Patent Application
20140096481
The present invention relates to the field of introducing goods into covers, for example introducing one or several goods items into an envelope, and here particularly to an approach for transporting a cover to an inserter, to a cover transport as well as to an inserter.
In the art, several approaches are known for introducing one or several goods items into an envelope. One approach operates in start/stop operation, where the envelopes and the goods to be introduced are moved in a clocked manner, wherein the envelope waits at a filling station so that the goods item can be introduced into the waiting envelope. Other approaches operate continuously so that both the goods item and the envelope are moved along a filling path during the filling process, wherein, at the end of the inserting path, the goods item is introduced into the envelope.
In all these approaches it is necessitated to provide an envelope to the inserter by an envelope applier or an envelope magazine such that the envelope is provided, at the beginning of the filling process, with the desired orientation at the filling position or at the beginning of the filling path. The desired orientation of the envelope can be such that an envelope front where the envelope flap is arranged is directed towards the bottom, so that a goods item to be introduced can be moved over the envelope flap when being introduced into the envelope.
Known inserters comprise, for example, one or several envelope magazines above the filling position, from which the envelopes are drawn and moved to the filling position, which might necessitate turning the envelope to obtain the desired orientation of the envelope at the filling position. Such inserters are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,425 A, EP 2 189 297 A1 or WO 03/061988 A1. In other inserters, the envelope magazine is arranged below the filling position, as is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,900 A or U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,615 A. In these inserters, the envelopes are supplied without necessitating a change of the transport direction, however, the envelope magazine is difficult to access, so that refilling envelopes is complex and difficult for an operator.
For avoiding this problem, in other inserters an envelope magazine is arranged beside the inserter, for example in an orientation perpendicular to the extension direction of the inserter at a position easily accessible for an operating person, so that the problems with respect to operation, in particular with respect to providing a sufficient number of envelopes, are avoided.
However, this has the effect that the envelopes are supplied from a direction unequal to the direction in which a filled envelope is output by the inserter. EP 1 473 173 A1 or WO 2010/027521 A1 describe such approaches, wherein EP 1 473 173 A1 necessitates an additional worm transport to move the envelopes from the envelope transport level to the filling level, reducing the obtainable throughput. WO 2010/027521 A1 necessitates an orientation of the output direction towards the top, so that redirection of the filled envelope is necessitated. Other approaches, for example described in USA 2003/0150194 A1 or DE 102 36 497 A1 effect redirection of the envelopes from a first transport direction, where the envelopes are drawn from the magazine, to a second transport direction for feeding to the inserter, necessitating, for example, redirecting by 90°. US 2003/0150194 A1 solves this by a complex and error-prone curve transport. Inserters similar to the one described in DE 102 36 497 A1 have the effect that an envelope drawn from a magazine is moved in a first transport direction through a first transport to a stop and taken over by a second transport effecting further transport of the envelope at 90° to the original direction to the inserter. Possibly, turning the envelope is also necessitated, so that the same is provided to the inserter with the desired orientation.
Such approaches are particularly disadvantageous in the high-speed range for high-power inserters, since the 90° redirection limits performance. When reaching the 90° redirection, the envelopes are stopped and taken over by a new transport. By the start/stop operation, high forces act on the envelope, resulting in additional stresses for the envelope. Further, there is the risk of damaging an envelope, for example at the edge impinging on the stop in the redirection, whereby in the subsequent inserting process problems can occur due to erroneous insertions or jams. Further, such approaches necessitate complex conversion of the transports when the format is changed, since an envelope is, for example, initially moved in the direction of the edges perpendicular to the envelope opening but is moved further from the redirection position in a direction parallel to these edges. The possibly necessitated turning necessitates an additional element, which takes up additional time and holds the risk of damages or problems when transporting the envelope, which can have a negative influence on the throughput.
According to an embodiment, an apparatus for transporting a cover may have: a cover inlet transport; a cover turning unit for redirecting and turning the cover; and a cover outlet transport; wherein the cover turning unit, the cover inlet transport and the cover outlet transport are arranged such that at least the cover inlet transport or the cover outlet transport transport the cover moving through the cover turning unit, wherein the cover inlet transport is configured to effect transport of the cover in a first transport direction, wherein the cover outlet transport is configured to effect transport of the cover in a second transport direction differing from the first transport direction, wherein the cover turning unit is arranged at an angle to the first transport direction and the second transport direction, and wherein the cover turning unit includes two spaced-apart passive guides for redirecting and turning the cover.
