EP1315656B1 - Machine d'insertion a grande vitesse de feuilles dans des enveloppes - Google Patents

Machine d'insertion a grande vitesse de feuilles dans des enveloppes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1315656B1
EP1315656B1 EP00932555A EP00932555A EP1315656B1 EP 1315656 B1 EP1315656 B1 EP 1315656B1 EP 00932555 A EP00932555 A EP 00932555A EP 00932555 A EP00932555 A EP 00932555A EP 1315656 B1 EP1315656 B1 EP 1315656B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
envelope
sheet
machine
insertion station
elongate
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.)
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Application number
EP00932555A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1315656A4 (fr
EP1315656A1 (fr
Inventor
Todd C. Werner
Alfred Milo
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Pitney Bowes Inc
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Pitney Bowes Inc
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Priority claimed from PCT/US2000/013625 external-priority patent/WO2001087728A1/fr
Publication of EP1315656A1 publication Critical patent/EP1315656A1/fr
Publication of EP1315656A4 publication Critical patent/EP1315656A4/fr
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43M—BUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B43M3/00—Devices for inserting documents into envelopes
    • B43M3/04—Devices for inserting documents into envelopes automatic
    • B43M3/045—Devices for inserting documents into envelopes automatic for envelopes with only one flap

Definitions

  • This invention relates, generally, to machines that insert sheets of paper or other items into envelopes. More particularly, it relates to a feeder machine that operates at a very high speed.
  • Machines for inserting items such as sheets of paper into envelopes at a relatively high rate of speed have been known since the 1930s. They can perform about 8000 insertions per hour when properly maintained and adjusted. At least thirty six patents cover the original machine and various improvements thereto.
  • the known machine is mechanically complex. For example, it employs a total of nine cams for performing various functions such as opening and closing mechanical clamping devices, raising and lowering suction cups used for opening envelopes, and so on. It includes a large number of gears, belts, drive shafts. There are so many mechanical complexities that the device even includes a unique device for taking looseness or play out of the mechanism. The mechanical complexity relies upon human oversight for frequent adjustment purposes but even a well-adjusted machine is subject to frequent paper jams and the downtimes associated therewith.
  • the envelope feeder of the known machine holds only a short stack of envelopes. As a result, the machine operator must frequently replenish the stack.
  • a taller stack is contraindicated because the mechanism must remove envelopes sequentially from the bottom of the stack. The mechanism cannot cope with the extra weight of a tall stack, or the changing weight of a stack that steadily decreases in height as the machine operates.
  • the earlier machine also includes a reciprocating, pivotally-mounted, pendulum-like arm that feeds each sheet of paper or small stack of sheets into each envelope. It swings forwardly to perform one insertion and then swings back to prepare for the next insertion. This back-and-forth cycle takes place eight thousand times an hour when the machine is operating smoothly. Since the arm has non-negligible mass, the need to change direction sixteen thousand times per hour places a strain on the machine and prevents faster operation.
  • Another limitation of the known machine that restricts it to 8000 insertions per hour is conveyor speed. If the conveyor that delivers the sheets to the envelopes is run any faster than its 8000 insertions per hour speed, the envelopes into which the sheets are to be inserted cannot be delivered to the insertion station quickly enough. Moreover, the increase in speed of the conveyor belt causes the sheets to fly from it.
  • suction cups Another source of the known machine's relatively slow speed of operation is the use of suction cups to open envelopes at the sheet insertion station. Since suction cups cannot grasp a moving envelope, each envelope must come to a full stop before the suction cups can be lowered into engaging relation thereto. After the sheets have been inserted, the suction cups must be released and moved upwardly again so that the cycle can be repeated for the next envelope.
  • the known machines are further limited because the envelopes and sheets to be inserted thereinto follow a parallel path of travel as they approach a sheet insertion station. This requires that rectangular sheets be inserted in a "narrow edge leading" position, i.e., the sheets are pushed into the envelope in their long dimension. This requires a time delay for indexing to occur and an acceleration of the paper thereafter to make up for the delay.
  • the known machines also incorporate flighted conveyor belts, in their collator section, where longitudinally spaced apart vertical walls divide the belt into bins of 0.254 m (ten inches) in length. If bins of different lengths are needed for a particular application, a different belt must be installed.
  • a mail inserting and collating apparatus which includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface from engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum to the vacuum port such that the combination of the vacuum and the rubber-like project
  • US patent No. 5,626,001 discloses an inserting system for inserting documents into an envelope.
