EP3186091B1 - Document inserting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an enveloping device comprising a packing pocket, the packing pocket comprising a plurality of lamellae and a sheet guide, and a method for filling the packing pocket.

From the EP 0 504 114 B1 an inserting device is known which can approximately double the speed compared to the prior art known at the time. A rotatably mounted packing bag and a hold-down roller are controlled by a cam using levers. The large number of fast-moving parts required as a result is expensive to manufacture and, due to the relatively large moving mass, prevents even higher packaging performance. In addition, the moving packing bag leads to unwanted vibrations, which also limit the packing performance. Furthermore, with such a device, a different envelope size must be mounted for each envelope with respect to the width, i.e. the dimension transverse to the transport direction of the envelope, which is also only suitable for a very limited range of the thickness of the content to be packaged in order to to ensure optimum guidance of the envelope or of the envelope contents to be guided through the pannier. Such an exchange is complicated due to the movable guide of the pannier.

From the EP 2 756 964 A1 an enveloping device is known in which an envelope is pulled up and filled on guide blades, each of which has a ledge that initially rises upwards from the free end. In this device, however, the envelope and the contents of the envelope are already touching while the contents are being pushed in. If the content deviates from a normal sheet shape or if the sheet and/or envelope is warped, the envelope or the content may be damaged.

From the EP 2 261 055 A2 an inserting device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art and to create a packing case with which the packing speed on different enveloping devices can be further increased, for example to 30,000 to 40,000 packs per hour. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to create a pannier that does not have to be moved during the enveloping process in order to avoid disruptive vibrations. Finally, it is also the object of the invention to provide a packing bag for different envelope blanks and/or envelope contents. Furthermore, envelopes that have become wavy due to poor quality or poor storage should also be processed reliably, which the state of the art does not allow.

Claim 1 discloses a pannier that fulfills the stated objectives and avoids the disadvantages of the prior art, and a corresponding method is disclosed in claim 16 . Further preferred embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

A packing bag according to the invention is suitable for an enveloping device which is designed to insert the contents of an envelope into an envelope and, for example, has a holder for empty envelopes, a flap opener for opening the envelope flaps, transport elements for transporting the envelopes from the holder to the packing bag on which the envelopes are filled, has a feed device for feeding the envelope contents to and into the packing pocket, as well as removal organs for conveying the filled envelope onward. Such an enveloping device can be constructed as a machine or from a number of separate modules, which interact as described only after the assembly is complete.

The pannier has a center line M in a flap guide plane K, as well as several lamellae arranged parallel to the center line M with the respective flap guide in the flap guide plane K with respect to a transport direction of the envelopes. The flap guide side is preferably selected to be essentially horizontal, with the plane K preferably being essentially identical to the horizontal plane.

At least one or more slats is assigned a leaf guide spaced apart from the respective flap guide. The sheet guide is included in order to better guide envelope contents of different thicknesses, at least in a front area of the pannier with respect to the envelope feed or also for the entire sheet guide to the flap guide, or to levels K resilient. This arrangement also defines the packing space, in which the contents of the envelope are guided in such a way that they do not touch the envelope.

The spring action of the sheet guide is advantageously set in such a way that a feed speed of the envelope contents is essentially maintained for envelope contents of different thicknesses.

If the blade guide itself is a spring, this is preferably designed to be resilient with a deviation of up to 10° perpendicular to the flap guide or to plane K. For example, a leaf guide made of resilient material can be firmly connected to a slat or a mounting rail in the rear area and then extend finger-like up to the front area of the flap guide, in particular up to the free-standing front edge of one or more slats, at an angle, in particular at a flat angle, for example between 0° and 20°, preferably less than or equal to 10°, directed towards the flap guide. When the contents of the envelope are pushed in, which can also be supported by an inclined plane on the sheet guide and/or lamella, the contents of the envelope are supported by the finger-like spring of the sheet guide, which prevents premature contact with the envelope. This also enables the use and reliable processing of envelopes of poorer quality, such as envelopes that are wavy or otherwise warped as mentioned above.

