Apparatus and method for inserting a product into an envelope and closing same

• US 5,950,399 A
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Gunther International, Ltd.
• Inventors: Simmons, Donald, Denison, George L. III, DeGaetano, Charles F., Viens, Wilfred S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hong, William
• Application Number:
  US09/081,978
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 53/460, 53/206, 53/284.3, 53/569, 53/381.7, 53/381.6, 53/381.5, 53/385.1, 53/386.1, 493/216, 493/921
• US Class Current: 53/381.6
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 5/042 for envelopes with only one flap

Abstract

An apparatus for inserting a folded product into an envelope and closing the flap of the envelope performs a method in which the envelope is transferred from an envelope hopper by a rotatable shuttle unit having cooperating suction cups and a T-shaped flap engagement member, the folded product is stuffed into its envelope, and then flap of the envelope is closed by an envelope closing device. The envelope inserting and closing apparatus and method are designed for use in a high speed electronic finishing system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope thereby forming a package, which comprises:

(a) a product conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered product at a time along a product conveying path;

(b) a flap positioning unit for positioning a flap of an envelope on a shuttle unit adjacent said product conveying device for each sequentially delivered product; and

(c) a shuttle unit for holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit and transporting the envelope by the flap to a position in the product conveying path of its respective sequentially delivered product, wherein said shuttle unit has a shuttle which rotates for transporting each envelope by its flap to a position in the product conveying path, and whereby its respective sequentially delivered product is inserted within the envelope to create a package.

2. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shuttle includes a holding device to hold the flap of the envelope positioned on said shuttle unit by said flap positioning unit, said shuttle is operationally connected to means to rotate said shuttle so as to move said holding device from a position adjacent said flap positioning unit to the position adjacent said conveying device.

3. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 2, wherein said holding device includes means providing a vacuum for holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit and transporting the envelope by the flap to the position in the product conveying path of its respective sequentially delivered product.

4. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shuttle has first and second holding devices to hold the flap of the envelope positioned on said shuttle unit by said flap positioning unit, whereby the flap of another envelope can be positioned by said flap positioning unit on one of said first and second holding devices of said shuttle unit as a sequentially delivered product is inserted within an envelope held by its flap by the other of said first and second holding devices in the product conveying path.

5. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first and second holding devices have means providing a vacuum for holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit and transporting the envelope by the flap to the position in the product conveying path of its respective sequentially delivered product.

6. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first and second holding devices are spaced on opposite sides of said shuttle unit.

7. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an air blast device located adjacent the position in the product conveying path and positioned to prepare the envelope to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

8. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 7, further comprising means for holding the envelope open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product, said holding means located adjacent the position in the product conveying path.

9. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 8, wherein said holding means includes a plurality of fingers movable into the envelope to hold the envelope open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

10. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for holding the envelope open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product, said holding means located adjacent the position in the product conveying path.

11. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 10, wherein said holding means includes a plurality of fingers movable into the envelope to hold the envelope open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

12. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flap positioning unit includes means for engage the flap of the envelope for positioning the flap of the envelope on said shuttle unit.

13. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 12, wherein said means for engaging the flap of the envelope for positioning the flap of the envelope on said shuttle unit includes a tamper device cooperating with said shuttle unit for relatively moving the flap of the envelope to position the flap on said shuttle unit.

14. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 13, wherein said tamper device and said shuttle unit are relatively moveable toward each other to position the flap on said shuttle unit.

15. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 14, wherein said tamper device includes means for rotating said tamper device to position the flap on said shuttle unit.

16. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 15, wherein said tamper device includes rotatable crank arms having a tamper pivotably mounted thereon.

17. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for rotating said tamper device rotates said crank arms.

18. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 17, wherein said tamper device has abutment means for pivoting said tamper in said crank arms as said crank arms are rotated by said means for rotating said tamper device.

19. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 12, wherein said means for engaging the flap of the envelope for positioning the flap of the envelope on said shuttle unit includes an air blast device to initiate movement of the flap of the envelope toward said shuttle unit.

20. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 1, further including a envelope hopper providing a reservoir of envelopes for said flap position unit.

