Inserter and method for opening an envelope throat of an envelope transported along an envelope channel

Abstract

A method for opening an envelope throat of an envelope transported along an envelope channel dependably opens the envelope throat of the envelope during insertion in an inserter. The envelope, in order to open the envelope throat, is first over-pressed against a counter-pressure and then the counter-pressure is released to open the envelope throat, and/or the envelope is over-pressed against the hold-down force that holds the envelope down on an envelope transport, in order to open the envelope throat. For this purpose, an inserter inserts one or more items into an envelope moving along an envelope channel.

Claims

1. A method for inserting at least one item into an envelope while the envelope is being transported along an envelope channel, the method comprising: (i) moving the envelope in the envelope channel past a counter-guide that is fixed in place and stands still with reference to the envelope channel; (ii) subsequently moving the envelope in the envelope channel past an opener for opening the envelope while the envelope is moving, the opener comprising at least one over-presser that is fixed in place and that stands still with reference to the envelope channel, the counter-guide acting against the at least one over-presser such that an envelope throat of the envelope is opened, the at least one over-presser is disposed behind and spaced apart from the counter-guide in a movement direction of the envelope; (iii) holding the envelope throat open via at least one holder, and (iv) inserting at least one item into the envelope via the envelope throat.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the envelope has an upper cover and a lower cover, wherein the lower cover is configured to be longer than the upper cover, and wherein the counter-pressure of the upper cover is released in order to open the envelope throat.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein counter-pressing via the counter-guide takes place by under-pressing.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of over-pressing via the over-presser and counter-pressing via the counter-guide takes place by a relative movement parallel to a main surface of the envelope.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the counter-guide is an under-presser.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises at least one filling aid that moves along with the envelope and engages into the envelope.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one filling aid moves along with the envelope synchronously.

8. An inserter for inserting at least one item into an envelope that moves along an envelope channel during insertion of the at least one item into the envelope, said inserter comprising an opener for opening a moving envelope and a holder for holding the moving envelope open, wherein the opener comprises at least one over-presser that is fixed in place and a counter-guide that is fixed in place and acts against the at least one over-presser, wherein the at least one over-presser and the counter-guide stand still with reference to the envelope channel, and wherein the at least one over-presser is disposed behind and spaced apart from the counter-guide in a movement direction of the envelope.

9. The inserter according to claim 8, wherein the counter-guide acts against the over-presser as an under-presser that is fixed in place.

10. The inserter according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the at least one over-presser and the counter-guide distort the cross-section of the envelope channel selected perpendicular to the movement path of the envelope through the envelope channel.

11. The inserter according to claim 10, wherein the cross-section is partly raised and partly lowered for the distortion.

12. The inserter according to claim 10, wherein the holder comprises a filling aid, wherein the inserter comprises an envelope guide that moves the filling aid along with a plurality of envelopes transported by an envelope transport, and an item transport for feed of the at least one item to the envelopes, and wherein the opener is disposed in a pivot-in region where the filling aid pivots into a respective envelope.

13. The inserter according to claim 12, wherein the envelope transport comprises a suction belt that serves as a down-holder.

14. The inserter according to claim 10, wherein the opener comprises at least one air nozzle.

15. The inserter according to claim 14, wherein the at least one air nozzle is in the at least one over-presser or in the counter-guide.

16. The inserter according to claim 8, wherein the opener further comprises a convex curvature of the envelope channel with reference to the envelope in a movement direction of the envelope.

17. The inserter according to claim 16, wherein the counter-guide is disposed on an outside of the convex curvature, and wherein the counter-guide opens just before an opening region, in a direction away from the envelope channel.

18. The inserter according to claim 17, wherein the counter-guide ends just before the opening region.

19. The inserter according to claim 16, wherein the holder comprises a filling aid, wherein the inserter comprises an envelope guide that moves the filling aid along with a plurality of envelopes transported by an envelope transport, and an item transport for feed of the at least one item to the envelopes, and wherein the opener is disposed in a pivot-in region where the filling aid pivots into a respective envelope.

20. The inserter according to claim 19, wherein the envelope transport comprises a suction belt that serves as a down-holder.

21. The inserter according to claim 16, wherein the opener comprises at least one air nozzle.

22. The inserter according to claim 21, wherein the at least one air nozzle is in the at least one over-presser or in the counter-guide.

23. The inserter according to claim 8, wherein the holder comprises a filling aid, wherein the inserter comprises an envelope guide that moves the filling aid along with a plurality of envelopes transported by an envelope transport, and an item transport for feed of the at least one item to the envelopes, and wherein the opener is disposed in a pivot-in region where the filling aid pivots into a respective envelope.

