WO1999006284A1

WO1999006284A1 - Apparatus and method for inserting a flexible sheet in a container

Info

Publication number: WO1999006284A1
Application number: PCT/IB1998/001161
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Elent; Peter Guttinger; Peter Wardell
Original assignee: Langen Packaging Inc
Priority date: 1997-07-29
Filing date: 1998-07-29
Publication date: 1999-02-11
Also published as: EP0894725A1; AU8353098A

Abstract

Apparatus for insertion of at least one flexible sheet (12) into at least one container (60) comprises a sheet grasping surface (22) having a plurality of undulations on it which cause the effective width of a sheet maintained on the surface by vacuum ports (50) to be reduced, so as to facilitate insertion of the sheet into an aperture (60) in the container. Sheets (12) are provided to the sheet grasping surface (22) from a magazine by a pick and place device (24). The sheet grasping surface (22) is formed on a thin plate member (20) which is moved by conveyor belts (62) to slide the plate into the aperture (60) in the container, whereupon the sheet is released from the surface and remains in the container on subsequent retraction of the plate. Prior to insertion of the plate (20) the container (18) is located by a grasping device (52) which bends the container to expose the aperture (60). The apparatus provides for simultaneous insertion of several sheets in a corresponding number of containers. The containers may be video cassette containers or envelopes and the flexible sheets may be cardboard title inserts or letters respectively.

Description

l Apparatus and Method for Inserting a Flexible Sheet in a Container

2

3 The present invention relates to the field of automated packaging

* and labelling, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for

5 inserting a flexible sheet in a container. e Operations such as inserting a cardboard title sheet within a video

7 cassette container so as to provide a cover label for a VHS video cassette s contained in such container, or inserting a letter within an envelope, have

9 in the past been done by hand (manually). ιo In particular, VHS video cassette containers are usually purchased π in bulk quantities (with no cover title) by a video supplier who i2 manufactures various video titles. Such manufacturer must insert a i3 cardboard cover title in an aperture existing between the transparent

I* wrapper surrounding the cassette container, and the container itself, in is order that such cardboard insert accompany such cassette container and i6 allow identification for the particular VHS video being sold in such i7 container. Likewise, for placing unfolded letters or advertising in is envelopes for subsequent mailing, the sides of the envelope need to be i9 separated to allow insertion of the letter.

20 One of the reasons for up to now having to perform these tasks

2i manually is due to the fact that the sheet being inserted within the

22 container (ie VHS cassette container or envelope) is typically very nearly

23 equal in width to the aperture in which it was to be inserted, and the slit 2« (height of aperture) in which the sheet is inserted was very small and

25 difficult to insert the sheet in. Enlarging the height of the aperture in the

26 container by temporarily deforming the container to make it easier to

27 insert the sheet necessarily reduced the width of the aperture to less than

28 the sheet, thereby making it impossible to feed the sheet in the container

29 unless the sheet was manually bent to allow it to fit in the temporarily

30 deformed aperture. i Use of persons to manually accomplish these tasks required large 2 numbers of persons, making this procedure not only labour intensive and 3 accordingly costly, but also due to the inability to perform such task « quickly in an automated manner, time consuming. Up until now, no 5 inexpensive apparatus or method exists for automating this process. 6 Accordingly, a first aspect of the invention provides apparatus to

37 allow automated inserting of a flexible sheet such as a cardboard title 8 sheet or letter within a container such as a VHS video container or an 1 envelope, comprising insertion means defining a support surface for said

2 flexible sheet, including means for reducing the effective width of said

3 sheet when the sheet is supported thereon and means for maintaining said sheet on said surface; means for locating the container to present an

5 aperture therein; means for causing relative movement between the

6 locating means and the insertion means so as to cause said support surface and flexible sheet supported thereon to be slidably positioned s within said aperture; means for releasing said sheet from said surface; 9 and means for causing relative movement between the located means ιo and the insertion means so as to cause said surface to be removed from ii said aperture leaving said sheet in said aperture. i2 Preferably the means for reducing the effective width of the sheet i3 includes at least one curved ridge or depression extending along an axis i substantially parallel to a longitudal axis of said support surface and is extending substantially the length of said surface. The means for i6 maintaining the sheet on the surface may include vacuum means applied i7 from the surface. The container locating means may include means for is grasping a container so as to expose the aperture: thus the container may i9 be deformed to increase a critical dimension of the aperture.

