EP3463926B1 - Envelope insertion device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an inserting machine for automatically filling envelopes according to claim 1 and a method for operating such an inserting machine according to claim 14.

Various inserting machines are known from the prior art. For example disclosed WO 2016 / 026712 A1 a movable funnel-shaped element for aligning the envelope with a pannier; and lifting means for pulling the envelope onto the pannier. These are necessary because, due to the large distance between the transport rollers located in front of the funnel and the packing bag, the envelope cannot be pushed completely onto the packing bag by the transport rollers alone through the funnel. Furthermore, it has been shown that such a construction is susceptible to wear, particularly in the area of the envelope elevator rollers. A comparable inserting machine is also in the document CH 710 033 A2 disclosed.

An object of the present application is to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an enveloping device that is as operationally reliable as possible and is less susceptible to wear. A further object is to provide an enveloping device with a high level of flexibility, which can process the great variety of envelope formats and envelope qualities with little or no changeover effort. Furthermore, low production costs and high reliability were objectives of the invention.

An enveloping device according to the invention for inserting the contents of an envelope into an envelope comprises, analogously to the prior art, an envelope chute for empty envelopes, a flap opener for opening an envelope flap of the envelope, various transport elements for transporting the envelopes from the envelope chute to a packing bag on which the envelopes be filled, as well as a feeding device for feeding the contents of the envelope to the packing pocket and into the packing pocket, with the transport organs having an envelope tunnel mounted on the enveloping device K so that it can be moved about a pivot axis, with an upper tunnel guide and a lower tunnel guide, for aligning the envelope with the Pannier, as well as pivoting means operatively connected to the envelope tunnel, and at least one drivable envelope push-on roller. Furthermore, the device includes removal organs for the onward transport of the envelope filled with the contents of the envelope.

According to the invention, the envelope push-on roller is in a first position, which the envelope tunnel and the envelope push-on roller assume in relation to the pannier, from below against the end area of the upper tunnel guide that is located downstream and the end edge of the end area is located in the transport direction T directly in front of a front edge of the pannier. The distance can be set laterally offset in a range of 1 to 15 mm, preferably between 1 to 5 mm, ie directly in front of the front edge of the pannier. A lower edge of the end edge can be offset by 1 to 6 mm relative to a horizontal plane spanned, ie defined, for example, by the guide surface of the pannier. in particular be offset by 2 to 3 mm down. This also depends on the angle of the kink in the end area of the upper tunnel guide. Feeding is understood here as a non-contact feeding of the roller, depending on the stiffness of the envelope, for example at a distance of 0.5 to 2.0 mm, in particular approx. 1 mm, in order to enable the enveloping device to be operated with as little wear as possible. The envelope touches the roller due to the arc-shaped guide and is transported further as a result.

In what is known as an intermediate position, which is raised compared to the first position and which the envelope tunnel and the envelope push-on roller can assume in relation to the pannier, the envelope push-on roller can also be advanced from below against the end region (88) of the upper tunnel guide (82) that is located downstream, but the envelope push-on roller now moves is located directly in front of the front edge (21) of the pannier (20) with respect to the transport direction T. Depending on the selected diameter, the center point of the envelope push roller can be 5 mm to 20 mm, in particular 10 mm to 15 mm, in front of the edge of the pannier. In terms of height, the uppermost point of the roller (i.e. the point where the upper horizontal tangent lies) is 0 mm to 12 mm, in particular 2 mm to 4 mm above the upper edge of the front edge of the pannier.

In a so-called second position, which the envelope tunnel and the envelope push-on roller take in relation to the pannier, they can be pivoted away from the front edge and the transport path in the removal direction A between the pannier and the removal means can be released.

The pannier can be connected to the inserting machine K in a stationary manner. The envelope tunnel can include an area in which the tunnel guides are formed in parallel.

The envelope push-on roller can be connected to synchronous means for synchronous delivery of the envelope push-on roller to the envelope tunnel or for synchronous pivoting away from the envelope tunnel.

Pivoting means and synchronizing means can each comprise a cam disk and at least one lever, the at least one lever of the pivoting means connecting the cam disk to the envelope tunnel and the at least one lever of the synchronizing means connecting the cam disk to the envelope push roller via pivot points. The levers can each be guided over several pivot points on the cam disk in order to increase stability. The cam discs can be driven together by a drive arranged on the device side via a drive wheel and drive means.

Alternatively, pivoting means and synchronizing means can each comprise a synchronous motor in order to synchronously control the pivoting movements of the envelope tunnel and envelope push-on roller.

If the envelope push roller is stationary with the envelope tunnel, ie connected rigidly or resiliently, the synchronizing means can be omitted and the drive can only interact with the pivoting means. Driving means can be a drive belt, a toothed belt or a chain.

In principle, all moving parts of the transport system, in particular swiveling and synchronizing means, transport means with drive rollers such as envelope push rollers, and feed means such as collecting and push-in chains, etc. can be driven with one drive, which simplifies the structure and synchronization of the device.

In the second position, the envelope push-on roller can be arranged pivoted downwards relative to the plane formed by the guide surface and the envelope tunnel pivoted away upwards relative to the plane formed by the guide surface. Alternatively, in the second position, the envelope push-on roller and the envelope tunnel can be arranged such that they are pivoted upwards away from the plane formed by the guide surface.