  • the system comprises: an inserting chassis; a device to convey documents from an upstream location on the chassis to a downstream location on the chassis; an insertion station for inserting the documents into a waiting envelope; a feeder located adjacent the inserter chassis for feeding documents to the conveying device, the feeder having a hopper for storing the documents; a forms unwinder located adjacent the feeder, the unwinder having a pivotable support arm; a roll of shingled documents mounted on the support arm; a device for unwinding the roll and separating each succeeding document seriatim; and a device for feeding the separated documents into the feeder hopper.
  • the improved means should not require the envelope to reach a full stop before the insertion procedure begins and the improved means should not rely upon suction cups.
  • a need is extant, further, for a machine having a flighted conveyor belt in its collator section that is not limited to 0.254 m (ten inch) bins and which can be modified to have bins of differing length without requiring changing of the belt.
  • a machine for inserting sheets into envelopes which includes a first table means including an elongate envelope feed conveyor means and a second table means disposed in substantially parallel relation to the first table means.
  • the second table means includes an elongate sheet feed conveyor means, at least one sheet feeder means and at least one sheet pusher means.
  • the novel machine further includes a third table means or envelope loading station disposed substantially transversely to the first table means and the second table means.
  • the envelope loading station includes an envelope hopper.
  • An elongate queue of envelopes is formed on the elongate envelope feed conveyor means of the first table so that keeping the envelope hopper full of envelopes requires infrequent additions of envelopes to the queue.
  • the envelope hopper has a predetermined elevation less than a predetermined elevation of the elongate envelope feed conveyor means so that an envelope reaching the envelope hopper follows a downward path of travel as it exits the elongate envelope feed conveyor means and enters into the envelope hopper.
  • the envelope loading station includes a sheet insertion station that is transversely spaced apart from the envelope hopper.
  • An envelope displacement means is provided for displacing an envelope from the envelope hopper to the sheet insertion station.
  • the envelope displacement means includes a clamp adapted to selectively engage and release an envelope.
  • the clamp is mounted on a rotating chain means or belt means that follows a predetermined path of travel in a substantially vertical plane.
  • the clamp is adapted to engage an envelope in the envelope hopper, to displace the envelope to the sheet insertion station, and to release the envelope at a predetermined location after displacing it away from the sheet insertion station.
  • a first cam means forms a part of a mechanism for removing an envelope from the envelope hopper.
  • a second cam means opens and closes the clamp when the clamp is positioned in predetermined juxtaposition to the envelope hopper.
  • the second cam means opens the clamp to enable it to receive an envelope at the envelope hopper and said second cam means then closes the clamp to enable it to engage the envelope and displace it to the sheet insertion station.
  • a third cam means at the sheet insertion station opens the clamp to allow sheet insertion and then closes the clamp again.
  • a fourth cam operates an insert entering finger assembly. All four cams are mounted on a common, transversely disposed, motor-rotated shaft and are transversely spaced apart from one another.
  • the at least one sheet pusher member is mounted on a predetermined structure including a rotating chain means or belt means that forms an endless loop so that the at least one sheet pusher member follows a predetermined path of travel that alternately carries it towards the sheet insertion station and away from the sheet insertion station in the absence of an abrupt change of direction.
  • the rotating chain or belt means includes a pair of parallel, transversely spaced apart chain or belt means and the at least one sheet pusher member is disposed therebetween.
  • the at least one sheet pusher member includes at least one set of sheet pusher members, and the at least one set includes a plurality of sheet pusher members disposed in transversely spaced apart relation to one another.
  • the at least one set of sheet pusher members may include a plurality of sets of sheet pusher members that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another at equidistantly spaced intervals.
  • the chain means that carries the pusher members is 1.016 m (forty inches) in length
  • the two sets of pusher members are spaced 0.508 m (twenty inches) from one another.
  • the flighted conveyor that carries the sheets to the sheet insertion station is divided by vertical walls that are spaced 0.362 m (14 1 ⁇ 4 inches) from one another.
  • the machine For sheets having a length greater than 0.1016 m (four inches) but less than 0.1524 m (six inches), the machine is reconfigured so that three sets of pusher members are installed on the chain means. Since the sets are equidistantly spaced apart from one another, on a 1.016 m (forty inch) chain means the spacing between three sets of pusher members is 0.3386 m (13.33 inches). Moreover, the walls that divide the flighted conveyor into sheet-receiving bins are spaced 0.181 m (7 1 ⁇ 8 inches) apart.
  • the sheet length is les than 0.1016 m (four inches)
