Apparatuses and methods for variably opening envelopes

• US 20080086983A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Bowe Bell & Howell Company
• Inventors: Peterson, Chris, Snyder, Robert T., Kapturowski, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/381.5
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 3/045 for envelopes with only one flap

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are provided for variably opening envelopes, such as for an inserting system. A deck is provided that creates a conveying path on which insert material can travel. A feeding guide that holds open a mouth of each envelope can be attached to the deck. Based on the physical characteristics of the material to be inserted into the envelope, the deck and feeding guide are movable to control the amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open.

Claims

1. A variable envelope opener apparatus for adjusting an opening of a mouth of an envelope for insertion of insert material into the envelope, the envelope opener apparatus comprising:

(a) a deck having a top side, a first end and a second end, the top side of the deck being configured to provide a conveying path for insert material and the deck being pivotally movable between a first location and a second location;

(b) a holding system positioned downstream from the deck, the holding system configured to hold an envelope in an insertion position for receiving insert material; and

(c) a feeding guide positioned proximal to the second side of the deck, the feeding guide configured to be movable between a retracted position and an engaged position, where, in the engaged position, the feeding guide can hold open a mouth of an envelope when the envelope is in the insertion position.

2. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to move the deck.

3. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deck is configured to pivot at the first end of the deck.

4. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a hinge mechanism disposed on the first end of the deck, the hinge mechanism configured to facilitate pivotal movement of the deck.

5. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pivotal movement of the deck is based upon on information about at least one of the size of the insert material or the interior side clearance space available upon insertion of the insert material into the envelope.

6. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding guide includes a rotary actuator attached to the deck, the rotary actuator configured to allow rotation of the feeding guide between the retracted position and the engaged position.

7. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the feeding guide comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fingers disposed on the rotary actuator, the fingers configured and aligned to facilitate insertion of insert material into the mouth of the envelope in the insertion position.

8. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding guide is attached to the deck.

9. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable insert guide attached to the top side of the deck, the insert guide configured to direct insert material along the conveying path toward an envelope in the insertion position.

10. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a flexible tab positioned on either side of the insert guide above the conveying path, the flexible tabs being extendable from the second end of the deck under an envelope flap in the insertion position.

11. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding system comprises a first holding device positioned proximal to and above the second end of the deck, and the first holding device is configured to retain a flap of an envelope to hold an envelope in the insertion position for receiving insert material.

12. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a flap plate movably positioned above the first holding device, the flap plate configured to provide at least a portion of a staging position above the insertion position for holding a second envelope prior to entering the insertion position.

13. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the flap plate is movable from a holding location to an entry location to facilitate movement of the second envelope from the staging position into the insertion position and into contact with the first holding device.

14. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a registration apparatus positioned proximal to the flap plate, the registration apparatus and the flap plate defining the staging position above the insertion position.

15. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a first drop bar positioned above the flap plate and the first holding device, the first drop bar configured to press the flap of the second envelope out of the staging position into the insertion position and in contact with the first holding device when the flap plate is moved to the entry location.

16. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the holding system further comprises a second holding device positioned proximal to and below the second end of the deck, the second holding device configured to retain a body portion of an envelope in the insertion position opposite the flap of the envelope when the envelope can enter the insertion position such that the first holding device and the second holding device hold the mouth of the envelope open for insertion of the feeding guide therein.

17. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the second holding device is configured to release the body of the envelope in the insertion position upon the rotation of the feeding guide into the mouth of the envelope.

18. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a flap plate movably positioned above the first holding device and a registration apparatus positioned proximal to and above the second holding device, the registration apparatus and the flap plate configured to define a staging position for a second envelope above the insertion position.

19. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a first drop bar positioned above the flap plate and the first holding device and a second drop bar positioned above the second holding device, the first drop bar configured to press the flap of the second envelope out of the staging position into the insertion position and in contact with the first holding device when the flap plate is moved to an entry location, and the second drop bar configured to press the body portion of the envelope out of the staging position and into the insertion position and in contact with the second holding device.

20. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first holding device comprises an angled geometry to retain the flap of the envelope in a curved position.

21. The envelope opener apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller in communication with the adjustment mechanism for controlling the adjustment mechanism and coordinating insertion of the insert material.