In one embodiment of the invention, the envelope tunnel has an entry area, a straight guide area downstream in the transport direction T and a curve downstream, the tunnel guides being parallel in the guide area and in the area of the curve. The envelope is ideally fed through this geometry of the envelope tunnel in order to facilitate the opening of the envelope in conjunction with a pivoting movement relative to the guide surface of the pannier firmly mounted on the enveloping device. The entrance area can be funnel-shaped in order to facilitate the insertion of the envelope. To use the pair of terms above / below it should be noted here that this is used here in connection with an inserting device in which the Envelopes with an open flap that is at the bottom with respect to an envelope spine that is opposite the flap side of the envelope are pushed onto the flap guide that is arranged here on the lower side of the packing bag. It goes without saying for the person skilled in the art that in the case of an enveloping device in which the envelopes are pushed onto the pannier with the envelope flap at the top in relation to the spine of the envelope, the terms top/bottom used in this regard are to be reversed in analogous reverse order and the pannier is now with a overhead flap guide, as well as the envelope tunnel, for example, are now to be installed rotated by 180° around the transport axis. In this case, the transport roller described below is fed in from above instead of from below. Nevertheless, it is self-evident for the person skilled in the art that in the case of an enveloping device in which the envelope is fed in from below, the terms top/bottom must be reversed again in an analogous reversal. Such enveloping devices are therefore expressly included in the present invention.

The envelope tunnel may include at least one drive roller and at least one idler roller for cooperation with a drive roller. The rollers can either be mounted on the envelope tunnel or the envelope tunnel can be mounted, for example pivotably, around or on an axis of a drive roller attached to the inserting machine. The rotation of the drive roller and the pivoting of the envelope tunnel take place independently of one another, for example by means of separate bearings.

The envelope tunnel is shaped in such a way that it guides the envelope against the envelope push roller. This can also be designed as a wide roller and, for example, include a friction covering. This can be made of rubber, polyurethane, etc. or a granular surface, e.g. diamond, tungsten carbide, etc. In order to safely transport as large a variety of envelope formats as possible, the envelope tunnel can additionally have one or more counter-pressure roller(s) running with the envelope pusher roller in the first and the intermediate position, which is mounted in one or more recess(es) of the upper tunnel guide or . are.

The above-mentioned straight guide area can be longer than the entrance area and longer than the area encompassing the curve, with the length being able to be selected, for example, between a quarter and three-quarters of the envelope length (distance between the edge of the envelope and the bottom of the envelope) of the shortest envelope format to be processed.

The upper tunnel may thereby extend downward beyond the curve and beyond the downstream end of the lower tunnel. The lower duct may extend upwardly beyond the entrance area and the upstream end of the upper duct. The pivot bearing of the envelope tunnel may be provided at its upstream end.

A method for operating an enveloping device usually includes transporting an envelope away from an envelope chute, with the flap being closest to an envelope removal opening of an envelope chute located envelopes, a stack of envelopes placed in the envelope chute is opened with a flap opener, whereupon transport elements transport the envelope with the open envelope flap in front to a packing bag, on which the envelopes are filled and the contents of the envelope are fed to the packing bag and introduced into it by means of a feed device . The filled envelope is then conveyed onward by removal organs.

According to the invention, an envelope tunnel and an envelope pusher roller are brought into a first position relative to the packing bag, in which an end edge of an end area of an upper tunnel guide that is arranged downstream is located directly in front of a front edge of the packing bag in the transport direction T and the envelope pusher roller is pushed in from below against the end area , is operated in the transport direction T, as a result of which the envelope flap is pushed under the front edge of the pannier parallel to or at a flat transport angle W1 under a guide surface of the pannier. The angle W1 can also be negative, ie directed downwards. The angle W1 can be set between +15° and -15°, preferably between -5° and +5°.

Furthermore, in an intermediate step, as soon as the envelope flap is below the guide surface, the envelope push-on roller and envelope tunnel can be pivoted into a so-called intermediate position, which is raised compared to the first position, whereby the envelope push-on roller moves in the direction of the transport path T is located directly in front of the front edge of the pannier and the envelope flap is fed from the envelope tunnel to the pannier at a transport angle W2. The envelope push-on roller is still fed from below against the downstream end area of the upper tunnel guide in the transport direction T, whereby the envelope is opened to be pushed on and loaded with the contents of the envelope on the packing pocket. The transport angle is in the transport direction T for the front side of the envelope with the flap pointing downwards, angle W2 and for the back of the envelope it is horizontal or W3 pointing upwards. The angles are each set from the tangent of the last point of contact with the envelope push roller to the pannier. Angle W3 is between 0° to 20°, in particular 5° to 10°.

In a so-called second step, after the envelope has been pushed completely onto the pannier, envelope push-on roller and envelope tunnel, it can be pivoted away from the front edge into a so-called second position, whereby the transport path in transport direction A between the pannier and transport means is released. In the second step, the envelope push-on roller can be pivoted downwards relative to the plane formed by the guide surface and the envelope tunnel can be pivoted upwards relative to the plane formed by the guide surface. The pivoting movements of the envelope push roller and the envelope tunnel can be synchronized by pivoting means and synchronizing means.

Alternatively, in the second step, the envelope push-on roller and the envelope tunnel can be pivoted upwards away from the plane formed by the guide surface, for example together by the pivoting means.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a driven transport roller mounted pivotably on the envelope tunnel in the area of the lower tunnel guide and which, in one position, e.g. in cooperation with an idler roller mounted opposite on the upper tunnel guide, can transport an empty envelope further through the Tunnel transported in the transport direction T, transport a filled envelope further in the transport direction A at the same time, with a time delay and/or in a different position with a transport roller arranged underneath, which can also be designed as a counter-pressure roller. The removal roller can be designed to be elastic, elastically coated or spring-mounted. This has the advantage over the use of otherwise customary circle segments that the movement of the removal roller does not have to be synchronized with the envelope transport.