In the case of thick envelope contents, this spring also prevents the envelope from being ejected prematurely. As a result, the mechanical stress when pushing in the envelope contents for the opened envelope can be reduced and excessive deformation or even tearing can be avoided.

The leaf guide can be designed in such a way that it touches the inside of the flap guide in the front area of the slat, in particular in the immediate area or on the front edge of the pannier.

Other alternatives, such as a blade guide itself biased by one or more springs, a blade guide biased by spring-loaded hinges, etc., may also be used.

The spring action stretches the envelope so that envelope contents of different thicknesses can be processed and the envelope is held back or slowed down so that the contents with the envelope are only transported on after the insertion process has been completed and the envelope not during the insertion process is pushed from the pannier.

The lamellae are preferably arranged separately from one another on the enveloping device or a mounting rail, with additional means for shifting the outer side lamellae with respect to the center line M, including the sheet guides assigned to them, being provided around them essentially perpendicularly to the center line M and parallel to or from each other to move. In particular for the processing of With wider envelope or envelope content formats, it is advantageous if at least one inner lamella is provided in a stationary manner between the outer lamellae. The outer lamellae, also called side lamellae, can be designed as an angle or at least partially as a U-profile with an outward-facing base, so that the contents of the envelope are protected and/or guided by the U-profile on both sides.

The adjusting means for moving the side slats can include electrical or mechanical means, preferably an adjusting spindle. In order to guide the contents of the envelope, the outer lamellae are advantageously closed on the respective outer side surface. On the other hand, the two side faces of the at least one inner lamella are designed to be open.

In a further embodiment, at least the two outer slats are each assigned a blade guide. Alternatively, a blade guide can be assigned to at least one inner slat, preferably at least one middle slat, or to all slats. In an embodiment with a blade guide assigned to the middle slat, this can be designed to extend laterally of the center line M out into the area of adjacent slats and/or into the area of the outer slats.

In a method according to the invention for filling a packing bag, in particular a packing bag as described above, an envelope with the envelope flap open is transported first to the packing bag, and the contents of the envelope fed to the pack bag by means of a feed device. The envelope filled in the process is then conveyed onward by removal organs.

The envelopes are initially aligned, for example, by a movable hold-down roller or a funnel-like arrangement for guiding the envelopes in the direction of the packing bag.

When the envelope is then pulled onto the packing bag, it is initially pushed onto the packing bag by transport and counter rollers and, in order to prevent buckling, this is preferably done at the latest from the point in time when the rear edge of the envelope is no longer engaged between the transport and counter rollers one or more winding rollers onto the pannier until the bottom of the envelope is in contact with the front edge of the pannier.

In order to additionally support the opening of the envelope and thus make it easier to pull it onto the packing bag, preferably adjustable cones laterally delimiting the flap guide plane can be placed between the transport means immediately adjacent to the packing bag, for example a transport roller or a funnel, and a winding means, for example a winding roller be provided.

The envelopes can be fed in from above or below. A transport angle (Wt) between the supplied envelope and the flap guide can also be varied while the envelope is being pulled onto the packing pocket in order to facilitate opening of the envelope.

To feed the contents of the envelope, the feed device can comprise toothed belts or drive belts, or fingers fastened on chains. These can be guided, for example, through slits in the pannier from one side to the other side of the feed plane. Alternatively, the transport fingers can also be guided between the slats of a segmented pannier as described above.

During the filling, which is advantageously initiated at the same time as the burping, the contents of the envelope are guided in the packing pocket, which comprises a plurality of lamellae arranged parallel to the center line M in a plane K with a flap guide. The contents of the envelope are resiliently pressed by a sheet guide, at least in a front area with respect to the envelope feed, to the flap guide, so that the contents of the envelope touch the envelope only in the area of a front edge of the packing pocket.

Advantageously, the contents of the envelope are pressed on at least by two sheet guides each assigned to the outer lamellae. In addition or as an alternative, the pressing can also be carried out by a sheet guide assigned to an inner lamella. This can also be made wider than the associated, for example, middle slat, especially if it is the only leaf guide of the pannier.

