GB2268148A

GB2268148A - Insertion of items into envelopes

Info

Publication number: GB2268148A
Application number: GB9309756A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David M Woodford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-12
Filing date: 1993-05-12
Publication date: 1994-01-05
Also published as: GB9309756D0; GB9210221D0

Abstract

Apparatus for inserting items into envelopes, comprises means for advancing the envelopes individually from a stock along a path through the apparatus with their opening transverse to that path and means for receiving each envelope advanced along the path and holding the envelope in an open condition while an item is inserted thereinto by means of a pusher 70, said means comprising a holder or receiver 50 pivotable between a position in which it can receive open envelopes, a position in which items can be inserted thereinto and a position in which envelopes, containing the items, can continue from the holder along said path. There may be a kicker 115 provided to eject the envelopes from the holder. The envelope path maybe in two sections, one below the other. The invention also provides apparatus for opening flaps of envelopes by means of a bar movable to a position under said flaps and apparatus for opening up the mouths of envelopes using a flexible blade. The various operations of the apparatus may be controlled by a camshaft. <IMAGE>

Description

INSERTION OF ITEMS INTO ENVELOPES The present invention relates to an apparatus for inserting items, such as folded paper sheets, into envelopes.

Machines for inserting items, such as folded paper sheets, into envelopes are known. Such machines tend to be large and also have other disadvantages that make them unsuitable for use in certain situations with limited space e.g. small offices.

The present invention aims to provide, at least in preferred embcdiments, a machine for inserting items into envelopes, the machine being compact and suitable for use in situations with limited space.

The invention comprises a number of aspects which may be incorporated separately or in combination into an apparatus for inserting items into envelopes.

In sane known machines for inserting items into envelopes, the envelopes slide along a stationery bed, with their openings transverse to the direction of advance of the envelopes. Each envelope is removed, with its flap initially unopened, from a stack of envelopes. In a first aspect the invention provides apparatus wherein the envelopes are also advanced with their openings transverse to their direction of travel.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus comprises means for advancing the envelopes individually along a path through the apparatus with the envelopes disposed with their openings transverse to the path, there being provided means for receiving each envelope advanced along the path and holding the envelope in an open condition while an item is inserted thereinto, said means comprising a holder or receiver pivotable between a position in which it can receive open envelopes, a position in which items can be inserted there into and a position in which envelopes, containing the items, can continue from the holder along said path.

Preferably a kicker which operates in synchronism with the pivoting of the holder is provided to eject the envelopes with the items therein from the holder.

Preferably the apparatus additionally includes means for holding a stock of envelopes, means for opening the envelopes and means for closing the envelopes with the items therein, and wherein the path includes a first section extending from said means for holding the stock of envelopes to said holder and a second section extending from said holder to a position for delivery of closed envelopes with the items therein from the apparatus, one said section of the path being below the other section. This arrangement of the two sections facilitates making the apparatus compact.

Preferably the second section of the path is disposed below the first section.

Preferably the apparatus is constructed such that in operation only one envelope is present between the ends of the path at any one time.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a pusher reciprocal on a platform for pushing the items from the platform into the envelopes.

A second aspect of the invention is based upon the concept of providing a single camshaft to control a number of operations of the apparatus for inserting items into envelopes. Such operations may be selected from: opening the flaps of the envelopes; opening up the mouths of the envelopes; pushing inserts into the envelopes; pivoting a holder or receiver which hold the envelopes while inserts are pushed into them; and ejecting the holder from the receiver.

According to the second aspect of the invention, apparatus for inserting items into envelopes comprises at least two means selected from: means for opening the flaps of envelopes; means for opening up the mouths of the envelopes; means for pushing inserts into the envelopes; means for pivoting a receiver or holder which holds the envelopes while inserts are pushed into them; and means for ejecting the envelopes from the holder; and wherein the apparatus comprises a camshaft controlling operation of at least two of said means such that a single rotation of the camshaft causes the operations effected by those means to be carried out.

Preferably each rotation of the camshaft effects opening of the flap of a single envelope, into which envelope an item is inserted on the next rotation of the camshaft.

In previously known machines the withdrawal of an envelope from a stack and the opening of the envelope were carried out as consecutive operations. A third aspect of the invention relates to the provision of means to open each envelope as it is withdrawn fram the stack of envelopes.

According to the third aspect of the invention, an apparatus for opening flaps of envelopes, comprises means for holding a stack of envelopes and a reciprocally movable elongate member arranged to be moved under the flap of the uppermost envelope of the stack prior to the removal of the envelope from the stack, whereby as the envelope is removed from the stack, the elongate member acts on the flap to move the flap towards a fully open position.