In a further embodiment of the invention, in which the movement of the envelope tunnel and the push-on roller, which can also be designed as a push-on roller, are controlled by cam disks, as mentioned, the cam disks can also be driven separately (electronic shaft, servo drives, stepping motors) instead of via a common drive means ), so that by means of parameterization in the Application that optimizes the movements on certain envelopes and thus the performance can be increased.

As an alternative to operating the envelope tunnel and the push-on roller with two cam discs, the two control cams 90', 91' can also be integrated in one disc, making the system more compact and less expensive.

To make adjustment easier when starting up for the first time, mechanically precisely adjustable levers are used to transmit the movements from the cam discs or from the cam disc. This means that readjustments and optimizations can also be carried out during maintenance work.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cam disk of the pivoting device is open at the top in the so-called zero point, i.e. when the envelope tunel is pivoted up, which corresponds to position two here, in order to allow easy manual opening and access for repairing breakdowns.

With regard to the pannier, it should be mentioned that the width of this can be adjusted, which means that greater flexibility is achieved.

Fig.1

Kuvertklappenvorderkante unter der Packtasche

Fig.2

Kuvertklappenfalz über der Packtasche

Fig.3

Kuvert fertig auf Packtasche aufgeschoben

Fig.4

Kuvert wird ab der Packtasche abgeschoben, Beginn

Fig.5

Kuvert ist ab der Packtasche abgeschoben

Fig.6

Seitenansicht Übersicht mit Kuvertschacht (analog Fig.5)

Fig.7

Seitenansicht Detail mit Kurvenscheiben (analog Fig.5)

Fig.8

3D-Ansicht (analog Fig.5)

In the following, the invention is described by way of example with reference to figures. Figures 1 to 5 show different phases when filling an envelope on an inventive enveloping device.

Fig.1

Envelope flap front edge under the pannier

Fig.2

Envelope flap fold over the pannier

Fig.3

Envelope pushed onto packing bag

Fig.4

Envelope is pushed off the pannier, beginning

Fig.5

The envelope has been pushed off the pannier

Fig.6

Side view overview with envelope chute (analogue Fig.5 )

Fig.7

Side view detail with cam discs (analogue Fig.5 )

Fig.8

3D view (analogue Fig.5 )

As in Fig.6 shown, the envelope 5 is inserted according to an embodiment of a method according to the invention in the envelope chute 11 with the envelope flap 8 closed down. The flap is opened by the envelope puller 12 and the envelope 5 is pulled out of the shaft 11 with the flap 8 open. It is then transported in a sheet with the flap open first into the envelope transport 50 .

The opened envelope flap is located in the area of the envelope transport 50 and further down, as for example from Fig.2 evident.

The envelope 5 will now look like Fig.1 can be seen with the open envelope flap 8, or flap front edge 9 first, fed to the envelope tunnel 80 by means of a pair of rollers 1, 2. The envelope tunnel 80 is formed in the entrance area 84 by two tunnel guides, here made of sheet metal, which first converge in a funnel shape, then parallel, first straight and then forming a curve 82, 83 formed, which limit the transport path of the envelope towards the top and bottom. Alternatively, for further weight savings, an embodiment made of titanium, carbon fiber composite, in particular of carbon fiber composite material coated against wear, is also possible. Alternatively, an embodiment as guide rods, in particular made of the above-mentioned materials, is also possible. In the present case, the curve 85 deflects the transport path of the envelope by an angle of approximately 45° from a diagonally downward direction to a diagonally upward direction. Upward, the lower tunnel guide 83 is extended past the pair of rollers 1, 2 into the area of the envelope transport 50. Here, the upper tunnel guide 82 is extended downward beyond the interaction area 71 of the envelope pusher roller 70 and the optional counter-pressure roller 81 to the immediate vicinity of the front edge 21 of the pannier 20 . The counter-pressure roller 81 acts through one or, if several rollers are used, through several cutouts in the upper tunnel guide 82, away from the curve 85 outside the tunnel-shaped area of the envelope tunnel 80. The lower tunnel guide 83, on the other hand, ends downward, in the in the Fig.1 to 3 positions shown, immediately in front of the interaction area 71.

Although the embodiment shown has advantages for guiding an envelope type shown here with a medium flap length, other configurations are also possible here in principle. For example, the counter-pressure roller 81 can even be omitted, since the envelope tunnel is designed in such a way that it required counterforce to form sufficient friction on the envelope feed roller 70 provides. Likewise, the curve 85 can also be set for a larger or smaller change in direction of the transport path, for example in a range from 30° to 60° inclusive, and the bend 86 in a range from 0° to 20°, preferably between 5° and 15° , depending on how far the upper tunnel guide extends beyond the interaction area. The distance between the essentially parallel guides can be selected between 1 and 5 mm, in particular approx. 3 mm, or it can also vary in the different sections. The length of the parallel section can be set between a quarter and three-quarters of the minimum envelope length to be processed (distance between envelope base 7 and flap edge 10), in particular corresponding to approximately half an envelope length. Most of the parallel guidance provided by guides 82 and 83 is away upstream of curve 85, whereas the guidance below here may terminate immediately downstream of the curve.

