JP2004526645A - Mail insertion method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of inserting a mail piece (22) into an envelope (24), the method comprising the steps of connecting at least one envelope feeder (16), at least one mail feeder (18), and a transport point (20). Continuously circulating through a series of insertion stations (12); and as the stations (12) pass through respective feeders (16, 18), the mail (22) and associated envelopes (24) are removed. Feeding each station (12) and inserting each mail piece (22) into an associated envelope (24) while the associated station (12) is moving toward a haul point (20). And transporting each envelope (24) containing the inserted mailpiece (22) from an associated station (12) to a transport point (20). . Each station (12) is then recirculated through feeders (16, 18) and transport point (20), and the cycle is repeated. The invention extends to an apparatus (10) for performing this method.

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically inserting mail into envelopes.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0002]
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of inserting mail into an envelope, the method comprising:
Continuously circulating a series of insertion stations through at least one envelope feeder, at least one mailer feeder, and a transport point;
Feeding mail and associated envelopes over each station as the insertion stations pass through the respective feeders;
Inserting each piece of mail into the associated envelope while the associated insertion station moves toward the haul point;
Transporting each envelope with the inserted mail from an associated station to a transport point.
Each station then recirculates through the feeders and transport points, and the cycle repeats.
[0003]
Each envelope feeder may be upstream of the associated mailer feeder, or vice versa, or at the same location on the path followed by the insertion station, but both have a haul point. Upstream.
[0004]
Normally, this method involves moving each envelope while the associated station moves toward the transport point, prior to the step of inserting the mail into the envelope, such that the envelope is ready to receive the associated mail. Opening the mouth.
[0005]
The method may also include, prior to the step of opening the mouth of the envelope, opening the flap of each envelope as the associated station moves toward the transport point. Opening the flap of each envelope includes hingedly displacing the flap from a position where the flap is flat against the body of the envelope and closes the mouth of the envelope to a position where the mouth of the envelope is exposed; The step of opening the mouth includes inserting the mailpiece into the envelope by pushing the mailpiece through the open mouth into the envelope, i.e., into the storage space formed between the side walls, so that the associated mailpiece can be inserted into the envelope. Including the step of spacing the side walls from one another.
[0006]
The method may include, after the step of inserting the associated mailpiece into the envelope, closing the flap of each envelope while the associated station moves toward the transport point.
[0007]
Each piece of mail and the associated envelope can be supplied almost simultaneously on the associated station.
[0008]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for inserting mail into an envelope, the apparatus comprising:
The mail from the envelope feeder, which is mounted on an endless conveyor that continuously circulates through the envelope feeder, the mail feeder, and the transport point, and is supplied from the mail feeder to the associated insertion station, is transferred from the envelope feeder to that station. A series of mail insertion stations, each including a mail inserter, automatically operable to insert into a supplied envelope;
And a transporter automatically operable to transport an envelope containing mail items inserted therein from each insertion station to a transport point as the insertion station passes the transport point.
[0009]
The mail insertion station may be available in South Africa based on commercially available mail insertion stations, such as the NEOPOST trademark NEOPOST in France or the Plockmatic International trademark PLOCKMATIC in Sweden.
[0010]
The device may include an envelope opener, and the envelope opener and, in particular, the inserter may each be cam actuated. Thus, each mail inserter can include a cam operable by engaging an associated stationary cam follower adjacent to the conveyor, and similarly, each of the envelope openers is associated with an associated cam follower adjacent to the conveyor. A cam operable by the combination can be provided. Conventionally, the same cam follower is attached to both cams. Alternatively, the opener and the inserter each comprise a cam follower operable by an associated stationary cam adjacent to the conveyor, each cam being located, for example, by or on the conveyor.
[0011]
Each cam can be arranged on the one hand between the feeders, but on the other hand at the transport point. Thus, the cam / follower engagement caused by the movement of the station will cause both the opener and the inserter to operate on the one hand between the feeders and on the other hand at the transport point. Thus, in particular, the mail inserter may include a cam follower operated by an associated stationary cam adjacent to the conveyor, the mail inserter being located on the one hand between the feeders and on the other hand at the transport point. . Each station automatically opens the mouth of the envelope supplied from the envelope feeder to the relevant station to prepare the envelope for insertion of the relevant mail into the envelope by the relevant mail inserter. An operable envelope opener can be included, and the envelope opener can be cam actuated. The envelope opener may include a cam follower operable by an associated stationary cam adjacent to the conveyor, the envelope opener being located between the feeders on the one hand and at the transport point on the other.