Preferably the means for holding the stack of envelopes comprises a platform for supporting the stack and means for pressing down opposite edges of the stack onto the platform, the platform having an upper surface which is shaped to urge the flap of the uppermost envelope of the stack towards an open position. For this purpose, the platform preferably has a convex upper surface or otherwise has cpposed marginal portions which are lower than a central portion of the platform.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to the provision of a flexible blade to facilitate reliable entry of the insert into each envelope.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for opening up the mouths of envelopes and inserting items into the envelopes, comprising a platform for supporting envelopes, a flexible blade for insertion into the mouth of each envelope, means for advancing the flexible blade into the mouth of the envelope when the envelope is supported on the platform and means for inserting an item into the envelope between the blade and a web of the envelope while the blade is inserted into the opening, the blade serving to guide the item between the blade and the web.

The apparatus may incorporate all four aspects of the invention and be constructed as a compact portable electrically operated machine.

The invention is further described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view, with a few parts omitted, in a vertical plane, of a machine according to the invention at the beginning of operation; Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 but with further parts omitted for the sake of clarity; Figures 3A and 3B show a detail, including a first cam, of Figures 1 and 2, the two figures showing the cam at different times during an operating cycle; Figure 3C is similar to Figure 3A but with certain parts omitted to show an eccentric rotary rod and the first cam more clearly, the first cam being shown only diagrammatically; Figure 3D is similar to Figure 3A but with certain parts omitted to show the cam mare clearly; ; Figure 4A shows a detail, including second and third cams, of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4B is similar to Figure 4A but with certain parts omitted to show the third cam more clearly; Figure 5A shows a detail, including the third cam, of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 5B is similar to Figure 5A but with further parts omitted to show the cam more clearly.

In the description below the terms "left", "right" and derivatives thereof relate to the machine as viewed in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, a fixed plate 1 supports coil springs 6 (not shown) which carry a platform 8 for supporting a stack of envelopes (not shown) in use of the machine. The platform 8 has pins 10 projecting from its ends, the pins engaging in vertical slots 12 in fixed vertical walls (not shown) so that the platform is guided for upward and downward movement on the springs 6. The upper surface of the platform 8 is convex, being formed as two plane surfaces which slope upwardly to an apex 14.

A rod or bar 22 is positioned above the platform 8 and has its end portions located in slots 23 in the fixed vertical walls. The slots 23 are parallel to the left plane surface of the top of the platform 8.

A roller 40 is mounted above the left margin of the platform 8. A rod 42 is fixedly mounted above the right margin of the platform 8.

An abutment 43 is provided adjacent the left edge of the platform 8.

A pair of rollers 44 define a nip to the left of the stop 43. To the left of the stop 43 is a fixed horizontal platform 48.

To the left of the platform 48 is provided an envelope receiver or holder 50 (see Figure 2) which is mounted on a shaft 52 for pivoting movement. The receiver 50 comprises a base 54 and a rigid cover band or strap 56 shaped to provide a thin pocket 58 open at its left and right sides. The base 54 has upwardly curved lips 57 on its sides adjacent its right edge for a purpose described below. An abutment or stop 98 is provided at the left edge of the base 54.

A fixed sloping platform 62 is arranged to receive folded paper inserts from a mechanism 64 which is known in the art. The lower corners of the platform 62 are cut away for a purpose described below.

A pusher 70 is slidably mounted on the platform 62. Means (not shown) urge the pusher rightwardly.

Plates 80 and 81 are fixedly mounted below the platform 4 and define a chute 82 open at its upper and lower ends.

To the left of the chute 82 a pair of rollers 94 and 95 define a nip.

A resiliently flexible blade 96 (see Figure 3D) is rtlounted above the platform 62 on a slidable mEmber 97 biased rightwardly by a spring (not shown).

A wetting pad (not shown) is provided beneath the platform 62 adjacent the left edge of the platform.

A spring-loaded kicker 115 is mounted beneath the receiver 50 on a pivot 116 and engages in the pocket 58 of the receiver.

The embers 70 and 97 slide on bars 220 in a known manner.

Prior to operation of the machine, a stack of envelopes (not shown) is placed upon the platform 8 with the flap of each envelope uppermost at the right and the front web (contiguous with the flap) of each envelope facing dcwnw dly. The envelopes are held in position by the platform 8, under the force of the springs pushing the envelopes upwardly, so that the uppermost envelope bears against the roller 40 and the rod 42.

Initially the rod 22 is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and bears upon the flap of the uppermost envelope of the stack and the roller 40 bears upon the left margin of the rear web of the envelope.

The rod 22 then slides over the flap of the top envelope, passes the free edge of the flap and then bears upon the rear web of the envelope. The flap then pivots upwardly. This pivoting takes place partly because of the natural resilience of the material of which the envelope is made causing the fold line at the junction of the flap and the front web of the envelope to bias the flap upwardly and partly because of the shape of the top of the platform 8 bends the envelope about the apex 14 causing the flap to be pushed upwardly relative to the fold line.