The shape of the tunnel also depends on the angle and the height at which the envelope transport 50 is arranged, which roll diameters are taken as a basis, etc. Due to such adjustments, the aforementioned values can vary further. Instead of sheet metal, the envelope tunnel can also be made of other materials, in particular to reduce the moving mass. This can include titanium, carbon fiber material or others, as well as the design of the envelope tunnel, for example using guide rods.

In the further course, the envelope is transported further by the pair of rollers 14, 15 firmly connected to the tunnel 80 and into the envelope tunnel 80, as in FIGS figures 1 and 2 shown introduced. The pair of rollers 14, 15 acts through one or, if several pairs of rollers are used, through several cutouts in the lower tunnel guide 83 and the upper tunnel guide 82 in the entrance area 84 of the envelope tunnel 80. At the time the front flap edge 9 of the envelope 5 enters the envelope tunnel 80 is this located in the in Fig.5 shown position.

This envelope tunnel can be moved up and down around the pivot point of the axis of transport roller 1. This pivot point is advantageously, but not necessarily, attached to the axis of transport roller 1.

The movement is controlled such that when the flap leading edge 9 reaches the end of the envelope tunnel 80, the envelope tunnel in Fig.1 has reached the position shown.

Thus, the front edge 9 of the flap, and thus the envelope flap 8 itself, runs under the packing pocket 20. The envelope is transported further by the envelope pusher roller 70 with the (optional) counter-pressure roller 81. The envelope feed roller has a non-slip covering made of rubber, polyurethane or corundum, which provides the necessary friction and thus safe feed. Thus, in many cases can be dispensed with the counter-pressure roller 81, since the friction lining Envelope push roller and the opposing force of the upper tunnel wall 82 is already formed enough friction.

The movement of the envelope tunnel 80 is controlled in such a way that as soon as the front edge 9 of the envelope flap has arrived under the pannier, the envelope tunnel 80 and the envelope push-on roller 70 are raised synchronously, so that during this movement the envelope is transported further by the envelope push-on roller 70 and the envelope flap 8 is pushed further under the pannier 20. The movements of the envelope tunnel 80 and the envelope push roller 70 are synchronous upwards at this time.

The movements are controlled synchronously (but in different ways over the course of a cycle) by the cam discs 90, 91 driven by the same drive figure 8 shown on the basis of transparent cams 90, 91. Captured curves are understood here as control curves in which a guided guide bolt 96, 97 is guided by guide surfaces on both sides with little play in a groove-shaped curved path. The design of the guide pin in the cam track as a roller, as shown, is preferred here, e.g. as a rotatable roller that runs on a stationary pin. Also possible would be, for example, an external cam with a spring-loaded lever. The curves of the cam discs move the envelope tunnel 80 and the envelope push roller 70 via levers 92, 93 and 62, 63. The pivot points of the levers are at 94 and 95, respectively.

An advantage of this construction is that both the drive of the transport rollers 1 and 14 and the envelope pusher roller 70 (rollers 2, 15, 81 are loosely running rollers) and the movements of the cams 90 and 91 and thus the envelope pusher roller 70 and the envelope tunnel 80 done from a central drive. This is inexpensive and thanks to the fixed mechanical coupling, these movements run absolutely synchronously. In the chosen design, this drive simultaneously drives the gathering chain (which feeds the documents), which increases reliability (synchronization) and minimizes manufacturing costs.

The movement of the envelope tunnel 80 and the envelope feed roller 70 is further controlled in such a way that before the flap edge 10 arrives at the front edge 21 of the pannier, the upper edge of the envelope push-on roller and the lower edge of the upper tunnel guide of the envelope tunnel are above the pannier, as in Fig.2 shown. This movement opens the envelope so that the envelope flap is located under the pannier and the top spine of the envelope slides over the pannier. The envelope is then pushed completely onto the packing pocket 20 by the envelope push-on roller 70 . The position of the envelope push roller 70 and the envelope tunnel 80 remain in the position according to FIG Fig.2 .

Because of the very short distance between the envelope push-on roller 70 and the pannier 20 and the envelope tunnel 80 and the pannier 20, transport is very well guided and the envelopes 5 may buckle due to resistance forces when being pushed open surely prevented. Also thin envelope paper, wavy envelopes, as well as envelopes of inferior quality can be safely processed through this precise guidance. The counter-pressure roller 81, which is not driven, is permanently attached to the envelope tunnel and moves with it. It provides the necessary counter pressure for safe transport. This counter-pressure roller is not absolutely necessary for all envelope qualities, but is helpful for processing the entire range of envelope qualities without further adjustments.

The guide plate 41 that can be seen in the figures has no function for the transport and filling process.

In the Fig.3 The positions of envelope push-on roller 70 and envelope tunnel 80 shown correspond to those in Fig.2 . These remain in this position until the envelope 5 has been pushed all the way onto the pannier 20. The envelope 5 was transported further here and pushed completely onto the packing bag 20.

As soon as the envelope bottom 7 has left the envelope tunnel 80 and the envelope push-on roller 70 and the envelope 5 has thus been pushed completely onto the packing bag 20, the position of the envelope push-on roller 70 and the envelope tunnel 80 is changed again. The envelope feed roller 70 is thereby lowered in the direction of a lower end position, while the envelope tunnel 80 is simultaneously raised into an upper end position. This position is in Fig.4 shown. Envelope push roller 70 and envelope tunnel 80 have reached their end positions and thus allow space around the now an envelope content 13 filled envelope 5 to eject against the previous transport direction.

