GB1603857A - Machine for filling envelopes and like enclosures - Google Patents

Description

(54) MACHINE FOR FILLING ENVELOPES AND LIKE ENCLOSURES (71) We, DRG (UK) LIMITED, of 1 Redcliffe Street, Bristol, BS99 7QY, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to machines for filling envelopes and other similar enclosures.

The present invention provides a machine for use in filling envelopes and like enclosures, comprising a magazine for holding a stack of envelopes, and equipment for removing envelopes from the stack and opening them for insertion of desired material; said equipment comprising transfer suction means reciprocating in a direction parallel to the planes of the envelopes for withdrawing an exposed envelope from the stack in the magazine and transporting it edge-on to arrive at a filling station in a substantially vertical plane with its open end uppermost, suction means opposing the transfer suction means at the filling station and arranged to co-operate with the transfer suction means so as to draw apart opposite sides of the envelope and thereby open it for the insertion of the desired material into the envelope under gravity, the transfer suction means comprising two suction members, each separately reciprocable along respective paths, one suction member to remove an envelope from the magazine and convey it to an intermediate station, and another suction member to convey the envelope from an intermediate station to the filling station. The latter suction member preferably includes pusher means for engaging a filled envelope and pushing it from the filling station during its movement from said intermediate station to the filling station with an empty envelope. The machine preferably includes means for transporting the filled envelope away from the filling station.

This transporting means is preferably associated with means for closing the envelopes in passing.

The invention may also include other useful features, and in particular an automatic filling mechanism, as described in more detail below.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic simplified side view of certain important parts of the machine, Fig. 2 shows a plan view, somewhat more elaborated, of the arrangement of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the general layout of the whole machine, and Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of the envelope filling mechanism.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2; a magazine 10 contains a horizontal stack of envelopes 12 such that they can be withdrawn one at a time in a vertical plate from the front 14 of the magazine. The envelopes are withdrawn by means of a suction head 16 which is mounted through a parallelogram linkage to a slide 18 which reciprocates along a rail 20 extending horizontally from the front of the magazine in a direction parallel to the planes of the envelopes. The parallelogram linkage enables the suction head 16 to be moved between a retracted position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and an advanced position shown in dot-dash lines in which it is in close proximity to the exposed envelope at the front of the magazine. By this means, the suction head can pick up the front envelope and withdraw it from the front of the magazine.

The slide 18 moves between the position A in front of the magazine to position B at the other end of the rail carrying an envelope. At position B the suction head 16 is again advanced to place the envelope against an opposite suction head 22 carried on a slide 24 which reciprocates along a rail 26 between positions C and D. At position C, the suction head 22 picks up the envelope and the suction is switched off from suction head 16, which can then return to position A. Between positions C and D, a plough plate 28 acts to raise the flap at the top of the envelope so that artices can be inserted into the envelope at the filling station D.

At the filling station D, the envelope lies between the plough plate 28 and a backing plate 30, which are spaced apart by the amount necessary to open the envelope to insert the contents, and the bottom edge is supported in a trough 29. A third suction head 32 is located at the filling station D so as to be opposite the suction head 22 and is mounted to the frame on a parallelogram linkage so that it can be reciprocated between an advanced position in which it contacts the surface of the envelope carried by suction head 22 and a retracted position in which it opens the envelope to the extent permitted by the separation of the two plates 28, 30. The suction of the two suction heads on opposite surfaces of the envelope opens the mouth of the envelope, and the contents can be inserted, either manually or by a filling mechanism as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.When the envelope is filled, the suction of both heads 22 and 32 is switched off, the envelope resting on a support platform at the bottom (not shown). Suction head 22 then returns to position C to pick up another envelope.

Suction head 22 carries a pusher plate 34 which is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis at 36, and is bent through a right-angle at its free edge to provide a flange 38. Adjacent the pivot, the pusher plate is provided with a lever arm 40 at right-angles to the plate, and an over-centre spring 42 acts on the pusher plate so as to urge it into either of two over-centre positions, as shown in full lines and in broken lines in Fig. 2. The pusher plate is flipped over from one overcentre position to the other at the end of each stroke (that is to say at positions C and D) by end stops 44, 46 respectively.The effect of this is to cause the flange 38 to bear upon the filled envelope resting in the filling station when the slide 24 starts to move to position C, so that the movement of the slide from position C to D carrying a new unfilled envelope serves to transfer the filled envelope from the filling station to a nip between two endless belts 48, 50.