Furthermore, the contents of the envelope can also be guided through closed outer side surfaces of the outer lamellae, which are at least partially designed as a U-profile, for example.

From the packing pocket in the removal direction of the envelope (downstream), removal elements, for example removal rollers and one or more segments, are provided in order to transport the filled envelope from the packing pocket. The transport angle (Wa) from the front edge of the pannier is advantageously directed flat downwards in order to prevent the contents of the envelope from slipping out during transport.

In a further method according to the invention for filling a packing bag, for example, the flap of the envelope closest to an envelope removal opening of an envelope holder of an envelope stack placed in the holder is opened with a flap opener in a known manner. The envelope is then transported by transport elements from the holder to a packing bag, on which the envelopes are filled. The contents of the envelope are fed to the packing pocket by means of a feed device and the filled envelope is then conveyed onward by removal organs.

The envelopes are aligned, for example, by a movable hold-down roller or a funnel-like arrangement for guiding the envelopes in the direction of the packing bag. At the same time, the envelope is pulled at least partially, but preferably completely, onto the packing bag by at least one winding means, for example a winding roller, with the winding means, for example winding roller(s) interacting with the packing bag at least temporarily, e.g. periodically. be there further employs means for synchronizing the movement of the hold down roller or hopper with the opening means, moving it from a first position upon receipt of the envelope flap by the hopper to a second position after the envelope flap has been seated on the flap guide. As a result, a transport angle (Wt) between the supplied envelope and the flap guide varies while the envelope is being pulled onto the packing pocket in order to facilitate opening of the envelope.

The envelopes are then transported away, for example as mentioned above.

The principle of the present invention and various examples of possible embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1

ein Schema einer Kuvertiervorrichtung mit einer Packtasche;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung des Aufziehens eines Kuverts auf die Packtasche;

Fig. 3

eine 3D-Ansicht einer Packtasche;

Fig. 4

eine Rückansicht einer Packtasche;

Fig. 5

eine Lamelle.

show:

1

a scheme of an inserting device with a pannier;

2

a schematic representation of the mounting of an envelope on the pannier;

3

a 3D view of a pannier;

4

a rear view of a pannier;

figure 5

a lamella.

1 Figure 12 shows a schematic of an inserter with top feed envelopes. In this case, in a holder 6 for empty envelopes, with the flap in the transport direction envelopes deposited downward after opening by a flap opener 7, which comprises, for example, an opening claw 25, are transported with the open flap forwards by at least one transport element 8 in the direction of the packing bag 9. The envelope 2 is aligned with the packing bag 9 by the funnel 12 in order to be pulled onto the packing bag. Funnel 12 and opening cones 27 help to open the envelope 2 in order to pull it more easily onto the pannier. After the envelope has been pulled open, it is filled with the envelope contents 5 supplied via the feed device 10 . The envelope is then transferred to the removal organs 11 and transported away, preferably without interrupting the movement of the envelope contents 5, by at least one insertion finger 26, which guides the envelope and contents here into the area of the funnel.

2 shows a functional sketch of the opening of the envelope using the example of an enveloping device fed in from above. After the envelope 2 has been fed with the envelope flap 3 first, between a counter-rotating pair of rollers, here a driven transport roller 20 and the counter roller 21 pressed against the transport roller 20, through a funnel 12 into a transport angle (Wt), the flap guide side of the packing bag 9, the flap side of the envelope is pushed further on the flap guide until it is caught by a pull-up roller 14 that can be lowered here, as shown, and pulled onto the packing bag. Meanwhile, the transport angle Wt and transport plane T can be adjusted by one of the funnel in the direction of the plane K, for example, as shown, to Wt" or WT and T".