While the envelope is being pushed onto the pannier, the upper push-in chain 23 with the finger 22 already begins to push the content taken over by the gathering chain inside the pannier into the envelope pushed over the pannier (not visible in the figures). This is controlled in such a way that insertion begins before the envelope is fully pushed open, but the front edge of the content only begins shortly after the envelope has been fully pushed onto the pannier ( Fig.3 ) reaches the bottom of the envelope or the edge of the pannier 21 ( Fig.4 ). The gathering chain, which runs slower than the push-in chain, also transports the contents of the envelope using fingers. It is located below the upper slide-in chain at the level of the pannier and is not shown in the figures. The push-in chain 23 continues to run and pushes the contents completely into the envelope with the finger 22 and during the further process the envelope together with the contents down from the packing bag again until the envelope is caught by the transport roller 14 and the counter-pressure roller 30 underneath and further in the direction of the exit is transported to the following conveyor belt 31.

this is in Fig.5 shown. The envelope 5 with content 13 has been pushed almost completely from the packing case 20 by the fingers 22 of the upper push-in chain 23 and is transported further by the driven transport rollers 14 and the lower transport roller 30 . while has the driven transport roller 14 has a double function: together with the transport roller 30 located below, it transports the filled envelope away, while at the same time the next empty envelope is fed in together with the transport roller 15 located above.

The removal roller 30 is able to compensate for the thickness of the filled envelope by being resiliently mounted or being designed to be resilient in itself. Instead of a roll, segments can also be used here, as are known from the prior art. Basically, the term roller is used synonymously with roller, i.e. if one or more rollers are specified for a specific function, they can easily be replaced by, for example, a wide roller, i.e. roller. Also, if not explicitly excluded or obviously not otherwise possible, the specification of a role always includes a configuration with several roles.

Shortly before the pair of rollers 14, 15, the next empty envelope 5 can already be seen.

Next, the movement of the envelope feed roller 70 and the envelope tunnel 80 begins again towards the position in Fig.1 . The driven transport roller 14, transport roller 15 and counter-pressure roller 30 are also lowered with the envelope tunnel 80, so that the envelope with the content 13 then comes to rest on the transport belt 31, which then carries the envelope 5 further to the optionally integrated stations flap closing, Gluing and exit transported.

The filled, and therefore here mostly stiff, part of the envelope 5 has completely left the packing pocket 20 when this movement of the envelope tunnel begins. The envelope flap 8 can then still be partially in the pack pocket 20, but since it consists of only one layer of paper it is flexible enough to adapt to the movement. At the end of the movement of the envelope push-on roller 70 and the envelope tunnel 80, the empty envelope has been transported further and the position of Fig.1 achieved. where is in Fig.1 on the conveyor belt 31 to recognize the envelope 5 that is being transported away. An attempt is made to reach this position as early as possible; however, it must be ensured that the longest possible flap of the empty envelope 5 cannot collide with the longest possible flap of the envelope 5 being transported away.

As a special feature, as in the 3D view of the Fig.8 As can be seen, the curve of the envelope tunnel 80 is designed by a recess 100 in the outer guide surface in such a way that at the time of the zero position of the machine, which is in Fig.5 corresponds to the position shown, the guide pin or roller 96 can be moved manually upwards out of the guideway. This allows the envelope tunnel to be raised further despite the trapped curve when the machine is in the zero position, in order to relax the machine in the event of a jam and to be able to remove the jammed material relatively easily and quickly (ease of use).

The above embodiment achieves the goals of low production costs, high reliability and low wear while at the same time being highly flexible with regard to a wide variety of envelope formats and qualities through a simple, compact design and mechanically coupled and thus always synchronous movements without control expenditure.

If the goal of manufacturing costs has a lower priority, there is the possibility of replacing the mechanical cams with electrical drives, e.g can be processed while still all variants of envelopes can be processed. By storing the relevant parameters in the system control system, flexibility and user-friendliness are not restricted.

• Durch den bis an die Packtasche heranreichenden Kuverttunnel werden die Kuverts exakt geführt. Aufgrund der sehr kurzen Distanz zwischen dieser Führung und der Packtasche kann das Kuvert sehr exakt übergeben werden, so dass höhere Leistungen erreichbar sind.
• Durch die lange und sehr exakte Führung der Kuverts im Kuverttunnel können auch dünne Papiere und wellige Kuverts sicher verarbeitet werden. Somit wird der Wechsel zwischen verschiedenen Kuverts und Kuvertqualitäten erheblich sicherer.