20 According to another aspect of the present invention an apparatus

2i for inserting a flexible sheet in a container provides for a sheet grasping

22 surface for a flexible sheet, the surface of such sheet grasping surface

23 advantageously having means (typically one or more corrugations

24 thereon) to reduce the effective width of a flexible sheet when such

25 flexible sheet is caused to adhere to such sheet grasping surface. In such

26 manner the flexible sheet, of now-reduced width, may be more easily

27 inserted into an aperture within the container. Means are also provided to

28 grasp and bend the container so as to expose an aperture in the container 9 to receive the sheet grasping surface and flexible sheet. Means are further 0 provided for causing relative movement between the container and the i sheet grasping surface so as to cause the sheet grasping surface and 2 flexible sheet adhered thereto to be slidably positioned within the 3 aperture, and for the sheet grasping surface to be slidably removed 4 (minus the sheet which remains in the aperture). 5 According to a further aspect, the present invention provides for a 6 thin plate member having a sheet grasping surface thereon. The sheet 7 grasping surface has means thereon to reduce the effective width of a 8 flexible sheet when a flexible sheet is adhered thereto. Pick and place 1 means are provided for grasping the flexible sheet and placing it on the

2 sheet grasping surface. Vacuum ports are provided on the sheet grasping

3 surface to cause the flexible sheet to substantially adhere to the sheet

4 grasping surface when a vacuum is applied to the vacuum ports.

5 Grasping means are provided for grasping and bending the container to e expose an aperture therein. Means are further provided for causing 7 relative movement between the container and the sheet grasping surface, β to allow the sheet grasping surface and flexible sheet adhered thereto to 9 be slidably positioned within such aperture. Vacuum release means are ιo provided to allow release of vacuum to the vacuum ports when the sheet ii grasping means is situate within the aperture, so as to allow the flexible i2 sheet to be released in the aperture. The vacuum release means may i3 include means for applying positive air pressure to the vacuum ports to i4 assist release of the flexibie sheet. Alternatively, or additionally, is mechanical stripping means could be used to prevent withdrawal of the i6 flexible sheet with the sheet grasping surface. Lastly, means are provided i7 for causing relative movement between the container and the sheet is grasping surface to allow the sheet grasping surface to be slidably i9 withdrawn from the aperture.

20 In a preferred embodiment, the means on the sheet grasping

2i surface to reduce the effective width of the flexible sheet comprises at

22 least one raised ridge portion, or an excavated depression, or a

23 combination of the foregoing, each having a longitudinal axis parallel to

24 the longitudinal axis of the sheet grasping surface, extending substantially

25 the length of the sheet grasping surface. In such manner the apparatus of

26 the present invention advantageously reduces the effective width of the

27 flexible sheet to allow for insertion into an aperture of a container which is

28 normally of a greater width, but due to bending thereof to increase the

29 size of the aperture, is of a lesser effective width. 0 It is noted that in an alternative embodiment of the invention it is not i necessary that a vacuum be applied to the surface of the sheet grasping 2 member in order to cause the flexible sheet to conform to the contours

33 thereof, although such is a preferred embodiment of the invention.

34 Accordingly, in a less-preferred embodiment, another sheet grasping

35 surface may be provided, having a surface of mirror-image to the first

36 sheet grasping surface, so that the two surfaces when the flexible sheet is

37 inserted between them and are pressed together, cause the flexible sheet 8 to conform to the surface contours. In such manner use of a vacuum is 1 not necessary.

