APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INSERTING ONE OR MORE GOODS INTO A MOVE-ABLE COVER

• US 20130055689A1
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boewe Systec GmbH
• Original Assignee: Boewe Systec GmbH
• Inventors: HOEPNER, Bernd, HUBER, Thomas, BATZER, Joseph, FOERG, Helmut, SEILER, Reinhard
• Granted Patent: US 10,173,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/492
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 3/04 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 3/045 for envelopes with only one flap
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/56 Orientating, i.e. changing the attitude of, articles, e.g. of non-uniform cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/00 Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/04 Packaging single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/58 with means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position, e.g. magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 11/005 Suction belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/22 Cross section profile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/232 Blade, plate, finger
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/243 with portions of different thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/32231 belt with alternated perforated and non perforated sections in transport direction
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1916 Envelopes and articles of mail
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/66 Envelope filling machines
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/242 Suction bands or belts

Abstract

An apparatus for inserting one or more goods into a moving cover includes a cover transport, and at least one separating device configured to engage with a first part of the cover and to maintain the first part of the cover separate from a second part of the cover during at least a part of the movement of the cover.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inserting one or more goods into a moving cover, comprising:

a cover transport; and

at least one separating device configured to

open the cover so that a first part and a second part of the cover are separated from each other, and

engage with the first part of the cover and maintain the first part of the cover separate from the second part of the cover during at least a part of the movement of the cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, for opening the cover, the separating device is configured to be arranged initially at a first position within or below a cover transport level, and to be moved subsequently to a second position above the cover transport level, wherein at the first position the separating device is in contact with the second part of the cover, and wherein at the second position the separating device is in contact with the first part of the cover.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at the first position the separating device contacts a cover front side, and wherein at the second position the separating device separates a cover back side from the cover front side, wherein means are provided which are configured to move the separating device between the first position and the second position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separating device is configured to move together with the moving cover during at least a part of its movement for maintaining the first part of the cover separate from the second part of the cover, and wherein the separating device is configured to move along at least a section of a path in the direction along which the cover and the one or more goods are moveable along the path so as to engage with the first part of the cover as the cover moves.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the path extends substantially in the cover transport direction and the goods transport direction, wherein a cover opening is oriented lateral to the cover transport direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a conveyor to which the separating device is mounted, wherein the conveyor is configured to move the separating device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conveyor comprises a deflection element configured to deflect the separating device at the beginning of the path into a first position which is within or below a cover transport level.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least two separating devices are provided which are arranged consecutively along the conveyor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separating device is arranged outside a level in which the cover is moved, and wherein the separating device is arranged above the cover transport level.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separating device and the cover transport each comprise a drive.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separating device is configured to be moved with a velocity which is independent from a velocity at which the cover is moved.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one movable filling device configured to be laterally moved into the cover.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separating device is arranged such that it engages the first part of the cover symmetrically with regard to center of the cover.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an additional cover conveyor configured to transport the filled cover with a velocity higher than the cover conveyor, higher than a velocity of the filling aid and/or higher than a velocity of the goods transport.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the additional cover conveyor comprises a suction transport.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an envelope, wherein the envelope comprises a first side comprising an envelope flap, and a second side being opposite to the side including the envelope flap.

17. An apparatus for inserting one or more goods into an envelope, wherein the envelope comprises a first side comprising an envelope flap, and a second side being opposite to the side including the envelope flap, the apparatus comprising:

a path along which an envelope and one or more goods to be inserted can be moved, wherein the path is arranged to move the one or more goods with a faster velocity than the envelope,

an envelope transport, and

at least one separating device configured to

open the envelope so that the first side and the second side of the envelope are separated from each other, and

engage with the second side of the envelope and maintain the second side of the envelope cover separate from the first side of the envelope during at least a part of the movement of the envelope.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein, for opening the envelope, the separating device is configured to be arranged initially at a first position within or below an envelope transport level, and to be moved subsequently to a second position above the envelope transport level, wherein at the first position the separating device is in contact with the first side of the envelope, and wherein at the second position the separating device is in contact with the second side of the envelope.

19. A method for inserting one or more goods into a moving cover, comprising:

moving a cover;

opening the cover by moving at least one separating device so that a first part and a second part of the cover are separated from each other, and

holding, by the at least one separating device, the first part of the cover separated from a second part of the cover during at least a part of the movement of the cover.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein opening the cover comprises:

initially arranging the separating device at a first position within or below a cover transport level, wherein at the first position the separating device is in contact with the second part of the cover, and

subsequently moving the separating device to a second position above the cover transport level, wherein at the second position the separating device is in contact with the first part of the cover.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein at the first position the separating device contacts a cover front side, and wherein at the second position the separating device separates a cover back side from the cover front side.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the separating device is moved together with the moving cover during at least a part of its movement, and wherein the separating device is moved along at least a section of a path in the direction along which the cover and the one or more goods are moved along the path so as to engage with the first part of the cover as the cover moves.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the separating device is actively or passively removed from the cover, wherein active removal of the separating device from the cover comprises moving the separating device out of the cover, swinging away the separating device or slowing down the separating device, and wherein passive removal of the separating device from the cover comprises moving the cover faster than the separating device.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein, during holding the first part of the cover, the separating device is moved with a velocity which is equal to or slower than a velocity by which the cover is moved.