stepper motor; it counts the steps of this motor regardless of its direction of drive. The couplings between the circuit 6, the motors 10A, 20A and 30A and the detectors 15 and 40 have not been illustrated to avoid unnecessary overloads in FIG. 1.

The control circuit 6 is also coupled to the various articulated arms and supports carrying the counter-rollers 15B and shutter fingers 18, the counter-rollers 34B and 31B, the opening fingers 35, the wetting deflector 32B and the pair of rollers. 33A pressers, 33B, to allow proper ordering during the ordering cycle. This coupling is achieved through a control stepper motor 60 which drives individual actuating cams for these articulated arms and supports. These cams are distributed over two shafts, such as the only shaft 61 illustrated, which are mounted in the lower chassis and driven by the motor 60; one of the shafts carries the cam for actuating the counter-rollers 15B and shutter fingers 18 associated with the inlet chute 1, the cam for actuating the opening fingers 35 and the cam for actuating the counter -wheels 31B, the other, which is the shaft 61, carries the actuating cam of the wetting deflector 32B, the actuating cam of the pressure rollers 33A, 33B and the actuating cam of the counter-rollers 34B. These cams have not been illustrated to avoid overloads in Figure 1, we will specify below the specific angular positions giving rise to particular commands. Rollers, each carried by each of the articulated supports and arms and designated by the reference of this support or arm accompanied by the letter C, come into pressure on the periphery of the respective cams.

The stepping motor 60 for driving the camshafts is started on a particular defined value of the counting state of the control circuit 6. Its speed is chosen as a function of that of the motor 30A. Once started, it remains driven in the same direction, in synchronism with the phases of a control cycle, whatever the command transmitted to the motor 30A. Its stop command is given by a reference position detection, called angular position 0, on one or the other of the two camshafts, which as such is known and has been shown diagrammatically by an arrow 61A in look from the shaft 61 and is transmitted to the control circuit 6.

The machine according to the invention is controlled on an order cycle for each ply to be treated. This cycle is triggered when a fold is pending in the inlet chute 1, by an external command to start the cycle given by the operator and received by the control circuit 6. It then takes place in phases successive, indicated phase 1 to 4 below. at during each of which the appropriate operations are carried out, one after the other. Phase 1 is called the supply phase of an empty envelope open to the loading module.

At the start of the cycle, the control circuit starts the motor 20A which drives the rollers 2A as well as the motor 30A which drives the rollers 22A, 24A, 31A and 34A. The control motor 60 is not driven, the camshafts, such as the shaft 61, are and remain in angular position 0. On the paths 20 and 30 the counter rollers 31B and 34B are under pressure against the rollers 31A, 34A, and the wetting deflector 32B and the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B in the rest position. Opposite the path 10, the drive rollers of which are not driven, for this position 0 of the camshafts, the counter-rollers 15B are retracted and the shutter fingers 18 close the chute 1.

The motors 20A and 30A in operation cause the envelope to be extracted from the magazine and its front foot forward on path 20 then path 30. At the start on path 20 the envelope flap is folded and not sealed under the body of the envelope.

During the advance on the path 20, the detector 25 detects the passage of the foot of the envelope at its level. This signal transmitted to the control circuit 6 gives the engine 20A to stop, to avoid extraction of the following envelope, to trigger the counting of the engine steps 30A in this circuit 6 and to start the engine 60 camshaft drive.

During this same advance on path 20, the envelope concerned takes the curvature imposed by this path 20. Its flap opens when it leaves the rollers 22A and counter-rollers 22B, and is retained by the edge of the deflector 21 to open completely. It passes completely open and flat behind the body of the envelope opposite the detector 25.

For a first defined value of the counting state, reflecting the arrival of the fold line, separating the envelope flap from the body of the envelope, at the level of the rollers 31A and counter-rollers 31B, the control circuit 6 stops the motor 30A. The envelope is then immobilized with its opening between the rollers 31A and counter-rollers 31B. It is in its loading position in the module 31. Its foot is caught between the rollers 34A and 34B, or is practically so, its open flap is always retained between the rollers 24A and counter-rollers 24B of the path 20. Quasi- simultaneously with this first value of the counting state, the camshafts are in an angular position substantially 90 °, relative to their position 0.

The counter rollers 31B and 34B then pass into the retracted position while the opening fingers 35 are inserted into the body of the envelope.

The anchor deflector and the pair of pressure rollers are always at rest and remain so.

Phase 2 is called the fold transfer and folding phase.

