Patent Grant
8607727
The present invention refers to an improved assembly for applying a fluid in particular for envelopes of letters provided with a closure strip. Currently, various types of letter envelopes provided with a closure strip extremely different geometrically are widely available and used.
For example, reference can be made to the geometry of the closure strip of such envelopes which can be rectilinear, triangular, elliptic, etc.
In particular, currently, in order to guarantee a firm closure of the envelopes themselves, it is provided for that a fluid substance, such as generally an adhesive substance or any other substance, for example common water, in case the strip already comprises portions provided with an adhesive substance which can be moisture activated, be applied on the peripheral surface of such closure slip.
The purpose of said fluid substance is that of safely sealing the strip itself against the rest of the envelope and thus providing its protection against unauthorised and/or inadvertent opening.
However, currently there are no automated devices allowing an ideal application of the fluid substance on the abovementioned closure strips, often leading to waste of the substance itself.
Furthermore, presently there are no automated devices capable of allowing an ideal application of the fluid substance on all the currently existing types, different geometrically, of closure strips for letter envelopes.
The objective of the present invention is that of providing for a device capable of overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks of the known art in an extremely simple, inexpensive and particularly functional manner.
Another objective is that of providing an improved assembly for applying a fluid substance, in particular for letter envelopes provided with a closure strip, avoiding waste of the fluid behaviour substance.
Still, another objective is to provide for an improved assembly for applying a fluid substance, in particular for letter envelopes provided with a closure strip, capable of applying the aforementioned fluid substance on all the geometric types of letter envelopes closure strips available as of date.
These objectives according to the present invention are attained by providing an improved assembly for applying a fluid substance, in particular for letter envelopes provided with a closure strip, as described in claim 1.
Further characteristics of the invention are outlined by the subsequent claims.
Characteristics and advantages of an improved assembly for applying a fluid substance, in particular for letter envelopes provided with a closure strip, according to the present invention shall be clearer from the following, exemplifying and non-limiting, description with reference to the attached schematic drawings wherein:
a-2c are schematic perspective views of different embodiments of components of improved assemblies for applying a fluid substance, in particular for letter envelopes provided with a closure strip, according to the present invention;
a-3c are schematic top views of letter envelopes provided with shaped closure strips sealable by means of an improved assembly for applying a fluid substance according to the present invention provided with the components of
Referring to
The terms “fluid substance” mean a general adhesive substance or any other substance, for example common water, capable of activating an adhesive substance previously applied on the closure strip 13, 13′, 13″.
As observable in
In order to allow such application of the fluid substance on the shaped closure strip 13, 13′, 13″ of the letter envelope 12, 12′, 12″, the assembly 10, referring to
According to the invention, the assembly 10 can also comprise a scraper element 20, shown only in
In particular, the first and a second cylindrical element 18 and 19 are arranged radially facing each other to form a calendar structure for the passage of the envelope 12, 12′, 12″, as shown in
Furthermore, according to the invention the second cylindrical element 19, provided with an at least partially shaped side surface 21, 21′, 21″, shown in
As observable according to a preferred embodiment shown in
The scraper element 20, if provided, will act laterally in contact with side surface 21, 21′, 21″, during the rotation of the second cylindrical element 19.
As observable in
In particular, such side surface 21, 21′, 21″ is partially shaped in a manner complementary with the shaped closure strip 13, 13′, 13″ of the letter envelope 12, 12′, 12″ on which the fluid substance is intended to be applied.
As mentioned beforehand, the scraper element 20, if present, is in contact with the side surface 21, 21′, 21″ of the second cylindrical element 19 and, in particular, it can be provided for that such contact portion also be shaped in a manner complementary with the side surface 21, 21′, 21″, in turn partially shaped in a manner complementary with the shaped closure strip 13, 13′, 13″ of the letter envelope 12, 12′, 12″.
Furthermore, as observable in the schematic example of
Additionally, it is advantageously possible for the scraper element 20 to be moveable, for example rotating around a central pin for connection with the container 17, selectively placing one of its surfaces in contact with the side surface 21, 21′, 21″. Regarding the at least partially shaped part of the side surface 21, 21′, 21″ of the second cylindrical element 19, such shaped part can be as general as possible as long as it is complementary with shaped strip 13, 13′, 13″ on which the fluid substance is intended to be applied.
Following are examples three different possible embodiments of the present invention.
The first embodiment, shown in
In particular, in order to apply the fluid substance in a manner such to match the geometry of the abovementioned strip 13, the assembly 10 comprises a second cylindrical element 19 provided with a side surface 21 partially shaped with at least one projecting circular annular profile.
Such projecting circular annular profile is shown in perspective in
In this embodiment the side surface 21, and in particular advantageously only the at least one projecting circular annular profile, when rotating withholds part of the fluid substance supplied held in the container element 17.
The surplus part of the fluid substance is possibly re-introduced into the container element 17 by the scraper element 20.
At such point the envelope 12, and in particular the rectilinear strip 13, is passed, in a rectilinear manner, through the calendar arrangement of the two rotating cylindrical elements 18 and 19.
During this passage the strip 13 gets in contact with one side with the projecting circular annular profile of the side surface 21 which, bearing the fluid substance, deposits part of it on the relative strip 13.
Given that the shaped part of the strip 13 and the projecting circular annular profile of the side surface 21 are complementary, proper positioning of the fluid substance along the rectilinear profile of the strip 13 itself is guaranteed and applied only over the length required.