• Durch den Bogen im Kuverttunnel werden die Kuverts vorgeformt, so dass die Verformung im "Freien" direkt vor der Packtasche auf ein Minimum beschränkt wird, was die Zuverlässigkeit erhöht.
• Bei mechanisch fix miteinander gekoppelten Kurvenscheiben kann die Bewegungen kostengünstig und ohne jeglichen Steuerungsaufwand exakt synchronisiert werden.
• Erfolgt der Antrieb der Kurvenscheiben durch den Kettenantrieb der Sammelstrecke (Sammelkette und Einschubkette) der Kuvertiermaschine wird ein separater Antrieb eingespart, was die Kosten senkt und die Zuverlässigkeit erhöht, da immer synchron.
• Die Bewegungen der beiden Kurven können so ausgelegt werden, dass sie für alle maschinengeeigneten Kuverts unabhängig der Klappenform und Klappenlänge ohne Verstellung sicher funktionieren.
• Durch die Kuvertaufschubwalze wird das Kuvert bis direkt an die Packtasche transportiert und somit bestmöglich und sicher transportiert ohne Freiflug. Sobald das Kuvert die Kuvertaufschubwalze verlassen hat ist das Kuvert auf Grund der Dynamik praktisch bis auf den Anschlag, d.h. Kuvertboden an Packtaschenkante, auf jeden Fall genügend weit, auf die Packtasche aufgeschoben, dass nur noch ein sehr kurzer Weg zwischen Kuvertboden und Packtaschenkante verbleibt, der durch die Prozessdynamik überwunden werden kann. Durch die Drehung der Kuvertaufschubrolle wird daher das Kuvert vollständig aufgeschoben. Dazu ist anzumerken, dass innerhalb der Packtasche der innen laufende Inhalt von dem aussen aufgeschobenen Kuvert sicher getrennt ist, so dass ein zuverlässiger Betrieb ohne Beschädigung des Inhalts sichergestellt ist. Selbst wenn das Kuvert, durch den Walzendurchmesser bedingt, nicht vollständig auf die Packtasche aufgeschoben sein sollte, ist diese Distanz so gering, dass der Kuvertinhalt beim Beschicken das Kuvert nicht mehr berühren kann, wodurch Staubildung in der Packtasche vermieden wird führen kann. Erst wenn der Beschickungsvorgang beendet ist, trifft die Vorderkante des Kuvertinhalts auf dem Kuvertboden auf und schiebt, selbst vom Finger der Einschubkette angetrieben, das Kuvert von der Packtasche.
• Die Kuvertaufschubwalze kann das Kuvert ganz ohne Verschleiss vollständig auf die Packtasche aufschieben, da das Kuvert im Stillstand, das heisst nach dem Abschluss des Aufschiebens auf die Packtasche die Kuvertaufschubwalze verlassen hat. Dies im Gegensatz zu den heute üblichen und stark verschleissbehafteten Kuvertaufzugrollen, die das Kuvert auf die Packtasche aufziehen müssen und dabei insbesondere in den Übergangsphasen bei Abschluss des Aufziehvorgangs und bei Leerzyklen, hohen Verschleiss aufweisen.
• Durch zwei separate Kurven können die beiden Bewegungen Kuvertaufschubwalze und Kuverttunnel optimal aufeinander abgestimmt werden.
• Durch die Kuvertaufschubwalze wird das Kuvert nicht durch eine Führung auf die Packtasche aufgestossen, sondern unmittelbar auf die Packtasche aufgeschoben was, im Vergleich zum Stand der Technik das Risiko eins Papierstaus vermindert. Die Strecke zwischen den Transportwalzen 14, 15 im oder unmittelbar nach dem Eingangsbereich des Tunnels durch die das Kuvert in den Trichter gestossen wird, zur ebenfalls angetriebenen Kuvertaufschubwalze ist kurz. Durch Letztere kann auch das Auftreten von Gegenkräften durch das Auftreffen des Kuverts auf der Packtasche neutralisiert werden.
• Durch den extrem kurzen Weg zwischen Kuvertaufschubwalze und Packtasche sowie Kuverttunnel und Packtasche wird ein Ausknicken auch dünner Kuvertpapiere sicher verhindert.
• Der Aufbau ist einfach was die Bedienung erleichtert.
• Durch die mechanische Kopplung anstelle des Einsatzes von Servoantrieben wird eine kostengünstige Konstruktion erreicht und exakte Synchronisierung aller Bewegungen in jeder Phase (auch während Beschleunigungs- und Bremsrampen) sichergestellt.
• Durch die Verwendung einer in der Breite verstellbaren Packtasche mit geschlossener Führung, wie bspw. in WO 2016 / 026712 A1 beschrieben und des für alle Kuvertlängen geeigneten erfindungsgemässen Kuvertunnels wird eine hohe Flexibilität, bei gleichzeitig hoher Verarbeitungssicherheit gegen Störungen und hoher Qualität der verarbeiteten Dokumente (Schutz gegen Beschädigung), erreicht.

The following advantages, listed only by way of example, result from the use of an enveloping device according to the invention as described here:

• The envelopes are guided precisely through the envelope tunnel, which reaches right up to the pannier. Due to the very short distance between this guide and the pannier, the envelope can be transferred very precisely, so that higher performance can be achieved.
• Due to the long and very precise guidance of the envelopes in the envelope tunnel, even thin paper and wavy envelopes can be processed safely. Thus the Switching between different envelopes and envelope qualities is considerably safer.