2 Accordingly, in further aspect of the invention encompassing such

3 less-preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention for

4 inserting a flexible sheet in a container comprises a thin plate member

5 having a sheet grasping surface thereon, said sheet grasping surface

6 having at least one corrugation thereon, said corrugation having a

7 longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sheet grasping s surface and extending substantially the length of said sheet grasping 9 surface; pick and place means for grasping said flexible sheet and placing ιo it on said sheet grasping surface; means for causing said flexible sheet to ii substantially conform to said sheet grasping surface; grasping means for i2 grasping and bending a container so as to expose an aperture within said i3 container; means for causing relative movement between said container i4 and said sheet grasping surface, to allow said sheet grasping surface and is said flexible sheet when adhered to said sheet grasping surface to be i6 slidably positioned within said aperture; and means for causing relative i7 movement between said container and flexible sheet and said sheet is grasping surface, so as to cause said sheet grasping surface to be i9 removed from said aperture.

20 The present invention further provides for a method of inserting a

2i flexible sheet in a container, using the apparatus of either of the

22 aforementioned embodiments. Accordingly, in one of its aspects, such

23 method comprises grasping a flexible sheet; placing said flexible sheet on

2 a sheet grasping surface, said sheet grasping surface having at least one

25 corrugation thereon, said corrugation having a longitudinal axis parallel to

26 a longitudinal axis of the sheet grasping surface; causing said flexible

27 sheet to resiliently flex and substantially conform with and mutually overlie

28 said sheet grasping surface; grasping and bending said container so as to

29 expose an aperture within said container; moving said container and said

30 sheet grasping surface and flexible sheet thereon relative to each other so 3i as to slidably position said sheet grasping surface and flexible sheet 2 thereon within said aperture; releas ing said flexible s heet from 3 conformance with and mutual overlying relation with said sheet grasping surface; and moving said container and flexible sheet and said sheet 5 grasping surface relative to each other so as to slidably remove said sheet

36 grasping surface from said aperture. Said releasing step may include the

37 step of retaining the sheet in said aperture while slidably removing said 8 sheet grasping surface. 1 The following drawings, showing by way of example only a

2 preferred embodiment of the invention, are provided, in which:

3 Figures 1 -4 each depict a perspective simplified view of an

4 apparatus of the present invention, showing various sequential operations

5 carried out by such apparatus;

6 Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the container grasping

7 and bending feature of the apparatus of the present invention employed β to insert a flexible cardboard video title within the VHS container jacket;

9 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the VHS video container, with the ιo cardboard cover title having been inserted into the aperture therein ii between the transparent wrapper and the video cassette container, by the i2 apparatus of the present invention; i3 Figure 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the sheet i4 grasping surface of the present invention, where vacuum ports are is employed to cause the flexible sheet to conform to such surface; i6 Figure 8a is a cross-sectional view of the sheet grasping surface i7 shown in Figure 7, taken along plane A-A, with a flexible sheet placed is thereon; i9 Figure 8b is a similar cross-sectional view of the sheet grasping

20 surface shown in Figure 7, taken along plane A-A, with a flexible sheet

2i placed thereon and a vacuum applied to such sheet to cause it to

22 conform to the contour of the sheet grasping member;

23 Figure 9 is a perspective view of two sheet grasping surfaces of the

24 present invention, placed in mutual overlying relation and sandwiching

25 therebetween a flexible sheet;

26 Figure 10a is a cross-sectional view of the two sheet grasping

27 surfaces shown in Figure 9 taken along plane B-B, with a flexible sheet

28 placed therebetween; and

29 Figure 1 0b is a similar cross-sectional view of the two sheet

30 grasping surfaces shown in Figure 9, taken along plane B-B, with the two i sheet grasping surfaces pressed together so as to sandwich the flexible 2 sheet therebetween and cause it to conform to the contours thereof. 3 Figures 1 -4 show apparatus 10 for inserting a flexible sheet 12 4 within a container 18, and in particular an apparatus 10 particularly suited 5 for inserting a flexible sheet in the form of a cardboard cover title 12 in an 6 aperture within a VHS video cassette container 18 intermediate a 7 transparent vinyl or plastic exterior wrapper 14 extending around the outer 8 periphery of such video container 18 and the container 18 itself. Although 1 the drawings show the apparatus 10 adapted to insert a cover title 12