The filled envelope is carried through these belts 48, 50, and a plough blade 52 bears upon the flap so as to reclose it, a wetting roller 54 being located at the midpoint of the plough blade so as to moisten pre-gummed portions of the flap before final closure. Alternatively, an adhesive applicator may be provided to secure the flap, or if the envelopes have no flap they can be closed at this point by adhesive tape, staples, or by sewing. The flap at the end can pass between a pair of niP rollers 56, which are upward extensions ot the end reversing rollers for the conveyor belts 48, 50, in order to secure the closure if necessary, or possibly to activate pressure-sensitive adhesive pre-applied to the flap. The envelopes can also be coded, labelled and franked for despatch at this point.

On the return of the slide 24 from position D to position C, the pusher plate 34 is in the opposite over-centre position so that the flange 38 is clear of the filled envelope in the filing station.

The mechanism is actuated by an electric drive motor 58, which has a belt 60 going to the conveyors 48, 50, and another belt 62 going to a cam wheel 64. The cam wheel has a cut-away portion at its periphery, providing a shoulder 66 which bears upon a pin 68 on a pivotally mounted arm 70 which is connected through a link arm 72 to the slide 24. The action of the shoulder 66 on the pin 68 causes the arms 70 to move between the position shown in full lines, in which the slide is at position C to the position shown in dot-dash lines in which the slide is at position D. At position D the pin 68 moves out of engagement with the shoulder 66, but bears upon the larger diameter periphery of the cam 64 until it is released by the opposite shoulder 74, two-thirds of a cycle later, whereupon the arm 70 returns the slide 24 to position C under the influence of a spring 76.The cam also trisamicroswitch at the end of the envelope filling part of the cycle, to cut off the vacuum to the suction heads 22, 32. When the suction head reaches position C the vacuum is reinstated by a microswitch operated by slide 24. The cam further operates a trip lever 78 which, via a Bowden cable is operatively connected to the parallelogram linkage support of the suction head 32 so as to move the suction head between its advanced and retracted positions. The belt 80 from the cam wheel 64 is trained around a pulley which carries a rotating arm 82, at the outer end of which is a slide 84 which moves in a slot 86 in an arm 88 which is connected through a link arm 90 to the slide 18. The arm 88 is pivoted to the frame at its opposite end 92, and thus the rotating action of the arm 82 causes reciprocation of the arm 88, and hence of the slide 18. Fixed pins 94, 96 on the frame act on extensions of the parallelogram linkage of the suction head 16 at positions A and B to move the suction head 16 into the advanced position, a spring (not shown) normally retaining it in the retracted position. As the slide 18 reaches the position B, it trips a microswitch (not shown) which cuts off the suction at the suction head 16.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4; the apparatus described in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown generally at 100 in Fig. 3. The magazine 10 being shown at one end, and a delivery chute 102 for the filled envelopes being shown at the other end, the filling station D being indi cated in the intermediate region.

In Fig. 4, an envelope 12 is shown at the filling station, the plates 28, 30 being omitted for clarity, but the position of suction head 32 being indicated, and the envelope being shown in its open position with its flap 13 raised. The material to be inserted into the envelope is delivered through a chute 104, which is reciprocated vertically so that its lower end enters the open mouth of the envelope at the filling station, the chute being shown in its raised position in Fig. 4.

At the outlet of the chute is a pair of flaps 106 which are operated by a solenoid mechanism 108 so as to open them when they are inside the envelope, their purpose being to ensure that the envelope mouth is fully open so that the material can be properly delivered.

The material is discharged into the chute from a tilt table 110, which is pivoted about an axis 112 for movement between a horizontal attitude and a vertical attitude as shown, the lowermost side of the tilt table being open at 114 for discharge of the material. In its horizontal position, the tilt table is co-planar with a collating table 116, the adjacent sides of the collating table and tilt table being open so that material can be moved from the collating table to the tilt table by a pusher 118, the material being indicated in dot-dash lines at 120 in Fig. 3.