If the flap guide side of the flap guide is completely planar, then the plane K completely encompasses it. Usually, however, the surface of the flap guide side is also formed by ribs or other elements on the spaced lamellae. These elements can also break through level K. For example, on the pannier from an area near or at the front edge of the pannier, as in figure 3 shown, at least in a partial area, ribs 33 rising diagonally to the rear can be provided, which lift the front edge of the envelope flap and thus the entire flap, so that the finger of the feed device can pass under it while it itself reaches over the flap guide level K of the packing bag. The finger sticks out just above the pannier level so that no document gets lost in the pannier. In this case, the flap guide side or plane K are preferably aligned essentially horizontally.

By adjusting the funnel 12 while the envelope is passing through, an easy opening of the envelope 2 can be made possible, which can be further supported by the cones 27 shown here in dashed lines, which are mounted in an area to the side of the front edge of the packing bag. Advantageously, movement of the funnel from a first position to a second position occurs immediately prior to or at the time of valve tip impaction the flap guide side, until the front edge of the pannier 9 is passed through the flap fold 4, ie in the area of approximately one flap length 1.

When the envelope 2 is being opened, e.g Pannier 9 pushed into envelope 2. The essentially closed design of the packing bag according to the invention prevents the contents 5 of the envelope from coming into contact with the envelope 2 . Only when the bottom of the envelope is reached in the area of the front edge of the bag does the contents of the envelope and the envelope come into contact for the first time, with the contents of the envelope pushing the envelope away from the bag. Then, after lifting the pull-up roller 14 from the pulled-up, now packed envelope, the envelope is moved by fingers 26 in the direction of the transport organs, e.g.

Alternatively, the pull-up roller 14 can also initially be operated in the opposite direction to the winding-up direction, in the transport direction, in order to accelerate the envelope to the speed of the continuously supplied envelope contents, which means that, for example, particularly thin or sensitive envelopes can also be filled without the speed of the envelope contents passing through in the Pannier to reduce or without having to brake it too hard or at all. The envelope is conveyed further by the removal organs 11, 20, 23, preferably in order to prevent the envelope contents 5 from slipping out or slipping, at a downwardly flat removal angle Wa.

Such a downward transport angle is also advantageous in an enveloping device with an envelope feed from below, in which the packing pocket 9 is advantageously mounted upside down, ie with the outer flap guide side of the flap guide 13 pointing downwards. The envelope can also be fed in upside down (flap down).

In 3 an adjustable packing bag according to the invention is shown, which can be used with very different enveloping devices if these are to be designed flexibly with regard to the envelope blanks and with regard to the packing mass, in particular with regard to the thickness of the envelope contents. According to the exemplary embodiment shown there, three so-called slats 28 are mounted on or under a mounting rail 15, here preferably an adjustment rail 35. While the one inner lamella 28" is permanently attached to the mounting or adjustment rail, the outer lamellas 28' can be moved transversely to the transport or transport direction in order to be able to optimally adjust the packing bag 9 to different envelope widths. The setting the width is made in the present example with a hand-operated adjusting spindle 31, this can however, can also be provided automatically, for example electrically driven. A mounting stop 36 is provided here for the flexible attachment of such a pack bag 9 to the enveloping device 1 .

4 shows a rear view of the in 3 illustrated pannier 9. Auxiliary surfaces 34 can also be seen, which are arranged in front of the inner guide surfaces of the individual lamellae in the feed direction of the envelope contents in order to enable easier insertion of the contents into the pannier 9. In order to ensure that the envelope 2 is pulled onto the packing bag 9 as securely as possible, the side lamellae 28' in the area of the free-standing front edge 53 facing in the direction of the transport and removal planes, as shown in 3 shown, inwardly, in the direction of the fixed inner lamella, or the center line M, be formed projecting. The outer side surfaces of the lamellae 28' are at least partially closed in order to guide the envelope contents 5 laterally and to prevent the envelope contents from touching the envelope before the end of the insertion process.

figure 5 shows an example of the side view of an outer lamella 28 'seen from the inside. Flap guide 13, as shown here at the top, and sheet guide 30 at the bottom, are both provided with an auxiliary surface 34 in the direction of the feeder 10. The side slat 28' includes a slat foot 37, which can be made as a one-piece bracket with the flap guide 13, for example, in order to increase the stability of the pannier.

