EP2465702A1 - Device for cutting envelopes - Google Patents

Device for cutting envelopes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2465702A1
EP2465702A1 EP10306426A EP10306426A EP2465702A1 EP 2465702 A1 EP2465702 A1 EP 2465702A1 EP 10306426 A EP10306426 A EP 10306426A EP 10306426 A EP10306426 A EP 10306426A EP 2465702 A1 EP2465702 A1 EP 2465702A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
envelope
rotary
cutting
axis
support
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
EP10306426A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2465702B1 (en
Inventor
Serge Benard
Dominique Bernard
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.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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 Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Priority to EP20100306426 priority Critical patent/EP2465702B1/en
Priority to US13/326,682 priority patent/US8733219B2/en
Publication of EP2465702A1 publication Critical patent/EP2465702A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2465702B1 publication Critical patent/EP2465702B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B43—WRITING OR DRAWING IMPLEMENTS; BUREAU ACCESSORIES
    • B43M—BUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B43M7/00—Devices for opening envelopes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T83/00—Cutting
    • Y10T83/647—With means to convey work relative to tool station
    • Y10T83/6584—Cut made parallel to direction of and during work movement
    • Y10T83/6604—Tool in contact with surface of work-conveying means
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T83/00—Cutting
    • Y10T83/727—With means to guide moving work
    • Y10T83/741—With movable or yieldable guide element
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T83/00—Cutting
    • Y10T83/768—Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier
    • Y10T83/7809—Tool pair comprises rotatable tools
    • Y10T83/7813—Tool pair elements angularly related

