Envelope wetting and sealing apparatus

• US 5,555,701 A
• Filed: 11/29/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Billing Services
• Original Assignee: International Billing Services
• Inventors: Smart, David, Qutub, Motaz, Hines, William L., Fehringer, Robert, Leitner, Robert, Emigh, Jonathan D., Preston, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culver, Horace M.
• Application Number:
  US08/346,514
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 53/460, 53/480, 53/491, 53/377.4, 53/377.6, 53/378.3, 53/383.1, 53/387.1, 53/284.3, 53/75, 53/76
• US Class Current: 53/75
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 5/042 for envelopes with only one flap

Abstract

For use with an envelope having a flap, a body, and a fold region connecting the flap to the body, a wetting and sealing apparatus for wetting the envelope flap with a liquid and sealing, after folding at the fold region, the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body. A computer directs the wetting and sealing operations. A continually primed spraying nozzle applies the liquid producing an active adhesive to the envelope flap and a pressure foot seals the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body.

Claims

1. For utilization with an envelope having a flap, a body, and a fold region connecting the flap to the body, a wetting and sealing apparatus for wetting the envelope flap with a liquid and sealing, after folding at the fold region, the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body, comprising:

a) controller means for monitoring envelope processing including detecting an assembly of a mismatched mail piece and for directing the wetting and sealing operations;

b) wetting means for applying the liquid producing an active adhesive to the envelope flap of a correctly assembled mailing piece; and

c) sealing means for sealing the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body of a correctly assembled mailing piece.

2. A wetting and sealing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a reciprocating pressure foot that presses said wetted envelope flap against the envelope body and raises to release a sealed envelope.

3. For utilization with an envelope having a flap, a body, and a fold region connecting the flap to the body, a wetting and sealing apparatus for wetting the envelope flap with a liquid and sealing, after folding at the fold region, the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body, comprising:

a) controller means for monitoring envelope processing including detecting an envelope processing error and for directing the wetting and sealing operations;

b) wetting means for applying the liquid producing an active adhesive to the envelope flap, wherein said wetting means comprises an air actuated nozzle that wets the envelope flap with the liquid via a plurality of spray bursts, wherein each of said spray bursts is for a controller means initiated first period of time;

c) sealing means for sealing the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body; and

d) means for maintaining said nozzle in a primed state between wetting each envelope within a plurality of envelopes, wherein said primed state maintaining means comprises releasing a burst of spray from said nozzle for a controller means initiated second period of time if the envelope has not moved in a controller means determined third period of time.

4. For utilization with an envelope having a flap, a body, and a fold region connecting the flap to the body, a wetting and sealing apparatus for wetting the envelope flap with a liquid and sealing, after folding at the fold region, the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body, comprising:

a) controller means for monitoring envelope processing including detecting an assembly of a mismatched mail piece and for directing the wetting and sealing operation;

b) wetting means for applying the liquid producing an active adhesive to the envelope flap of a correctly assembled mailing piece;

c) means for folding said wetted envelope flap at the folding region of a correctly assembled mailing piece; and

d) means for sealing the folded and wetted envelope flap to the envelope body of a correctly assembled mailing piece.

5. A wetting and sealing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sealing means comprises a reciprocating pressure foot that presses said wetted envelope flap against the envelope body and raises to release a sealed envelope.

6. For utilization with an envelope having a flap, a body, and a fold region connecting the flap to the body, a wetting and sealing apparatus for wetting the envelope flap with a liquid and sealing, after folding at the fold region, the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body, comprising:

a) controller means for monitoring envelope processing including detecting an envelope processing error and for directing the wetting and sealing operations;

b) wetting means for applying the liquid producing an active adhesive to the envelope flap, wherein said wetting means comprises an air actuated nozzle that wets the envelope flap with the liquid via a plurality of spray bursts, wherein each of said spray bursts is for a controller means initiated first period of time;

c) means for folding said wetted envelope flap at the folding region; and

d) means for sealing the folded and wetted envelope flap to the envelope body; and

e) means for maintaining said nozzle in a primed state between wetting each envelope within a plurality of envelopes, wherein said primed state maintaining means comprises releasing a burst of spray from said nozzle for a controller means initiated second period of time if the envelope has not moved in a controller means determined third period of time.

7. For utilization with a plurality of envelopes with each of the envelopes having a flap, a body, and a fold region connecting the flap to the body, a wetting and sealing apparatus for wetting the envelope flap with a liquid and sealing, after folding at the fold region, the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body, comprising:

a) a computer for monitoring envelope processing including detecting an assembly of a mismatched mail piece and for directing the wetting and sealing operations;

b) wetting means for applying the liquid producing an active adhesive to the envelope flap of a correctly assembled mailing piece, wherein said wetting means comprises an air actuated nozzle that wets the envelope flap with the liquid via a plurality of spray bursts, wherein each of said spray bursts is for a controller means initiated first period of time;

c) means for maintaining said wetting means in a primed state between wetting each envelope within the plurality of envelopes, wherein said primed state maintaining means comprises releasing a burst of spray from said nozzle for a controller means initiated second period of time if the envelope has not moved in a controller means determined third period of time;

d) means for folding said wetted envelope flap at the folding region; and

e) means for sealing the folded and wetted envelope flap to the envelope body of a correctly assembled mailing piece, wherein said sealing means comprises a reciprocating pressure foot that presses said wetted envelope flap against the envelope body and raises to release a sealed envelope.