24. The inserter according to claim 23, wherein the envelope transport comprises a suction belt that serves as a down-holder.

25. The inserter according to claim 8, wherein the opener comprises at least one air nozzle.

26. The inserter according to claim 25, wherein the at least one air nozzle is in the at least one over-presser or in the counter-guide.

27. The inserter according to claim 8, further comprising a down-holder that runs along with the envelope transport.

28. The inserter according to claim 27, wherein the at least one over-presser projects beyond a path of the down-holder.

29. The inserter according to claim 28, wherein the at least one over-presser projects beyond a first envelope cover of a first envelope that is being held down in a direction of a second envelope cover of a second envelope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings,

(3) FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic side view of the opening region of an inserter with an envelope running toward under-pressers;

(4) FIG. 2 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 1, when the envelope has almost moved past each under-presser and has reached the over-pressers, before the upper cover of the envelope has moved past each under-presser, whereby in the region of each over-presser, a convex curvature of the envelope channel is present and over-presser and under-presser do not extend over the same width (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) of the envelope channel, so that there, the envelope channel is distorted in cross-section;

(5) FIG. 3 shows the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the upper cover has moved past every under-presser and the envelope throat has just sprung open;

(6) FIG. 4 shows the arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 3, when the envelope lies on the suction belt as the envelope transport once again, relaxed;

(7) FIG. 5 is a sectional schematic side view of the opening region of a further inserter, in which an air nozzle that supports opening of the envelope is provided in each under-presser, whereby an envelope is in the position corresponding to FIG. 3;

(8) FIG. 6 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 5, whereby a filling aid has engaged into the envelope according to FIG. 5, which holds the envelope open while a further envelope is fed in through the envelope channel;

(9) FIG. 7 is a sectional schematic side view of the opening region of a further inserter, in which an air nozzle that supports opening of the envelope and a further air nozzle that serves this purpose are provided in each under-presser, whereby an envelope is in the position corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 5;

(10) FIG. 8 is a sectional schematic side view of the opening region of a further inserter having a suction belt as the envelope transport and as a down-holder, and having a convex curvature as an opening means, and having a counter-guide that ends just ahead of an opening region or just ahead of a region in which the filling aid engages on the envelope, in each instance, with the envelope situated under the counter-guide;

(11) FIG. 9 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 8 just before the upper cover of the envelope leaves the counter-guide;

(12) FIG. 10 shows the arrangement according to FIGS. 8 and 9, whereby the upper cover of the envelope has left the counter-guide and the envelope throat has sprung open, so that the filling aid can engage under the upper cover;

(13) FIG. 11 shows the arrangement according to FIGS. 8 to 10, after the lower cover of the envelope has also left the counter-guide and the filling aid holds the envelope open;

(14) FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the arrangement according to FIG. 3 along the section line I in FIG. 3;

(15) FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional representation of an opening region of an inserter that comprises an arrangement according to FIG. 5, without an envelope;

(16) FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional representation of the opening region according to FIG. 13, along the section line II in FIG. 13;

(17) FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional representation of the opening region according to FIG. 13, along the section line III in FIG. 13; and

(18) FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional representation of the opening region according to FIG. 13, along the section line IV in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(19) Turning now in detail to the drawings, the inserter 1 according to FIG. 1, for inserting one or more items into an envelope 2 that moves along an envelope channel 81, comprises opening means 3 for opening a moving envelope 2 and means for holding the moving envelope 2 open. The means for holding the moving envelope 2 open are not shown schematically in all the sectional representationsand also not in FIG. 1for the sake of simplification. Nevertheless, a means for holding the envelope open is provided in all the inserters 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 16, in each instance, in the form of a filling aid 7 according to FIG. 5.

(20) The opening means 3 comprise two over-pressers 31 that are fixed in place, of which only one is shown in the sectional representation according to FIGS. 1 to 12. The two over-pressers 31 are disposed following one another in the width direction of the envelope channel 81.

(21) Furthermore, the opening means 3 comprise two counter-guides 32 configured as under-pressers 33 that are fixed in place, whereby one counter-guide 32, in each instance, acts or can act against one over-presser 31, in each instance. For one of the over-pressers 31 that are fixed in place, in each instance, one under-presser 33 is therefore provided, in each instance, which serves as a counter-guide 32 that is fixed in place and acts opposite to the over-presser 31, in each instance.

