EP1321311A2 - Universal moistening device for flaps - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for moistening envelope flaps comprises at least a pair or transport rollers (18A), a separator (12) for separating the envelope flap from the body and a moistener (14A, 14B). Suction means (20) are placed just before the separator and act in conjunction with a sprung pressing finger (30) so that envelopes are pressed down towards the suction means so that the flap can be lifted away from the envelope allowing its passage through the separator without damage occurring.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and it relates more particularly to a device for moistening flaps or envelope flaps integrated in a mail item supply module for a mailing machine mail processing and suitable for all types of envelopes, and in particular closed envelopes with flaps already glued (not in front therefore not be wet), envelopes with open shutters (at 90 °) say "nested", and envelopes with folded flaps say "to the European ”, as well as flexible documents (A4 sheets by example) or rigid (advertising inserts in particular) intended to be marked with a postal imprint directly in the machine.

Prior art

We know, especially with US patent 4,450,037, a wetting and closing device for envelopes comprising downstream of a pair of drive rollers, a separator for separate the shutter from the body of the envelope, a dampener to moisten the flap thus spread and, disposed between this pair of rollers and the separator, a manually movable deflector for, according to its selection position, allowing the passage of closed envelopes does not not to be wet or the passage of envelopes with shutters folded down not glued.

However, apart from the fact that this device does not allow passage of nested envelopes, it has the major drawback of require pre-sorting of envelopes unless modified constantly the position of the movable deflector, which has for consequence of prohibiting all operation at rates high.

Object and definition of the invention

The present invention therefore provides a moistening device universal, i.e. capable of wetting nested envelopes like envelopes with folded shutters but also to authorize the passage, without wetting, of closed envelopes like everything else then another document to be printed. An object of the invention is also to allow a perfect moistening whatever the thickness of the envelopes processed. Another object of the invention is to make such a device in a simple and inexpensive manner. Again an object of the invention is to integrate this device into a structure conventional feeder with high processing rate.

These goals are achieved by a dampening device for shutters envelopes intended to be integrated into a power supply module mail items from a mail processing machine and comprising successively, along a transport path of these mail items, at least one pair of drive rollers, a separator to separate the flap of the envelope from the body of the envelope and a damper, placed just behind this separator, to moisten this flap once the flap is separated from the body of the envelope, characterized in that it further comprises suction means arranged just in front of the separator and a pressure finger acting at against means spring for, in the presence of envelopes to folded shutters, press the envelope towards these means and detach the flap from the body of the envelope and allow thus its passage under the separator without jamming or contacts inappropriate with the separator.

Thus, with this particular configuration, it is possible to handle all types of envelopes and documents in bulk (flexible documents, inserts) without even worrying about the format or the thickness of these items. This structure allows above all avoid pre-sorting mail items and get rates particularly high treatment due to the absence of manual means of operating mode selection.

The suction means include a powered fan by means of energy supply and connected to a conduit the end of which leads to the passage of envelope flaps at an article transport table of mail. Advantageously, this terminal end of the conduit suction device has an inclined surface at an inclination determined (approximately 30 °) relative to the surface horizontal of the transport table.

Likewise, fixed deflection means arranged under the transport table are provided to help the flap of the flaps envelopes nested.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue simplifiée en perspective d'un alimenteur comportant un dispositif universel d'humectage selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale de l'alimenteur de la figure 1 au niveau du dispositif universel d'humectage,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe longitudinale partielle de l'alimenteur de la figure 1 illustrant les moyens d'aspiration,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective partielle illustrant le processus de séparation d'un volet d'enveloppe, et
• les figures 5A et 5B sont deux sections partielles identiques de l'alimenteur illustrant l'action des moyens d'aspiration sur des enveloppes fermées.

The 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 is a simplified perspective view of a feeder comprising a universal moistening device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the feeder of FIG. 1 at the level of the universal moistening device,
• FIG. 3 is a view in partial longitudinal section of the feeder of FIG. 1 illustrating the suction means,
• FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the process of separating an envelope flap, and
• FIGS. 5A and 5B are two identical partial sections of the feeder illustrating the action of the suction means on closed envelopes.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Figures 1 and 2 show schematically in perspective and in cross section a power supply module mail items intended to be placed at the entrance of a overcome. Such a module can of course also be integrated directly to this machine. Mail items 10 can be treated by this module are preferably envelopes with shutters open, folded down or closed. But, it can also be simple documents (for example in A4 format) on which will be then directly printed a postal imprint.

This power module includes in addition to its parts usual documents reception and selection (no shown), a moistening device formed successively (this is to say from upstream to downstream relative to the direction of advance of mail items) by a separator 12 to separate the shutter from the envelope 10A of the body of the envelope 10B and a damper, placed just behind this separator, to moisten this shutter once the shutter 10A separated from the body of the envelope 10B. This dampener is preferably formed by a brush or brush 14A whose end rests on the surface of a water tank 14B arranged under a table 16 for transporting mail items through the module power supply, the wetting of a flap being then carried out during its passage between the brush and the tank. Means of training 18A, 18B are also conventionally arranged at the same time as input separator for transporting mail items beyond separator to the moistener and at the separator outlet for convey to the entrance of the franking machine or module next to the mail processing machine, in principle a module for printing a postal imprint (not shown), when the power module is built into this machine. In general, the input rollers of the print module act as means for closing previously moistened envelopes, unless the power module has its own closing means.