  • four sets of pusher members are carried by the chain means, spaced 0.254 m (ten inches) from one another.
  • the walls are spaced 0.181 m (7 1 ⁇ 8 inches) apart as in the three pusher embodiment.
  • the flighted conveyor of the machine described herein may be divided into bins of differing lengths, thereby eliminating the need to change conveyor belts when a different bin size is needed.
  • a plurality of transversely spaced apart air jets are formed in an insert plate that lies flush with the surface of the second table means in juxtaposition with the envelope insertion station.
  • a sensor means detects the presence of an envelope in the envelope insertion station and activates a pneumatic means for causing a puff of air to flow from the air jets to open an envelope positioned in the envelope insertion station. The puff of air may be initiated before the envelope comes to a complete stop.
  • the use of air to open the envelopes eliminates the suction cups heretofore used and the mechanical complexities associated therewith.
  • An insert entering finger or guide that is used in prior art machines to hold the envelope open during sheet insertion may also be used in conjunction with the novel air jets. Thus, the known entering finger is improved and its effectiveness enhanced by equipping it with air jets.
  • the first table means is eliminated.
  • a high capacity, generally vertical demand envelope feeder is used.
  • envelope feeders are known and can be used as a substitute structure for the elongate first table means.
  • a closely related object is to provide a machine having reduced mechanical complexity vis a vis the machines of the prior art.
  • Still another object is to provide a machine that can be easily reconfigured to handle sheets that are less than 0.1016 m (four inches) in length, between 0.1016 and 0.1524 m (four and six inches), and in excess of 0.1524 m (six inches), all at a common conveyor speed.
  • a machine described herein advantageously comprises an improved means for opening envelopes at a sheet insertion station, and has an envelope feeder with a substantially larger capacity than the envelope feeders heretofore known.
  • Another important advantage is to provide a "wide edge leading" insertion for rectangular sheets to reduce the length of the pusher stroke and to eliminate the delay and acceleration required of prior art machines during sheet insertion.
  • FIG. 1 it will there be seen that an exemplary embodiment of the invention is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 10.
  • machine 10 includes a first elongate table means or envelope feed conveyor means 12 having a very large plurality of envelopes 14 disposed thereatop.
  • a second elongate table means denoted 16 as a whole, is disposed in parallel relation to first elongate table means 12, in transversely spaced apart relation to first elongate table means 12.
  • a plurality of sheet feeders are mounted in longitudinally spaced apart relation to one another.
  • the number of sheet feeders is not critical to the operation of machine 10.
  • each sheet feeder carries a replenishable stack of individual paper sheets 20a-e to be inserted into envelopes as a set.
  • a flighted conveyor belt 22 carries the paper sheets to the forward end of second table means 16, as indicated by arrow 23, where the individual stacks are sequentially inserted into envelopes 14.
  • belt 22 is divided into sections or bins by longitudinally-spaced apart vertical walls 24. This particular configuration is used for sheets having a longitudinal extent in excess of 0.1524 m (six inches); walls 24 are 0.362 m (14 1 ⁇ 4 inches) apart.
  • a sheet of paper that is to be positioned at the bottom of a stack is deposited into a bin at position 26e by a roller mechanism that is well-known.
  • That sheet then advances to position 26d and the sheet that will be the second from the bottom in the stack is then deposited atop it and so on until the stack has been assembled for insertion into an envelope.
  • the top sheet in the stack is deposited atop said stack at position 26a by sheet feeder 18a.
  • chain means 28 includes two sets of parallel chain members disposed in transversely spaced apart relation to one another, and that the pusher members are disposed therebetween.
  • Fig. 2A The configuration of Fig. 2A is employed when the sheets to be inserted are greater than 0.1524 m (six inches) in length.
  • walls 24 are spaced 0.181 m (7 1 ⁇ 2 inches) apart, and three pusher members, denoted 28a, 28c and 28d are employed. on a 1.016 m (forty inch) chain means, they are equidistantly spaced from one another at 0.3386 m (13.33 inch) intervals.
  • This configuration is used when the sheets to be inserted are less than 0.1524 m (six inches) in length but greater then 0.1016 m (four inches), in length.
  • walls 24 are spaced 0.181 m (7 1 ⁇ 8 inches) apart, and four pusher members, denoted 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d are employed. They are spaced 0.254 m (ten inches) from one another on a 1.016 m (forty inch) chain means. This configuration is used when the sheets are 0.1016 m (four inches) or less in length.
  • each pusher member is pivotally mounted to chain means 28.
  • machine 10 further includes third elongate table means or envelope loading station 30 having a longitudinal axis disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of first table means 12 and second table means 16.
  • Third table means 30 includes an envelope hopper 32 at a first end thereof, said first end being in longitudinal alignment with first table means 12.
  • Third table means 30 further includes an envelope flap-opening station 34, a sheet insertion station 36, an envelope closing station 38, and an envelope ejection station 40.