22. A variable envelope opener apparatus for adjusting an opening of a mouth of an envelope for insertion of material into the envelope, the envelope opener apparatus comprising:

(a) a deck having a top side, a first end and a second end, the top side of the deck being configured to provide a conveying path and the deck configured to be pivotal on the first end proximal to an upstream portion of an inserting system;

(b) a holding system positioned downstream of the deck, the holding system configured to hold an envelope in an insertion position for receiving insert material;

(c) a rotary actuator attached to the deck;

(d) a plurality of fingers disposed on the rotary actuator, the rotary actuator configured to allow rotation of the plurality of fingers between a retracted position and an engaged position and the fingers configured to be spaced apart to hold open a mouth of an envelope in the insertion position; and

(e) an adjustment mechanism secured to the deck, the adjustment mechanism configured to move the deck between at least two locations by pivoting the deck about the first end.

23. A method for adjusting an opening of an envelope within an inserting system, the method comprising:

(a) advancing insert material toward an envelope for insertion of the insert material into the envelope; and

(b) opening a mouth of the envelope to an open position dependent upon of the physical characteristics of the insert material to be inserted into the envelope.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the mouth of the envelope can be opened into multiple open positions.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the opening step includes adjusting a position of a deck that provides a conveying path on which the insert material travels and adjusting a position of a feeding guide that holds open a mouth of each envelope to control the amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open based on information about the size or the interior side clearance space available upon insertion of the insert material into the envelope.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising receiving an envelope in an insertion position and rotating the feeding guide into the mouth of the envelope.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of adjusting the positions of the deck and feeding guide further comprises rotating the deck about a hinged end of the deck.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the deck is rotated downward thereby moving the feeding guide into a lower location to hold the opening of the mouth of the envelope in a wider stance for receipt of the insert material.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the deck is rotated upward thereby moving the feeding guide into an upper location to hold the opening of the mouth of the envelope in a narrower stance for receipt of the insert material.

30. The method according to claim 25, further comprising receiving an envelope in an insertion position.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising rotating the feeding guide into the mouth of the envelope in the insertion position.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising opening and holding the mouth of the envelope for insertion of the feeding guide therein before the step of rotating the feeding guide into the mouth of the envelope.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising releasing a portion of the envelope below the feeding guide after the step of rotating the feeding guide into the mouth of the envelope.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising conveying the insert material along the conveying path through insert guides on the deck, over the feeding guide and into the envelope.

35. The method according to claim 33, further comprising holding a second envelope in a staging position above the insertion position.

36. The method according to claim 33, further comprising moving a second envelope to the insertion position after placing the insert material in the envelope in the insertion position and conveying the envelope downstream.

37. A method for adjusting an opening of an envelope to accommodate insert material within an inserting system, the method comprising:

(a) advancing insert material along a deck toward an envelope for insertion of the insert material into the envelope;

(b) adjusting a position of the deck and a feeding guide attached to the deck to move the deck and the feeding guide to desired locations;

(c) adjusting the feeding guide from a retracted position to an engaged position to hold the mouth of the envelope in an open position; and

(d) wherein the mouth of the envelope is held open an amount dependent on the physical characteristics of the insert material.

38. A method for adjusting the opening of one or more envelopes to accommodate different amounts of insert material within an inserting system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining the amount of insert material to be inserted into each envelope of the one or more envelopes; and

(b) adjusting the position of a deck that provides a conveying pathway on which the insert material travels and a finger guide relative to an insertion position for the one or more envelopes to control the amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open based on the determined amount of insert material;

(c) receiving an envelope in the insertion position;

(d) opening and holding the mouth of the envelope for insertion of the finger guide therein;

(e) rotating the finger guide into the mouth of the envelope in the insertion position;

(f) releasing a portion of the envelope below the finger guide; and

(g) conveying the insert material along the conveying pathway on the deck, over the fingers guides and into the envelope.

39. An envelope opener apparatus for adjusting an opening of a mouth of an envelope for insertion of material into the envelope, the envelope opener apparatus comprising:

(a) a deck having a top side, a first end and a second end, the top side of the deck being configured to provide a conveying path and the deck configured to be pivotal on the first end proximal to an upstream portion of an inserting system; and

(b) a first holding device positioned proximal to and above the second end of the deck, the first holding device having an angled geometry to retain the flap of the envelope in a curved position to hold the envelope in an insertion position for receiving insert material.

40. A method for opening an envelope within an inserting system, the method comprising:

(a) advancing insert material toward an envelope for insertion of the insert material into an envelope;

(b) opening a mouth of the envelope to an open position to receive insert material into the envelope; and

(c) retaining a flap of the envelope in a curved position when the mouth of the envelope is held in the open position.