According to the invention, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the device moistening further comprises suction means 20, arranged under the transport table 16 and whose suction mouth 16A leads to the passage of the envelope flaps, just in front the separator and downstream of the transport rollers 18A, for allow a particularly easy detachment of these components by relation to the bodies of the envelopes, in particular in the case thick envelopes. These suction means are formed by a fan 22, supplied with current from means 24 power supply of the power supply module, and connected to a suction pipe (or pipe) 26 whose terminal end (which has an inclined surface 28 pierced by the suction mouth 16A) opens through the transport table 16. The fan advantageously works continuously and provides suction constant at the envelope flap. Because of this continuous operation, this aspiration is also found present both when passing closed envelopes or when documents or during the passage of housed envelopes (including the flap is open at 90 °). It then acts on the very body of the envelope and no longer on the shutter alone. However, due to the low suction power, this action is in no way detrimental operation of the feeder and, in particular, it does not effect of changing the trajectory of these types of envelopes whose body must pass over the separator.

As illustrated in the detailed perspective in Figure 4, the moistening device according to the invention further comprises a finger presser 30 articulated on the feeder frame against elastic means, of the leaf spring type or equivalent 32, and intended to compress the flap of the envelopes towards the opening 16A of the suction duct during their passage to the above this conduit. As will be explained later, this finger provides a dual function, a function to assist in the frank opening of flaps for envelopes with folded flaps and free closing of the flaps for closed envelopes.

For the treatment of housed envelopes, the feeder is advantageously provided with a groove 34 formed in the table transport 16, all along a reference wall 36 of this feeder. This wall 36 for jogging mail items further includes, under the transport table, a fixed deflector 38 delta wing profile to guide and fold down gradually the flap of these envelopes from their initial position at 90 ° to a terminal position close to 30 ° allowing their passage under the separator and their wetting in the best conditions (see the figure 2).

The different operating configurations of the device according to the invention are now described with reference to FIG. 3 above. and the following figures 5A and 5B. Indeed, as has been explained previously, and unlike the feeders of the prior art, this device authorizes the processing of all types of envelopes, especially thick layers, or documents.

The passage of envelopes with folded flaps is first of all illustrated in figure 3 (see also the position of this type of envelope illustrated in strong lines in Figure 2). In this position, the envelopes which are initially based on the drive rollers 18A are directed to the separator 12 which will perform its usual function of separation between the body 10B and the flap 10A of the envelope, the body passing above the separator and the flap 10a passing below thus allowing its subsequent wetting. This separation of the shutter from the body of the envelope which is already facilitated by the sole action of the finger presser 30, especially for thin envelopes, is amplified, especially for thick envelopes, by the action of the suction means which, by pressing the flaps envelopes towards the inclined surface 28, spread them apart voluntarily and according to an inclination determined by this surface (substantially 30 ° defined with respect to the horizontal surface of the table 16), thus avoiding jams and contacts against the separator resulting, in the prior art, from the only detachment of the flap under the effect of gravity. Thus, the combined action of the suction means 20 and the pressing finger 30 by locally deforming the envelope allows to simply open its flap, that this envelope may or may not be very thick, and therefore allow this flap a smooth passage under the separator 12 (see Figure 2).

With this configuration, the passage of housed envelopes is also simplified, since the component 10A of the envelope is located under the table in groove 34, is guided under the separator then folded back to the moistener by the fixed deflector 38 (see the position of the envelope in dotted lines in Figure 2), then that the body of envelope 10B, which now rests alone on the transport table 16, passes directly above the separators 12 and wetting machine 14A, 14B (the slight local deformation due to the suction of the upper part of the envelope opposite the suction pipe does not change its trajectory above the separator).

The invention, however, is also of great interest. in the passage of closed envelopes. Indeed, in this configuration, the suction means make it possible to remedy the problem posed by the presence of an unglued area 10C which is always present on these closed envelopes (see Figure 5A on which the pressure finger has been depicted voluntarily removed from the envelope for clarity of explanation) and which is source in art previous unwanted contact (causing jams) with the separator. As shown in Figure 5B, the action of the means suction 20 combined with that of the pressing finger 30 has the effect locally deform the envelope and close this area not bonded thus avoiding untimely contact with the separator. The closed envelope with glued shutter will therefore pass unhindered above the separator and therefore the moistener.

With the structure of the invention, it is therefore possible to treat both glued and unglued envelopes, whether shutters folded down or with shutters nested. Likewise, nothing stands in the way of passage of simple A4 format documents in particular. Because of the absence of any means of selection, it is possible to process simultaneously all types of envelopes without any prior sorting, which guarantees very high processing rates and hitherto unknown with the feeders of the prior art. In addition, the simplicity of the means used allows their integration into a conventional feeder or machine structure frank without significant modification of its initial size.

Claims (5)

Device for wetting envelope flaps integrated in a mail item supply module and successively comprising, along a transport path for these mail items, at least one pair of drive rollers (18A) for transport these mail items, a separator (12) to separate the flap (10A) from the envelopes of the body (10B) of these envelopes, and a moistener (14A, 14B) to moisten this flap once separated from the body of the envelope , characterized in that it further comprises suction means (20) disposed just in front of the separator and a pressing finger (30) acting against spring means (32) for, in the presence of envelopes with flaps folded down, press the envelope in the direction of these suction means and detach the flap from the body of the envelope, thereby allowing it to pass under the separator, without jamming or untimely contact with the separator. Wetting device according to claim 1, characterized in that said suction means comprise a fan (22) supplied by energy supply means (24) and connected to a suction duct (26) the end of which terminal (16A) leads to the passage of the envelope flaps at a table (16) for transporting mail items. Wetting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the terminal end of the suction duct has a surface (28) inclined at a predetermined inclination relative to the horizontal surface of the transport table. Wetting device according to claim 3, characterized in that this inclination is substantially 30 °. Anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises fixed deflection means (38) disposed under the transport table to assist in the flap of the flaps of the housed envelopes.

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