IE63117B1

IE63117B1 - Apparatus for placing an article in an envelope

Info

Publication number: IE63117B1
Application number: IE357189A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Michael J A Neary
Original assignee: Mendlesham Ltd
Priority date: 1989-11-06
Filing date: 1989-11-06
Publication date: 1995-03-22
Also published as: GB2237786A; IE893571A1; GB9024001D0; BE1002274A6

Abstract

An apparatus for placing a computer floppy disc 101 in a sleeve 100 comprises a base 21 and a roller 22 for feeding the disc 101 to a station and into the sleeve 100. The sleeve 100 is fed in a stack by a piston rod 40 and is positioned so that the lower lip (105) engages with part of the base 21 and a paper suction device 85 pulls the upper lip 106 upwardly. This causes the mouth of the sleeve 100 to be opened thereby enabling the floppy disc 101 to enter the sleeve. The combination of the floppy disc 101 in the sleeve 100 is then carried by a carriage 81 to enable the combination to be deposited into a receptacle.

Description

APPARATUS FOR PLACING AN ARTICLE IN AN ENVELOPE This invention relates to an apparatus for placing an article in an envelope. In particular, it relates to an apparatus for placing a computer floppy disc in a disc sleeve.

A computer floppy disc comprises a disc per se housed in a substantially square shaped protective jacket. Following the production of the floppy disc, it is normally placed in a disc sleeve. The disc sleeve is designed to provide protection for the computer floppy disc particularly in the region of the read-write window and the timing hole of the protective jacket.

Heretofore, following the production of computer floppy discs each disc was manually placed in its respective sleeve. Such a procedure is a time consuming and tedious task.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.

The invention, therefore, provides an apparatus for placing articles in envelopes, comprising means for feeding articles successively to a station, means for receiving a stack of envelopes and for urging the stack upwardly towards the station, the mouths of the envelopes facing in a direction (herein referred to as the forward direction) opposite to the direction of movement of the articles and each having a lower lip · which projects forwardly relative to the upper lip so as to become engaged under a rearward projection at the station when the envelope comes to the top of the stack, a carriage reciprocable along a path substantially 311^ - 2 parallel to the direction of movement of the articles, and suction means carried by said carriage for movement forwardly over said stack and rearwardly towards a receptacle for filled envelopes, the suction means being t operable when over the stack to lift the upper surface of each envelope at the top of the stack so that the mouth opens due to retention of the lower lip by the projection and the feeding means being synchronised with the carriage and suction means to insert an article into the envelope when its mouth is open, and the carriage being operable after an article has been inserted into an envelope to move the suction means rearwardly towards said receptacle whereby the filled envelope is moved laterally from the stack in the rearward direction so as to disengage the lower lip from the projection, the filled envelope thereafter being released by the suction means to drop the filled envelope into the receptacle.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus according to the invention for placing an article in an envelope; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figures 3-5 are side elevations of the p apparatus of Figure 1 of the drawings showing an article being placed in an envelope; · Figure 6 is a perspective view of one part of the apparatus of Figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 7 is a perspective view of another part of the apparatus of Figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 8 is a plan view of an envelope for use with the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a side elevation of the envelope of Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a plan view of a computer floppy disc.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 8-10 an envelope or sleeve 100 suitable for holding an article 101 in the form of a computer floppy disc 101.

The sleeve 100 which is of well-known construction, comprises a rearwardly disposed member 102 and a forwardly disposed member 103. The members 102, 103 are joined together along the base 107 and the edges 108, 109 and form an opening 104 for the floppy disc 101. The opening has a pair of lips 105,106. The lip 105 which is integral with the member 102,projects outwardly when compared with the lip 106 which is integral with the member 103.

The computer floppy disc 101 comprises a disc 111 per se housed in a jacket 112. The jacket 112 has an opening 113 for enabling the disc 111 to be rotated within the jacket 112. The jacket 112, which is well-known, also has a read/write window 114 and a timing hole 115. The main purpose of the sleeve 100 is to provide protection for the exposed parts of the disc 111 when not in use.

Referring now to Figures 1-7 of the drawings, there is shown an apparatus 10 according to , the invention which apparatus 10 comprises, in general, means 20 for feeding the floppy disc 101 to a station; ,. means 40 for feeding the sleeve 100 to the station; means 60 enabling the mouth of the sleeve 100 to be opened; and means 80 for removing the combination of floppy disc 101 housed in the sleeve 100 from the station.

The apparatus 10 is mounted on a frame 11 of suitable construction. It will be appreciated that for reasons of clarity, the entire frame 11 is not shown.

The feeding means 20 comprises a base 21 and an associated roller 22. The roller 22 is driven in a conventional manner and is of the type which operates at a pressure relative to the base 21 such that its action will not damage the floppy disc 101.

The base 21 is substantially rectangular in shape having two projecting limbs 23, 24. A sensor 25 is located in the region of the limb 23. The projecting limbs 23, 24 constitute part of the opening means 60.

The means 40 for feeding the sleeve 100 comprises a housing 41 having a plurality or stack 42 of sleeves 100. The stack 42 rests on a base 43 which is movable in the direction of the station by a rod 44 which is essentially the piston of an hydraulically operated ram mechanism (not shown). The base 43 is ► located in the housing 41 the dimensions of which prevent undue lateral movement of the stack 42 while ena- » bling the rod 44 to move the stack 42 vertically within the housing 41 and in the direction of the station. - 5 The frame 11 supports two runners 90, 91 disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship. Mounted on the runners 90, 91 and adapted for reciprocal movement thereon is a carriage 81. Attached to the carriage 81 is a rod 82 of an hydraulic ram 83. The ram 83 is mounted on a support 84 attached to the frame 11. Also attached to the carriage 81 and disposed transversely relative to the runners 90, 91 are paper suction devices 85. The paper suction devices 85 are of a well-known type which enable paper or the like to be lifted from a stack of papers held in a magazine. The paper suction devices 85 do not require a detailed description in the present specification; suffice to say that the means for producing the suction comprises a well-known mechanism 86 mounted on the carriage 81. Also mounted on the carriage 81 is a balancing arm 87·.