2 within a video cassette container 18, the apparatus 10 is equally suitable

3 to allow insertion of a letter (not shown) within an envelope (likewise not

4 shown). In such embodiment, the apparatus 10 simply uses magazines of

5 letters and envelopes, with letters being substituted for the cover titles 12,

6 and envelopes are substituted for the video cassettes 18. The method of

7 operation for placing letters in envelopes is identical to that described a below for placing cover titles 12 in cassettes 18.

9 Figures 1 -4 show the apparatus 10 utilising the method of the ιo present invention to simultaneously insert a cardboard cover title 12 in ii four VHS video cassettes 18. Obviously the apparatus 10 of the present i2 invention may be modified to simultaneously fill more or fewer VHS i3 cassette containers 18 than four in a single operation. i Figure 6 shows a VHS video cassette container 18 of the type is which requires a cover title 12 to be inserted and which the present i6 apparatus 10 is adapted to handle. In particular, Figure 6 shows a VHS i7 video cassette 18 in the open configuration, having a cover title 12 is inserted intermediate the plastic exterior wrapper 14 extending around the i9 outer periphery of such container 18 and the container itself. 20 A detailed description of the elements making up the apparatus 10

2i shown in Figures 1 -4 will now be made.

22 Apparatus 10 employs a reciprocating thin plate member 20,

23 having a sheet grasping surface 22 thereon, on which cover titles 12 are

24 placed by means of a "pick and place" means 24. Each pick and place

25 means 24 selects, during each operation, one title cover 12 from a

26 magazine 26 containing a plurality of such titles 12 stacked in mutual

27 overlying relation one on top of the other. By means of suction cups 28 or

28 other known devices, such as that disclosed in US Patent No. 5,156,387,

29 the pick and place means 24 selects and places one cover title 12 on

30 sheet grasping surface 22. Sheet grasping surface 22, in a preferred 3i embodiment as may be more clearly seen in Figure 7, possesses one or 2 more corrugations 30 in the form of one or more ridges 32 and

33 depressions 34. Each of such ridges 32 and depressions 34 have a

34 longitudinal axis 40, parallel to the longitudinal axis 42 of the sheet

35 grasping surface 22. In the preferred embodiment of sheet grasping 6 surface 22, such ridges 32 and depressions 34 comprise, in a 7 cross-section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 42 of the sheet 8 grasping surface a sinusoidal-shaped series of undulations as most 1 clearly shown in Figures 8a and 8b.

2 Advantageously, the ridges 32 and depressions 34 cause the

3 flexible sheet/cover title 12, of width "W", when caused to conform to the

4 contours of such flexible sheet 12, to be reduced in width to an effective

5 width "W_θff", as shown in Figures 8b and 10b. Such reduction in effective

6 width assists the flexible sheet 12 to be inserted in the container 18 when

7 bent as shown in Figure 5, as will be more fully explained below. s In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10, the sheet grasping

9 surface 22 possesses vacuum ports 50, which when a vacuum is applied ιo cause the flexible sheet 12 to substantially conform to the sinusoidal a contour of the ridges 32 and depressions 34 in the sheet grasping surface i2 22 (see Figure 7, and Figures 8a and 8b). The ports 50 are selectively i3 connectable to a source of vacuum, and may also be selectively i4 connectable to a source of positive air pressure. In another, but less is preferred embodiment, which does not utilise vacuum ports 50, the sheet i6 grasping surface 22 effectively comprises two surfaces 22 and 22', one a i7 mirror image of the other as shown in Figure 9, and when pressed is together as shown in Figure 9 the sheet 12 sandwiched therebetween is i9 caused to conform to the contours of the sheet grasping surface 22, 22'

20 (see Figure 10b) thus effectively reducing its width from "W" to "W_eff" as

2i shown in Figures 10a and 10b.