The rod 22 next moves rightwardly to its initial position and to be disposed beneath the flap. This state is the start of an operating cycle of the machine.

The roller 40, which has during the previous stage of the cycle been stationary, then starts rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings. The roller 40 accordingly draws the top envelope from the stack on the platform 8 over the abutment 43 to the nip between the rollers 44. The abutment 43 prevents any envelope in the stack, other than the top envelope, being drawn off the platform by the roller 40.

The rollers 44 rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 and the envelope is passed through the nip between these rollers and propelled over the platform 48 into the pocket 58 of the envelope receiver 50.

As the top envelope is drawn from the stack on the platform 8 its flap is pivoted to a fully open position substantially coplanar with the front web of the envelope by the bar 22.

The means 64 delivers a folded paper insert onto the platform 62 after the envelope has been received in the receiver 50.

The envelope receiver 50 is then pivoted upwardly to a position in which it is in alignment with the platform 62.

As the envelope receiver 50 pivots upwards the flap of the envelope is trapped against the underside of the platform 62 thereby fully opening the flap and causing the margin of the flap to engage the wetter pad.

The member 97 then slides leftwardly causing the blade 96 to be inserted into the mouth of the envelope thereby opening up the mouth and the pusher 70 is slid leftwardly along the platform 62. The pusher thereby pushes the insert into the envelope, the insert being guided below the blade 96 and above the flap and the front web of the envelope.

The lips 57 of the platform 54 help to bow the bottam web of the envelope and thereby ensure that its mouth is opened wide. Also the cutaway corners of the platform 62 facilitate bowing of the bottan web of the envelope.

The blade 95, as well as guiding the insert, serves to press down upon the insert as it is pushed towards the envelope thereby ensuring that it remains in a fully folded state.

The envelope receiver 50, containing the envelope which itself contains the insert, then pivots downwardly (through its initial position) to be in alignment with the nip between the rollers 94 and 96 and the kicker 115 operates to eject the envelope fran the receiver towards the nip between the rollers 94 and 95.

The rollers 94 and 95 rotate continuously in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 to draw the envelope through the nip between themselves, simultaneously closing the flap, which because it has been wetted by the wetter pad 99, seals the envelope.

The rollers 94 and 95 deliver the envelope into the chute 82 fran which it discharges from the machine.

The envelope receiver 50 then pivots back to its initial position for the start of the next operating cycle of the machine.

It will be understood fram the foregoing description that simultaneously with the insertion of a folded insert into one envelope the rod 22 is slid over the flap of the next envelope in the stack on the platform 8 so as to be ready for sliding underneath the flap and simultaneously with the sliding of the rod 22 underneath that flap the pusher 70 slides up the platform 62 so that the platform 62 is ready to receive the next folded insert fran the means 64.

At any time in the operating cycle there is no more than one envelope which has left the stack on the platform 8 and has not entered the chute 82. Thus in the event of a nalfunction or jam no more than one envelope need be extracted from the machine and no more than one such envelope and one insert will be damaged.

Means are provided to operate the various moving parts of the machine in timed relationship, such means including means to operate the means 64 in timed relationship with the movement of the pusher 70.

The above-mentioned means includes a camshaft 160 driven by an electric motor 161 and on which are mounted a plurality of cams for rotation with the camshaft. A single rotation of the camshaft executes each operating cycle of the machine.

A first cam 162 (see Figures 3A to 3C) carries an eccentric rotary rod or pin 164 which serves to effect the reciprocating movement of both the bar 22, in order to open the flaps of the envelopes, and the pusher 70.

The first cam 162 (Figures 3A to 3D) itself serves to effect the reciprocating movement of the flexible guide blade 96.

A second cam 190 (Figures 4A and 4B) serves to effect the pivoting movement of the envelope receiver 54.

A third cam 200 (Figures 5A and 5B) serves to operate the kicker 115 to eject the envelopes from the receiver 54.

Figures 4A and 5A show both the second and third cams 192 and 200 one being disposed behind the other.

The operation of the cams is further described below with reference to Figures 3A to SB.

The first cam 162 carries the pin 164 which runs in a shaped slot 166 in a member 168 attached to a member 170 which is attached to a member 172. The member 170 is slidable on the bars 220 in a direction slightly inclined to the horizontal. The member 97, carrying the blade 96, is attached to the member 170 for movement therewith. The member 172 during part of its movement engages with a lever 173 having a slot 174 into which the rod 22 extends. The lever 173 is biased rightwardly to engage the member 172.