(22) As is evident, the over-pressers 31 and the counter-guides 32 or under-pressers 33 do not extend over the entire width of the envelope channel 81, which is thereby distorted by the over-pressers 31 and the counter-guides 32 or under-pressers 33.

(23) The two over-pressers 31 and the two under-pressers 33 form a distortion 34 (see FIG. 1) of the cross-section of the envelope channel 81 selected perpendicular to the movement path of the envelope 2 through the envelope channel 81.

(24) In the sectional representations according to FIGS. 1 to 12, only one of the two under-pressers 33 is shown schematically, in each instance. The two under-pressers 31 are also disposed to follow one another in the width direction of the envelope channel 81.

(25) Furthermore, the inserter 1 comprises an envelope transport 6 having a suction belt 61 that serves as a down-holder 60.

(26) The envelope 2 or each envelope 2 has an upper cover 21 and a lower cover 22. The lower cover 22 is configured to be longer than the upper cover 21 as shown in FIG. 3.

(27) Each over-presser 31 (see, in this regard, particularly also FIG. 12) projects beyond the path of the down-holder 60 and beyond the lower cover 22 of the envelope 2, in each instance, which cover is held down, in the direction of the upper cover 21 of the envelope, in each instance.

(28) Over-pressing is understood to be a deformation of the envelope 2 as a result of a pressure or force effect and the accompanying buildup of the counter-pressure. The deformation is characterized, in this connection, by a cross-sectional shape of the envelope 2 that deviates from an unstressed situation, which cross-section runs perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal expanse of the envelope 2 or in an envelope plane that is formed by the correspondingly unstressed envelope 2, and not only parallel (see, for example, FIG. 2) to the transport direction provided for the envelope 2, but also perpendicular (see FIG. 12) to the transport direction.

(29) As is directly evident, the envelope 2 is transported in a transport direction, in such a manner that its envelope throat lies at the back or that the envelope 2 opens toward the back and is closed toward the front. In this way, a particularly advantageous springing-open effect is achieved.

(30) In this connection, the lower cover of the envelope 2 is configured to be longer than the upper cover, and comprises a tab, in known manner. The over-presser 31 acts on the envelope 2 from the direction of the lower cover, while the counter-guide 32 or the under-presser 33 but also the down-holder 60 act on the envelope 2 with a direction of effect that faces from the upper cover to the lower cover. This arrangement also supports springing open of the envelope 2.

(31) For support, the lower cover faces downward during opening. In this way, gravitation impacts the lower cover with a force supplemental to the down-holder 60 and the counter-guide 32 or the under-presser 33, counter to the direction of effect of the over-presser 31.

(32) The inserter 1 according to FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from the inserter 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in that in this inverter, an air nozzle 38 that supports opening of the envelope 2 is disposed in each under-presser 33.

(33) The inserter 1 according to FIG. 7 differs from the one according to FIGS. 5 and 6 in that here, a further air nozzle 39 is provided, which supports opening of the envelope 2.

(34) In a method for opening an envelope throat 23 of an envelope 2 transported along the envelope channel 81, using the inserter 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 4, opening of the envelope throat 23 takes place while the envelope 2 is being transported via the envelope transport 6.

(35) In the method, the envelope 2 is first over-pressed to open the envelope throat 23 according to a step i, counter to a counter-pressure (see FIG. 2), and then the counter-pressure is released to open the envelope throat 23, thereby causing the envelope 2 to spring open (see, in this regard, FIG. 3). Opening of the envelope when using the inserter 1 according to FIGS. 5 and 7 is advantageously supported by blowing air into the envelope 2 while it is being opened, by way of the air nozzle 38 and/or the air nozzle 39 (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

(36) Counter-pressing takes place by means of the under-presser 33, by means of under-pressing, whereby each of the two under-pressers 33 under-presses an oblong partial region or strip region of the envelope 2 while it moves by means of the envelope transport 6, which region extends parallel to the transport direction or parallel to an edge of the envelope 2.

(37) Release of the counter-pressurewhich is built up in that the envelope 2 is pressed against the under-presser 33 or against the counter-guide 32 by the over-presser 31takes place in that in the further course of the movement of the envelope 2, making available or building up the counter-pressure via pressing the upper cover 21 against the counter-guide 32 or the under-presser 33 via the over-presser 31 is eliminated, specifically by limiting the expanse of the counter-guide 32 or of the under-presser 33 in the direction of movement of the envelope 2.

(38) Furthermore, opening of the envelope throat 23 by means of forcing the envelope 2 open is provided to act synergistically with opening of the envelope throat 23 by means of the envelope 2 springing open, as described above. Forcing the envelope 2 open is done in that according to a step ii, the envelope 2 is over-pressed counter to a hold-down force that holds the envelope 2 down on the envelope transport 6, by means of each of the two over-pressers 31.