  • Sheet insertion station 36 is disposed in longitudinal alignment with second table means 16.
  • a conveyor belt is rotatably mounted in first table means 12 so that its forward-traveling section is substantially flush with the top surface of said table means 12. It carries a long queue of envelopes 14 in the direction indicated by single-headed directional arrow 42, said arrow indicating said direction of forward travel.
  • a stationary flap opener means 46 in the form of a curved rod has a proximal end 46a positioned below the plane of third table means 30 and a distal free end 46b disposed in the path of travel of each flap 44 as the envelopes are sequentially pulled from the bottom of hopper 32.
  • rod 46 mechanically displaces each flap 44 into a fully open position; as indicated in Fig. 4 , each flap 44 is rotated more than one hundred eighty degrees when it is fully open.
  • the lowermost envelope in hopper 32 is engaged at its inboard end by a clamp 48 (see Figs. 1 and 4 ) having a pair of opposed jaws that open and shut. When open, clamp 48 receives or releases an inboard end of the lowermost envelope and when closed, said clamp engages said inboard envelope.
  • the clamp at position 48a is open and ready to receive between its opposed jaws the inboard end of an envelope 14 that is being removed from envelope hopper 32.
  • the clamp at position 48b is closed and has pulled a lowermost envelope out of hopper 32 and past curved rod 46 and thus flap 44 has been fully opened so that it lies in a plane more than one hundred eighty degrees from its initial, closed position.
  • the clamp at position 48c has pulled an envelope to sheet insertion station 36 where at least one sheet of paper or similar item is inserted into an opened envelope.
  • a second curved rod 56 has an inboard end 56a disposed below the plane of the envelopes on table 30 and an outboard end 56b ( Fig. 1 ) disposed above said plane so that the flap is closed as soon as the moisture is applied.
  • Roller 58 turns in the direction indicated by arcuate arrow 59 in Fig. 4 and presses on the closed flap to seal the envelope.
  • the clamp in position 48d opens to release the envelope when an actuator 49 that depends therefrom (see Fig. 4A ) encounters roller 64 and the envelope is propelled to a collection table, not shown, that would be positioned at the left side of Fig. 4 .
  • the clamp at position 48d is approaching the position of the clamp at position 48e when the envelope is propelled to the collection table, because the clamps follow a path of travel defined by sprocket chain 60 (or other suitable belt means).
  • the direction of travel of sprocket chain 60 is denoted by directional arrows 61 and 62.
  • Gear 64 is a driving gear and gears 65, 66 and 67 are idler gears.
  • a first cam forms a part of a well-known mechanism that takes envelopes out of envelope hopper 32.
  • a second cam 69 selectively opens and closes the clamp at position 48a either directly or by means of bell crank 71 or other suitable linkage means as depicted in this particular embodiment.
  • a third cam selectively opens and closes the clamp at position 48c so that the envelope can be opened for the sheet insertion process and immediately closed thereafter.
  • a fourth cam is also employed to operate the insert entering finger assembly, disclosed hereinafter. Thus, there are only four cams in the machine of the embodiment, whereas the known machines have about twenty cams.
  • each clamp is maintained in a normally closed configuration by a bias means such as spring 47, and each clamp has an actuator 49 that opens the opposed jaws of the clamp when displaced.
  • Motor 68 drives belt 73 that in turn rotates shaft 72 of indexing box 74.
  • the first one hundred eighty degree rotation of shaft 72 results in a one hundred twenty degree rotation of wheel 76.
  • the second one hundred eighty degree rotation of shaft 72 results in no rotation of wheel 76, i.e., there is a dwell of wheel 76 during said rotation of shaft 72.
  • the arrow denoted T1 in Fig. 4 indicates the linear travel of a clamp 48 for each rotation of wheel 76.
  • This rotate and dwell pattern is a three stop, three position output, i.e., for each 360 degrees of input there is 120 degrees of output; 180 degrees of the input is dwell.
  • Indexing box 74 eliminates any need for a stepper motor, i.e., the output shaft of motor 68 rotates continuously, in the absence of starting and stopping.
  • Fig. 5 diagrammatically depicts the control means for novel machine 10.
  • Prior art sheet feeders are controlled as a group by a single motor means. Thus, each sheet feeder deposits one sheet on flighted conveyor 22 for each cycle of operation. However, if a customer wants sheet feeder 18a to deposit two sheets for every sheet deposited by sheet feeder 18b, the single motor assembly of the prior art cannot be used.
  • a single motor means such as motor means 82 ( Fig. 5 ) may be provided for use when each sheet feeder 18a-f is operating at the same speed as the other sheet feeders.
  • a plurality of motors such as motors 82 and 84 and others may also be provided so that a motor is dedicated to each sheet feeder 18a-f whereby each sheet feeder is independently controlled and run at a preselected speed.
  • Push-button safety switch actuator 92 is electrically connected in series to push-button switch actuators 94 and 98 so that said switch actuators do not work unless switch actuator 92 is activated simultaneously. Depressing switch actuators 92 and 98 at the same time starts the novel machine. Depressing switch actuators 92 and 94 at the same time jogs the machine, i.e., the machine runs only for so long as the depression of said switches is maintained. Depressing switch actuator 96 re-sets the controls of the machine but does not result in operation of any moving parts.
