EP0786359B1 - Documents guiding device for folding and/or inserting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the specific field of mail processing. It specifically targets a device for guiding various documents, such as mail envelopes, intended for perfect the automatic multi-tray document feeder for folding and / or insertion machine described in the European patent No. 0 661 175 filed by the plaintiff.

Prior art

These office machines usually feature mounted on their chassis, document feeder, envelope store empty and a loaded envelope exit device. In each loaded envelope has been inserted at least one folded or unfolded document.

The feeder previously developed by the applicant provides this type of machine great flexibility of use obtained with a choice important operating modes for various categories of documents (dimensions, grammage, quality, type, ...). In addition, the use of several loading bins in an automatic mode of operation allows to significantly increase the yield of this machine.

However, it appeared that some documents with defects significant permanent cut and / or curvature machine malfunction, especially during insertion and taking these documents, regardless of the grammage and the type of paper used, this defect being particularly marked during the introduction automatic documents from a laser printer.

Definition and object of the invention

The invention therefore proposes to solve this problem posed by the introduction of documents with greater curvature in a bin feeder multiple, or possibly single, operating in automatic mode as in manual mode.

To this end, it relates to a document guiding device for automatic document feeder of a folding machine and / or feeder, feeder of the type comprising above an inlet chute folds extending a support plate of a feeder body, at least two loading bins capable of cooperating with this chute input according to different operating modes, at least one comprising a tilting bottom surmounted by a die, consisting of a shoe covered with a rough coating and likely to occupy either a closed position for automatic document insertion, i.e. open position for manual insertion, this device comprising first deflector means arranged upstream of a pick-up roller documents cooperating selectively with the tilting bottom, so as to direct each document entered directly towards the entry chute of such that possible attachment points of the lower edge of this document on the roller or on the feeder body are eliminated.

This configuration, advantageous in a loading mode manual as in an automatic loading mode, provides efficient straightening of documents with permanent curvature accentuated in directing them directly to the fold entry. In addition, the device does not exercise not its effects to the detriment of the functioning and the capacities of the machine folding and insertion.

The first deflector means include a deflector for positioning fixed under a priming deflector integral with the plate support and one front face of which is inclined towards a pressure plate of a determined acute angle, sufficient to allow documents to slide towards the fold inlet chute. The deflector before ignition has preferably a length equal to about two-thirds of the width of the documents and the positioning deflector is formed by at least one flexible blade, of reduced width and thin, and having a longitudinal "Z" section ensuring great flexibility. Advantageously, this blade is made of a spring material, which ensures perfect plating of the document (s) against the pressure plate.

In a second preferred embodiment facilitating the taking of documents in an automatic loading mode, the document guidance further includes second deflector means fixed on an upper part of the tilting bottom facing the roller taking of document, so as to eliminate possible attachment points of the lower edge of the document with this background and to orient the document introduced directly to the inlet chute.

By this additional means, documents with permanent curvature accentuated whose lower or upstream edge may present for example cutting burrs are correctly directed to the selection mechanism of documents by limiting the contact of the document on the bottom of the feeder.

These second deflector means comprise ribs before sliding between which are fixed insertion tongues, each of these tabs being extended by a front face which descends up to the level of the rough covering covering the bottom pad tilting. The front side of the insertion tab, which preferably has a low coefficient of friction, is inclined relative to the plate presser of a determined angle less than the angle of inclination of the ribs compared to this same plateau.

The present invention also relates to any feeder automatic document folding and / or insertion machine comprising a document guiding device as described previously.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique d'une plieuse/inséreuse équipée d'un alimenteur automatique de documents,
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe schématique de l'alimenteur de l'art antérieur tel que le montre la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe schématique d'un alimenteur muni d'un dispositif de guidage de documents selon l'invention dans un mode de chargement manuel,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe partielle schématique d'un alimenteur muni d'un dispositif de guidage de documents selon l'invention dans un mode de chargement automatique,
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe schématique agrandie limitée au fond de l'alimenteur,
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus correspondant à celle de la figure 5, et
• les figures 7 et 8 sont deux vues en perpective des différents éléments constituant le dispositif de guidage selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a folder / inserter equipped with an automatic document feeder,
• FIG. 2 represents a schematic sectional view of the feeder of the prior art as shown in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a feeder provided with a document guiding device according to the invention in a manual loading mode,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic partial section view of a feeder provided with a document guiding device according to the invention in an automatic loading mode,
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic sectional view limited to the bottom of the feeder,
• FIG. 6 is a top view corresponding to that of FIG. 5, and
• Figures 7 and 8 are two perspective views of the various elements constituting the guide device according to the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

According to FIG. 1, the folding and insertion machine according to the invention serves to ensure the enveloping of documents such as mail folds, preferably as these folds are made. It is part of the equipment of a secretarial post where it constitutes one of the machines available to the person working at this position. The machine according to the invention is simply placed on the work surface of the post and its access is made easy for the person at this post, in particular for the presentation of the folds which it ensures the envelope.

The machine has a ply entry 1 located at the base of a feeder 100, an empty envelope magazine 2 and an envelope outlet 3 loaded and closed, which are formed on a machine frame 5. The chassis 5 is formed in two parts called upper chassis 5A and lower chassis 5B. The upper chassis has its open underside and is hinged mounted on the lower chassis with open upper face, around an axis 5C. This 5C axis is carried by the lower chassis and is close to its rear wall, in considering the machine installed in a secretarial post. The chassis upper 5A is also locked on the lower chassis 5B which it closes then, by known unlockable means, not shown.

Entrance 1 for folds and magazine 2 for empty envelopes are defined on the upper wall of the upper chassis 5A, with the inlet 1 more forward than magazine 2 for empty envelopes. Output 3 of the loaded envelopes and closed is defined at the bottom and front of the lower chassis 5B. The folds of made-up mail are thus easily introduced on entry 1, while that the closed envelopes are all easily taken from outlet 3; the empty envelopes are loaded by package in tray 2 which constitutes the entry of empty envelopes and avoids manual entry of each empty envelope on this entry.

At the entrance 1 of the folds corresponds a path 10 of the folds in the machine, which feeds a functional folding module 11. The module for folding 11 is preferably with two folding pockets associated with a set folding rollers. This path 10 defines the trajectory of the transferred folds from input 1 to folding module 11. It forms an elbow guiding the folds from input 1 to the rear part of the upper chassis 5A, for supply the folding module, partly mounted in the rear part of the chassis 5A and for the other part in that of chassis 5B. This module of folding itself ensures at the end of the path 10, a folding of the trajectory of the folds during the folding that it performs.

At store 2 of empty envelopes, constituting the envelope entry empty, corresponds to a path 20 of the empty envelopes in the machine. This path 20 cuts path 10 of the folds to end in the part substantially median of the machine. It is equipped with an opening means the flap of empty envelopes.

At the exit 3 of closed envelopes, corresponds a path 30 loaded envelopes. This path 30 is substantially linear; it extends to above outlet 3, between upper chassis 5A and lower chassis 5B, from the front of the machine up to path 20 of empty envelopes and is substantially aligned with the folds outlet of the folding module 11. This path 30 is equipped with a functional module for loading plies 31 in the empty envelopes, a functional module for wetting the flaps 32 and a module for folding and closing the flaps 33.

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

A control circuit 6 defines the controls of the machine during a control cycle, in connection with an interface circuit 62 specific to feeder 100.

The folding module 11, the path 10 of the folds, the entry 2 of the empty envelopes and their path 20, the path 30 of loaded envelopes with the wetting 32 and closing 33 modules as well as the control 6 are described in detail in patent EP 0 352 692 which relates to a folding and / or insertion machine on which can be mounted the feeder now described with reference to Figure 2.

This document feeder includes trays 101, 102 of loading formed inside a feeder body 103. This body feeder comprises a support plate 104 flanked by two flanges side 106 covered by two hubcaps 108. It adjusts and snap onto the upper wall of the upper chassis 5A by by means of two front fixing lugs and two lateral lugs of flexible blade locking not shown.

• un fond basculant 113 surmonté d'une filière 114, constitué d'un patin 116 lui même recouvert d'un revêtement rugueux 118 de séparation et articulé autour d'un axe 119 de pivotement fixé aux flasques 106 (figure 5) ;
• un plateau presseur 111 ajouré et articulé sur les flasques 106 par deux pions de pivotement 130, à l'encontre d'un ressort de rappel non représenté;
• deux margeurs 136 coulissant en synchronisme au moyen d'une crémaillère non représentée, sur le plateau presseur 111;
• un arceau d'appui 139 pour le maintien en position inclinée des documents dans le prolongement immédiat des margeurs;
• au moins un galet 110 de prise de documents 151 (ces documents 151 comprenant pour l'illustration de la figure 2 trois plis 7,8,9), le galet 110 étant entraíné par un moteur de commande 10A de la machine, par l'intermédiaire d'un embrayage non représenté.

The first loading bin 101 which is a transformable bin capable of occupying either a closed position for automatic introduction of documents, or an open position for manual introduction, consists essentially of:

• a tilting bottom 113 surmounted by a die 114, consisting of a shoe 116 itself covered with a rough covering 118 of separation and articulated around a pivot axis 119 fixed to the flanges 106 (FIG. 5);
• a perforated pressure plate 111 articulated on the flanges 106 by two pivot pins 130, against a return spring not shown;
• two feeders 136 sliding in synchronism by means of a rack, not shown, on the pressure plate 111;
• a support arch 139 for maintaining the inclined position of the documents in the immediate extension of the feeders;
• at least one roller 110 for taking documents 151 (these documents 151 comprising for the illustration of FIG. 2 three folds 7,8,9), the roller 110 being driven by a control motor 10A of the machine, by the intermediate of a clutch not shown.

• un fond fixe 123 faisant partie intégrante de la plaque de support 104, doté d'une filière et constitué également d'un patin lui même recouvert d'un revêtement rugueux de séparation;
• un plateau presseur 121 ajouré et articulé sur les flasques 106 par deux pions de pivotement 140, à l'encontre d'un ressort de rappel non représenté;
• deux margeurs 146 coulissant en synchronisme au moyen d'une crémaillère non représentée, sur le plateau presseur 121;
• un arceau d'appui 149 pour le maintien en position inclinée des documents dans le prolongement immédiat des margeurs;
• au moins un galet 120 de prise de documents 152, entraíné par le moteur de commande 10A de la machine, par l'intermédiaire d'un embrayage non représenté.

Likewise, the second loading tank 102 which is, on the contrary, a non-convertible tank, consists essentially of the following elements:

• a fixed bottom 123 forming an integral part of the support plate 104, provided with a die and also consisting of a shoe itself covered with a rough separation coating;
• a perforated pressure plate 121 articulated on the flanges 106 by two pivot pins 140, against a return spring not shown;
• two feeders 146 sliding in synchronism by means of a rack, not shown, on the pressure plate 121;
• a support arch 149 for maintaining the inclined position of the documents in the immediate extension of the feeders;
• at least one roller 120 for taking documents 152, driven by the control motor 10A of the machine, by means of a clutch, not shown.

The support plate 104 of the feeder body 103 extends into its lower part by the inlet chute 1 documents from loading bins 101, 102. This inlet chute contains upstream a drive roller 15A and a counterweight 15 B (see Figure 1), two deflectors 114, 124 and a separator 115. Of course, and if this turns out necessary, the feeder is also provided with presence detectors of documents, passage detectors, as well as document detectors multiple. The tilting of the bottom 113 of the first loading tank 101 and the release of the pressure plate 111 are simultaneously controlled by a cam mechanism not shown.

The first loading tank 101 also comprises a first front deflector 12 said priming, which is fixed on the support plate 104 of the body of the feeder 103. This front deflector has a length equal to about two-thirds of the width of the documents and it has a active face 12A inclined towards the pressure plate 111 at an acute angle determined sufficient to allow documents to be dragged to the entry 1 of folds located at the base of feeder 100.

• un premier mode de chargement automatique avec une prise automatique, un par un, des documents déposés dans le bac 101 ou dans le bac 102;
• un second mode de chargement automatique avec une prise automatique de documents composés de deux feuilles provenant respectivement des bacs 101, 102;
• un mode de chargement mixte avec une prise manuelle d'un document provenant du premier bac 101, accompagnée d'une prise automatique d'un document provenant du second bac 102;
• un mode de chargement entièrement manuel avec une prise manuelle d'un document provenant du premier bac 101.

The feeder 100 previously described provides the following different operating modes:

• a first automatic loading mode with an automatic pick-up, one by one, of the documents deposited in the tray 101 or in the tray 102;
• a second automatic loading mode with automatic picking up of documents composed of two sheets respectively from trays 101, 102;
• a mixed loading mode with a manual take of a document from the first tray 101, accompanied by an automatic take of a document from the second tray 102;
• a fully manual loading mode with manual picking up of a document from the first tray 101.

The operating mode is selected from a control panel 200 with simple management by display and keys.

FIG. 3 shows this feeder provided with a device for guiding documents according to the invention. Indeed, as can be seen on the figure 2, the mail folds which have a permanent curvature relatively accentuated can come into abutment with the roller 110 documents (case of fold 7), with internal parts of the support plate 104 (case of fold 8), or again with the deflector 114 of the inlet chute (case of fold 9) before being able to reach the entry of folds 1 proper at the base of feeder 100.