(39) Viewed from the reference system of the envelope 2, over-pressing and counter-pressing take place via a relative movement parallel to a main surface of the envelope 2.

(40) In addition to the above steps i and ii for opening the envelope throat, each envelope 2 is held open by means of a filling aid 7 that moves along synchronously with the envelope 2 and engages into the envelope 2 (see, in particular, FIG. 6). The filling aid 7 (see FIG. 6) engages into the over-pressed envelope 2 for this purpose, in such a manner that it does not touch the lower cover 22 that faces away from the filling aid 7.

(41) In the inserter 1 according to FIG. 8, the opening means comprise a convex curvature 35 of the envelope channel 81 with reference to the envelope 2, in each instance, in the movement direction of the envelope 2, in each instance.

(42) Furthermore, the opening means 3 comprise a counter-guide 32 disposed on the outside of the convex curvature 35, which guide ends in an opening region or which extends only up to this opening region. The opening region of the inserter 1 is a region in which opening of the envelope 2 or opening of the envelope throat 23 of the envelope 2 is provided for in the inserter 1.

(43) In a method for opening an envelope throat 23 of an envelope 2 transported along an envelope channel 81, while the envelope 2 is being transported along the envelope channel 81, using the inserter 1 according to FIG. 8, the envelope 2 is moved past the counter-guide 32, which is displaced in the same direction as the envelope channel 81 with reference to the envelope 2, and past an over-presser 31 that is displaced in the same direction as the envelope channel 81 with reference to the envelope 2, The over-presser 31 is configured in the form of a curved partial section of the envelope channel 81.

(44) Via the convex curvature 35 provided, a mechanical stress is built up or a stress energy is introduced in the envelope 2, in each instance, by means of its being moved past the counter-guide 32 and the over-presser 31, which stress or energy is discharged or converted to kinetic energy of the envelope 2 springing open when the upper cover 21 of the envelope 2 leaves the counter-guide 32 (see, in this regard, FIGS. 9 and 10).

(45) After the lower cover 22 of the envelope 2 has also left the counter-guide 32, the envelope 2 is held open using the filling aid 7 (see FIG. 11), whereby the filling aid 7 engages under the upper cover 21 without touching the lower cover 22 after the envelope 2 has sprung open, to hold the envelope 2 open (see FIG. 10).

(46) The inserter 1 according to FIGS. 13 to 16 also has the two over-pressers 31 that are fixed in place, as well as the two counter-guides 32 that are fixed in place and act against the over-presser 31, in the form of under-pressers 33 that are fixed in place. One under-presser 33, in each instance, is provided to act against one over-presser 31, in each instance. The over-pressers 31 and the under-pressers 33 are disposed to follow one another, in each instance, in the width direction of the envelope channel 81 (see, in this regard, particularly FIG. 13).

(47) The filling aid 7 is provided on the envelope guide 70 (see, in this regard, not only FIGS. 5 and 6 but especially also FIG. 13). The filling aid 7 (see FIG. 13) is configured in fork shape, in order to engage into the envelope, in each instance, in effective and operationally reliable manner (not illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16). The under-pressers 33 and over-pressers 31, which are configured to be oblong (see also FIGS. 14 to 16), allow sufficient under-pressing or over-pressing of the envelope, in each instance, for dependable opening of the envelope throat, via over-pressing the envelope on strip-shaped partial surfaces of the envelope, in each instance, which surfaces extend in the transport direction of the envelope or in a direction parallel to the edge of the envelope, in each instance.

(48) The envelope guide 70 (see FIG. 13) is set up to synchronously move the filling aid 7 along with the envelope transported by the envelope transport (not shown in any detail in FIG. 13).

(49) An item transport provided above the under-pressers 33 and below the envelope guide 70 (not shown in any detail in FIG. 13) serves for feed of the item or items to the envelopes, in other words particularly for feed of sheets of paper to be inserted into the envelope.

(50) The over-pressers 31 and the under-pressers 33 are disposed in a pivot-in region 84 in which the filling aid 7 pivots into the envelope, in each instance.

(51) As can be seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, the under-presser 31 also has an air nozzle 38 that can be or is supplementally used to open the envelope 2, in each instance.

(52) It is understood thatdepending on the concrete application case, a constant air stream or a pulsating air stream, preferably cycled with the envelopes 2, can be guided to the envelopes 2 through the air nozzle 38. The same also holds true for the air nozzle 39.

(53) Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.