[0012]
Alternatively, the inserter and opener can be motorized.
[0013]
The apparatus may include a mail feeder that supplies mail sequentially to the stations so as to supply one mail to each station, and may also include a mail envelope to supply one envelope to each station. It may include an envelope feeder that continuously supplies envelopes to the station. In particular, the mailer and envelope feeders can be arranged sequentially so that the envelopes and mail are supplied to the respective stations substantially simultaneously. In use, the station can first move through the mailer feeder and then through the envelope feeder, or vice versa. Instead, each station moves simultaneously through the mail and envelope feeders so that the mail and envelope feeders are arranged in series so that the envelopes and mail are fed to each station almost simultaneously. Can be.
[0014]
Conventionally, endless conveyors are mounted on a pair of pulleys, one of which is a driven pulley, the other is an idler pulley, and the stations are mounted at intervals along the length of the conveyor. The endless conveyor may be a belt conveyor or a chain conveyor.
[0015]
The present invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0016]
In FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates an entire apparatus for inserting a mail into an envelope according to the present invention.
[0017]
The apparatus 10 includes a plurality of mail insertion stations 12 mounted in series on an endless conveyor 14 circulating in the direction of arrow 15 through an envelope feeder 16, a mail feeder 18, and then through a transport point 20. Each station 12 may be similar to the commercially available “Neopost” or “Plockmatic” type, but may use another known insertion station without substantially affecting the operation of the device 10. You will understand. Each station 12 includes an envelope opener (not shown) and a mail inserter (not shown), and each opener and associated inserter receives mail 22 supplied from the mail feeder 18 to the associated station 12. 2 (see FIG. 2) is automatically operable to be inserted into the envelope 24 supplied from the envelope feeder 16 to the station 12. As best seen in FIG. 2, there are flaps 17 of the envelope 24 in the open position, with the envelope mouth 19 exposed to receive the associated mailpiece 18, with each envelope 24 above the associated station 12. Supplied. The machine 10 is automatically operable to carry an envelope 24 containing mail items 22 inserted therein from each station 12 to the carrier point 20 as the station 12 passes the carrier point 20. 26.
[0018]
Both the envelope opener and the inserter are cam actuated. Accordingly, the opener and inserter each comprise a cam follower 11 operable by engaging an associated stationary cam in the form of a cam bar 13 on a conveyor 14. For purposes of clarity, the cam bar 13 is not shown in FIG. Thus, due to the continuous cam / follower engagement caused by the station 12 moving through the cam bar 13, both the opener and the inserter move between the feeders 16, 18 and the transport point 20. become.
[0019]
The endless conveyor 14 is a belt conveyor having a belt 27 mounted on a pair of pulleys 28, one of which is a driven pulley, the other is an idler pulley, and the station 12 is the length of the belt 27. It can be installed at intervals along the length. Also, the endless conveyor may be in the form of a chain.
[0020]
Thus, the insertion cycle consists of continuously circulating a series of insertion stations 12 moving simultaneously through the envelope feeder 16 and the mailer feeder 18, feeding envelopes 24 on each station 12, Supplying the mails 22 onto each station 12 simultaneously so that each mailpiece 22 is aligned with and inserted into the associated envelope 24. The envelope 24 is opened, the mailpiece 22 is inserted into the associated envelope 24, and the associated station 12 moves from the feeders 16, 18 to and through the transport point 20. The envelope 24 containing the inserted mail 22 is then transported by the transporter 26 from the associated station 12 to the transport point 20 for further processing. Each station 12 then recirculates through feeders 16, 18 and haul point 20, and the cycle repeats.
[0021]
The present invention allows each envelope 24 containing inserted mail 22 to be transported to the transport point 20 in the same amount of time as it takes to feed the mail 22 and the envelope 24 onto the station 12. And allows the two stations 12 to pass through the longest of the feeders 16 and 18. That is, as long as a sufficient number of stations 12 are provided on the conveyor 14, the transport time does not depend on the speed at which the mail 22 is inserted into the envelope 24.