22 Grasping means 52 are further provided in the apparatus 10 for

23 grasping a selected one of a series of VHS video containers 18 loaded

24 one on top of each other in a magazine 54. Such grasping means 52,

25 which in the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of legs 56 having

26 suction cups 58 thereon, allow grasping of the exterior transparent cover

27 14 of the video cassette 18 as shown in Figure 5. Such legs 56 may cause

28 the video cassette 18 to be grasped in the manner shown in Figure 5 so

29 as to expose an aperture 60 thereon, or may physically bend the cassette

30 container 18 so as to expose such aperture 60 between the transparent i cover 14 and the container 18. 2 Means are further provided for causing relative movement between 3 the container 18 and the sheet grasping surface 22 to cause the sheet

3 grasping surface 22 and flexible sheet 12 adhered thereto to be slidably

35 positioned within aperture 60, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. In the

36 preferred embodiment such means comprises an endless band 62, with

37 the sheet grasping surface 52 being coupled to a lower run 62a thereof, 8 and with the grasping means 52 coupled to an upper run 62b thereof, as 1 shown in Figures 1 -4. Rotation of the endless band 62 in one direction

2 causes each of the sheet grasping surfaces 22 and grasping means 52 to

3 be brought together (Figures 2 and 3), and rotation in an opposite

4 direction causes the sheet grasping surfaces 22 and grasping means 52

5 to be moved apart and back toward their respective magazines 26 and 54.

6 (See Figure 4). In the preferred embodiment, to increase the speed of

7 operation, both the sheet grasping surface 22 and the grasping means 52 s moving in unison. However, it is only necessary that one move in relation 9 to the other, and this could entail in a less preferred embodiment only the ιo grasping means 52 moving and the sheet grasping surface 22 remaining ii stationary. i2 Operation of the apparatus 10 will now be described, with reference i3 to the sequential steps of operation depicted in Figures 1 -4 respectively. i4 Commencing at the start of a single sequence for inserting four is flexible sheets 12 within four respective video containers 18 (Figure 1), i6 each of four sheet grasping surfaces 22 are situate proximate respective i7 magazines 26 filled with sheets (cover titles) 12. Simultaneously, four is grasping means 52 are situate over respective magazines 54 filled with i9 video cassette containers 18, placed in mutual overlying relation as shown

20 in Figures 1-4. Thereafter, as shown in Figure 2, each of four "pick and

2i place" means 24 then select a cover title 12 from a respective magazine

22 26 and place it on a respective sheet grasping surface 22. Flexible sheet

23 12 is caused to conform to sheet grasping surface 22 by sandwiching

2 between two surfaces 22, 22' as shown in Figure 9, or by application of a

25 vacuum to vacuum ports 50 located on the surface of sheet grasping

26 means 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 8b. Sheet grasping surface 22 and

27 flexible sheet 12 then begin moving away from magazines 26 towards

28 grasping means 52, as shown in Figure 2. At the same time grasping

29 means 52 each grasp a respective container 18 from a respective

30 magazine 54 by means of the suction cups 58 located on legs 56 thereon. 3i In doing so the transparent cover 14 is caused to be pulled away from

32 container 18, thereby exposing an aperture 60 therein, as shown in Figure

33 2.

3 Thereafter, endless band 62 causes each of grasping means 52

35 and the grasped container 18, and the sheet grasping surface 22 and the

36 flexible sheet 12 thereon, to move together, as shown in Figure 3. The

37 sheet grasping surface 22 and flexible sheet 12 is accordingly inserted in

38 aperture 60 in container 18, as shown in Figure 3, and in enlarged view in 1 Figure 5.