Rotation of the camshaft 160 causes the members 170 and 172 to slide back and forth, thereby sliding the pusher 70 up and down the platform 62 and effecting reciprocating movement of the rod 22 in the slot 23.

The first cam 162 has an outer profiled surface 162 which engages a cam follower 180 attached to the slidable member 97, which carries the flexible blade 96. Rotation of the camshaft 160 causes the member 97 to slide up and down the platform 62.

Figure 3A and 3D show the camshaft 160 in an initial (00 rotation) position. The rod 164, the members 170 and 172 and the lever 173 are in their rightmost positions.

When the camshaft 160 has rotated in an anti-clockwise sense (as viewed in the figures) through 1800 to the position shown in Figure 3B the members 170 and 172 and the lever 173 are in their leftmost positions. The member 97 has moved leftwardly to move the blade 96 leftwardly to enter the mouth of an envelope.

The second cam 190 (Figures 4A and 4B) has an outer profile which engages a cam follower 192 attached to the envelope receiver 50.

Rotation of the camshaft 160 effects pivoting of the receiver 50 as described above. In the 0 position of the camshaft the receiver 50 is aligned with the platform 48.

In the 0 position of the camshaft 160 (Figures 4A and 4B) the receiver 50 is horizontal. In the 2400 position of the camshaft (Figure SA) the receiver is inclined downwardly to be in alignment with the chute 82.

The third cam 260 has an outer profile which engages a cam follower 202 pivoted at 204 and to which the kicker 115 is attached.

Figure 5B shows the camshaft 160 in its initial (00 rotation) position. The envelope receiver 50 is horizontal and the kicker 115 is in its leftmost position i.e. the machine is in its state shown in Figures 1 to 2.

Figure 5A shows the camshaft 160 having rotated through 2400. The receiver 50 has been pivoted downwardly as described above and the kicker 115 has been operated to move sharply rightwardly to eject an envelope containing an insert out of the receiver.

Claims

1. Apparatus for inserting items into envelopes, comprising means for advancing the envelopes individually along a path through the apparatus with the envelopes disposed with their openings transverse to the path, there being provided means for receiving each envelope advanced along the path and holding the envelope in an open condition while an item is inserted thereinto, said means comprising a holder or receiver pivotable between a position in which it can receive open envelopes, a position in which items can be inserted thereinto and a position in which envelopes, containing the items, can continue from the holder along said path.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a kicker which operates in synchronism with the pivoting of the holder is provided to eject the envelopes with the items therein from the holder.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, additionally including means for holding a stock of envelopes, means for opening the envelopes and means for closing the envelopes with the items therein, and wherein the path includes a first section extending from said means for holding the stock of envelopes to said holder and a second section extending from said holder to a position for delivery of closed envelopes with the items therein from the apparatus, one said section of the path being below the other section

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the second section of the path is disposed below the first section.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, constructed such that in operation only one envelope is present between the ends of the path at any one time.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a pusher reciprocal on a platform for pushing the items from the platform into the envelopes.

7. Apparatus for inserting items into envelopes, comprising at least two means selected from: means for opening the flaps of envelopes; means for opening up the mouths of the envelopes; means for pushing inserts into the envelopes; means for pivoting a receiver or holder which holds the envelopes while inserts are pushed into them; and means for ejecting the envelopes from the holder; and wherein the apparatus comprises a camshaft controlling operation of at least two of said means such that a single rotation of the camshaft causes the operations effected by those means to be carried out.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each rotation of the camshaft effects opening of the flap of a single envelope, into which envelope an item is inserted on the next rotation of the camshaft.

9. An apparatus for opening flaps of envelopes, comprising means for holding a stack of envelopes and a reciprocally movable elongate member arranged to be moved under the flap of the uppermost envelope of the stack prior to the removal of the envelope from the stack, whereby as the envelope is removed from the stack, the elongate member acts on the flap to move the flap towards a fully open position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for holding the stack of envelopes comprises a platform for supporting the stack and means for pressing down opposite edges of the stack onto the platform, the platform having an upper surface which is shaped to urge the flap of the uppermost envelope of the stack towards an open position.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the platform has a convex upper surface or otherwise has opposed marginal portions which are lower that a central portion of the platform.

12. Apparatus for opening up the mouths of envelopes and inserting items into the envelopes, comprising a platform for supporting envelopes, a flexible blade for insertion into the mouth of each envelope, means for advancing the flexible blade into the mouth of the envelope when the envelope is supported on the platform and means for inserting an item into the envelope between the blade and a web of the envelope while the blade is inserted into the opening, the blade serving to guide the item between the blade and the web.

13. Apparatus for inserting items into envelopes, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. An apparatus for opening flaps of envelopes, substantially as described herein with reference and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus for opening up the mouths of envelopes and inserting items into the envelopes, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.