  • PLC programmable logic controller
  • Push-button switch actuator 100 is the stop switch and is also not in series with safety switch actuator 92.
  • the physical spacing of safety switch actuator 92 from switch actuators 94 and 98 is a well-known safety feature that ensures that the machine operator's hands are safely away from moving parts when the machine is operated.
  • PLC 86 is programmable so that sheet feeders 18a-f are individually controllable.
  • FIG. 6 when an envelope 14 arrives at sheet insertion station 36, air is blown thereinto to open said envelope so that insert entering finger 85 may be inserted thereinto to hold the envelope open during the sheet insertion process.
  • the air denoted 83a, flows out of a plurality of parallel, horizontally disposed air jets 80 ( Fig. 6A ) that are formed in insert plate 83, said insert plate being flush with the top surface of table means 16.
  • the jets have a longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of table means 16 and they are transversely spaced apart from one another as indicated in Fig. 6A so that said jets supply air along the entire extent of the envelope to be opened.
  • a sensor means 37 ( Fig.
  • each envelope 14 is already open by the time it arrives at sheet insertion station 36.
  • This enhances the productivity of machine 10 because prior art machines deliver closed envelopes to a sheet insertion station as mentioned earlier.
  • envelope-opening suction cups are brought down to grab each closed envelope as it arrives at the sheet insertion station.
  • the envelope must be at a complete stop before it can be engaged by the suction cups.
  • the suction cups must then be disengaged before the envelope can resume movement.
  • Element 85 in Fig. 6 is known in the industry as an insert entering finger; it holds an open envelope in its open position during the insertion process. It also serves as a guide means for guiding the sheets into the envelope and for holding said sheets down.
  • a conventional insert entering finger is improved by adding air jets formed in the leading edge of said insert entering finger 85 to enhance its effectiveness. A blast of air from said jets is denoted 85a; note the downward direction of the air blast which serves to hold the sheets down.
  • the air is supplied by a pneumatic means, not shown, that is actuated by said sensor means 39.
  • This ejection means allows machine 10 to continue operating when the above-mentioned events occur. Prior art machines must be stopped when such events occur. The provision of an ejection means at the point of sheet insertion was heretofore unknown.
  • Sensor means 41 senses the level of envelopes in envelope hopper 32 and re-starts the conveyor belt carried by the first table means to replenish said hopper with additional envelopes in the absence of operator intervention. Sensors are also provided for each sheet feeder to start and stop said feeders to stage the pieces of paper.
  • novel pusher assembly 28 is provided in the form of a plurality of pusher members that follow a path of travel that forms a closed loop.
  • each set of pusher members may include one or more push arms disposed in transversely spaced apart relation to one another, as best indicated in Fig. 1 .
  • the number of push arms within each set may be varied because the number of push arms in a set is not critical.
  • FIG. 1 A top view of the pusher member sets is provided in Fig. 1 and a side view thereof is provided in Fig. 2 .
  • Arcuate arrow 29 in Fig. 2 indicates that the pusher member sets retreat from sheet insertion station 36 for the first half of their path of travel and advance toward said station 36 during the second half of said path of travel. It is during the second half of said path of travel that a set of pusher members such as pusher set 28c ( Fig. 2B ) engage a sheet of paper or a short stack of papers and push said sheet or stack towards the envelope insertion station 36.
  • Pusher members 28d are depicted in said Fig. 2B pushing a sheet or stack of sheets into opened envelope 14 during the release of the above-mentioned puff of air.
  • Parallel, longitudinally extending grooves are formed in insert plate 83 (see Fig. 6 ) and the respective lowermost ends of pusher members 28a-d are slideably received within said grooves when the pusher members move toward envelope insertion station 36. This enables the pusher members to extend slightly below said top surface to ensure substantially problem-free insertion of the sheets into the envelopes. There is one groove for each pusher member.
  • Fig. 7 discloses an alternative means for delivering envelopes to envelope hopper 32.
  • This means does not include elongate first table 12. Instead, a high capacity demand feeder 90 delivers envelopes to hopper 32 to ensure that said hopper does not run out of envelopes.
  • Feeder 90 is canted from a vertical axis as depicted and may be provided with other means as well to ensure that the lowermost envelope in the stack of envelopes does not carry the weight of all envelopes above it.
  • the novel high capacity demand feeder of Fig. 7 delivers envelopes to hopper 32 in a direction normal to the direction of arrow 42 in Fig. 1 , i.e., the envelopes are displaced in a transverse direction, entering edgewise into said hopper.
  • Fig. 7 shows two feeders 90 in flanking relation to envelope hopper 32; this is intended merely to indicate that a single feeder 90 may be placed in either side of said hopper 32.

