EP0943461A1 - Machine pour mettre des documents sous enveloppe - Google Patents

Machine pour mettre des documents sous enveloppe Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0943461A1
EP0943461A1 EP99104092A EP99104092A EP0943461A1 EP 0943461 A1 EP0943461 A1 EP 0943461A1 EP 99104092 A EP99104092 A EP 99104092A EP 99104092 A EP99104092 A EP 99104092A EP 0943461 A1 EP0943461 A1 EP 0943461A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
envelope
stop
carriage
insertion station
inserter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99104092A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0943461B1 (fr
Inventor
Keith J. Yates
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pitney Bowes Ltd
Original Assignee
Pitney Bowes Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pitney Bowes Ltd filed Critical Pitney Bowes Ltd
Publication of EP0943461A1 publication Critical patent/EP0943461A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0943461B1 publication Critical patent/EP0943461B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43M—BUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B43M5/00—Devices for closing envelopes
    • B43M5/04—Devices for closing envelopes automatic
    • B43M5/042—Devices for closing envelopes automatic for envelopes with only one flap

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an inserter for inserting documents into envelopes.
  • Inserters are well known having sheet feeding stations for feeding for example individually typewritten or printed sheets, an optional insert feeder for feeding standard inserts (e.g. advertising material, printed information that is uniform for all addressees etc.), a folding station for folding sheets fed from the sheet feeders and receiving one or more inserts into a fold produced by the folding station, an envelope feeding station, an insertion station to which the envelope is fed, with its flap in an open position, an envelope opening device at the insertion station for separating the front and rear panels of the envelope and a feed path for feeding the folded sheets, and any inserts, into the waiting open mouthed envelope at the insertion station, an optional moistener for receiving the filled envelopes from the insertion station and for moistening the (gummed) envelope flap, an envelope sealing device for sealing the envelope and an outlet through which the filled and sealed envelope is delivered for the application of postage and for subsequent mailing.
  • An example of such an inserter is disclosed in the present Applicants' EP-A-0 700 794.
  • an inserter including an insertion station, feed means for feeding an envelope to the insertion station along an envelope feed path, a stop arranged in the envelope feed path for arresting the fed envelope in a predetermined position, the stop being adjustable in position for adapting the insertion station to envelopes of varying size, selecting means for enabling an operator to select a stop position, and actuating means operative to set said stop position in accordance with said selected position.
  • the inserter has the advantage that the stop position is adjusted in accordance with the selected stop position chosen by the operator, conveniently through a keyboard. The operator does not have to perform any manual adjustments to the position of the stop, once the required stop position has been selected.
  • the selecting means comprises an input device for producing an output signal dependent on data, such as numerical data, inputted by the operator and defining a stop position, the actuating means being responsive to the output signal.
  • data such as numerical data
  • the arrangement can be such that the operator merely keys in a numerical code defining the needed envelope height.
  • the input data can be merely a number which represents the envelope height expressed in, for example, millimeters, and the control responds to the resulting electrical signal output from the keyboard to position the stop accordingly.
  • the stop is carried by a support assembly, which is located above the envelope feed path and pivotally mounted for pivoting upwardly. This upward pivoting movement brings the support assembly and its stop clear of the insertion station, so as to provide access to the insertion station.
  • a convenient way of adjusting the position of the stop is to mount the support assembly by means of a pivotal connection on a carriage which is mounted on a slide arrangement and arranged to be driven along the same under the control of the control means.
  • a screwthreaded rod is provided, with whose screwthread the carriage is engaged, and a DC motor is arranged to rotate the rod to drive the carriage along the slide arrangement.
  • a preferred arrangement provides that, initially, the carriage is driven to a fixed datum position and then the carriage is driven to the required final position according to the signal input through the input means, by determining a predetermined count obtained from an encoder means mounted on the drive shaft of the DC motor.
  • the pivotal connection between the support assembly and carriage includes a releasable clip to enable the support assembly to be released from the carriage.
  • This arrangement facilitates removal of the support assembly for inspection and repair and also further improves access to the insertion station.
  • FIG. 1 an elevational view of a tabletop inserter, designated generally at 210, forming an embodiment of the invention. A brief description will now be given.
  • tabletop inserter 210 generally consists of an upper housing 212 mounted atop a lower housing 214.
