Methods for variably opening envelopes

• US 7,454,882 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Bowe Bell & Howell Company
• Inventors: Peterson, Chris, Snyder, Robert T., Kapturowski, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GERRITY, STEPHEN FRANCIS
• Application Number:
  US11/546,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 533815-3817, 535/69, 534/60, 534/92, 532/843
• US Class Current: 53/492
• 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 method for adjusting an opening of an envelope within an inserting system, the method comprising:

(a) advancing insert material to a deck and 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 physical characteristics of the insert material to be inserted into the envelope by adjusting a position of a deck to regulate an amount that the mouth of the envelope is opened.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mouth of the envelope can be opened into multiple open positions.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the opening step includes 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.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising receiving an envelope in an insertion position.

5. 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 physical characteristics of the insert material to be inserted into the envelope by 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 an amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open based on information about size or interior side clearance space available upon insertion of the insert material into the envelope; and

(c) receiving an envelope in an insertion position and rotating the feeding guide into the mouth of the envelope.

6. 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 physical characteristics of the insert material to be inserted into the envelope by adjusting a position of a deck that provides a conveying oath on which the insert material travels and adjusting a position of a feeding guide that holds open a mouth of each envelope to control an amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open based on information about size or interior side clearance space available upon insertion of the insert material into the envelope; and

(c) wherein adjusting the positions of the deck and feeding guide further comprises rotating the deck about a hinged end of the deck.

7. The method according to claim 6, 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.

8. The method according to claim 6, 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.

9. 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 physical characteristics of the insert material to be inserted into the envelope by 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 an amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open based on information about size or interior side clearance space available upon insertion of the insert material into the envelope;

(c) receiving an envelope in an insertion position; and

(d) rotating the feeding guide into the mouth of the envelope in the insertion position.

10. The method according to claim 9, 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.

11. The method according to claim 10, 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.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising conveying the insert material along the conveying path through insert guides on the deck, over the feeding guide and into the envelope.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising holding a second envelope in a staging position above the insertion position.

14. The method according to claim 11, 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.

15. 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 to regulate an amount that the mouth of the envelope is opened;

(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.

16. 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.