Apparatus and method for inserting one or more goods into a moveable cover

• US 9,359,095 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boewe Systec GmbH
• Original Assignee: Boewe Systec GmbH
• Inventors: Batzer, Joseph, Hoepner, Bernd, Huber, Thomas, Foerg, Helmut, Seiler, Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fry, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US13/669,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 533/815, 533/816, 533/817
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 envelope, comprising:

an envelope transport that continuously moves an envelope along a filling path, the envelope including a first side with an envelope flap and a second side opposite to the first side;

at least one pair of movable filling fingers arranged at a distance defined by the one or more goods and arranged to be inserted into an opening of the envelope, such that when the one or more goods are to be inserted into the envelope, the at least one pair of movable filling fingers laterally guide the one or more goods into the envelope without moving the envelope; and

at least one separating device configured to engage with the second side of the envelope and to move together with the envelope during at least a part of the envelope'"'"'s movement for maintaining the second side of the envelope separate from the first side of the envelope during at least a part of the movement of the envelope, wherein

the separating device is configured to move along at least a section of the filling path in a direction along which the envelope and the one or more goods are moveable along the filling path so as to engage with the second side of the envelope as the envelope moves;

the filling path extends in an envelope transport direction and a goods transport direction;

the opening of the envelope extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the envelope transport direction; and

when the one or more goods are to be inserted into the envelope, the at least one pair of movable filling fingers are inserted into the envelope prior to the one or more goods.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separating device includes a conveyor to which one or more separating claws is mounted, wherein the conveyor is configured to move the one or more separating claws.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least two of the one or more separating claws are arranged consecutively along the conveyor.

4. 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 envelope is moved.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an additional envelope transport configured to transport the filled envelope with a velocity higher than the envelope transport, higher than a velocity of the at least one pair of movable filling fingers, and/or higher than a velocity of a goods transport.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the additional envelope transport comprises a suction transport.

7. A method for inserting one or more goods into a moving envelope, comprising:

continuously moving an envelope along a filling path, the envelope including a first side with an envelope flap and a second side opposite to the first side;

inserting at least one pair of movable filling fingers arranged at a distance defined by the one or more goods into an opening of the envelope;

moving the at least one pair of movable filling fingers together with the envelope, such that when the one or more goods are to be inserted into the envelope, the at least one pair of movable filling fingers laterally guide the one or more goods into the envelope without moving the envelope; and

moving at least a separating device together with the envelope during at least a part of the envelope'"'"'s movement for such that the separating device engages the second side of the envelope and holds the second side of the envelope separated from the first side of the envelope during at least a part of the movement of the envelope, wherein

the separating device is moved along at least a section of the filling path in a direction along which the envelope and the one or more goods are moved along the filling path so as to engage with the second side of the envelope as the envelope moves;

the filling path extends in an envelope transport direction and a goods transport direction;

the opening of the envelope extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the envelope transport direction; and

when the one or more goods are to be inserted into the envelope, the at least one pair of movable filling fingers are inserted into the envelope prior to the one or more goods.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the separating device is moved for opening the envelope so that the first side and the second side of the envelope are separated from each other.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the separating device is actively or passively removed from the envelope, wherein active removal of the separating device from the envelope comprises moving the separating device out of the envelope, swinging away the separating device or slowing down the separating device, and wherein passive removal of the separating device from the envelope comprises moving the envelope faster than the separating device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein, during holding the second side of the envelope, the separating device is moved with a velocity which is equal to or slower than a velocity by which the envelope is moved.