This phase 2 is triggered for the first aforementioned value of the counting state possibly followed by a first time delay. The control circuit 6 then starts the motor 10A. In their angular position of 90 °, the cams put the counter-rollers 15B under pressure against the rollers 15A while the shutter fingers 18 disappear and open the inlet chute 1 on the path 10.

The fold present in the inlet chute 1 is transferred along the path 10 and enters the folding module 11 which delivers it suitably folded on its outlet 11B. On exit 11B, the fold is always driven by the rollers of the folding module and advances towards the open envelope in the loading module 31. The detector 40 detects the passage of the front edge of the folded fold at its level. Its signal transmitted to the control circuit 6 gives rise to a temporary stop of the motor 10A.

During this temporary stop, the camshafts still driven take an angular position substantially of 135 °, for which the counter rollers 31B come back into pressure on the rollers 31A. These rollers 31A are still not driven by the motor 30A stopped. By cons 31B counter-rollers, coupled to the peripheral roller of the output 11B of the folding module, are as of the end of the temporary stop of the motor 10A; they finish inserting the bottom of the fold into the envelope.

The end of this phase 2 is given after a new possible delay when the fold leaves the detector 40. The control circuit 6 then stops the motor 10a; the cams which arrive in an angular position of 180 ° put the opening fingers 35 in the retracted position. The end of this phase 2 triggers the next phase 3.

Phase 3 is called the closing phase of the loaded envelope.

The triggering of this phase restarts, in the same direction, the motor 30A for advancing the loaded envelope on the path 30. The evolution of the step counting state of the motor 30A in the circuit 6 ensures monitoring the progress of this phase.

For a second defined value of this counting state, reflecting during the advance of the envelope on path 30 the arrival of the flap in the wetting assembly, the motor 30A is stopped for a short given period. During this stopping of the motor 30A, the cams arriving in an angular position of 270 ° place the deflector in the control position. The restarting of the motor 30A continues to advance the envelope while its flap is forced against the wetting roller and is moistened.

For a third defined value of the counting state, always translating during the advance of the envelope on the path 30 the presence of the flap at the level of the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B, the control circuit 6 stops again the 30A motor for a short time. During this new stop, the cams arrive in an angular position substantially of 315 ° and pass the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B from their rest position to their control position, by folding the flap 90 ° in front of it on the body of the envelope, while the wetting deflector is returned to its rest position. After this last stop, the motor 30A is again controlled but in reverse, its steps in reverse continuing to advance the counting state. The envelope moves back on path 30, its flap passes at the head, by folding completely on the envelope body, between the pressure rollers 33A, 33B which seals it on the body of the envelope.

For a fourth defined value of the counting state, reflecting the passage of the entire folded flap between the pressing rollers 33A, 33B, the control circuit 6 resets the motor 30A to forward. The flap passes again between the pressing rollers 33A, 33B while the envelope advances on the path 30 between the rollers 34A and counter-rollers 34B. When it escapes from these rollers and counter-rollers 34A, 34B it leaves the path 30 from which it falls closed on the outlet 3 of the machine.

During this last advance, the cams return to the reference position 0 which, detected, stops the control motor 60 to keep them in this position. They put the pair of pressure rollers 33A, 33B at rest.

For a fifth value of the counting state, indicating that the envelope has left the rollers 34A and counter-rollers 34B, the motor 30A is stopped definitively and the cycle is finished.

In FIG. 2, the machine according to FIG. 1 has been shown on a smaller scale and more schematically with the upper chassis 5A open on the lower chassis 5B. This opening around the axis 5C simultaneously caused the opening of the aforementioned path 30 over its entire length, its rollers 31A and 34A were driven with the upper chassis which carry them, and the disassembly of the folding module 11, of the module loading and mooring module. This path 30 remains simply equipped with the folding and closing module of the envelope flap 33, in the rest position.

Any jamming on this path 30 is therefore easy to remove. It has also been shown that the housing 32F for the water reserve tank of the mooring module was purely and simply deprived of its tank, on the occasion of the opening of path 30, the mooring deflector having as to him followed the upper frame, by his arm 38.

This same opening of the machine also caused the complete opening of the folding module at the end of the path 10, with disassembly of its set of folding rollers carried for a part 14A by the upper chassis and for the other part 14B in the lower chassis, and the simultaneous and automatic opening of its folding pockets 12, 13. Any jamming in the module folding 11 is therefore easy to remove.

Access to path 10 or path 20 is also made easy from the open underside of the upper chassis. In addition, on path 10, the lower deflector of the guide trough 17 can itself be removed. It is shown simply opening by pivoting along arrow 17F around a terminal axis 17A carried by the upper chassis. Similarly on the path 20, the rollers 24A and counter-rollers 24B can be mounted on supports 24 articulated on the axis of the rollers 31A to open this path 20, by pivoting one or the other of the sets of rollers. 24A and 24B, or both games, as shown by the individual arrows 24F.

The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing. It is obvious that it is possible to make modifications to it in detail and / or to replace certain means by other equivalent means without departing from the scope of this invention. In particular, the detection of the particular positions of the envelope on path 30 can be ensured by detectors similar to detectors 25 and 40. Their signals can be used for the forward, stop and reverse commands of the engine. 30A. They can also be used to control electromagnets for actuating the various supports and articulated arms.

Claims (21)

1. An integrated office machine for folding items of mail and putting them into envelopes, the machine comprising a first path coupled to a mail inlet and feeding a folder having two folding pockets associated with a set of folding rollers, a second path coupled to an empty envelope inlet and feeding a filling station itself coupled to the folder to receive folded mail, and a third path fitted with means for closing the envelopes and coupled to the filling station and to an outlet for filled and closed envelopes, the machine being characterized in that it is mounted in a quasi-closed machine frame constituted by a top frame (5A) hinged to a bottom frame (5B) to open about a hinge axis (5C) at the rear end of the bottom frame, and in that:
      said first and second paths (10, 20) are defined inside the top frame, and said third path (30) is defined between said top and bottom frames, with said second path leading to said third path;
      said filling station constitutes a functional filling module (31) on said third path (30) and at the opposite end to the envelope inlet (2) on the second path (20), a portion of said functional module being mounted in the top frame and the remainder being mounted in the bottom frame; and
      said folder constitutes a folding functional module (11) between said first and third paths (10, 30), with a portion (14A) of the set of folding rollers (14) and one of the folding pockets (12) being mounted in the top frame and with the remaining portion (14B) of the set of folding rollers (14) and the other folding pocket (13) being mounted in the bottom frame, the folding module having an inlet (11A) at the opposite end to the mail inlet (1) on the first path (10) and an outlet (11B) facing said filling module (31) to which it is directly coupled.
2. An integrated office machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second paths (10, 20) are defined inside said top frame, with the mail inlet (1) being closer to the front of the machine than the envelope inlet (2), both on the top frame, and with said first and second paths (10, 20) intersecting each other in the top frame.
3. An integrated machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said second path (20) includes at least a first set of wheels and backing wheels (22A, 22B) coupling it to the envelope inlet (2), a second set of wheels and backing wheels (24A, 24B) coupling it to the filling module (31), and between said sets of wheels and backing wheels, a first deflector (23) for guidance purposes and a second deflector (21) for guiding and for opening the flap of an envelope, said deflectors forming two opposite bends on said second path giving it a substantially S-shaped trajectory extending substantially from a top portion at the rear of the top frame to a bottom portion in the middle of the top frame.
4. An integrated machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said envelope inlet (2) is fitted with an empty envelope magazine having a motor (20A) for extracting envelopes from the magazine, and having envelope separator means (2A, 2B) at its outlet.
5. An integrated machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said first path (10) includes at least one third set of wheels and backing wheels (15A, 15B) coupling it to the mail inlet (1), a fourth set of wheels and backing wheels (16A, 16B) coupling it to the inlet (11A) of the folding module, and an intermediate guide chute (17) imparting a curved trajectory thereto extending substantially from a top front portion of the top frame to a bottom rear portion of said top frame.
6. An integrated machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said mail inlet (1) is fitted with a flap on the top frame constituted by a sloping inlet tray (1A) having its bottom end in front and partially inserted inside the top frame to define an inlet chute therein.
7. An integrated machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said inlet tray (1A) has lateral windows (1F) above the top frame (5A) enabling multi-sheet items of mail inserted in said mail inlet chute (1) to be appropriately adjusted in position by hand.
8. An integrated machine according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said third set of wheels and backing wheels (15A, 15B) is mounted facing the inlet chute (1) and is associated with shutter fingers (18) retractably mounted to couple said inlet chute (1) and said first path (10) or else to isolate them and constitute a jogging abutment for items of mail.