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a machine for opening envelopes (also called letter opener) comprising an improved cutting device.
  • this device is not without drawbacks.
  • this provision of the knives inevitably produces a complete cut of the envelope and thus generates shreds of paper with the portion of the cut envelope.
  • the linear velocity at the surface of the envelope will not be the same at the height of the knives and the drive rollers even though they are driven at an identical speed.
  • the envelope will tend to away from the transport surface so that the cut may not be complete, the cut finally operating in the vacuum to one end of the envelope, leaving a half-cut envelope with a still closed portion.
  • the present invention therefore aims to overcome these disadvantages with a cutting device for a mail processing machine that overcomes the aforementioned drawback by allowing a cutting the entire length of the envelopes in a direction perfectly parallel to the transport surface.
  • An object of the invention is also to allow this cutting on one side of the envelope so as not to create flaps.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a cutting device which is not dependent on the manufacturing tolerance of the knife.
  • an envelope cutting device comprising a rotary cutter capable of cutting an envelope, characterized in that it further comprises a rotary bearing element against which said envelope is in contact during its passage in front of said rotary knife and whose axis of rotation forms with a drive axis of said rotary knife a predetermined angle of inclination ⁇ .
  • the inclination of the rotatable support member allows the casing against the transport path to keep a constant position during its displacement and thus generate a regular cut.
  • said rotary support member may be a bearing or a plain bearing.
  • said predetermined angle of inclination ⁇ is between 1 and 5 °.
  • said rotary support element is mounted on a support comprising a pressing element offset laterally with respect to a cutting axis P passing through said axis of rotation of said rotary bearing element and said driving axis of said rotary knife and allowing a tilting of said rotary bearing member about said cutting axis of said predetermined angle of inclination ⁇ .
  • said pressure element may comprise a screw passing through said support and at the end of which is mounted a smooth shoe or a through assembly formed of a screw acting on a ball via a spring.
  • said support is movable along said cutting axis against an elastic return element and said support is mounted on a threaded rod provided with a nut / nut-nut assembly resting on a fixed part of said device. in such a way as to maintain said rotational support element at a predetermined distance d from said rotary knife.
  • the figure 1 shows an example of architecture of machines to open envelopes 10 in which the envelopes to be opened are arranged on the wafer (field) in a stack, preferably formed by a homogeneous batch, resting on a receiving tray 12. These envelopes are pressed against a vertical transport wall 14 by a movable guide 16 pressed against these envelopes, for example by spring means (not shown) arranged under the receiving plate.
  • the vertical transport wall is traversed by first motorized transport rollers 18 to move these envelopes along a transport path in a transport direction D to a device 20 for selecting one by one of these envelopes and then to the device cut 22 itself.
  • These first transport rollers 18 are advantageously inclined towards the receiving plate by an angle ⁇ of between 5 and 15 °.
  • Second motorized transport rollers 24 passing through the transport wall to the right of the cutting device are provided for moving the envelope along the transport path, the holding of this envelope during its cutting being ensured by opposing pressure rolls 26 free in rotation about their axis and mounted on an arm 28 pivotable about an axis 30 provided with a return spring 32.
  • these second rollers 26 are not inclined towards the transport path and therefore towards the receiving tray, but on the contrary perfectly perpendicular to this path.
  • the cutting device 24 illustrated in perspective at the figure 2 comprises a rotary cutting blade, or knife 34, rotated about a driving axis 36 perpendicular to the direction D of transport by a conventional pinion / motorized belt assembly of which only pinion 38 is shown. Note that the motorization of this set is preferably carried out in common with that of the first and second transport rollers via a suitable kinematic.
  • this rotary knife 34 Faced with this rotary knife 34 is disposed at a predetermined distance d of the order of 30 to 50 microns from its periphery (substantially corresponding to the thickness of a face of the envelope), a rotary bearing element such as a bearing 40 mounted free on an axis of rotation 42 integral with a support 44 but inclined towards the receiving plate by an angle ⁇ of between 1 and 5 ° relative to a perpendicular to the direction D of transport (an inclination higher would cause a brake too large when moving the envelope causing the effect of a crumpling thereof), so that the plane of the bearing and the plane of the knife are also between them the same angle ⁇ from 1 to 5 ° (see the details of the figure 3 ).
  • a rotary bearing element such as a bearing 40 mounted free on an axis of rotation 42 integral with a support 44 but inclined towards the receiving plate by an angle ⁇ of between 1 and 5 ° relative to a perpendicular to the direction D of transport (an inclination higher would cause
  • the predetermined distance is chosen so that only a portion of the envelope is cut out and not both at the risk of creating a flap of paper and the angle of inclination is chosen so as to maintain the envelope constantly on its field and prevent it from shifting (and therefore rises) as it advanced through the cutting device. This inclination also makes it possible to overcome the manufacturing tolerances of the knife and the rotary bearing element.
  • the support 44 is held in a predefined position to define the predetermined distance d by means of a rod Threaded 46 provided with a nut / lock nut 48 bearing on a fixed portion 50 of the device directly or through an intermediate guide piece 52 as illustrated.
  • An elastic return element such as a compression spring 54 makes it possible to return to this predefined position when the bearing has been displaced during a jam, for example.
  • the support 44 can slide linearly in the device along a cutting axis P passing through the driving axis of the rotary knife and the rotation axis of the bearing and perpendicular to the direction D of movement of the envelope to cut.
  • This jam is detected by means of a detection cell (not shown) placed near the knife 34 and for detecting the passage of envelopes during opening.
  • This cell is preferably of the optoelectronic type. Nevertheless, a contact sensor can also be used.
  • the passage of an envelope in front of the knife has the effect of hiding the cell, for a duration typically less than 2 seconds, and then unmask when the envelope is fully open before being masked again by the next envelope. Thus, if the cell remains hidden for example more than 3 seconds, it means that an envelope is blocked at the height of the knife. The motors driving the knife and the transport rollers are then stopped and a jam is reported to the user.
  • this pressure element comprises a screw, advantageously without head 58, passing through the support 44 and at the end of which is fixed a smooth pad 60, preferably made of PTFE to facilitate its sliding on the part fixed 50 of the device.
  • FIG. 4B shows a pressing element formed of a ball-spring-screw assembly, the screw 62 acting on the ball 64 via the spring 66, the free displacement along the cutting axis P being here ensured simply by the rotation of the marble.
  • the operation of the device is as follows. A pile of envelopes is first placed on the receiving plate 12 and pressed against the vertical transport wall 14 by the guide 16. The machine is then started, which has the effect of controlling the rotation of the first transport rollers 18 which will extract the envelope from the bottom of the stack and it alone because of the combined action of the selection device 20. Once the envelope has been extracted, the second transport rollers 24 and the pressure rollers 26 will take charge and bring it through the cutting device 22 or the rotary knife 34 will perform the cutting of this envelope slightly above its field in contact with the transport path. The inclination of the rotary support element towards this transport path, and therefore towards the receiving plate, will allow the envelope to remain constantly in contact with this path, thereby guaranteeing a perfectly parallel cut along the entire length of the path. the envelope.
  • the envelope can be opened on one side so as not to generate flaps of paper because the knife-bearing distance is constantly maintained at the distance d chosen. Indeed, if this distance is too large, it will not open the envelope and if instead it is too small, it will cut on both sides and create the unwanted flap.