2 Thereafter, the vacuum applied to the vacuum ports 50 is released

3 and/or the ports 50 are connected to a source of positive air pressure (or the two sheet grasping surfaces 22 and 22' are separated as shown in

5 Figure 8a, as the case may be), and the endless band 62 is reversed in

6 direction. The sheet grasping surface(s) 22 are thereby removed from aperture 60, leaving behind flexible sheet (cover title 12) within aperture β 60. Thereafter, the grasping means 52 release the containers 18, which 9 then fall onto a moving conveyer belt 80, which conveys the video ιo containers 18 with cover titles from the apparatus 10. ii The above process is then repeated with another batch of four i2 video cassettes, with the grasping means 52 moving toward magazines i3 54, and the sheet grasping surfaces 22 moving toward magazines 26 for i4 respective supply of video containers 18 and titles 12. is As well as, or instead of, relying on release of vacuum (or supply of i6 positive air pressure) at the ports 50 to effect release of the flexible sheet i7 12, a mechanically-operable stripper may be used, which engages and is retains the trailing edge of the sheet at the appropriate time to prevent the i9 sheet being withdrawn with the surface 22. The stripper could be carried

20 by the grasping means 52 and moved into operative position to prevent

2i withdrawal of the sheet 12 by means synchronised with the endless band

22 62 (or its drive means).

23 Although the disclosure describes and illustrates preferred

2 embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is

25 not limited to these particular embodiments. Many variations and

26 modifications will now occur to those skilled in the art. For definition of the

27 invention, reference is to be made to the appended claims.

28

Claims

l Claims

2

3 1. Apparatus for inserting a flexible sheet in a container,

4 comprising insertion means defining a support surface (22) for said

5 flexible sheet (12), including means for reducing the effective width of said e sheet when the sheet is supported thereon and means (50; 22') for 7 maintaining said sheet on said surface; means (52) for locating the s container (18) so as to present an aperture (60) therein; means (62) for 9 causing relative movement between the locating means and the insertion ιo means so as to cause said support surface and flexible sheet supported ii thereon to be slidably positioned within said aperture; means (50) for i2 releasing said sheet from said surface; and means (62) for causing i3 relative movement between the locating means and the insertion means i4 so as to cause said surface to be removed from said aperture leaving said is sheet in said aperture.

16 i7 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sheet is maintaining means includes vacuum means (50) applied from said i9 surface (22).

20

2i 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said

22 locating means (52) includes means (58) for grasping a container (18) so

23 as to expose said aperture (60).

24

25 4. Apparatus for inserting a flexible sheet in a container,

26 comprising a thin plate member (20) having a sheet grasping surface (22)

27 thereon, said sheet grasping surface having means thereon to reduce the

28 effective width of said flexible sheet (12) when said flexible sheet is

29 adhered thereto; vacuum means (50) on said sheet grasping surface,

30 adapted to cause said flexible sheet to substantially adhere to said sheet 3i grasping surface when a vacuum is applied to said vacuum means; 2 grasping means (52) for grasping said container (18) so as to expose an 3 aperture (60) therein; means (62) for causing relative movement between 4 said container and said sheet grasping surface so as to cause said sheet 5 grasping surface and flexible sheet adhered thereto to be slidably 6 positioned within said aperture; means for substantially releasing 7 application of said vacuum to said vacuum means; and means (62) for 8 causing relative movement between said container and said sheet 1 grasping surface so as to allow said sheet grasping surface to be slidably

2 withdrawn from said aperture.

3 5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said

5 means to reduce the effective width of said flexible sheet (12) comprises

6 at least one raised ridge and/or depression having a longitudinal axis

7 parallel to a longitudinal axis of said surface (22), extending substantially β the length of said surface.

9 lo 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one ii raised ridge or depression has a curvilinear sectional shape.

12 i3 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, including at least one raised i4 ridge and at least one depression comprising, in a cross-section taken is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said surface (22) , a i6 sinusoidally-shaped ridge and a sinusoidally-shaped depression.