According to another embodiment, a cover transport system may have: a magazine that is configured to receive a plurality of covers; an inventive apparatus, wherein the cover inlet transport is coupled to the magazine to receive covers provided by the magazine.
According to another embodiment, an inserter for introducing one or several goods into a cover may have: a goods supply; an inventive cover transport system; and an inserting means for introducing the one or several goods into a cover provided by the cover applying unit.
According to another embodiment, a method for transporting a cover may have the steps of: supplying the cover; redirecting and turning the cover; and outputting the cover; wherein the cover is moved during supplying, redirecting and turning and outputting by maintaining an orientation of the leading edge of the cover with respect to the transport direction of the cover, wherein the cover is transported in a first transport direction during supplying, wherein the cover is transported in a second transport direction differing from the first transport direction during outputting, and wherein the cover is redirected and turned by a cover turning unit which is arranged at an angle to the first transport direction and the second transport direction, wherein the cover turning unit includes two spaced-apart passive guides for redirecting and turning the cover.
The present invention provides an apparatus for transporting a cover, comprising:
The present invention further provides a cover transport system having a magazine that is configured to accommodate a plurality of covers and an apparatus according to embodiments of the invention, wherein the inlet transport is coupled to the magazine in order to receive envelopes provided by the magazine.
The present invention further provides an inserter for introducing one or several goods items into a cover, having a goods supply, a cover transport system according to embodiments of the invention and an inserting means for introducing the one or several goods items into the cover provided by the cover transport system.
The present invention further provides a method for transporting a cover, comprising:
Embodiments of the invention comprise a turning unit including a turning tray having an inner tray and an outer tray, between which a gap is provided between which the cover, advantageously an envelope, moves.
Further implementations of the invention are defined in the sub-claims.
The inventive approach is advantageous since the envelope magazine can be arranged at an easy-to-reach position, e.g. beside the inserter, wherein at the same time the problems existing in conventional technology with redirecting and turning of a drawn envelope are avoided. The envelope is moved continuously (without stopping) through the turning unit, simultaneously effecting redirecting and turning of the envelope without having to change its orientation with respect to the transport direction, so that, for example, the envelope is transported in front of the turning unit and behind the turning unit via its broad side (side parallel to the envelope opening). This has, among others, the advantage that lower transport speeds are necessitated with the same throughput compared to a transport via the longitudinal side (side perpendicular to the envelope opening).
A further advantage is that the turning unit effects twisting of the envelope, whereby tensions within the envelope are released and the front and rear sides of the envelope possibly adhering to one another, for example due to adhesive points on the inside of the envelope, are mechanically released. Further, by turning the envelope, the envelope flap is pressed down, so that the same remains in the opened position during further processing or a return to a position overlapping with the envelope body is prevented.
The inventive approach is further independent of the format, i.e. processing is possible without changing the format, independent of the size of the envelope. Damaging the envelope is prevented since no stops exist. Within the turning tray, no actuator is necessitated, however, it is ensured that the envelope is transported at least through one of the inlet or outlet transports so that continuous movement of the envelope is ensured.
In the conventional technology concerning sheet transports, approaches for turning individual sheets are known comprising a turning unit. Exemplarily, reference is made to WO 2011/00738 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,039 A. However, these plants serve to turn individual sheets, i.e. one-sheet elements. So far, it has been assumed that for the following reasons processing envelopes through such a unit is not possible. Contrary to individual sheets, covers, for example envelopes, are goods comprising two layers of sheet-like elements connected to one another at several of their edges, wherein one layer possibly includes a window of again another material. Further, envelopes include an envelope flap projecting at one side of the envelope or arranged in an overlapping manner with the envelope. Due to the double-layered structure of an envelope, compared to an individual layer, a higher stiffness results (e.g. in the area of the glued edges, at particular at the corners). Further, the two layers are connected to one another, so that overlying layers are moved during a movement through a turning tray to a different extent due to the different radii (radius effect), which can cause twists or creases due to the connection of the two layers, which does not allow safe transport of such a structure by a turning tray. In particular for large-format envelopes, processing by a turning tray has been considered impossible since in such envelopes the edges additionally comprise a fold to provide sufficient volume for receiving goods. This results in a further increase in stiffness. Further, it has been assumed that envelopes, contrary to sheets, are not suitable for transport through turning units due to their undefined and unfavorable geometry, for example changing flaps or the unfavorable height/width ratio. In particular, the mentioned approaches are intended for processing sheets of the same format (same dimensions) and adjustment of the necessitated transport elements is not provided for. However, inserters operate with different envelope formats whose dimensions can differ by several centimeters so that conventional turning units are not suitable for transporting such envelopes or necessitate complex conversion of the transports. For the above-stated reasons, so far the view has been taken in conventional technology that turning trays as described in the stated documents are not suitable for transporting envelopes.