Abstract

The device has a rotary cutter (34) for cutting an envelope. A rotary bearing element (40) e.g. smooth bearing or rolling bearing, faces the cutter and against which the envelope is in contact when the element passes in front of the cutter. A rotational axis (42) of the element forms a preset inclination angle with a drive axis of the cutter, where the angle lies in the range of 1 to 5 degrees. The element is mounted on a support (44) provided with a presser element (56) that is offset laterally relative to a cutting axis (P) passing through the rotational axis and through the drive axis.

Description

Domaine de la techniqueField of the art

L'invention se rapporte au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement une machine à ouvrir les enveloppes (dite aussi ouvre-lettre) comportant un dispositif de découpe amélioré.The invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a machine for opening envelopes (also called letter opener) comprising an improved cutting device.

Art antérieurPrior art

On connaît avec le brevet US 5,156,515 des ouvre-lettres mécaniques dont le dispositif de découpe comporte deux organes de coupe, l'un supérieur et l'autre inférieur, qui sont communément appelés couteaux et sont disposés de façon décalée dans le plan de coupe de façon que leurs arrêtes inclinées adjacentes puisse encadrer l'enveloppe à découper de façon adaptée.We know with the patent US5,156,515 mechanical letter openers whose cutting device comprises two cutting members, one upper and one lower, which are commonly called knives and are arranged offset in the cutting plane so that their inclined edges adjacent can Frame the envelope to cut appropriately.

Or, ce dispositif n'est pas sans inconvénients. D'une part, cette disposition des couteaux réalise inévitablement une découpe complète de l'enveloppe et donc génère des lambeaux de papier avec la partie de l'enveloppe découpée. D'autre part, suivant le mode de transport retenu pour le déplacement des enveloppes, si le diamètre des rouleaux d'entraînement en contact avec l'enveloppe durant son ouverture diffère de celui des couteaux (ce qui est fréquent à cause des tolérances de fabrication), la vitesse linéaire à la surface de l'enveloppe ne sera pas la même à la hauteur des couteaux et des rouleaux d'entrainement bien qu'ils soient entrainés à une vitesse identique. Et si, par exemple, la vitesse de déplacement du haut de l'enveloppe (en contact avec les rouleaux d'entrainement) est inférieure à celle du bas de l'enveloppe (en contact avec les couteaux), l'enveloppe aura tendance à s'éloigner de la surface de transport de sorte que la coupe risque de ne pas être complète, la découpe s'opérant finalement dans le vide vers une extrémité de l'enveloppe, laissant ainsi une enveloppe à moitié découpée avec une partie encore fermée.However, this device is not without drawbacks. On the one hand, this provision of the knives inevitably produces a complete cut of the envelope and thus generates shreds of paper with the portion of the cut envelope. On the other hand, according to the mode of transport chosen for the displacement of the envelopes, if the diameter of the drive rollers in contact with the envelope during its opening differs from that of the knives (which is frequent because of the manufacturing tolerances ), the linear velocity at the surface of the envelope will not be the same at the height of the knives and the drive rollers even though they are driven at an identical speed. And if, for example, the speed of movement of the top of the envelope (in contact with the drive rollers) is lower than that of the bottom of the envelope (in contact with the knives), the envelope will tend to away from the transport surface so that the cut may not be complete, the cut finally operating in the vacuum to one end of the envelope, leaving a half-cut envelope with a still closed portion.

Objet et description de l'inventionObject and description of the invention

La présente invention a donc pour objet de pallier ces inconvénients avec un dispositif de découpe pour une machine de traitement de courrier qui pallie l'inconvénient précité en permettant une découpe sur toute la longueur des enveloppes dans une direction parfaitement parallèle à la surface de transport. Un but de l'invention est aussi de permettre cette découpe sur une seule face de l'enveloppe de façon à ne pas créer de lambeaux. Un autre but de l'invention est de proposer un dispositif de découpe qui ne soit pas dépendant de la tolérance de fabrication du couteau.The present invention therefore aims to overcome these disadvantages with a cutting device for a mail processing machine that overcomes the aforementioned drawback by allowing a cutting the entire length of the envelopes in a direction perfectly parallel to the transport surface. An object of the invention is also to allow this cutting on one side of the envelope so as not to create flaps. Another object of the invention is to provide a cutting device which is not dependent on the manufacturing tolerance of the knife.