The materials are delivered to the collating table by a conveyor 122 which moves in the direction indicated by the arrow past a series of pick-up stations, as represented by E, F, G and H. At each of these stations is a magazine, 124, 126, 128, 130 respectively, positioned alongside and opening towards the conveyor. Reciprocating suction heads 132 draw a paper, pamphlet or the like from respective magazine and deposit it on the conveyor.

The operation of the different suction heads is timed so the materials are deposited one on top of another in the desired order on the collating table 116. In Fig. 3, which is only by way of example, the magazines 124, 12 , and 128 hold sheets or leaflets, while the longer magazine 130 contains books or periodicals. A reciprocating suction head 134 can be provided over the collating table to open the book or periodical when it is received, so that the following sheets from the other magazines are delivered into it, and it is thereafter closed by the suction head 134 prior to transfer to the tilt table 110.

To ensure that the envelope flap is presented in an open position at the filling station an envelope flap opening mechanism can be sited adjacent the front of the magazine. It comprises a plate carrying two suction cups and capable of rotating through 1800 from an envelope flap closed position to an envelope flap open position. In operation, whilst the suction head 16 moves from position A to position B carrying an envelope, suction in two flap opening cups is switched on securing the tlap of the next exposed envelope in the magazine. When position B is reached by suction head 16 a small gear operates the plate which pivots through 1800 opening the flap of the envelope in the magazine. Suction head 16 returns to position A and the suction on the envelope flap pads is switched off.The suction head 16 is redesigned with an upper extension to hold the envelope flap in its open position as it withdraws the envelope from the magazine and moves it to position B. Between positions C and D the plate 28 holds the flap in the open position.