[0022]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 41 indicates the whole of another embodiment of the apparatus for inserting a mail into an envelope according to the present invention. Unless otherwise indicated, like reference numbers indicate like parts in FIGS.
[0023]
In this embodiment of the invention, each envelope 24 is fed over the associated station with the flaps 17 of the envelope 24 in the closed position, where the flaps 17 close the mouth 19 of the envelope. Accordingly, the apparatus includes a flap opener for sequentially opening the flaps 17 of each envelope 24 before the associated mailpiece 22 is inserted into the envelope 24. The flap opener comprises a flat bar 38 spaced closely above the conveyor 14, which bar parallel to the conveyor 41 when the device 41 is viewed from the side, When viewed in FIG. 3, it is at an angle to the direction of circulation of station 12, as indicated by arrow 15. In use, as station 12 circulates, bar 38 slides continuously between flap 17 and the body of each envelope 24, and movement of station 12 causes bar 38 to automatically fold flap 17 to the open position, where The mouth 19 of the envelope 24 is exposed and the associated mail 22 is inserted into the envelope 24.
[0024]
Similarly, device 41 includes a flap closer for successively closing flaps 17 of envelope 24 after mail piece 22 has been inserted into envelope 24. The flap closer comprises a flat bar 40, similar to the flap opener bar 38, which is at an angle to the direction of circulation of the station 12 when viewed in plan view (FIG. 3). The bar 40 automatically closes the flap 17 of each envelope 24 as the station 12 moves continuously through the bar 40.
[0025]
Although not shown in the figure, the flaps 17 of each envelope 24 can be sealed in the closed position by providing an envelope sealer and applying a sealing force to push the flaps 17 to the main body of the envelope 24. This envelope sealer may be in the form of a stationary roller disposed on the conveyor 14 and pressed against the conveyor 14 downstream of the closing bar 40. It will further be envisioned that a flap wetter may be provided immediately upstream of the flap closer 40 to wet the flap 17 of each envelope to facilitate its sealing.
[0026]
The device 41 has two cam bars on the conveyor 14 between the feeders 16, 18 and the transport point 20, which bars on each station 12 cooperate with the inserter cam follower 11. A cam bar 13 and an opener cam bar 30 that cooperates with an opener cam follower 36 on each station 12.
[0027]
Envelope opener 32 includes a pair of wedges 43 at each end of envelope opener 32, each wedge being vertically aligned and forming upper and lower prongs 44 and wedges 43 at an angle to one another. Prongs 46 (FIG. 4) are provided, whereby the narrow end 45 of each wedge 43 opposes the mouth 19 of the associated envelope 24 in use. The upper prong 44 is pivotally displaceable about a pivot 50 parallel to the direction of the arrow 15, which pivot 50 is arranged at the wide end 47 of the wedge 43, whereby the narrow end 45 of the wedge 43 is By pivoting the upper prong 44 upward about the axis 50 away from the lower prong 46, the associated mail 22 between the prongs 44, 46 passes from the wide end 47 of the wedge 43 to the narrow end 45. It is operable to be able to.
[0028]
Each envelope opener 32 is slidable on a guide rail 42 provided on the associated station 12, which rail 42 extends in a direction transverse to the direction of the arrow 15 and connects the opener cam follower 36 with the opener cam bar 30. The cooperation causes the envelope opener 32 to slide along the guide rail 42.
[0029]
The mail inserter 34 (FIG. 5) of each station 12 is also slidable on an inserter rail 48 which is fixed relative to the station 12 and parallel to the opener rail 42 in the direction of arrow 15. Extends in a vertical direction. Similarly, the cooperation between the associated inserter cam follower 11 and the inserter cam bar 13 causes each inserter 34 to slide, each of the inserters 34 as they slide toward the envelope 24. The associated mail 22 is arranged to be pushed into the associated envelope 24. According to the configuration of the rails 48, 42, the inserter 34 and the opener 32 can slide through each other.