The same principle, with the due differences, is also valid for the embodiment shown in
Such assembly is also shown in
In particular, in order to apply a fluid substance in a manner such to match the geometry of the abovementioned strip 13′, the assembly 10 comprises a second cylindrical element 19 provided with a side surface 21′ partially shaped with at least one projecting triangular profile 1 shown in
In such embodiment the side surface 21′, and in particular advantageously only the at least one projecting triangular profile 1, when rotating withholds part of the fluid substance supplied held in the container element 17.
As mentioned beforehand, the surplus part of the fluid substance is possibly re-introduced into the container element 17 by the scraper element 20.
At such point the envelope 12′, and in particular the triangular strip 13′, is passed, in a rectilinear manner, through the calendar arrangement of the two rotating cylindrical elements 18 and 19.
Hence, during the passage the strip gets in contact with one side with the projecting triangular profile of the side surface 21′ which, bearing the fluid substance, deposits part of it on the relative strip 13′.
Given that the shaped part of the strip 13′ and of the side surface 21′ are complementary, proper positioning of the fluid substance along the triangular profile of the strip 13′ itself is guaranteed without the fluid substance leaking from the envelope.
A further embodiment is shown in
In particular, in order to apply a fluid substance in a manner such to match the geometry of the abovementioned strip 13″, the assembly 10 comprises a second cylindrical element 19 provided with a side surface 21″ partially shaped with at least one projecting elliptic profile 2 shown in perspective in
In such embodiment the side surface 21″, and in particular advantageously only the at least one projecting elliptic profile 2, when rotating withholds part of the fluid substance supplied held in the container element 17.
The surplus part of the fluid substance is possibly re-introduced into the container element 17 by the scraper element 20.
At such point the envelope 12″, and in particular the elliptic strip 13″, is passed, in a rectilinear manner, through the calendar arrangement of the two rotating cylindrical elements 18 and 19 hence, getting in contact with one side with the projecting elliptic profile of the side surface 21″ which, bearing the fluid substance, deposits part of it on the relative strip 13″.
Given that the shaped parts of the strip 13″ and of the side surface 21″ are complementary, proper positioning of the fluid substance along the elliptical profile of the strip 13″ itself is guaranteed.
Additionally, the invention provides for that at least one between the first and the second cylindrical element 18 or 19 be rotated by motorised actuator means, not shown.
Lastly, it is provided that the assembly 10 further comprises at least one conveyor 30, possibly provided with at least one pushing device 31 for aligning the abovementioned envelopes 12, 12′, 12″, adapted to deliver and transport the abovementioned envelopes 12, 12′, 12″ upstream, at and downstream the calendar arrangement formed by the two cylindrical elements 18 and 19 in such a manner that the strip 13, 13′, 13″ passes in contact with the side surface 21, 21′, 21″ of the cylindrical element 19 provided with at least one projecting shaped profile bearing the fluid substance as shown in
The operation of the device subject of the finding is very easy to understand.
The assembly 10 comprises a container 17 for a fluid substance, supplied by a supplying device 14, partially fitted into which is a side surface 21, 21′, 21″, provided with at least one shaped profile, preferably projecting, of a cylindrical element 19.
Such cylindrical element 19 rotates and when rotating it withholds, and in particular advantageously only on the projecting partial shaped part of its side surface 21, 21′, 21″, part of the fluid substance held in the container 17.
Possibly, the surplus part of the fluid substance collected by the side surface 21, 21′, 21″ is re-introduced into the container 17 by a scraper element 20 which operates on the side surface 21, 21′, 21″ itself.
In such manner waste of the fluid substance is avoided and additionally, being provided for that such scraper element 20 be moveable and provided with several sides, it shall be possible, once one side wears out, to see to repositioning of the scraper element 20 with another side without necessarily replacing the entire element.
By passing the envelope 12, 12′, 12″, and in particular the strip 13, 13′, 13″, through the calendar arrangement formed by the rotating cylindrical element 19 with another rotating cylindrical element 18 coupled to it, the envelope shall get-in contact with one side with the projecting shaped profile of the side surface 21, 21′, 21″ which, bearing the fluid substance it deposits part of it on the strip 13, 13′, 13″.
As mentioned beforehand such fluid substance can be a general adhesive substance or any other substance, such as for example common water, capable of activating the adhesive substance previously deposited on the strip 13, 13′, 13″.
According to the invention, given that the shaped parts of the strip 13, 13′, 13″ and of the side surface 21, 21′, 21″ are complementary, proper positioning of the fluid substance along the profile of the strip 13, 13′, 13″ is guaranteed, regardless of the type of strip.
In such manner, the assembly 10 is capable of overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks of the known art in an extremely simple, inexpensive and particularly functional manner.
In particular, the assembly 10 subject of the present invention thus guarantees avoiding waste of the fluid substance applying it in an ideal manner on all geometric types of letter envelop closure strips currently available.
Hence it has been observed that an improved assembly for applying a fluid behaviour substance, in particular for letter envelopes provided with a closure strip according to the present invention, attains all the objectives outlined above.
The improved assembly for applying a fluid substance, in particular for letter envelopes provided with a closure strip according to the present invention, thus conceived is susceptible to various modifications and variants, all of which fall within the same inventive concept; furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, alongside their dimensions, may vary depending on the technical requirements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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| MI2007A0929 | May 2007 | IT | national |
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