  • Upper housing 212 generally includes first and second sheet feeders 216 and 218, and preferably an insert feeder 220. Individual sheets are preferably conveyed from each sheet feeder 216 and 218 into respectively first and second feed paths 222 and 224.
  • the first and second sheet paths 222 and 224 merge with one another at a collation station 226 having first and second collating rollers 229 and 230.
  • the collating station 226 is operative to align the leading edges of first and second sheets being respectively conveyed from the first and second sheet feeders 216 and 218, via the first and second sheet paths 222 and 224, within the nip formed between the collating rollers 228 and 230. Once aligned, the collating rollers 228 and 229 are actuated to simultaneously feed the aligned sheets in a supply path 330 downstream of the collating station 226. These aligned sheets are also known as a "collation". This sheet collation is then conveyed downstream in the supply path 330 to the folding station 300.
  • the folding station is configured to fold the sheet collation in prescribed configurations, such as C-fold, Z-fold, Half-fold, Double-fold etc.
  • the folding station 300 comprises a first fold plate 302 and a second fold plate 304. It includes a diverter which is operable for diverting a sheet approaching the first fold plate 302 directly to the second fold plate 304. Depending on the setting of the diverter, the type of fold that is made can be selected. After a collation is folded in the folding station 300, the folded collation is then conveyed to the lower housing 214 of the inserter system 210 for further processing.
  • the lower housing 214 of inserter system 210 includes an envelope supply station 240 connecting to an insertion station 120.
  • the envelope supply station 240 contains a supply of envelopes stored with their flaps in their closed (but unsealed) condition. These envelopes are fed to the insertion station 260, via envelope feed path 244 preferably.
  • Each envelope flap is opened by a suitable flap opening device (shown very diagrammatically at 242 in Fig. 2) such as are well known in the art, while in transit on the envelope feed path from the envelope supply station 240 to the insertion station 260.
  • the envelope Once received in the insertion station, the envelope has its mouth opened, in preparation for insertion of the aforesaid folded collation being conveyed from the folding station 300.
  • the folded collation is transported from the folding station 300 to the insertion station 260, via a collation transport path 246 connecting the latter two stations.
  • the collation transport path 246 includes a pair of conveying rollers 248 and 250 for conveying a folded collation along the transport path 246.
  • the lower housing 214 further includes a sealing station 252 located downstream of the insertion station 260, which sealing station 252 is operative to seal an open envelope received from the insertion station 260.
  • An envelope insertion path connects the insertion station 260 to the sealing station 252.
  • An envelope output path 256 is connected to the sealing station 252 and is operative to convey sealed envelopes from the sealing station 252 through an output opening 258 provided in the lower housing 214 of the insertion system 210. After a sealed envelope has exited from the output opening 258, appropriate postage can then be applied for delivery to a recipient.
  • inserter system 210 includes a control system (not shown in Figure 1) for controlling the various components implemented in the inserter system. It is to be appreciated that the control system is to encompass a computer processor driven system. A certain part of the control system to be described below is disclosed in Fig. 11.
  • each envelope is fed from the envelope supply station 240 with its flap 100a in the closed, but unsealed, position, with the flap on the upper (rear) side of the envelope and its bottom edge 100b leading.
  • the flap opening device 242 on the envelope feed path 244 causes the flap 100a to hinge rearwardly to assume the open position shown in Figure 1B in which the flap faces upwardly.
  • the flap opening device can be of a particular known type which is arranged to cause the envelope to arch from front to back, tending to cause the back (uppermost) panel to arch upwardly and push the envelope flap up slightly.
  • the leading edge of the envelope is arranged to strike a lever of the flap opening device, which rotates a blade under the flap. As the envelope continues to travel along the envelope feed path, the blade pivots the flap rearwardly until it resumes a trailing, open, position.
  • the envelope is transported further from the flap opening device 242 by drive and driven rollers (not shown in Figure 2) on the upper surface of support plate 10 until the leading edge strikes the pivotally mounted actuating arm 11 of a reed switch 12, which causes the arm to pivot downwardly, actuate the switch and allow the leading edge of the envelope to pass into the nip of drive/driven roller pair 14, 13 which then drives the envelope further across the upper surface of a bending roll 15 of a conveyor 25, until the envelope bottom edge is arrested by a downwardly depending stop 16.
  • the function of reed switch 12 is to control certain operating functions, as disclosed in the applicants' co-pending UK patent application (reference P12776) filed on the same day as the present application. However, such operation is not relevant to the present disclosure and is not further described herein.
  • a collation of folded sheets can be delivered along collation transport path 246 into the envelope waiting at the insertion station 260, it has to be opened by a suitable envelope opening device 17.