Extensive examinations and tests of the applicant have led to the finding that such turning units known from sheet transports are basically also suitable for envelope transport systems, in particular for redirecting and turning envelopes, so that according to the teaching of the present invention, for the first time an apparatus is provided which serves to transport covers or envelopes and which enables a turning unit for simultaneously redirecting and turning the cover during a continuous movement of the cover.
Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which:
In the following description of embodiments of the present invention, the same or equal elements are referred to with the same reference numbers in the figures.
An envelope K1 is moved through the inlet transport 102 in the direction of the turning tray 104 along a first transport direction T1. The envelope K1 includes an envelope body 112 including an envelope front 114, an envelope rear 116 and an envelope opening 118. The envelope K1 further includes an envelope flap 120 arranged at the envelope front, wherein the connection region between the envelope flap 120 and the envelope front is referred to as a hinge line (HL). The envelope K1 includes two parallel longitudinal sides 1221, 1222 defined by the parallel edges of the envelope K1 perpendicular to the hinge line. Furthermore, the envelope K1 includes two opposing broad sides 1241, 1242 defined by the edges perpendicular to the longitudinal sides 1221, 1222. The edge 1241 which leads or is at the front in the transport direction T1 defines an envelope bottom of the envelope K1. The edge 1242 which follows or is at the back in the transport direction T1 coincides with the hinge line (HL). The transport of the envelope K1 takes place advantageously in the shown orientation via the broad side with the envelope flap 120 at the back in the transport direction. The envelope K1 is moved in the direction of the turning tray 104 by means of the inlet transport 102. There, the same experiences a redirection of 90° as well as a turn due to the implementation of the turning tray, so that the envelope front 114 lying at the bottom in the inlet transport 102 is at the top in the outlet transport 106 as is illustrated in
In the embodiment shown in
Table 1 illustrates the plurality of different envelope formats that are possibly processed by an inserter and pass through a turning tray. Apart from the different dimensions, the envelopes possibly also comprise windows of different sizes at different positions.
Here, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the implementation of the inlet and outlet transports as roller transports, but rather the inlet and outlet transports can each comprise a plurality of shafts, wherein the shafts comprise a decreasing width in the direction of the turning tray in order to ensure continuous transport of the envelope to and from the turning tray. Also, belt transports or suction belt transports can be provided. In another embodiment it can be provided that the envelope is transported between continuously running ribbons or cloths moved round the turning tray. Further, it should be noted that also different transport elements can be used in the inlet and outlet transport, such as a combination of rollers and shafts, rollers and belts or shafts and belts.
Here, it should further be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described turning trays. Rather, turning trays of any design can be used, where the inner and outer elements are realized by respective wire netting. Also, no continuous unit 104 is necessitated, but rather several adjacent units are possible. Likewise, the turning unit 104 can be realized by a rod arrangement or drum arrangement, around which a ribbon or cloth is wound to realize a redirecting and turning process.
In the embodiment shown in
The implementation of the transport elements 126 and 128 ensures that the envelopes K1 to K3 are conveyed during their movement through the turning tray 104, either by both transports or at least by one of the transports. Further, the implementation according to
Embodiments of the invention have been described based on arrangements that serve to redirect and turn envelopes. Here, it should be noted that the inventive approach is not limited to envelopes, but is generally also suitable for covers without flaps.
While some aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it is obvious that these aspects also represent a description of the respective method, so that a block or a device of an apparatus can also be seen as a respective method step or feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the context of one or as a method step also represent a description of a respective block or detail or feature of a respective apparatus.
While this invention has been described in terms of several advantageous embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102011078979.0 | Jul 2011 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP2012/062817, filed Jul. 2, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and additionally claims priority from German Application No. 102011078979.0, filed Jul. 11, 2011, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2012/062817 | Jul 2012 | US |
| Child | 14102854 | US |