This is why the present invention proposes to produce a first deflector means upstream of the document pick-up rollers 110 in adding to this feeder structure a second deflector of positioning fixed under the first deflector 12 and formed by two blades flexible 14, 16, advantageously made of a spring material, of reduced width and thin, and having a longitudinal section in "Z" (a perspective view of such a blade is shown in the figure 7). This specific section allows great flexibility of the deflector which can therefore be adapted to both manual loading mode and automatic loading in which the tilting bottom 113 is in position closed and the pressure plate 111 receives a stack of documents 151 (representation of FIG. 4) and for which this deflector then presents a more folded position.

In the latter mode of operation, as shown in the figure 5, the mail folds having a relatively accentuated curvature can still remain in abutment against the tilting bottom 113, in particular against its die 114 or its shoe 116, as shown by the two lines mixed-dotted lines supposed to represent two of these folds. Also, it is planned to make second deflector means by extending part upper 18 of this rocking bottom 113 by sliding ribs 21, 22, 23; 24 extending forward towards the document take-up roller 110, substantially on either side of this roller, and adding to this bottom tilting 113 an insertion tongue 34, 36 fixed at the level of this upper part 18 between two sliding ribs surrounding a roller determined (and therefore in line with this pebble). Each of these tabs is extended by a front face 33, 35 which descends to the level of the rough coating 118 covering the shoe 118 of the tilting bottom 113. These front faces which preferably have a low coefficient of friction are inclined with respect to the pressure plate 111 by a determined lower angle at the angle of inclination of the ribs relative to this same plate (a view in perspective of such a tab is shown in Figure 8).

The advantage of such a configuration will now be demonstrated mainly with regard to FIG. 6. As can be seen, the document which has an accentuated permanent curvature (represented in solid line in this figure) tends under the action of the rollers 110 of take a wavelet shape which affects the proper functioning of the feeder. However, due to the structure of the invention, the document will slide on the front faces 33, 35 of the tongues and drive the documents directly on the rough covering 118, upstream of the grip zone by the roller, where the selection of the document can then be carried out without any difficulty. The document in direct contact with the rough coating is in braked effect; which allows the one immediately above to be selected.

The guiding device according to the invention with the different organs deflectors defined above which compose it tends to reduce the space that documents can occupy in the loading bins of a folding and inserting machine. The volume in which these documents can evolve thus approaches the ideal funnel shape which leads as directly as possible to the entry of folds.

Claims (9)

1. A document guiding device for an automatic document feeder for a folding and/or inserting machine, the feeder (100) being of the type including a support plate (104) of a feeder body (103), the support plate extending over a sheet inlet chute (1), at least two loading trays capable of cooperating with said inlet chute in various modes of operation, at least one of the trays including a tilting base (113) capped by a die (114), constituted by a lip (116) covered in a rough coating (118) and capable of occupying either a closed position for automatic insertion of documents, or an open position for manual insertion, the device being characterized in that it includes first deflector means (12, 14, 16) disposed upstream from a document feed roller (110), cooperating selectively with the tilting base (113) so as to orientate each inserted document directly towards the inlet chute (1) to eliminate any points where the lower edge of the document might catch on the roller (110), or on the feeder body (103).
2. A document guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first deflector means include a positioning deflector (14) fixed under a priming deflector (12) secured to the support plate (104) and having a front face (12A) inclined towards a pressure plate (111) at a determined acute angle, sufficient to allow the documents to slide towards the sheet inlet chute (1).
3. A document guiding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the front priming deflector (12) is of length equal to about two thirds of the width of the documents.
4. A document guiding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the positioning deflector is formed by at least one thin, narrow, flexible blade (14, 16), presenting a Z-shaped longitudinal cross-section ensuring that it is highly flexible.
5. A document guiding device according to claim 4, characterized in that said blade is made of spring material,
6. A document guiding device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes second deflector means (21-24, 31-35) fixed on an upper portion (18) of the tilting base (113) and facing the document feed roller (110) so as to orientate each inserted document directly towards the inlet chute (1) to eliminate any points where the lower edge of the document might catch on the base,
7. A document guiding device according to claim 6, characterized in that the second deflector means includes front sliding ribs (21, 22, 23, 24) between which insertion tabs (34, 36) are fixed, each of the tabs being extended by a front face (33, 35) which descends to the level of the rough coating (118) covering the lip (116) of the tilting base (113).
8. A document guiding device according to claim 7, characterized in that the front face (33, 35) of the insertion tab, which preferably has a low friction coefficient, is inclined relative to the pressure plate (111) by a predetermined angle lower than the angle of inclination of the ribs (21 22, 23, 24) relative to said same plate.
9. An automatic document feeder for a folding and/or inserting machine including a document guiding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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