Landscapes

  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Special Articles (AREA)
  • Superconductors And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)

Claims (24)

  1. Machine (10) pour insérer des articles présélectionnés tels que des feuilles de papier dans des enveloppes (14), comprenant :
    un premier moyen formant table (12) comprenant un moyen formant transporteur de distribution d'enveloppes allongées ;
    un deuxième moyen formant table (16) disposé sensiblement parallèlement audit premier moyen formant table (12), ledit deuxième moyen formant table comprenant un moyen formant transporteur de distribution de feuilles allongées (22), au moins un moyen distributeur de feuilles (18) et au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) ;
    un troisième moyen formant table (30) disposé sensiblement transversalement audit premier moyen formant table et audit deuxième moyen formant table ;
    ledit troisième moyen formant table (30) comprenant une station de chargement d'enveloppes alignée avec ledit moyen formant transporteur de distribution d'enveloppes allongées (12) et une station d'insertion de feuilles (36) alignée avec ledit moyen formant transporteur de distribution de feuilles allongées (22), ladite station de chargement d'enveloppes et ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36) étant espacées transversalement l'une de l'autre ;
    ladite station de chargement d'enveloppes comprenant une trémie à enveloppes (32) ; et
    ledit moyen formant transporteur de distribution d'enveloppes allongées (12) étant conçu pour maintenir une file allongée d'enveloppes (14) en alignement avec ladite trémie à enveloppes (32).
  2. Machine selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ladite trémie à enveloppes (32) a une hauteur prédéterminée inférieure à une hauteur prédéterminée dudit moyen formant transporteur de distribution d'enveloppes allongées (12), chaque enveloppe dans ladite file allongée d'enveloppes (14) suivant une trajectoire descendante ayant un angle arrondi de 90° au cours de son déplacement dudit moyen formant transporteur de distribution d'enveloppes allongées (12) à ladite trémie à enveloppes (32).
  3. Machine selon la revendication 1, comprenant, en outre, un moyen de déplacement d'enveloppes pour déplacer une enveloppe (14) de ladite trémie à enveloppes (32) à ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36).
  4. Machine selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle ledit moyen de déplacement d'enveloppes comprend une pince (48) conçue pour engager et libérer sélectivement une enveloppe (14), ladite pince étant montée sur un moyen formant chaîne rotative (60) qui suit une trajectoire de déplacement prédéterminée dans un plan sensiblement vertical, ladite pince (48) conçue pour engager une enveloppe (14) dans ladite trémie à enveloppes (32), afin de déplacer ladite enveloppe vers ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36), et pour libérer ladite enveloppe en un emplacement prédéterminé après l'avoir déplacée loin de ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36).
  5. Machine selon la revendication 4, comprenant, en outre, un premier moyen formant came (69) pour ouvrir et fermer ladite pince (48) lorsque ladite pince est positionnée en une juxtaposition prédéterminée (48a) relativement à ladite trémie à enveloppes (32), ledit premier moyen formant came (69) ouvrant ladite pince (48) pour lui permettre de recevoir une enveloppe (14) à ladite trémie à enveloppes et ledit premier moyen formant came fermant ladite pince à ladite trémie à enveloppes (32) pour lui permettre de déplacer ladite enveloppe (14) vers ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36).
  6. Machine selon la revendication 5, comprenant, en outre, un deuxième moyen formant came pour ouvrir ladite pince (48) en un emplacement prédéterminé (48c) une fois qu'une feuille présélectionnée a été insérée dans ladite enveloppe (14) à ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36).
  7. Machine selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle ladite pince (48) comprend une paire de mâchoires opposées et comprenant, en outre, un moyen de sollicitation (47) pour maintenir lesdites mâchoires dans une configuration normalement fermée.
  8. Machine selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle ledit deuxième moyen formant came est espacé transversalement dudit premier moyen formant came (69).
  9. Machine selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) est monté sur une structure prédéterminée comprenant une boucle sans fin de rotation, ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) suivant une trajectoire de déplacement prédéterminée qui, alternativement, le transporte vers ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36) et loin de ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36).
  10. Machine selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) comprend au moins un jeu de moyens pousseurs de feuilles, ledit au moins un jeu comprenant une pluralité de moyens pousseurs de feuilles (28b, 28d) transversalement espacés les uns des autres.
  11. Machine selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle ledit au moins un jeu de moyens pousseurs de feuilles (28b, 28d) comprend une pluralité de jeux de moyens pousseurs de feuilles qui sont espacés longitudinalement les uns des autres à des intervalles équidistants.
  12. Machine selon la revendication 11, comprenant, en outre, une pluralité de gorges parallèles, s'étendant longitudinalement, formées dans une surface supérieure dudit deuxième moyen formant table (16) pour, respectivement, recevoir en glissement une extrémité la plus basse dudit moyen pousseur (28b, 28d).