17 is 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 4 to 7, i9 wherein said vacuum means comprise a plurality of orifices (50) arranged

20 in longitudinally-spaced configurations along substantially the length of

2i said surface (22).

22

23 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for

2 substantially releasing application of said vacuum to said vacuum means

25 causes lack of a vacuum to be applied to said orifices (50) thereby

26 releasing said flexible sheet (12) from adherence to said surface (22).

27

28 10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further

29 comprising means (52) for locating said container (18), after said surface

30 (22) has been removed from said aperture (60), on a conveyor belt (80).

31

32 11. Apparatus for inserting a flexible sheet in a container,

33 comprising a thin plate member (20) having a sheet grasping surface

34 thereon (22), said sheet grasping surface having at least one corrugation

35 thereon, said corrugation having a longitudinal axis parallel to a

36 longitudinal axis of the sheet grasping surface and extending substantially

37 the length of said sheet grasping surface; pick and place means (24) for

38 grasping said flexible sheet and placing it on said sheet grasping surface; 1 means (50; 22') for causing said flexible sheet to substantially conform

2 with said sheet grasping surface; grasping means (52) for grasping and

3 bending a container (18) so as to expose an aperture (60) within said

4 container; means (62) for causing relative movement between said

5 container and said sheet grasping surface, to allow said sheet grasping e surface and said flexible sheet when adhered to said sheet grasping 7 surface to be slidably positioned within said aperture; means (50; 22') for s releasing said sheet from conformance with said sheet grasping surface; 9 and means (62) for causing relative movement between said container ιo and flexible sheet and said sheet grasping surface so as to cause said a sheet grasping surface to be removed from said aperture.

12 i3 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said means for i4 causing said flexible sheet (12) to substantially conform with said sheet is grasping surface (22) comprises a plurality of vacuum ports (50) on said i6 sheet grasping surface.

17 is 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said i9 corrugation comprises at least one raised ridge.

20

2i 14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, wherein said

22 corrugation comprises at least one depression.

23

24 15. Apparatus as claimed in claims 13 and 14, where at least

25 one raised ridge and at least one depression comprises, in a cross section

26 taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sheet grasping surface

27 (22), a sinusoidally-shaped ridge and a sinusoidally-shaped depression.

28

29 16. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said

30 container comprises a video cassette container (18), and said flexible 3i sheet is a printed cardboard sheet (12) for insertion intermediate a flexible

32 transparent wrapper (14) on said video cassette container and the video

33 cassette container itself.

34

35 17. A method of inserting a flexible sheet in a container,

36 comprising grasping a flexible sheet (12) ; placing said flexible sheet on a

37 sheet grasping surface (22), said sheet grasping surface having at least

38 one corrugation thereon, said corrugation having a longitudinal axis 1 parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sheet grasping surface; causing said

2 flexible sheet to resiliently flex and substantially conform with and mutually

3 overlie said sheet grasping surface; grasping and bending said container

4 (18) so as to expose (60) an aperture within said container; moving said

5 container and said sheet grasping surface and flexible sheet thereon β relative to each other so as to slidably position said sheet grasping 7 surface and flexible sheet thereon within said aperture; releasing said β flexible sheet from conformance with and mutual overlying relation with 9 said sheet grasping surface; and moving said container and flexible sheet ιo and said sheet grasping surface relative to each other so as to slidably a remove said sheet grasping surface from said aperture.

12 i3 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, said step for causing said i4 flexible sheet (12) to conform with and mutually overlie said sheet is grasping surface (22) comprising applying a vacuum to vacuum ports (50) i6 within said sheet grasping surface.

17 is 19. A method as claimed in claim 18, said step for releasing said i9 flexible sheet (12) from conformance with and mutual overlying relation

20 with said sheet grasping surface (22) comprising stopping application of

2i said vacuum to said vacuum ports (50).

22 23