Ces buts sont atteints par un dispositif de découpe d'enveloppes comportant un couteau rotatif apte à couper une enveloppe, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre un élément d'appui rotatif contre lequel ladite enveloppe est en contact lors de son passage devant ledit couteau rotatif et dont un axe de rotation forme avec un axe d'entrainement dudit couteau rotatif un angle d'inclinaison α prédéterminé.These objects are achieved by an envelope cutting device comprising a rotary cutter capable of cutting an envelope, characterized in that it further comprises a rotary bearing element against which said envelope is in contact during its passage in front of said rotary knife and whose axis of rotation forms with a drive axis of said rotary knife a predetermined angle of inclination α.

Ainsi, l'inclinaison de l'élément d'appui rotatif permet en taquant l'enveloppe contre le chemin de transport de garder une position constante pendant son déplacement et donc d'engendrer une découpe régulière.Thus, the inclination of the rotatable support member allows the casing against the transport path to keep a constant position during its displacement and thus generate a regular cut.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, ledit élément d'appui rotatif peut être un roulement ou un palier lisse.According to the embodiment envisaged, said rotary support member may be a bearing or a plain bearing.

De préférence, ledit angle d'inclinaison α prédéterminé est compris entre 1 et 5°.Preferably, said predetermined angle of inclination α is between 1 and 5 °.

Avantageusement, ledit élément d'appui rotatif est monté sur un support comportant un élément presseur, décalé latéralement par rapport à un axe de coupe P passant par ledit axe de rotation dudit élément d'appui rotatif et ledit axe d'entrainement dudit couteau rotatif et permettant un basculement dudit élément d'appui rotatif autour dudit axe de coupe dudit angle d'inclinaison α prédéterminé.Advantageously, said rotary support element is mounted on a support comprising a pressing element offset laterally with respect to a cutting axis P passing through said axis of rotation of said rotary bearing element and said driving axis of said rotary knife and allowing a tilting of said rotary bearing member about said cutting axis of said predetermined angle of inclination α.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, ledit élément presseur peut comporter une vis traversant ledit support et à l'extrémité de laquelle est monté un patin lisse ou encore un ensemble traversant formé d'une vis agissant sur une bille par l'intermédiaire d'un ressort.According to the embodiment envisaged, said pressure element may comprise a screw passing through said support and at the end of which is mounted a smooth shoe or a through assembly formed of a screw acting on a ball via a spring.

Avantageusement, ledit support est mobile selon ledit axe de coupe à l'encontre d'un élément de rappel élastique et ledit support est monté sur une tige filetée munie d'un ensemble écrou/contre-écrou en appui sur une partie fixe dudit dispositif de façon à maintenir ledit élément d'appui rotatif à une distance prédéterminée d dudit couteau rotatif.Advantageously, said support is movable along said cutting axis against an elastic return element and said support is mounted on a threaded rod provided with a nut / nut-nut assembly resting on a fixed part of said device. in such a way as to maintain said rotational support element at a predetermined distance d from said rotary knife.

L'invention concerne également une machine de traitement de courrier comprenant :

  • des moyens de transport d'une enveloppe selon une direction D de déplacement, et
  • un dispositif de découpe d'enveloppes comme précité.
The invention also relates to a mail processing machine comprising:
  • means for transporting an envelope in a direction D of displacement, and
  • an envelope cutting device as mentioned above.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés, sur lesquels:

  • la figure 1 montre en perspective à machine à ouvrir des enveloppes comportant un dispositif de découpe selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de découpe selon l'invention,
  • la figure 3 est un détail du dispositif de découpe montrant l'inclinaison entre l'élément d'appui rotatif de l'enveloppe et le couteau rotatif, et
  • les figures 4A et 4B montrent en vue en coupe longitudinale deux exemples de réalisation des moyens d'inclinaison de l'élément d'appui rotatif 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 indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • the figure 1 perspective watch with machine for opening envelopes comprising a cutting device according to the invention,
  • the figure 2 is a perspective view of the cutting device according to the invention,
  • the figure 3 is a detail of the cutting device showing the inclination between the rotating support member of the casing and the rotary knife, and
  • the Figures 4A and 4B show in longitudinal sectional view two embodiments of the tilting means of the rotary support element according to the invention.