21. The apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sequentially delivered product is a folded document.

22. An apparatus for closing a sealable flap on a package formed of an envelope containing a product, which comprises:

(a) a package conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered package at a time along a package conveying path;

(b) first and second rollers forming a first pair of rollers in the package conveying path for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said package conveying device, said first roller having an enlarged diameter at its midsection for at least partially sealing the flap of each sequentially delivered package and forcing trapped air from each sequentially delivered package; and

(d) third and fourth rollers forming a second pair of rollers adjacent said first pair of rollers for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said first pair of rollers, said third and fourth rollers are matched so as to provide substantially even pressure across the flap of each sequentially delivered package to fully seal the flap of each sequentially delivered package.

23. The apparatus for closing a sealable flap on a package formed of an envelope containing a product in accordance with claim 22, further comprising a water blast device located adjacent the package conveying path to moisten adhesive on the sealable flap.

24. The apparatus for closing a sealable flap on a package formed of an envelope containing a product in accordance with claim 22, further comprising means for engaging the sealable flap located adjacent the package conveying path to initiate movement of the sealable flap prior to said first pair of rollers.

25. An apparatus for inserting a product in an envelope to form a package and for closing a sealable flap on the envelope, which comprises:

(a) an inserting device comprising;

(i) a product conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered product at a time along a product conveying path,

(ii) a flap positioning unit for positioning a flap of an envelope on a shuttle unit adjacent said product conveying device for each sequentially delivered product, and

(iii) a shuttle unit for holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit and transporting the envelope by the flap to a position in the product conveying path of its respective sequentially delivered product, whereby its respective sequentially delivered product is inserted within the envelope to create a package; and

(b) a package closing device comprising;

(i) a package conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered package at a time along a package conveying path from said inserting device,

(ii) first and second rollers forming a first pair of rollers in the package conveying path for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said package conveying device, said first roller having an enlarged diameter at its midsection for at least partially sealing the flap of each sequentially delivered package and forcing trapped air from each sequentially delivered package, and

(iii) third and fourth rollers forming a second pair of rollers adjacent said first pair of rollers for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said first pair of rollers, said third and fourth rollers are matched so as to provide substantially even pressure across the flap of each sequentially delivered package to fully seal the flap of each sequentially delivered package.

26. A method for inserting a product in an envelope thereby forming a package, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing an inserting device comprising;

(i) a product conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered product at a time along a product conveying path,

(ii) a flap position unit for positioning a flap of an envelope on a shuttle unit adjacent said product conveying device for each sequentially delivered product, and

(iii) a shuttle unit for holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit and transporting the envelope by the flap to a position in the product conveying path of its respective sequentially delivered product, wherein said shuttle unit has a shuttle which rotates for transporting each envelope by its flap to a position in the product conveying path, and whereby its respective sequentially delivered product is inserted within the envelope to create a package;

(b) providing a sequentially delivered product on said product conveying device;

(c) providing an envelope with a flap to said flap positioning unit for each sequentially delivered product;

(d) positioning the flap of the envelope on the shuttle unit adjacent said product conveying device for each sequentially delivered product;

(e) holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit on said shuttle unit;

(f) having the shuttle unit transport the envelope by the flap to a position in the product conveying path of its sequentially delivered product; and

(g) inserting the sequentially delivered product within the envelope to create a package.

27. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, wherein said holding step includes providing a vacuum for holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit.

28. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, further including the step of positioning the flap of another envelope by said flap positioning unit on said shuttle unit as a sequentially delivered product is inserted within an envelope held by its flap by said shuttle unit in the product conveying path.

29. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, further including the step of providing an air blast into the envelope located in the position in the product conveying path to prepare the envelope to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

30. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 29, further comprising the step of holding the envelope in the position in the product conveying path open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

31. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 30, wherein said holding open step includes providing a plurality of fingers movable into the envelope to hold the envelope open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

32. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, further comprising the step of holding the envelope in the position in the product conveying path open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

33. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 32, wherein said holding open step includes providing a plurality of fingers movable into the envelope to hold the envelope open to receive its respective sequentially delivered product.

34. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, wherein said flap positioning step includes engaging the flap of the envelope for positioning the flap of the envelope on the shuttle unit.

35. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 34, wherein said flap engaging step includes using a tamper device cooperating with said shuttle unit for relatively moving the flap of the envelope to position the flap on said shuttle unit.

36. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 35, wherein said tamper device and said shuttle unit are relatively moveable toward each other to position the flap on said shuttle unit.

37. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 36, wherein said tamper device rotates to position the flap on said shuttle unit.

38. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 37, wherein said tamper device includes rotatable crank arms having a tamper pivotably mounted thereon.

39. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 38, wherein said step of rotating said tamper device rotates said crank arms.

40. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 39, wherein said tamper device has abutment means which pivots said tamper in said crank arms as said crank arms are rotated by during said step of rotating said tamper device.

41. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, wherein said step of positioning the flap of the envelope on said shuttle unit includes providing an air blast to initiate movement of the flap of the envelope toward said shuttle unit.

42. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, further including the step of providing a reservoir of envelopes for said flap position unit.

43. The method for inserting a product in an envelope in accordance with claim 26, wherein the sequentially delivered product is a folded document.

44. A method for closing a sealable flap on a package formed of an envelope containing a product, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a package closing device comprising;

(i) a package conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered package at a time along a package conveying path,

(ii) first and second rollers forming a first pair of rollers in the package conveying path for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said package conveying device, said first roller having an enlarged diameter at its midsection for at least partially sealing the flap of each sequentially delivered package and forcing trapped air from each sequentially delivered package, and

(iii) third and fourth rollers forming a second pair of rollers adjacent said first pair of rollers for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said first pair of rollers, said third and fourth rollers are matched so as to provide substantially even pressure across the flap of each sequentially delivered package to fully seal the flap of each sequentially delivered package;

(b) providing a sequentially delivered package on said package conveying device;

(c) conveying the sequentially delivered package to said first pair of rollers in the package conveying path to at least partially seal the flap of the sequentially delivered package and force trapped air from the sequentially delivered package; and

(d) conveying the sequentially delivered package from said first pair of rollers to said second pair of rollers to fully seal the flap of the sequentially delivered package.

45. The method for closing a sealable flap on a package formed of an envelope containing a product in accordance with claim 44, further comprising the step of providing a water blast located adjacent the package conveying path to moisten adhesive on the sealable flap.

46. The apparatus for closing a sealable flap on a package formed of an envelope containing a product in accordance with claim 44, further comprising the step of engaging the sealable flap to initiate movement of the sealable flap prior to said first pair of rollers.

47. A method for inserting a product in an envelope to form a package and for closing a sealable flap on the package, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing an inserting device comprising;

(i) a product conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered product at a time along a product conveying path,

(ii) a flap positioning unit for positioning a flap of an envelope on a shuttle unit adjacent said product conveying device for each sequentially delivered product, and

(iii) a shuttle unit for holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit and transporting the envelope by the flap to a position in the product conveying path of its respective sequentially delivered product, whereby its respective sequentially delivered product is inserted within the envelope to create a package;

(b) providing a sequentially delivered product on said product conveying device;

(c) providing an envelope with a flap to said flap positioning unit for each sequentially delivered product;

(d) positioning the flap of the envelope on the shuttle unit adjacent said product conveying device for each sequentially delivered product;

(e) holding the flap of the envelope positioned by said flap positioning unit on said shuttle unit;

(f) having the shuttle unit transport the envelope by the flap to a position in the product conveying path of its sequentially delivered product;

(g) inserting the sequentially delivered product within the envelope to create a sequentially delivered package;

(h) providing a package closing device comprising;

(i) a package conveying device for delivering one sequentially delivered package at a time along a package conveying path,

(ii) first and second rollers forming a first pair of rollers in the package conveying path for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said package conveying device, said first roller having an enlarged diameter at its midsection for at least partially sealing the flap of each sequentially delivered package and forcing trapped air from each sequentially delivered package, and

(iii) third and fourth rollers forming a second pair of rollers adjacent said first pair of rollers for receiving each sequentially delivered package from said first pair of rollers, said third and fourth rollers are matched so as to provide substantially even pressure across the flap of each sequentially delivered package to fully seal the flap of each sequentially delivered package;

(i) providing the sequentially delivered package on said package conveying device;

(j) conveying the sequentially delivered package to said first pair of rollers in the package conveying path to at least partially seal the flap of the sequentially delivered package and force trapped air from the sequentially delivered package; and

(k) conveying the sequentially delivered package from said first pair of rollers to said second pair of rollers to fully seal the flap of the sequentially delivered package.