  • This opening device does not form part of the invention and can take the form of that disclosed in the present Applicants' EP-A-0 785 093 or the present Applicants' co-pending application, GB-A- , (reference P12772), filed on the same day as the present case, to which reference is hereby directed. However, a brief description of the latter form of envelope opening device will now be described.
  • the bending roll 15 is rotatably mounted in the lower housing 214 of the inserter.
  • Driven roll 13 is arranged to be raised and lowered.
  • the roll 13 is held in a raised position (i.e. that shown in Figure 2) conveying the envelope between the driven and drive rolls 13, 14.
  • a pair of downwardly pivotable hold-down fingers 19, 20 are in a raised position to allow the envelope to pass thereunder and a pair of pivotally mounted flippers 21, 22 are in a position where their interior ends respectively are raised.
  • Additional separation of the envelope panels is effected by a pair of opening horns 23 which are mounted on pivotal arm 24, which pivots the horns through the open mouth of the envelope, while a camming arrangement causes the horns to be raised.
  • the rear (uppermost) panel of the waiting envelope is fully opened, so that the envelope is waiting to receive the collation being fed along the collation transport path 246 to the conveying rollers 248, 250, and from there they are driven into the open envelope by the roller 14, a leaf spring 290 urging the envelope from below against the drive roller 14.
  • the stop 16 is raised vertically and the stuffed envelope is transported from the insertion station along the conveyor 25 to exit the inserter into a collection bin or the like, diagrammatically shown at 259 in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 6 shows a side view similar to Fig. 2 but omitting the envelope opening device 17, collation transport path 246 and other details.
  • the envelope stop 16 which is positioned at the insertion station in the path of envelopes fed from the envelope feed station, is a downwardly depending portion of an arm 117 that is pivotally mounted on a support assembly 118, the arm carrying an idler roller 119 at its other end.
  • a solenoid 120 on the support assembly 118 can be energised to cause the arm 117 to pivot and raise the stop 116 above the arrested envelope while lowering roller 119 into contact with the envelope, thereby pressing it against the moving upper surface of the conveyor 25.
  • the support assembly 118 is itself pivotally mounted on side arms 131 (best shown in Figs. 9 and 10) of a carriage 121 which, as best shown in Figure 10, is slidably amounted on slide rods 122.
  • a DC motor 123 fixedly mounted below the envelope feed path 125, carries an encoder disk 124 on its output shaft having an associated optical position detector 129 (Fig. 10) which produces an output pulse each time a tooth of the encoding disk interrupts the optical path of the optical detector.
  • the motor output shaft via a pulley and belt drive 125, drives a screwthreaded rod or lead screw 126, whose screwthread is engaged with drive nuts (not shown) fixed to the frame of the carriage 121. Accordingly, as the DC motor rotates its output shaft, the drive nuts are driven axially along the screwthreaded drive rod 126 to adjust the position of the carriage and hence the downwardly depending stop 16 longitudinally of the envelope feed path 25.
  • the DC motor 128 is controlled by a control system 132 in response to input data input by the operator through a suitable interface device, such as a keyboard 133.
  • a control system will include a microprocessor.
  • the input data uniquely determines the final position of the carriage.
  • the control system 132 undergoes a routine to firstly establish a home position by displacing the carriage 121 in a direction towards the envelope feed station 240 until an end stop flag 127 (see also Figure 10) on the carriage interrupts the optical path of an end stop sensor 128, which sends an output pulse to the control system 132 to terminate drive from the DC motor 123.
  • the control system knows that the carriage 121 is located at its home position. It then causes the DC motor 123 to start again, rotating in the opposite direction to displace the carriage in the direction away from the envelope feed station 240.
  • the position detector 129 produces an output pulse each time the encoding disk 124 interrupting the optical sensing path of the position detects and these pulses are counted by the control system 132 until the count indicates that the carriage has reached its required final position, whereupon the control system 132 sends an instruction to the DC motor to stop running.
  • the envelope stop 16 is then accurately positioned to suit the size of envelope to be handled, according to the data input by the operator.
  • the pivotal mounting of the support assembly (Q-station) 118 on the carriage permits the operator to pivot the support assembly upwardly, so as to raise the stop 16 and provide access beneath the raised support assembly to the insertion, station.
  • the pivotal connection between the support assembly 118 and carriage 121 includes a releasable clip arrangement 130, so that the support assembly can be snapped out of pivotal engagement with the carriage and released from it altogether. This is advantageous for providing even better access to the insertion station or for replacement or maintenance of the support assembly and stop.
  • the inserter is versatile in operation and can be set so as to feed a single sheet, or a plurality of sheets, with or without folding, in each case with or without one or more inserts.
  • the inserter can be used to place documents, such as an insert or plurality of inserts only, within the envelope.