[0030]
In use, the opener 32 and the inserter 34 automatically open the associated envelope 24, respectively, by cooperating between the cam followers 11, 36 of each station 12 and the cam bars 13 Is automatically inserted into the envelope 24. First, the opener 32 slides toward the envelope 24, and the narrow end 45 of the wedge 43 enters the mouth 19 of the associated envelope 24, thereby separating the side walls of the envelope 24 from each other and opening the mouth 19 (FIG. 4). . Thereafter, the inserter 34 slides toward the envelope 24 and pushes the mail piece 22 between the prongs 44,46. The upper prong 44 is pivotally displaced away from the associated lower prong 46 so that the narrow end 45 of the wedge 43 opens and mail 22 passes through the open narrow end 45 into the envelope 24. Is pushed into.
[0031]
The envelope opener 36 then slides away from the envelope 24, and the wedge 43 is thereby pulled out of the envelope 24 leaving the mail piece 22 in the envelope 24, after which the inserter 34 also slides away from the envelope 24. I do. As mentioned above, after the mail piece 22 has been inserted into the associated envelope 24 in this way, the flaps 17 of each envelope are closed by the bar 40 and the envelope is transported continuously to the transport point 20.
[0032]
Applicants contemplate a method of receiving one or more mailpieces at a time from a feeder at a fixed location station that automatically inserts mailpieces into envelopes and aligning and inserting them into corresponding envelopes. The envelope is opened, the mail is inserted into the envelope, and the envelope with the mail inserted therein is then moved away from the fixed position station in order for the station to accept more mail and the envelope and repeat this process. Be moved. In such a manner, the station cannot receive another piece of mail and envelope from the feeder until the envelope containing the inserted mail has moved away from the station. Thus, a delay occurs, which is avoided or reduced by the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0033]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an envelope and mail before insertion in an insertion station forming section of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of another embodiment of the device according to the invention;
4 is an enlarged schematic end view of the envelope opener formation of the mail insertion station of the apparatus of FIG. 3, taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of an envelope opener and a mail inserter cooperating to insert mail into an associated envelope;

Claims (15)

A method of inserting mail into an envelope,
Continuously circulating a series of insertion stations through at least one envelope feeder, at least one mailer feeder, and a transport point;
Providing mail and associated envelopes on each station as the stations pass through respective feeders;
Inserting each piece of mail into the associated envelope while the associated station moves toward the haul point;
Transporting each envelope in which the mail has been inserted from an associated station to a point of transport; and
The method wherein each station is then recirculated through the feeder and the transport point, and the cycle is repeated. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of opening each envelope's mouth while the associated station is moving toward the haul point prior to the step of inserting mail into the envelope. 3. The method of claim 2, comprising, prior to the step of opening the envelope mouth, opening a flap of each envelope while the associated station moves toward the transport point. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the step of inserting each piece of mail into an associated envelope, closing a flap of each envelope while the associated station moves toward the transport point. The method described in. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mailpiece and associated envelope are supplied substantially simultaneously on an associated station. A device for inserting mail into an envelope,
A series of mail insertion stations provided on an endless conveyor for continuous circulation through an envelope feeder, a mail feeder, and a transport point, each station including an associated insertion from the mail feeder. A mail insertion station including a mail inserter automatically operable to insert mail supplied to the station from an envelope feeder into an envelope supplied to the insertion station;
A transporter that is automatically operable to transport envelopes having mail inserted therein from each insertion station to a transport point as the stations pass through the transport point. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the mail inserter is cam operated. 8. The mail inserter of claim 7, wherein the mail inserter includes a cam follower operable by an associated stationary cam adjacent the conveyor, wherein the mail inserter cam is located between a feeder and a transport point. Equipment. Each station automatically opens an envelope fed from the envelope feeder to the associated station to prepare the envelope for inserting the relevant mail into the envelope by the associated mail inserter. 9. The device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising an operable envelope opener. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the envelope opener is cam actuated. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the envelope opener includes a cam follower operable by an associated stationary cam adjacent to the conveyor, wherein the cam of the envelope opener is located between a feeder and a transport point. 12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 11, comprising a mail feeder for supplying mail sequentially to said stations so as to supply one mail to each station. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, including an envelope feeder that supplies envelopes sequentially to said stations so as to supply one envelope to each station. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mailer and the envelope feeder are sequentially arranged to supply envelopes and mail to each station substantially simultaneously. The endless conveyor is mounted on a pair of pulleys, one of which is a driven pulley and the other is an idler pulley, wherein the stations are mounted at intervals along the length of the conveyor. An apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 14.