The blade guide 30 can be fastened in the rear area to the lamellar foot 37 with a spring stop 38 . The sheet guide 30 made of a resilient material is set at an oblique angle to the inner surface of the flap guide, so that it ends in the front area in the immediate vicinity of the flap guide or even rests against it. Only when the contents of the envelope are pushed in is the sheet guide 30 pressed down and clears the way into the envelope or in the transport direction. As a result, envelope contents that are different in terms of their thickness can be reliably fed in at the same speed. In this case, the maximum thickness of the envelope contents is determined by a distance z, in the rear region, between the inner guide surfaces of the flap guide 13 and the sheet guides 30.

Alternatively, the lamella 28' can be designed at least partially as a U-profile with an outwardly directed base, so that the contents of the envelope are guided and/or supported by the outer lamellae through the U-profile. Here, the lower part of the U-profile can be designed, for example, as a spring-loaded hinge that lifts the contents of the envelope against the flap guide.

The structure of an inner lamella 28" can be selected similar to that of the outer lamella 28', with the sheet guide 30 and flap guide 13 advantageously being mounted separately on the enveloping device or corresponding mounting rails or stops.

As already mentioned, in the case of an inserting device with feed from below, the pannier or the lamellae of the pannier reversed, ie mounted with the flap guide downwards. The flap guide plane K can also be identical to the horizontal plane in this case, rib 33 protrudes from the horizontal plane or the surface of the pannier downwards and runs at least in a partial area, rising obliquely to the rear.

Although individual aspects of the invention have been shown in different exemplary embodiments above, the individual aspects can easily be combined with one another within the scope of the knowledge familiar to the person skilled in the art, provided they are not mutually exclusive, as the person skilled in the art can readily recognize. Further embodiments can be derived from the present disclosure and the general knowledge of the person skilled in the art of inserting and packaging devices.

In addition, envelopes can be fed in with the flap already open. This makes it possible to produce the envelopes inline, i.e. to fold and glue them from a paper web beforehand, and/or to print on envelopes with the flap open, since this means that when the flap is only printed on one side, part of the back of the envelope is also visible after the flap is closed closed envelope (ie the flap) is printed. The envelopes can be fed directly into the system with the flap open, without the flap first having to be opened within the enveloping device.

REFERENCE MARKS

1

inserter

2

envelope

3

envelope flap

4

flap fold

5

envelope content

6

Holder for empty envelopes

7

flap opener

8th

transport organs

9

pannier

10

feeding device

11

evacuation organs

12

funnel

13

Flap guide, flap guide side

14

mounting means, mounting roll

15

mounting rail

16

means of synchronization

17

Guide curve / cam

18

angle profile

19

funnel base

20

transport roller

21

counter role

22

removal roller

23

further removal organ, segment

25

opening claw

26

finger

27

cone

28

lamella

28'

outer lamella

28"

inner lamella

29

outer surface of the lamella

30

sheet guide

31

Adjusting means, adjusting spindle

32

feed drive

33

rib

34

auxiliary surface

35

adjustment rail

36

assembly stop

37

lamella foot

38

spring stop

53

Front edge pannier

1

flap length

e.g

maximum thickness of the envelope content

M

centerline

t, t"

transport level of the envelopes

K

plane encompassing the flap guide side

wha

take-off angle

wt, wt"

transport angle

Claims (19)