Also mounted on the frame 11 is a chute 88 operatively associated with bins 120, 121. Each of the bins 120, 121 is capable of receiving and storing a stack of combinations of floppy discs 101 housed in respective sleeves 100. Only one of the bins is in communication with the chute 88 at any one time.

With particular reference to Figure 7, there is shown the bins 120, 121 mounted on the frame 11 and adapted for reciprocal movement in the direction of the arrow 140 which movement is transverse to the direction of movement of the piston 82. In Figure 8, it will be noted that the bin 120 is in register with the chute 88.

A sensor 122 of a well-known type is adapted for monitoring the level of the contents of the bin 120 or 121 in register with the chute 88. A sensor 123 again of a well-known type monitors the positions of the bins 120, 121 so that the apparatus 10 will not operate in the absence of a bin 120 or 121 being in register with the chute 88 which bin 120 or 121 has sufficient space to receive the floppy disc/envelope combination detected by the sensor 122.

A microprocessor means (not shown) is used to control the apparatus 10.

The use of the apparatus 10 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 3-5 of the drawings.

In Figure 3, there is shown a conveyor belt 130 and as associated roller wheel 131. Computer floppy discs 101 arrive sequentially along the belt 130 travelling from left to right as viewed in Figure 3 of the drawings. The conveyor belt 130 and associated wheel 131 deliver the floppy disc 101 onto the base 21 whereupon the disc 101 is sandwiched between the base 21 and the wheel 22 rotating in the direction of the associated arrow 22a.

Meanwhile, the piston 82 has moved the carriage 81 to the left and the suction devices 85 are actuated to lift a sleeve 100 from the stack 42. The stack 42 of sleeves 100 is placed in the housing 41 so that the opening generated by the lips 105, 104 is facing in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the floppy disc 101. In lifting the sleeve 100, the lip 105 makes contact with the projections 23, preventing further upward movement of the member 102. However, the member 103 does continue its upward movement thereby opening the sleeve 100 for the reception of the floppy disc 101.

With the sleeve 100 in the open condition, the floppy disc 101 is ejected from the base 21 by the action of the roller 22 and into the sleeve 100.

The sensor 25 detects the passing of the floppy disc 101 whereupon the ram 83 is actuated so as to move the carriage 81 to the right bringing with it the sleeve 100/floppy disc 101 combination 200. The carriage moves a distance so that the combination 200 can be deposited into the chute 88. When in position, the suction devices 87 are deactuated and the combination 200 falls into the chute 88. The combination 200 falls through the chute 88 into the bin 120. The carriage 81 moves again to the left; the suction devices 87 are actuated to remove another sleeve 100 from the stack 42 and the next floppy disc 101 is inserted in to the sleeve 100 by the action of the roller 22.

When the sleeve 100 is in position awaiting a floppy disc, that part of the sleeve 100 in the vicinity of the base 107 is in contact with the balancing arm 87. The sleeve 100 is in contact with the arm 87 until such time as the suction devices 85 are deactuated and the combination 200 has fallen into the chute 88. The arm 87 balances the sleeve 100 particularly when the floppy disc 101 is being inserted into the sleeve 100.

When the bin 120 is full, as detected by the sensor 122, the bins 120, 121 are moved laterally so that the bin 121 is in register with the chute 88. The combinations 200 stacked in the bin 120 may be removed manually and subjected to further processing e.g. packing.

The apparatus 10 according to the invention provides for the efficient production of a plurality of floppy discs/sleeve combinations and eliminates the need for manual placement of the floppy discs in their respec5 tive sleeves. The apparatus 10 is relatively inexpensive to produce, requires little maintenance and is simple to operate.

The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiments described which can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An apparatus for placing articles in envelopes, comprising means for feeding articles successively to a 5 station, means for receiving a stack of envelopes and for urging the stack upwardly towards the station, the mouths of the envelopes facing in a direction (herein referred to as the forward direction) opposite to the direction of movement of the articles and each having a 10 lower lip which projects forwardly relative to the upper lip so as to become engaged under a rearward projection at the station when the envelope comes to the top of the stack, a carriage reciprocable along a path substantially parallel to the direction of 15 movement of the articles, and suction means carried by said carriage for movement forwardly over said stack and rearwardly towards a receptacle for filled envelopes, the suction means being operable when over the stack to lift the upper surface of each envelope at 20 the top of the stack so that the mouth opens due to retention of the lower lip by the projection and the feeding means being synchronised with the carriage and suction means to insert an article into the, envelope when its mouth is open, and the carriage being operable 25 after an article has been inserted into an envelope to move the suction means rearwardly towards said receptacle whereby the filled envelope is moved laterally from the stack in the rearward direction so as to disengage the lower lip from the projection, the 30 filled envelope thereafter being released by the suction means to drop the filled envelope into the receptacle.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the 35 envelope comprises a sleeve for a computer floppy disc and the article comprises a computer floppy disc.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the removing means is adapted to place the combination of the disc and the sleeve in a receptacle.

4. 5 4. An apparatus for placing an article in an envelope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.