• The arc in the envelope tunnel pre-forms the envelopes, minimizing deformation in the "outdoors" just in front of the pannier, increasing reliability.
• In the case of cam discs that are mechanically permanently coupled to one another, the movements can be precisely synchronized inexpensively and without any control effort.
• If the cam disks are driven by the chain drive of the collecting section (collecting chain and push-in chain) of the inserting machine, a separate drive is saved, which reduces costs and increases reliability, since it is always synchronous.
• The movements of the two curves can be designed in such a way that they work reliably for all machine-suitable envelopes, regardless of the flap shape and flap length, without adjustment.
• The envelope is transported directly to the pannier by the envelope push roller and is thus transported in the best possible and safest way without free flight. As soon as the envelope has left the envelope push roller, due to the dynamics, the envelope is pushed onto the pannier practically up to the stop, i.e. envelope bottom to pannier edge, in any case far enough that only a very short distance remains between the envelope bottom and pannier edge, the can be overcome by the process dynamics. through the rotation of the envelope pushing roller, the envelope is therefore pushed open completely. It should be noted that inside the pack bag, the contents running inside are safely separated from the envelope pushed open on the outside, so that reliable operation without damaging the contents is ensured. Even if the envelope is not completely pushed onto the pannier due to the diameter of the roller, this distance is so small that the contents of the envelope can no longer touch the envelope when it is loaded, which avoids the formation of jams in the pannier. Only when the loading process is complete does the front edge of the envelope content hit the bottom of the envelope and, driven by the finger of the push-in chain, pushes the envelope off the pocket.
• The envelope push-on roller can push the envelope completely onto the pannier without any wear and tear, since the envelope has left the envelope push-on roller when it is stationary, that is to say after it has been pushed onto the pannier. This is in contrast to the envelope lift rollers that are common today and subject to a lot of wear and tear, which have to pull the envelope onto the pannier and show high wear, especially in the transitional phases at the end of the opening process and during empty cycles.
• The movements of the envelope pusher roller and the envelope tunnel can be optimally coordinated using two separate curves.
• Due to the envelope push roller, the envelope is not pushed onto the bag by a guide, but pushed directly onto the bag, which reduces the risk of a paper jam compared to the prior art. The distance between the transport rollers 14, 15 in or immediately after the entrance area of the tunnel through which the envelope is pushed into the funnel to the likewise driven envelope push-on roller is short. The latter can also neutralize the occurrence of opposing forces caused by the impact of the envelope on the pannier.
• The extremely short distance between the envelope feed roller and the pannier, as well as the envelope tunnel and pannier, reliably prevents even thin envelope paper from buckling.
• The structure is simple, which makes it easy to use.
• By using mechanical coupling instead of using servo drives, a cost-effective construction is achieved and exact synchronization of all movements in every phase (also during acceleration and deceleration ramps) is ensured.
• By using a width-adjustable pannier with a closed guide, such as in WO 2016 / 026712 A1 described and suitable for all envelope lengths envelope tunnel according to the invention is a high flexibility, with high processing security against disruptions and high Quality of processed documents (protection against damage) achieved.

The subject matter of the invention is defined by the appended claims. To the extent that changes such as the following fall within the scope of the claims, these changes may also be considered part of the invention as defined.

Although special versions of the present invention have also been explained above with reference to figures and examples, specific versions of individual components, such as envelope tunnels and their sub-units (tunnel guides, rollers), pivoting and synchronizing means, etc., are mentioned in connection with individual examples. can in principle be combined with other, also special, embodiments and examples of the invention, provided this is not obviously counterintuitive to a person skilled in the art. Thus, such combinations are also covered by the present invention, as well as inserting machines with an envelope feed from above, ie with an envelope flap at the top, as well as those with an envelope feed from below, in which case the envelope flap can be at the top or bottom (see also above). (so)

Reference List

1

transport roller(s)

2

Transport roller(s) (follower)

3

Kuver tunnel swivel axis

1, 2

pair of rollers (feed)

5

envelope

6

envelope backing

7

envelope bottom

8th

envelope flap

9

flap leading edge

10

flap edge

11

envelope chute

12

Envelope puller / flap opener

13

Envelope content, sheet, document, etc.

14

transport roller(s)

14, 15

pair of rollers (further transport)

15

Transport roller(s) (follower)

20

pannier

21

Front edge of pannier, pannier edge

22

finger

23

slide-in chain

24

guide surface of the pannier

30

Discharge roller (follower)

31

conveyor belt

41

guide plate

50

envelope transport

62, 63

lever

64, 65

Power transfer points from 62, 63

70

Envelope push roller(s), in particular as envelope push roller(s)

71

collaboration area

80

envelope tunnel

81

counter-pressure roller (optional)

82

upper tunnel guide

83

lower tunnel guide

84

entrance area

85

Curve

86

kink

87

straight lead area

88

end area

89

trailing edge

90, 91

cam discs

90', 91'

cams

92, 93

lever

94

fulcrum (of lever 92)

95

fulcrum (of lever 93)

96, 97

Guide pin (also designed as a roller)

98

driving wheel

99

propellant

100

recess

T

Transport direction of the empty envelope

A

Direction of transport of the filled envelope

W1, W2

transport angle

Claims (22)