Description d'un mode de réalisation préférentielDescription of a preferred embodiment

La figure 1 montre un exemple d'architecture de machines à ouvrir des enveloppes 10 dans laquelle les enveloppes à ouvrir sont disposées sur la tranche (sur champ) en une pile, formée de préférence par un lot homogène, reposant sur un plateau de réception 12. Ces enveloppes sont taquées contre une paroi de transport verticale 14 par un guide mobile 16 pressé contre ces enveloppes, par exemple par des moyens ressort (non représentés) disposés sous le plateau de réception. La paroi de transport verticale est traversée par des premiers rouleaux de transport motorisés 18 pour déplacer ces enveloppes le long d'un chemin de transport selon une direction de transport D vers un dispositif 20 de sélection une à une de ces enveloppes puis vers le dispositif de découpe 22 proprement dit. Ces premiers rouleaux de transport 18 sont avantageusement inclinés vers le plateau de réception d'un angle θ compris entre 5 et 15°.The figure 1 shows an example of architecture of machines to open envelopes 10 in which the envelopes to be opened are arranged on the wafer (field) in a stack, preferably formed by a homogeneous batch, resting on a receiving tray 12. These envelopes are pressed against a vertical transport wall 14 by a movable guide 16 pressed against these envelopes, for example by spring means (not shown) arranged under the receiving plate. The vertical transport wall is traversed by first motorized transport rollers 18 to move these envelopes along a transport path in a transport direction D to a device 20 for selecting one by one of these envelopes and then to the device cut 22 itself. These first transport rollers 18 are advantageously inclined towards the receiving plate by an angle θ of between 5 and 15 °.

Des seconds rouleaux de transport motorisés 24 traversant la paroi de transport au droit du dispositif de découpe sont prévus pour déplacer l'enveloppe le long du chemin de transport, le maintien de cette enveloppe pendant sa découpe étant assuré par des rouleaux opposés de pression 26 libres en rotation autour de leur axe et montés sur un bras 28 pouvant pivoter autour d'un axe 30 muni d'un ressort de rappel 32. Contrairement aux premiers rouleaux de transport 18 et afin de ne pas risquer un froissement de l'enveloppe acheminée, ces seconds rouleaux 26 ne sont pas inclinés vers le chemin de transport et donc vers le plateau de réception, mais au contraire parfaitement perpendiculaires à ce chemin.Second motorized transport rollers 24 passing through the transport wall to the right of the cutting device are provided for moving the envelope along the transport path, the holding of this envelope during its cutting being ensured by opposing pressure rolls 26 free in rotation about their axis and mounted on an arm 28 pivotable about an axis 30 provided with a return spring 32. Unlike the first transport rollers 18 and in order not to risk wrinkling of the conveyed envelope, these second rollers 26 are not inclined towards the transport path and therefore towards the receiving tray, but on the contrary perfectly perpendicular to this path.

Le dispositif de découpe 24 illustré en perspective à la figure 2 comporte une lame de coupe rotative, ou couteau 34, entrainée en rotation autour d'un axe d'entrainement 36 perpendiculaire à la direction D de transport par un classique ensemble pignon/courroie motorisé dont seul le pignon 38 est représenté. On notera que la motorisation de cet ensemble est de préférence effectuée en commun avec celle des premiers et seconds rouleaux de transport via une cinématique appropriée. Face à ce couteau rotatif 34 est disposé à une distance prédéterminée d de l'ordre de 30 à 50 µm de sa périphérie (correspondant sensiblement à l'épaisseur d'une face de l'enveloppe), un élément d'appui rotatif tel qu'un roulement 40 monté libre sur un axe de rotation 42 solidaire d'un support 44 mais incliné vers le plateau de réception d'un angle α compris entre 1 et 5° par rapport à une perpendiculaire à la direction D de transport (une inclinaison supérieure entrainerait un frein trop important lors du déplacement de l'enveloppe ayant pour effet de un froissement de celle-ci), de sorte que le plan de ce roulement et le plan du couteau font aussi entre eux un même angle α de 1 à 5° (voir le détail de la figure 3). La distance prédéterminée est choisie de telle sorte que l'on ne découpe qu'une partie de l'enveloppe et non les deux au risque de créer un lambeau de papier et l'angle d'inclinaison est choisi de façon à maintenir l'enveloppe constamment sur son champ et éviter que celle-ci ne se décale (et donc se relève) au fur et à mesure de son avancée au travers du dispositif de découpe. Cette inclinaison permet en outre de s'affranchir des tolérances de fabrication du couteau et de l'élément d'appui rotatif.The cutting device 24 illustrated in perspective at the figure 2 comprises a rotary cutting blade, or knife 34, rotated about a driving axis 36 perpendicular to the direction D of transport by a conventional pinion / motorized belt assembly of which only pinion 38 is shown. Note that the motorization of this set is preferably carried out in common with that of the first and second transport rollers via a suitable kinematic. Faced with this rotary knife 34 is disposed at a predetermined distance d of the order of 30 to 50 microns from its periphery (substantially corresponding to the thickness of a face of the envelope), a rotary bearing element such as a bearing 40 mounted free on an axis of rotation 42 integral with a support 44 but inclined towards the receiving plate by an angle α of between 1 and 5 ° relative to a perpendicular to the direction D of transport (an inclination higher would cause a brake too large when moving the envelope causing the effect of a crumpling thereof), so that the plane of the bearing and the plane of the knife are also between them the same angle α from 1 to 5 ° (see the details of the figure 3 ). The predetermined distance is chosen so that only a portion of the envelope is cut out and not both at the risk of creating a flap of paper and the angle of inclination is chosen so as to maintain the envelope constantly on its field and prevent it from shifting (and therefore rises) as it advanced through the cutting device. This inclination also makes it possible to overcome the manufacturing tolerances of the knife and the rotary bearing element.