Landscapes

  • Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
EP19990104092 1998-03-19 1999-03-18 Machine pour mettre des documents sous enveloppe Expired - Lifetime EP0943461B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9805903.3A GB9805903D0 (en) 1998-03-19 1998-03-19 An inserter for inserting documents into envelopes
GB9805903 1998-03-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0943461A1 true EP0943461A1 (fr) 1999-09-22
EP0943461B1 EP0943461B1 (fr) 2003-06-04

Family

ID=10828889

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19990104092 Expired - Lifetime EP0943461B1 (fr) 1998-03-19 1999-03-18 Machine pour mettre des documents sous enveloppe

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0943461B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69908456D1 (fr)
GB (1) GB9805903D0 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0174443A2 (fr) * 1984-09-07 1986-03-19 BELL & HOWELL COMPANY Machine à mettre sous enveloppe
WO1991011336A1 (fr) * 1990-01-25 1991-08-08 Printed Forms Equipment Limited Appareil pour la mise sous enveloppes de feuilles et de tout autre papier similaire
GB2284794A (en) * 1993-12-20 1995-06-21 Pitney Bowes Plc Apparatus for controlling the position of an envelope in an inserter machine
EP0700794A1 (fr) 1994-09-12 1996-03-13 Pitney Bowes PLC Appareil de manipulation par exemple de plis postaux
US5517797A (en) * 1994-12-15 1996-05-21 Pitney Bowes Inc. Envelope positioning apparatus for inserting machine

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0174443A2 (fr) * 1984-09-07 1986-03-19 BELL & HOWELL COMPANY Machine à mettre sous enveloppe
WO1991011336A1 (fr) * 1990-01-25 1991-08-08 Printed Forms Equipment Limited Appareil pour la mise sous enveloppes de feuilles et de tout autre papier similaire
GB2284794A (en) * 1993-12-20 1995-06-21 Pitney Bowes Plc Apparatus for controlling the position of an envelope in an inserter machine
EP0700794A1 (fr) 1994-09-12 1996-03-13 Pitney Bowes PLC Appareil de manipulation par exemple de plis postaux
US5517797A (en) * 1994-12-15 1996-05-21 Pitney Bowes Inc. Envelope positioning apparatus for inserting machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0943461B1 (fr) 2003-06-04
DE69908456D1 (de) 2003-07-10
GB9805903D0 (en) 1998-05-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0943460B1 (fr) Machine à insérer des documents sous enveloppe
US3568401A (en) Machines for inserting paper sheets into envelopes
EP1016549B1 (fr) Systeme d'insertion
US7454882B2 (en) Methods for variably opening envelopes
CA1300575C (fr) Dispositif servant a ouvrir les enveloppes
US7637490B2 (en) Inserting systems and methods
US6206816B1 (en) Method for inverting a folded collation
US4813209A (en) Single cycle envelope flap opener
US5265731A (en) Job separator
EP1935815A2 (fr) Mécanisme d'entraînement sélectif
US4888938A (en) Envelope throat opening blade
EP1911704A2 (fr) Appareil et procédé d'alignement d'articles en feuille
EP0943461B1 (fr) Machine pour mettre des documents sous enveloppe
US6098374A (en) Envelope opening apparatus
EP0540305B1 (fr) Méthode et gabarit pour règler une machine d'insertion
US6948540B2 (en) Envelope sealing apparatus
EP1297969B1 (fr) Dispositif et procédé de collationnement de feuilles
US4766715A (en) Envelope opening device
CA2217402C (fr) Machine a fermer et sceller des enveloppes
EP0943458B1 (fr) Appareil pour ouvrir des enveloppes
US6648319B2 (en) Apparatus for collating sheets
US20080012210A1 (en) Powered fold plate for mail processing equipment
EP0943457B1 (fr) Appareil pour le transport de documents
EP0537978B1 (fr) Méthode et appareil pour trier des feuilles de papier coupées, en piles
WO2002090127A1 (fr) Dispositif permettant de plier et d'inserer des feuilles de papier dans une enveloppe

Legal Events

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

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20000308

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20011228

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

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

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030604

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69908456

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20030710

Kind code of ref document: P

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

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030905

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

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20040318

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

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

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

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20040305

EN Fr: translation not filed
GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20040318