1. Inserting device (1) comprising an envelope feed and in particular a mounting rail, an adjusting rail (35) or a stop, and comprising a packing pocket (9), the packing pocket (9) having a center line M with respect to a transport direction of the envelopes, as well as several slats (28) arranged parallel to the center line M, with a flap guide (13) of the packing pocket in a plane K, the slats (28) being mountable on the inserting device (1) and to at least one or more slats (28) a sheet guide (30) is assigned being spaced apart from the flap guide (13), wherein the sheet guide (30) is resilient with respect to the flap guide (13) at least in a front region of the packing pocket, said region being at the front of the packing pocket with respect to the envelope feed, characterized in that the sheet guide (30) in the rear area is firmly connected to a slat (28), a mounting rail (15), an adjustment rail (35), a stop or to the inserting device (1), and the slats (28) are mounted on the inserting device, a mounting rail (15), an adjustment rail (35) or a stop, so that the packing pocket is not moved during the inserting process, and the sheet guide (30) extends finger-shaped up to the front area of the slat (28), directed obliquely against the flap guide (13).
2. Inserting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet guide (30) extends in the form of a finger into the front area of the flap guide (13) of one or more slats (28, 28'), and extends obliquely, in a flat one Angle between 0 ° and 20 ° directed against the flap guide, whereby the spring action of the sheet guide (30) is set so that a feed speed of the envelope contents (5) is essentially maintained for envelope contents of different thicknesses.
3. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet guide (30) is a spring.
4. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet guide (30) touches the inside of the flap guide (13) in the front region of the slat (28).
5. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inserting device (1) comprises a spring which adjusts the sheet guide (30) in the direction of the flap guide (13).
6. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slats (28) are mounted separately from one another and the packing pocket (9) has adjusting means (31) for moving the outer side slats (28') with respect to the center line M to move these essentially perpendicular to the center line M parallel.
7. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one inner slat (28") is arranged in a stationary manner between the outer slats (28').
8. Inserting device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the adjusting means (31) comprise electrical and / or mechanical means, preferably an adjusting spindle (31).
9. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer slats (28') are at least partially closed on the respective outer side surface.
10. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer slats (28') at least partially form a U-profile with an outwardly directed base, so that the envelope contents (5) on both sides of the packing pocket is guided by the U-profile.
11. Inserting device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the at least one inner slat (28") is open on both side surfaces.
12. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flap guide (13) is mounted on the inserting device (1), a mounting rail (15) or an adjusting rail 35.
13. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sheet guide (30) spaced apart from the flap guide (13) is assigned to at least the outer slats (28').
14. Inserting device according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that a sheet guide (30) spaced apart from the flap guide (13) is assigned to at least one inner slat (28").
15. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inserting device (1) has a holder (6) for empty envelopes, a flap opener (7) for opening an envelope flap (3) of the envelope (2), transport elements (8) for transport the envelopes (2) from the holder (6) to the packing pocket (9) on which the envelopes (2) are filled, a feed device (10) for feeding the envelope contents (5) to the packing pocket and into the packing pocket (9), removal organs (11), for the further conveyance of the filled envelope (2), and at least one of the following features: a mounting rail (15), an adjusting rail (35), a stop (36), whereat the at least one sheet guide (30) is firmly connected with at least one slat (28), and / or at least one sheet guide (30), and / or at least one slat (28) is connected with a mounting rail (15), an adjustment rail (35) or a stop (36) of the inserting device.
16. A method for filling a packing pocket on an enveloping device according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein an envelope (2) with the envelope flap (3) open is transported first to the packing pocket (9), and an envelope content (5) is transported by means of a feed device (10), is fed to the packing pocket (9), whereat the envelope (2) is filled and the filled envelope is then conveyed onwards by transport elements (11), whereat the envelope content (5) is guided in the packing pocket (9), which comprises several slats (28) arranged in a plane K with a flap guide (13) in parallel to the center line M of the packing pocket (9), whereat the envelope contents (5) being guided through a sheet guide (30), is resiliently pressed to the flap guide (13), at least in one front area with respect to the envelope feed, so that the envelope contents (5) only touch the envelope (2) in the area of a front edge (53) of the packing pocket, characterized in that the packing pocket as such is not moved during the inserting process.
17. A method for filling a packing pocket according to claim 16, characterized in that the envelope content (5) is pressed on by at least two sheet guides (30) each assigned to an outer slat (28').
18. A method for filling a packing pocket according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the envelope content (5) is pressed on at least by a sheet guide (30) assigned to an inner slat (28").
19. A method for filling a packing pocket according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the envelope content (5) is additionally guided through at least partially closed outer side surfaces of the outer slats (28').

Images