Le support 44 est maintenu dans une position prédéfinie permettant de définir la distance prédéterminée d au moyen d'une tige filetée 46 munie d'un ensemble écrou/contre-écrou 48 en appui sur une partie fixe 50 du dispositif directement ou au travers d'une pièce de guidage intermédiaire 52 comme illustré. Un élément de rappel élastique tel un ressort de compression 54 permet de revenir à cette position prédéfinie lorsque le roulement a été déplacé lors d'un bourrage par exemple. En effet, le support 44 peut coulisser linéairement dans le dispositif selon un axe de coupe P passant par l'axe d'entrainement du couteau rotatif et l'axe de rotation du roulement et perpendiculaire à la direction D de déplacement de l'enveloppe à découper.The support 44 is held in a predefined position to define the predetermined distance d by means of a rod Threaded 46 provided with a nut / lock nut 48 bearing on a fixed portion 50 of the device directly or through an intermediate guide piece 52 as illustrated. An elastic return element such as a compression spring 54 makes it possible to return to this predefined position when the bearing has been displaced during a jam, for example. Indeed, the support 44 can slide linearly in the device along a cutting axis P passing through the driving axis of the rotary knife and the rotation axis of the bearing and perpendicular to the direction D of movement of the envelope to cut.

Ce bourrage est détecté au moyen d'une cellule de détection (non représentée) placée à proximité du couteau 34 et permettant de détecter le passage des enveloppes en cours d'ouverture. Cette cellule est de préférence de type optoélectronique. Néanmoins, un capteur à contact peut également être utilisé. En fonctionnement normal, le passage d'une enveloppe devant le couteau a pour effet de masquer la cellule, pour une durée typiquement inférieure à 2 secondes, puis de la démasquer lorsque l'enveloppe est totalement ouverte avant d'être à nouveau masquée par l'enveloppe suivante. Ainsi, si la cellule reste masquée par exemple plus de 3 secondes, cela signifie qu'une enveloppe est bloquée à la hauteur du couteau. Les moteurs entraînant le couteau et les rouleaux de transport sont alors arrêtés et un bourrage est signalé à l'utilisateur. De même, si la cellule reste démasquée pendant plus de 3 secondes et que le magasin n'est pas vide (information communiquée par un capteur disposé dans le magasin indiquant qu'il reste des d'enveloppes à ouvrir), cela indique que les rouleaux 18 ne parviennent pas à sélectionner l'enveloppe suivante. Dans ce cas, les moteurs entraînant le couteau et les rouleaux sont aussi arrêtés et un problème de sélection est signalé à l'utilisateur.This jam is detected by means of a detection cell (not shown) placed near the knife 34 and for detecting the passage of envelopes during opening. This cell is preferably of the optoelectronic type. Nevertheless, a contact sensor can also be used. In normal operation, the passage of an envelope in front of the knife has the effect of hiding the cell, for a duration typically less than 2 seconds, and then unmask when the envelope is fully open before being masked again by the next envelope. Thus, if the cell remains hidden for example more than 3 seconds, it means that an envelope is blocked at the height of the knife. The motors driving the knife and the transport rollers are then stopped and a jam is reported to the user. Similarly, if the cell remains unmasked for more than 3 seconds and the magazine is not empty (information provided by a sensor in the magazine indicating that there are still envelopes to open), this indicates that the rollers 18 fail to select the next envelope. In this case, the motors driving the knife and the rollers are also stopped and a selection problem is reported to the user.

