Method and apparatus for filling and closing envelopes
First Claim
1. An enveloping apparatus, comprising:
- an envelope filling position for each time holding an envelope with an envelope body, a flap and a hinge line between said envelope body and said flap, in each case with said hinge line in a predetermined position and with said flap in a position opened relative to said envelope body,a document inserting structure comprising a document feed track with a downstream end connecting to the envelope filling position, an insertion guide for inserting documents in an envelope in the envelope filling position,a pair of pressure rollers with an interlocated closing nip at a distance from the envelope filling position and beside the envelope transfer track,upsetting means for at least delaying a leading portion of an envelope in the envelope transfer track relative to a trailing portion, comprising a pair of surfaces located opposite each other on both sides of the envelope transfer track, with an interlocated nip and means coupled to at least one of said surfaces for at least delaying, in activated condition, movement in the direction of transport of said surfaces in the region of the nip, anda control structure for controlling the document inserting structure and the envelope transfer track, adapted to determine the distance over which an envelope is moved from the envelope filling position along the envelope transfer track, and to activate the upsetting means in response to a movement of said envelope from the envelope filling position along the envelope transfer track over a fixed determined distance, independently of the sizes in the direction of transport of said envelope.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Enveloping apparatus with an envelope filling position (4) and, extending therefrom, an envelope transfer track (46) extending along a closing nip (49) beside the envelope transfer track (46). Beyond the closing nip (49) the envelope transfer track (46) comprises opposite surfaces and a brake, blocking or drive mechanism (60) for at least delaying movement in direction of transport of those surfaces. The control structure (43, 61, 72) is adapted to activate an upsetting feature (55, 56, 71) in response to a displacement of that envelope (5) from the envelope filling position (4) through a fixed, specific distance. With the opposite surfaces with a nip thereinbetween, movement in direction of transport of envelopes with the leading edge in different positions can be delayed, stopped or reversed, without requiring adjusting a stop or the like. There is also described a method for filling and closing envelopes.
14 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An enveloping apparatus, comprising:
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an envelope filling position for each time holding an envelope with an envelope body, a flap and a hinge line between said envelope body and said flap, in each case with said hinge line in a predetermined position and with said flap in a position opened relative to said envelope body, a document inserting structure comprising a document feed track with a downstream end connecting to the envelope filling position, an insertion guide for inserting documents in an envelope in the envelope filling position, a pair of pressure rollers with an interlocated closing nip at a distance from the envelope filling position and beside the envelope transfer track, upsetting means for at least delaying a leading portion of an envelope in the envelope transfer track relative to a trailing portion, comprising a pair of surfaces located opposite each other on both sides of the envelope transfer track, with an interlocated nip and means coupled to at least one of said surfaces for at least delaying, in activated condition, movement in the direction of transport of said surfaces in the region of the nip, and a control structure for controlling the document inserting structure and the envelope transfer track, adapted to determine the distance over which an envelope is moved from the envelope filling position along the envelope transfer track, and to activate the upsetting means in response to a movement of said envelope from the envelope filling position along the envelope transfer track over a fixed determined distance, independently of the sizes in the direction of transport of said envelope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for filling and closing an envelope substantially extending in one plane, with a flap, an envelope body and an interlocated hinge line, comprising the steps of:
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holding said envelope in an envelope filling position with said hinge line in a predetermined position, wherein the flap is held in open condition relative to the envelope body, feeding at least one document to said envelope in the envelope filling position, inserting the or each document fed in said envelope in the envelope filling position, moving the filled envelope along an envelope transfer track in a direction transverse to said hinge line and substantially in the plane of said envelope, passing a leading portion of said envelope in a nip between opposite surfaces downstream of a closing nip located on the side of the envelope transfer track, at least delaying the leading portion of said envelope in response to a movement of said envelope along the envelope transfer track over a fixed distance from the envelope filling position, said distance being independent of the length of said envelope, by at least delaying said surfaces relative to trailing portions of said envelope, in a manner such that said hinge line deflects from said envelope transfer track towards said closing nip, and feeding said envelope with said leading hinge line through said closing nip beside the envelope transfer track. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification