The present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail handling, and it relates more particularly to a water feed device for feeding water to a moistener for moistening envelope flaps that is incorporated into a mail handling machine.
Devices making it possible to feed water to moisteners in mail handling machines are well known, and conventionally such a device comprises a reserve stock of water mounted on a support and connected to a reservoir of water which is disposed under a conveyor table for conveying the envelopes, and in which a piece of foam soaks. The envelopes are moistened as the flaps of the envelopes pass between the top surface of the moistened piece of foam and a brush placed immediately behind a separator for separating the flaps from the bodies of the envelopes.
Unfortunately, such a water feed device suffers from certain drawbacks. Since such a device does not use any pumping means, it has a single setting that, by definition, cannot be adapted to all of the available types of envelope. Therefore, all of the flaps receive the same quantity of water, thereby degrading the quality of sticking down for certain types of envelope.
The present invention thus proposes a water feed device that mitigates those drawbacks and that makes it possible, in particular, to vary the quantity of water deposited on the flaps. An object of the invention is also to allow the user to choose the quantity of water that is best suited to the type of envelopes that the user usually handles. Another object of the invention is to provide such a device without significantly modifying the current structure of mail handling machines.
These objects are achieved by a water feed device for feeding water to a moistener for moistening envelope flaps that is incorporated into a mail handling machine, the water feed device comprising a reserve stock of water from which a quantity of water flows to a reservoir of water with which the reserve stock of water is in communication, said quantity of water being suitable for imbibing a piece of foam soaking in said reservoir of water, wherein said reserve stock of water is disposed in a receptacle that is mounted to move vertically between a low position and a high position, which positions correspond respectively to a low water level and to a high water level in said reservoir.
Thus, with this particular configuration, the quantity of water deposited on the envelope flap can vary as chosen by the user, and can thus be better suited to the various types of envelopes than with prior art devices.
Advantageously, said receptacle can take up a plurality of other positions between said low and high positions.
In a preferred embodiment, said receptacle is moved vertically by turning an adjustment lever that is secured to said receptacle.
Said receptacle may then have a top rim provided with at least one stud serving, when said adjustment lever is turned, to co-operate with a set of teeth on a body portion of the mail handling machine in which the receptacle is mounted.
Said set of teeth is advantageously shaped in a flight-of-steps configuration, each step defining a position in which said lever can be set between said low position and said high position.
Preferably, said reserve stock of water is mounted on a support.
The characteristics and advantages of the present invention appear more clearly from the following description given by way of non-limiting indication and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
A feed device for feeding a moistening liquid to a moistener in a mail handling machine comprises, as is known, a reserve stock of a moistening liquid 10 (preferably water) mounted in a support 12 and from which a quantity of moistening liquid flows through a communication duct 14 for the purpose of imbibing a piece of foam or sponge 16 soaking in a reservoir of liquid 18 disposed under the horizontal plane on which the envelopes are conveyed through the mail handling machine. The envelope flaps are moistened as they pass between the top surface of the foam 16 imbibed with moistening liquid and a hinged brush 20 behind (relative to the direction in which the envelopes advance) a separator 22 designed to separate the flap of each envelope from the body of said envelope. The reserve stock of moistening liquid 10 is easy to remove from its support 12 and can be replaced when the moistening liquid runs short.
In accordance with the invention, the support of the reserve stock of water can be moved vertically between a low position shown in cross-section in
Thus, with this configuration, the quantity of water to be applied to the gummed surface of the flap is adjusted directly by acting on the lever 24. Using the principle of communicating vessels, it is necessary merely to vary the equilibrium height of the reserve stock of water, which height is shown in dashed lines in
The various positions taken up by the adjustment lever 24 resulting from the stud 30 engaging with particular teeth of the set of teeth 32 make it possible for the user to customize the quantity of water delivered to the brush, an increase in the level of water in the reservoir 18 causing the quantity of water delivered by the brush 20 to the flap to increase immediately.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
06 55640 | Dec 2006 | FR | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1970460 | Kirshner | Aug 1934 | A |
2412538 | Commodore | Dec 1946 | A |
2418035 | Lachapelle | Mar 1947 | A |
5354407 | Hubbard et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
5605572 | Berger | Feb 1997 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1640178 | Mar 2006 | EP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080156258 A1 | Jul 2008 | US |