1. Inserting device for inserting the contents of an envelope (13) into an envelope (5), the inserting device K having an envelope tray (11) for empty envelopes (5), transport elements (1, 2, 14, 15, 50, 70, 80 , 81) for transporting the envelopes (5) from the envelope tray (11) to a packing pocket (20) on which the envelopes (5) are filled, a feed device (22, 23) for feeding the envelope contents (13) to the packing pocket and in the packing pocket (20), as well as removal elements (14, 30, 31) for the further conveyance of the envelope (5) filled with the envelope content (13), wherein the transport elements comprise an envelope tunnel (80) being mounted on the inserting device K so as to be movable about a pivot axis (3) and having an upper tunnel guide (82) and a lower tunnel guide (83) for aligning the envelope (5) with the packing pocket (20), and pivoting means (62, 90, 98, 99) that are operatively connected to the envelope tunnel, as well as at least one drivable envelope feed roller (70), wherein the envelope tunnel (80) comprises an entrance area (84), adjoining it downwards a straight guide area (87), and adjoining it downwards a curve (85),
   characterized in that
   the envelope feed roller (70) in a first position, which the envelope tunnel (80) and the envelope feed roller (70) take in relation to the packing pocket (20), is positioned from below against the downstream end region (88) of the upper tunnel guide (82) and a lower edge of an end edge (89) of the end area (88) is offset downwards in relation to a plane defined by a guide surface (24) of the packing pocket, wherein the tunnel guides (82, 83) of the envelope tunnel (80) are formed in parallel in the guide area (87) and in the area of the curve (85).
2. Inserting device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first position the end edge (89) of the end region (88) in the transport direction T is located immediately in front of a front edge (21) of the packing pocket (20).
3. enveloping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the envelope feed roller (70), in an intermediate position raised compared to the first position which the envelope tunnel (80) and the envelope feed roller (70) take in relation to the packing pocket (20), is positioned from below against the downstream end area (88) of the upper tunnel guide (82), and the envelope feed roller (70) is located immediately in front of the front edge (21) of the packing pocket (20) with respect to a transport direction T.
4. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the envelope feed roller (70) and the envelope tunnel (80), in a second position which the envelope tunnel (80) and the envelope feed roller (70) take in relation to the packing pocket (20), are pivoted away from the front edge (21) and clear the transport path between the packing pocket (20) and the transport means (30, 31) in the transport direction A.
5. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packing pocket (20) is immovably connected to the inserting machine K.
6. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the envelope tunnel (80) comprises an area in which the tunnel guides (82, 83) are formed in parallel.
7. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the envelope feed roller (70) is connected to synchronizing agents (91, 93).
8. inserting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivoting means and synchronizing means each comprise a cam (90, 91) and at least one lever (62, 63), wherein the at least one lever (62) of the pivoting means connects the cam (90) with the Envelope tunnel (80) and the at least one lever (63) of the synchronizing means connects the cam disc (91) to the envelope feed roller (70) via force transmission points (64, 65), and the cam discs (90, 91) can be driven together by a drive arranged on the device side via a drive wheel (98) and a driving means (99).
9. inserting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the driving means (99) is a drive belt, a toothed belt or a chain.
10. inserting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivoting means and synchronous means each comprise a synchronous motor.
11. Inserting device according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that in the second position the envelope feed roller (70), with respect to the plane formed by the guide surface (24), is pivoted downwards, and the envelope tunnel (80), with respect to the plane formed by the guide surface (24) formed level, is pivoted upwards.
12. Inserting device according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that in the second position the envelope feed roller (70) and the envelope tunnel (80) are pivoted upwards with respect to the plane formed by the guide surface (24).
13. Inserting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the envelope tunnel 80 comprises at least one drive roller (1, 14) and preferably at least one idle roller (15, 81) for interacting with a drive roller (1, 14, 70).
14. A method for operating an inserting device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the envelope tunnel (80) and the envelope feed roller (70) are placed in a first position in relation to the packing pocket, in which a lower edge of an end edge (89) of an end region (88) of an upper tunnel guide (82) is offset downwards in relation to a plane defined by the guide surface (24) of the packing pocket (20), whereby the envelope flap (8) is pushed under the front edge (21) of the packing pocket (20) parallel to or at a transport angle W1 to a guide surface (24) of the packing pocket, while the envelope feed roller (70) is operated from below towards the end area (88) in the transport direction T, whereat the envelope is guided between parallel tunnel guides (82, 83) in the guide area (87) and in the area of the curve (85) of the envelope tunnel (80).
15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that in the first position the end edge (89) is positioned in the transport direction T directly in front of a front edge (21) of the packing pocket (20).
16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that in an intermediate step, as soon as the envelope flap (8) is below the guide surface (24), the envelope feed roller (70) and the envelope tunnel (80) are pivoted into an intermediate position raised relative to the first position, whereby the envelope feed roller (70) is in the direction of the transport path T directly in front of the front edge (21) of the packing pocket (20) and the envelope flap (8) is fed from the envelope tunnel (80) to the packing pocket (20) at a transport angle W2, whereat the Envelope feed roller (70) continues to be operated from below against the downstream end area (88) of the upper tunnel guide (82) in transport direction T, whereby the envelope (5) is opened to be pushed on and then be loaded with envelope contents (13) on the packing pocket (20).
17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that in the intermediate step the envelope (5) is pushed on by the envelope feed roller (70) so far that the envelope (13) does not touch the envelope (13) when it is loaded.
18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that in a second step, after the envelope has been completely pushed onto the packing pocket, the envelope feed roller (70) and envelope tunnel (80) are pivoted away from the front edge (21) into a second position and thus clear the transport path in the transport direction A between the packing pocket (20) and the transport means (30, 31).
19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, in the second step, the envelope feed roller (70) is pivoted downward with respect to the plane formed by the guide surface (24) and the envelope tunnel (80) is pivoted upward with respect to the plane formed by the guide surface (24).
20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the pivoting movements of the envelope feed roller (70) and envelope tunnel (80) are synchronized by pivoting means (62, 90, 92, 98, 99) and synchronizing means (63, 91, 93).
21. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, in the second step, the envelope feed roller (70) and the envelope tunnel (80) are pivoted upwards with respect to the plane formed by the guide surface (24).
22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the pivoting movement of the envelope feed roller (70) and the envelope tunnel (80) is effected by the pivoting means (62, 90, 92, 98, 99).

Images