L'inclinaison de l'axe du roulement 40 par rapport à celui du couteau rotatif 34 et donc celle correspondante du support 44 est obtenue par un élément presseur 56 décalé latéralement par rapport à l'axe de coupe P et qui permet de faire basculer le support de l'angle recherché sans limiter son déplacement selon l'axe de coupe P. Plus particulièrement, comme illustré sur l'exemple de réalisation de la figure 4A, cet élément presseur comporte une vis, avantageusement sans tête 58, traversant le support 44 et à l'extrémité de laquelle est fixé un patin lisse 60, de préférence en PTFE pour faciliter son glissement sur la partie fixe 50 du dispositif. Un autre exemple de réalisation, illustré à la figure 4B, montre un élément presseur formé d'un ensemble bille-ressort-vis, la vis 62 agissant sur la bille 64 par l'intermédiaire du ressort 66, le libre déplacement selon l'axe de coupe P étant ici assuré simplement par la rotation de la bille.The inclination of the axis of the bearing 40 relative to that of the rotary knife 34 and therefore the corresponding one of the support 44 is obtained by a pressing element 56 offset laterally with respect to the cutting axis P and which makes it possible to tilt the supporting the desired angle without limiting its movement along the cutting axis P. More particularly, as illustrated in the embodiment of the Figure 4A this pressure element comprises a screw, advantageously without head 58, passing through the support 44 and at the end of which is fixed a smooth pad 60, preferably made of PTFE to facilitate its sliding on the part fixed 50 of the device. Another example of embodiment, illustrated in Figure 4B , shows a pressing element formed of a ball-spring-screw assembly, the screw 62 acting on the ball 64 via the spring 66, the free displacement along the cutting axis P being here ensured simply by the rotation of the marble.

On notera que si le roulement représenté sur la figure 4B est de type roulement à billes, il est bien entendu qu'un autre type de roulement, par exemple à rouleaux, est tout aussi envisageable et même un simple palier lisse, comme le montre la figure 4A.Note that if the bearing represented on the Figure 4B is of the ball bearing type, it is understood that another type of bearing, for example with rollers, is equally conceivable and even a simple plain bearing, as shown in FIG. Figure 4A .

Le fonctionnement du dispositif est le suivant. Une pile d'enveloppes est tout d'abord disposée sur le plateau de réception 12 et taquée contre la paroi de transport verticale 14 par le guide 16. La machine est alors mise en route, ce qui a pour effet de commander la rotation des premiers rouleaux de transport 18 qui vont extraire l'enveloppe du dessous de la pile et elle seule du fait de l'action combinée du dispositif de sélection 20. Une fois l'enveloppe extraite, les seconds rouleaux de transport 24 et les rouleaux de pression 26 vont la prendre en charge et l'amener au travers du dispositif de découpe 22 ou le couteau rotatif 34 va effectuer la découpe de cette enveloppe légèrement au dessus de son champ en contact avec le chemin de transport. L'inclinaison de l'élément d'appui rotatif vers ce chemin de transport, donc vers le plateau de réception, va permettre à l'enveloppe de rester constamment en contact avec ce chemin, garantissant ainsi une découpe parfaitement parallèle sur toute la longueur de l'enveloppe.The operation of the device is as follows. A pile of envelopes is first placed on the receiving plate 12 and pressed against the vertical transport wall 14 by the guide 16. The machine is then started, which has the effect of controlling the rotation of the first transport rollers 18 which will extract the envelope from the bottom of the stack and it alone because of the combined action of the selection device 20. Once the envelope has been extracted, the second transport rollers 24 and the pressure rollers 26 will take charge and bring it through the cutting device 22 or the rotary knife 34 will perform the cutting of this envelope slightly above its field in contact with the transport path. The inclination of the rotary support element towards this transport path, and therefore towards the receiving plate, will allow the envelope to remain constantly in contact with this path, thereby guaranteeing a perfectly parallel cut along the entire length of the path. the envelope.

Ainsi, avec le dispositif de coupe de l'invention, l'enveloppe peut être ouverte sur une seule face afin de ne pas générer des lambeaux de papier car la distance couteau-roulement est constamment maintenue à la distance d choisie. En effet, si cette distance est trop grande, on n'ouvrira pas l'enveloppe et si au contraire elle est trop petite, on la découpera sur ses deux faces et on créera donc le lambeau non désiré.Thus, with the cutting device of the invention, the envelope can be opened on one side so as not to generate flaps of paper because the knife-bearing distance is constantly maintained at the distance d chosen. Indeed, if this distance is too large, it will not open the envelope and if instead it is too small, it will cut on both sides and create the unwanted flap.