  13. Machine selon la revendication 1, comprenant, en outre, au moins une buse d'air pointant vers le haut, positionnée à ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36), un moyen formant capteur (39) pour détecter si une enveloppe (14) est positionnée à ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36), et un moyen pneumatique actionné par ledit moyen formant capteur (39) pour amener un jet d'air à s'écouler via ladite au moins une buse d'air pointant vers le haut afin de déloger une feuille de papier de ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36) si ledit moyen formant capteur détecte une absence de ladite enveloppe (14).
  14. Machine selon la revendication 1, comprenant, en outre, une pluralité de sorties d'air espacées transversalement (80) formées dans une plaque d'insert (83) qui est de niveau avec une surface supérieure dudit deuxième moyen formant table (16) juxtaposée à ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36), un moyen formant capteur (37) pour détecter la présence d'une enveloppe (14) dans ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36), et un moyen pneumatique actionné par ledit moyen formant capteur pour amener un souffle d'air à s'écouler depuis lesdites sorties d'air (80) pour ouvrir une enveloppe positionnée dans ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36).
  15. Machine selon la revendication 1, comprenant, en outre, un moyen formant doigt (85) pénétrant dans l'insert pour maintenir ouverte une enveloppe (14) positionnée à ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36), et formant au moins un jet d'air (85a) dans une extrémité d'attaque dudit moyen formant doigt (85) pénétrant dans l'insert, ledit jet d'air étant en communication de fluide avec une source d'air sous pression et comprenant, en outre, un moyen pour libérer un jet d'air depuis ledit moyen formant doigt (85) pénétrant dans l'insert lorsque ledit moyen formant doigt pénétrant dans l'insert est positionné dans sa position opérante où il maintient ouverte une enveloppe (14).
  16. Machine selon la revendication 1, comprenant, en outre :
    un moyen distributeur d'enveloppes exigeant une grande vitesse pour décharger des enveloppes (14) dans ladite trémie à enveloppes (32), ledit moyen distributeur d'enveloppes exigeant une grande vitesse étant conçu pour contenir une grande pluralité d'enveloppes.
  17. Machine selon la revendication 15, dans laquelle ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) est monté sur une structure prédéterminée comprenant une boucle sans fin de rotation, ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) suivant une trajectoire de déplacement prédéterminée qui, alternativement, le transporte vers ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36) et loin de ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36).
  18. Machine selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle :
    ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) est monté sur un moyen formant chaîne continue,
    ledit moyen formant chaîne continue étant disposé dans un plan sensiblement vertical et suivant une trajectoire de déplacement généralement elliptique de manière que chaque moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) soit configuré pour se déplacer, alternativement, vers ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36) et loin de ladite station d'insertion de feuilles (36) sans subir de brusques changements de direction.
  19. Machine selon la revendication 18, dans laquelle ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) est deux moyens pousseurs de feuilles et dans laquelle lesdits deux moyens pousseurs de feuilles sont équidistants le long de l'étendue dudit moyen formant chaîne continue.
  20. Machine selon la revendication 19, dans laquelle ledit moyen formant transporteur de distribution de feuilles allongées (22) est un transporteur à raclettes comportant des parois verticales (24) espacées le long de son étendue à des intervalles d'environ quatorze pouces (0,3556 m).
  21. Machine selon la revendication 18, dans laquelle ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) est trois moyens pousseurs de feuilles et dans laquelle lesdits trois moyens pousseurs de feuilles sont équidistants le long de l'étendue dudit moyen formant chaîne continue.
  22. Machine selon la revendication 21, dans laquelle ledit moyen formant transporteur de distribution de feuilles allongées (22) est un transporteur à raclettes comportant des parois verticales (24) espacées le long de son étendue à des intervalles d'environ sept pouces (0, 1778 m).
  23. Machine selon la revendication 18, dans laquelle ledit au moins un moyen pousseur de feuilles (28b, 28d) est quatre moyens pousseurs de feuilles et dans laquelle lesdits quatre moyens pousseurs de feuilles sont équidistants le long de l'étendue dudit moyen formant chaîne continue.
  24. Machine selon la revendication 23, dans laquelle ledit moyen formant transporteur de distribution de feuilles allongées (22) est un transporteur à raclettes comportant des parois verticales (24) espacées le long de son étendue à des intervalles d'environ sept pouces (0, 1778 m).
EP00932555A 2000-05-17 2000-05-17 Machine d'insertion a grande vitesse de feuilles dans des enveloppes Expired - Lifetime EP1315656B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2000/013625 WO2001087728A1 (fr) 1999-02-16 2000-05-17 Machine d'insertion a grande vitesse de feuilles dans des enveloppes

