1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatically closing envelopes.
2. Description of Prior Art
One has already known enveloping means for filling and closing envelope automatically, or by machine, wherein the envelope flaps of the envelopes conveyed by a transport means are folded back by a stationary buffer plate and are subsequently pressed on by a press-on device. However, with this device, no parallel closing of the flap is performed, which may result, particularly with envelopes filled to a certain thickness, in that the envelope flaps are closed in an oblique manner.
To solve this problem, closing drums have already been employed which are journalled around an axis extending in parallel with the transport direction of the envelopes, and are moved in a manner which is transverse to the envelope for folding back the envelope flap. However, it is required, to this end, to interrupt the transport movement of the envelopes. Thereby, the clock performance is limited, particularly with high-performance enveloping equipment.
It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method of the type mentioned at the outset which enable accurate and reliable closing, in a continuous operation duty, even of envelopes filled to a certain thickness.
In accordance with a first aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for automatically closing envelopes with a transporter for moving the envelopes in a transport direction, and a folder for automatically folding back and closing an envelope flap, characterized in that the folder for automatically folding back and closing the envelope flap contains several rotors which are rotatable in the transport direction of the envelope and are movable, by a drive, in a manner which is transverse to the transport direction of the envelopes.
In accordance with a second aspect, the invention provides a method for automatically closing envelopes, wherein the envelopes are transported, by a transporter, in a transport direction past a folder for automatically folding back and closing an envelope flap, characterized in that during the transport of the envelope, the envelope flap is folded back and closed, along its entire length, by several rotors which are rotatable in the transport direction and are moved, in a manner which is transverse to the transport direction, across the envelope flap, which has previously been lifted up.
The inventive apparatus is characterized in that the means for folding back and closing the envelope flap in an automated manner contains several moveable rotors that are rotatable in the transport direction of the envelope and are moveable, by means of a drive, in a manner which is transverse to the transport direction of the envelopes.
A crucial advantage of the inventive configuration is that envelopes filled to have both small and large thicknesses may be closed by machine without delay and without interrupting the transport. Above all, the inventive apparatus solves the problem of the envelope height and of the large filling height in the case of thick filling. Without stopping, during transport, the envelope flap, which has been moistened and, prior to that, lifted up, is folded back, and the envelope is closed. Thus, no stopping location, no braking and no renewed accelerating are required. Thus, automated closing of envelopes may also be effected at high speeds.
In a particularly expedient embodiment of the invention, the rotors are configured in the form of drums which are journalled on axes which extend in a manner which is transverse to the transport direction of the envelopes. At their ends which point to the envelope flap, the drums are rounded in an advantageous manner, or have an inclination. Thus, it is possible to drive the rotor onto the envelope flap in a trouble-free manner.
In accordance with a further advantageous implementation, the rotors comprise a front area having a low frictional constant, and a back area having a high frictional constant. Driving the rotors onto the envelope flap may thus be effected through the areas having low frictional constants, whereby the rotors may take on the transport speed of the envelope. Through areas having high frictional constants, which subsequently engage the envelope flap, the envelope flap is pushed across the envelope to the flap break in a uniform and parallel manner, and is closed. In this manner, a force is exerted on the envelope flap which acts in the closing direction and which serves to not only fully close the envelope flap but also to insert any sheets which have not been fully inserted into the envelope, right down to the bottom of the envelope.
In a configuration which is simple in construction and low in cost, the different frictional constants of the rotors may be achieved in that the rotor consists of plastic and exhibits, at its back area, external frictional elements, e.g. in the form of rubber rings or the like.
In order to enable the rotors to be driven onto the envelope flap in a manner which is as free from trouble as possible, and in order to prevent the envelopes from slorocker down, the carrier has arranged thereon a spacer which is embodied, for example, as a distance drum, and by means of which the rotors are kept at a predefined distance from the base.