Claims (10)

Dispositif de découpe d'enveloppes comportant un couteau rotatif (34) apte à couper une enveloppe, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre un élément d'appui rotatif (40) contre lequel ladite enveloppe est en contact lors de son passage devant ledit couteau rotatif et dont un axe de rotation forme avec un axe d'entrainement dudit couteau rotatif un angle d'inclinaison α prédéterminé.Envelope cutting device comprising a rotary knife (34) capable of cutting an envelope, characterized in that it further comprises a rotary bearing element (40) against which said envelope is in contact during its passage in front of said rotary knife and whose axis of rotation forms with a drive axis of said rotary knife a predetermined angle of inclination α. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément d'appui rotatif est un palier lisse.Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotary bearing element is a plain bearing. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément d'appui rotatif est un roulement.Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotary bearing element is a bearing. Dispositif selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit angle d'inclinaison α prédéterminé est compris entre 1 et 5°.Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that said predetermined angle of inclination α is between 1 and 5 °. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément d'appui rotatif est monté sur un support (44) comportant un élément presseur (56), décalé latéralement par rapport à un axe de coupe P passant par ledit axe de rotation dudit élément d'appui rotatif et ledit axe d'entrainement dudit couteau rotatif et permettant un basculement dudit élément d'appui rotatif autour dudit axe de coupe dudit angle d'inclinaison α prédéterminé.Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotary support element is mounted on a support (44) comprising a pressing element (56) offset laterally with respect to a cutting axis P passing through said axis of rotation of said element rotary support and said drive axis of said rotary knife and allowing a tilting of said rotary bearing member about said cutting axis of said predetermined angle of inclination α. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément presseur comporte une vis (58) traversant ledit support et à l'extrémité de laquelle est monté un patin lisse (60).Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said pressure element comprises a screw (58) passing through said support and at the end of which is mounted a smooth pad (60). Dispositif selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément presseur comporte un ensemble traversant formé d'une vis (62) agissant sur une bille (64) par l'intermédiaire d'un ressort (66).Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said pressure element comprises a traversing assembly formed of a screw (62) acting on a ball (64) via a spring (66). Dispositif selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit support est mobile selon ledit axe de coupe à l'encontre d'un élément de rappel élastique (54).Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said support is movable along said cutting axis against an elastic return element (54). Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que ledit support est monté sur une tige filetée (46) munie d'un ensemble écrou/contre-écrou (48) en appui sur une partie fixe (50) dudit dispositif de façon à maintenir ledit élément d'appui rotatif à une distance prédéterminée d dudit couteau rotatif.Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said support is mounted on a threaded rod (46) provided with a nut / locknut assembly (48) resting on a fixed part (50) of said device so as to maintain said rotary bearing member at a predetermined distance d of said rotary knife. Machine de traitement de courrier comprenant : - des moyens (18, 24) de transport d'une enveloppe selon une direction D de déplacement; et - un dispositif de découpe d'enveloppes selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9. Mail processing machine comprising: means (18, 24) for conveying an envelope in a direction D of displacement; and an envelope cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
EP20100306426 2010-12-16 2010-12-16 Device for cutting envelopes Active EP2465702B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20100306426 EP2465702B1 (en) 2010-12-16 2010-12-16 Device for cutting envelopes
US13/326,682 US8733219B2 (en) 2010-12-16 2011-12-15 Cutter device for cutting mailpieces open

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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EP20100306426 EP2465702B1 (en) 2010-12-16 2010-12-16 Device for cutting envelopes

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EP2502716B1 (en) * 2011-03-21 2013-11-06 TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG Tool for a sheet metal processing machine and method for separating a film
US10065758B2 (en) * 2014-10-14 2018-09-04 Sicpa Holding Sa Device, use of device and method for applying labels to wrapped products

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US1408415A (en) * 1921-02-07 1922-02-28 Alva T Smith Envelope opener
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US4318322A (en) * 1976-07-22 1982-03-09 Mail-Ex Corporation Envelope cutter apparatus
US5156515A (en) 1989-05-03 1992-10-20 Omation Corporation Machine for extracting contents from envelopes

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US8733219B2 (en) 2014-05-27
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