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1315656A1 EP1315656A1 (fr) 2003-06-04
EP1315656A4 EP1315656A4 (fr) 2008-04-30
EP1315656B1 true EP1315656B1 (fr) 2010-07-28

Family

ID=21741394

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00932555A Expired - Lifetime EP1315656B1 (fr) 2000-05-17 2000-05-17 Machine d'insertion a grande vitesse de feuilles dans des enveloppes

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1315656B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2003533411A (fr)
CN (1) CN1360553A (fr)
AT (1) ATE475604T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU5025700A (fr)
CA (1) CA2374981C (fr)
DE (1) DE60044756D1 (fr)
IL (1) IL148295A0 (fr)
PL (1) PL358453A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9493259B2 (en) 2010-05-07 2016-11-15 Boewe Systec Gmbh Apparatus and method for inserting one or more goods into a moveable cover

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBO20110652A1 (it) * 2011-11-16 2013-05-17 C M C Srl Macchina imbustatrice
US9452635B2 (en) * 2013-11-13 2016-09-27 T.S.D. Llc Apparatus for inserting documents into envelopes and associated method
CN109110192B (zh) * 2018-10-24 2024-02-27 广药王老吉(毕节)产业有限公司 一种集束套膜包装机

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4525986A (en) * 1982-09-28 1985-07-02 Noll Marvin H Apparatus and process for inserting inserts into envelopes
US4817368A (en) * 1986-10-14 1989-04-04 J.A.D. Enterprises, Inc. Mail inserting and collating apparatus
US4775140A (en) * 1987-10-26 1988-10-04 Pitney Bowes Inc. Envelope supply pack retainer
US5220770A (en) * 1992-02-27 1993-06-22 R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company Selective outer envelope inserting system
US5626001A (en) * 1996-05-08 1997-05-06 Pitney Bowes Inc. Shingled material roll feed for mail insertion system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9493259B2 (en) 2010-05-07 2016-11-15 Boewe Systec Gmbh Apparatus and method for inserting one or more goods into a moveable cover
US9567122B2 (en) 2010-05-07 2017-02-14 Boewe Systec Gmbh Apparatus and method for inserting one or more goods into a moveable cover
US10173798B2 (en) 2010-05-07 2019-01-08 Boewe Systec Gmbh Apparatus and method for inserting one or more goods into a move-able cover

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2374981A1 (fr) 2001-11-22
JP2003533411A (ja) 2003-11-11
EP1315656A4 (fr) 2008-04-30
CA2374981C (fr) 2007-05-01
IL148295A0 (en) 2002-09-12
DE60044756D1 (de) 2010-09-09
PL358453A1 (en) 2004-08-09
CN1360553A (zh) 2002-07-24
EP1315656A1 (fr) 2003-06-04
ATE475604T1 (de) 2010-08-15
AU5025700A (en) 2001-11-26

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