The inventive method is characterized in that, during the transport of the envelopes, the envelope flap is folded back and closed, along its entire length, by several rotors which are rotatable in the transport direction and are moved, in a manner transverse to the transport direction, across the envelope flap, which has previously been lifted up.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
The apparatus for automatically closing envelopes which has been schematically represented in
Means 5 for automatically folding back and closing the envelope flap 6 contains a carrier 7 which is movable in a manner which is transverse to the transport direction of the envelopes 2 and which has several rotors 8 arranged thereon which are mutually successive in the transport direction of the envelopes 2. As may be seen from
In the embodiment shown, rotors 8 are configured in the form of drums which are rounded in the shape of a hemisphere at their front ends facing envelope flap 6.
Rotors 8 are journalled on axes 15 which extend transverse to the transport direction of envelopes 2. The axes 15 are mounted, in a manner which is transverse to the transport direction of envelopes 2 and such that they protrude forward toward envelope flap 6, on front part 9 of carrier 7 which extends in parallel with transport means 1. Rotors 8 comprise a front area 16 having a low frictional constant, and a back area 17 having a high frictional constant. To this end, rotor 8 expediently consists of a plastic (e.g. POM) having a low coefficient of friction. In the back area of rotors 8, revolving ring grooves 18 for one or several friction elements 19 consisting of rubber or the like are introduced in the form of O-rings. Thereby, rotor 8 has a higher frictional constant in this area. By selecting the number of frictional elements 19 accordingly, the frictional constant at the respective rotors 8 may be altered. A distance drum 20 which has a larger external diameter than rotors 8 and bears on base 3 is mounted on the last axis 15 as seen in the transport direction. This distance drum 20 guarantees that rotors 8 have a predefined distance from base 3, as is shown in
In accordance with
The above-described apparatus operates as follows:
The envelope 2 previously filled in a filling station is transported, by transport means 1, in the longitudinal direction along means 5 for automatically folding back the envelope flap 6. By means of a stationary folder 25 arranged upstream from means 5 in the transport direction, the envelope flap 6, facing the rotors 8, of envelope 2 is slightly lifted beforehand. As soon as envelope 2 has reached a position, shown in
When carrier 7 is swiveled into the closing position, rotors 8 initially come to lie, by means of their area 16 with the low frictional constant, on envelope flap 6, whereby rotors 8 are guided onto envelope 2 and take on its transport speed. After being driven, for a short time, onto envelope flap 6, areas 17 having the high frictional constant, start to operate and exert, onto envelope flap 6, a force in the closing direction which also causes any content which may still be projecting to be pressed into the envelope. Envelope flap 6 is pushed, right up to the flap break, across envelope 2 in a uniform and parallel manner, and is closed. The rail-shaped front part 9 of carrier 7 having the rotors 8 arranged thereon is longer than envelope 2, so that during swiveling of carrier 7 into the closing position, the entire envelope flap 6 is constantly in contact with rotors 8 even while envelope 2 is transported further. The distance drum 20 ensures that the rotors 8 do not slow down the envelope 2 while envelope 2 is introduced into means 5. Once envelope 2 has left distance drum 20, carrier 7 returns to its initial position.
While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred 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 |
---|---|---|---|
10 2004 008 830 | Feb 2004 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP2005/001615, filed Feb. 17, 2005, which designated the United States, and was not published in English and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3474711 | Swinyar | Oct 1969 | A |
3903544 | Nakamichi | Sep 1975 | A |
4499705 | Russell | Feb 1985 | A |
5590399 | Matsumoto et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
5979818 | Perini et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
20020160922 | Milner et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
23 19 866 | Nov 1974 | DE |
0 493 027 | Jul 1992 | EP |
1 223 051 | Aug 2002 | EP |
944255 | Dec 1963 | GB |
5-46496 | Jun 1993 | JP |
2001-105790 | Apr 2001 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070029033 A1 | Feb 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/EP2005/001615 | Feb 2005 | US |
Child | 11500787 | US |