9. An integrated machine according to claim 8, characterized in that said third set of wheels and backing wheels has its backing wheels (15B) retractably mounted on said inlet chute and coupled to said shutter fingers (18) in order to be actuated simultaneously therewith, so as to press against the associated wheels (15A) when the shutter fingers are retracted to facilitate insertion of mail into the inlet chute when said shutter fingers isolate the inlet chute from said path.
10. An integrated machine according to claim 9, characterized in that said shutter fingers (18) are carried by a first terminal portion of a pair of arms (19) hinged on a shaft (19A) carried by the top frame (5A) and controlled at the opposite terminal portion which extends into the bottom frame (5B), and in that said first terminal portion of the pair of arms (19) forms an actuating abutment for said retractable backing wheels (15B) facing the third set of wheels (15A), said pair of arms (19) coming uncoupled from its control means in the bottom frame when the top frame is opened.
11. An integrated machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said guide chute (17) is hinged to open about a terminal shaft (17A) on said chute and carried by the top frame (5A) to enable said first path (10) to be opened when the top frame is open.
12. An integrated machine according to any one of claims 3 to 11, characterized in that said third path (30) includes a fifth set of wheels and backing wheels (31A, 31B) and a sixth set of wheels and backing wheels (34A, 34B) situated on the same side of and in alignment with the outlet (11B) from the folding module (11), and having said closure means (33) mounted therebetween, said fifth and sixth sets of wheels (31A and 34A) being coupled to an envelope drive motor (30A).
13. An integrated machine according to claim 12, characterized in that said second set of wheels and backing wheels (24A, 24B) is hinged on the shaft of the wheels (31A) in the fifth set, in order to open said second path (20) when the top frame (5A) is open.
14. An integrated office machine according to claim 12 and in which the closure means are associated with a flap moistening assembly, the machine being characterized in that:
       the moistening assembly (32) comprises a moistening element (32A) and an associated pivoting moistening deflector (32B) mounted on either side of said third path, between the fifth and sixth sets of wheels and backing wheels;
       said closure means (33) being mounted between the sixth set of wheels and backing wheels and the moistening assembly, and comprising a pair of presser rollers (33A, 33B) mounted to pivot between a rest position of the third path (30) and a working position on the third path (30), in which said presser rollers lie on either side of said third path; and
       said envelope drive motor (30A) coupled to the wheels of said fifth and sixth sets of wheels and backing wheels is driven in one direction or the other and is controlled together with said moistening deflector (32B) and said pair of presser rollers (33A, 33B) by a control circuit (6) as a function of the position of each envelope along said third path (30).
15. An integrated office machine according to claim 14, characterized in that said moistening deflector (32B) is carried by an arm (38) hinged about a shaft (38A) in the top frame (5A) and extending beyond said shaft into the bottom frame (5B) for control purposes, said arm (38A) becoming decoupled from its control means when the top chassis is open on the bottom chassis.
16. An integrated office machine according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said moistening element (32A) is mounted in a water supply jar (32D), and in that said jar (32B) carries means (32E) enabling it to be directly positioned and retained in a retaining housing (32F) provided in the bottom frame (5B), said jar being removable from its housing when said top frame is open.
17. An integrated office machine according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that said envelope drive motor (30A) is a stepper motor.
18. An integrated office machine according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that said envelope drive motor (30A) is a D.C. motor.
19. An integrated machine according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that said filling module (31) comprises:
       said fifth set of wheels and backing wheels (31A, 31B) with the backing wheels (31B) being retractably mounted beneath said third path and coupled to the rollers of the folding module (11) in order to be driven by a mail-drive motor (10A);
       an envelope detector (25) mounted on the second path (20), and
       a mail detector (40) mounted between the outlet from the folding module (11) and the filling module (31);
       said envelope and mail detectors (25, 40) both being coupled to said control circuit (6) in order to control said filling module by stopping said envelope motor when the envelope driven along said second and third paths arrives in a defined filling position between said fifth set of wheels and backing wheels (31A, 31B), then by putting the backing wheels (31B) of the filling module in the retracted position, then by raising them when the mail driven along said first path (10) and through the folding module (11) arrives at the mail detector (40), and finally by returning the backing wheels (31B) of the filling module into the retracted position when the mail leaves the mail detector (40).
20. An integrated office machine according to claim 19, characterized in that said backing wheels (31B) of the filling module (31) are coupled to one of the rollers of the folding module (11) in order to be driven thereby while mail is being transferred along said first path (10) and through the folding module.
21. An integrated office machine according to claim 20, characterized in that the coupling (31C) between the backing wheels (31B) of the filling module and one of the rollers in the folding module (11) is provided via a freewheel mechanism (31B′).

Images