In place of the rotating arm 82 and slide 84 operating in a slot 86 in the arm 88, the drive can be linked to a box cam which operates the arm 88 to move it back and forth. By this means, the cam can be designed to give a desired dwell time to the suction head 16 at positions A and B. The cam 64 can also be replaced by a box cam to provide a dwell time to the suction head 22 at positions C and D.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A machine for use in filling envelopes and like enclosures, comprising a magazine for holding a stack of envelopes, and equipment for removing envelopes from the stack and opening them for insertion of desired material; said equipment comprising transfer suction means reciprocating in a direction parallel to the planes of the envelopes for withdrawing an exposed envelope from the stack in the magazine and transporting it edge-on to arrive at a filling station in a substantially vertical plane with its open end uppermost, suction means opposing the transfer suction means at the filling station and arranged to co-operate with the transfer suction means so as to draw apart opposite sides of the envelope and thereby open it for the insertion of the desired material into the envelope under gravity, the transfer suction means comprising two suction members, each separately reciprocable along respective paths, one suction member to remove an envelope from the magazine and convey it to an intermediate station, and another suction member to convey the envelope from an intermediate station to the filling station.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said other suction member includes pusher means for engaging a filled envelope and pushing it from the filling station during its movement from said intermediate station to the filling station with an empty envelope.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein it includes means for transporting the filled envelope away from the filling station.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In Fig. 4, an envelope 12 is shown at the filling station, the plates 28, 30 being omitted for clarity, but the position of suction head 32 being indicated, and the envelope being shown in its open position with its flap 13 raised. The material to be inserted into the envelope is delivered through a chute 104, which is reciprocated vertically so that its lower end enters the open mouth of the envelope at the filling station, the chute being shown in its raised position in Fig. 4. At the outlet of the chute is a pair of flaps 106 which are operated by a solenoid mechanism 108 so as to open them when they are inside the envelope, their purpose being to ensure that the envelope mouth is fully open so that the material can be properly delivered. The material is discharged into the chute from a tilt table 110, which is pivoted about an axis 112 for movement between a horizontal attitude and a vertical attitude as shown, the lowermost side of the tilt table being open at 114 for discharge of the material. In its horizontal position, the tilt table is co-planar with a collating table 116, the adjacent sides of the collating table and tilt table being open so that material can be moved from the collating table to the tilt table by a pusher 118, the material being indicated in dot-dash lines at 120 in Fig. 3. The materials are delivered to the collating table by a conveyor 122 which moves in the direction indicated by the arrow past a series of pick-up stations, as represented by E, F, G and H. At each of these stations is a magazine, 124, 126, 128, 130 respectively, positioned alongside and opening towards the conveyor. Reciprocating suction heads 132 draw a paper, pamphlet or the like from respective magazine and deposit it on the conveyor. The operation of the different suction heads is timed so the materials are deposited one on top of another in the desired order on the collating table 116. In Fig. 3, which is only by way of example, the magazines 124, 12 , and 128 hold sheets or leaflets, while the longer magazine 130 contains books or periodicals. A reciprocating suction head 134 can be provided over the collating table to open the book or periodical when it is received, so that the following sheets from the other magazines are delivered into it, and it is thereafter closed by the suction head 134 prior to transfer to the tilt table 110. To ensure that the envelope flap is presented in an open position at the filling station an envelope flap opening mechanism can be sited adjacent the front of the magazine. It comprises a plate carrying two suction cups and capable of rotating through 1800 from an envelope flap closed position to an envelope flap open position. In operation, whilst the suction head 16 moves from position A to position B carrying an envelope, suction in two flap opening cups is switched on securing the tlap of the next exposed envelope in the magazine. When position B is reached by suction head 16 a small gear operates the plate which pivots through 1800 opening the flap of the envelope in the magazine. Suction head 16 returns to position A and the suction on the envelope flap pads is switched off.The suction head 16 is redesigned with an upper extension to hold the envelope flap in its open position as it withdraws the envelope from the magazine and moves it to position B. Between positions C and D the plate 28 holds the flap in the open position. In place of the rotating arm 82 and slide 84 operating in a slot 86 in the arm 88, the drive can be linked to a box cam which operates the arm 88 to move it back and forth. By this means, the cam can be designed to give a desired dwell time to the suction head 16 at positions A and B. The cam 64 can also be replaced by a box cam to provide a dwell time to the suction head 22 at positions C and D. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A machine for use in filling envelopes and like enclosures, comprising a magazine for holding a stack of envelopes, and equipment for removing envelopes from the stack and opening them for insertion of desired material; said equipment comprising transfer suction means reciprocating in a direction parallel to the planes of the envelopes for withdrawing an exposed envelope from the stack in the magazine and transporting it edge-on to arrive at a filling station in a substantially vertical plane with its open end uppermost, suction means opposing the transfer suction means at the filling station and arranged to co-operate with the transfer suction means so as to draw apart opposite sides of the envelope and thereby open it for the insertion of the desired material into the envelope under gravity, the transfer suction means comprising two suction members, each separately reciprocable along respective paths, one suction member to remove an envelope from the magazine and convey it to an intermediate station, and another suction member to convey the envelope from an intermediate station to the filling station.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said other suction member includes pusher means for engaging a filled envelope and pushing it from the filling station during its movement from said intermediate station to the filling station with an empty envelope.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein it includes means for transporting the filled envelope away from the filling station.

4. A machine according to claim 3

wherein the transporting means is associated with means for closing the envelopes in passing.

5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 including an envelope flap opening device adjacent the front of the magazine and comprising a suction device which is movable between a first position in which it secures by suction the flap of an exposed envelope at the front of the magazine and a second position in which it has raised the flap of said envelope, the operation of said device being controlled by the tranfer suction means so that the flap is opened after the removal of the preceding envelope from the magazine and before the return of the transfer suction means, the transfer suction means being adapted to maintain the flap of the envelope in the open condition during removal from the magazine.

6. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein it further includes a filling mechanism for inserting the material into the envelope at the filling station, the filling mechanism comprising a tilt table which moves between a horizontal position in which it supports the material and a tilted position in which it discharges the material into the open mouth of an envelope at the filling station.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein it includes a collating table for receiving the material and means for periodically transferring the material from the collating table to the tilt table.

8. A machine according to claim 7 wherein it includes a series of pick-up stations for supplying different component items of said material, a conveyor moving past the pick-up stations for conveying the items from the pick-up stations to the collating table, and means at each pick-up station for depositing items therefrom onto the conveyor, the operation of the different depositing means being timed so that the different items are delivered by the conveyor in succession to the collating table in a predetermined order

9. A machine according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein intermittently operating suction means is provided for temporarily holding open folded printed matter constituting one item making up said material while one or more other such items are delivered into the opened item.

10. A machine for filling envelopes substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A machine for filling envelopes together with a filling mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.