Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi – Container making – Pliable container
Patent
1997-08-19
1999-05-18
Coan, James F.
Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi
Container making
Pliable container
493249, 493420, 532843, 533776, B31F1/00
Patent
active
059046449
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for closing an envelope.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In automatic mailing machines there is a need for a reliable apparatus for closing envelope flaps after the envelopes have been filled. A difficulty in this respect is that the apparatus may be required to close envelopes of different sizes, wherein the distance from the flap to the opposite edge of the envelope varies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for closing an envelope comprising first transport means for gripping an envelope and transporting it towards an abutment member, in which the abutment member is biased towards the first transport means and is arranged to be movable away from the first transport means against the bias by means of abutment with an envelope being transported by first transport means, unless the crease of the envelope flap lies between the transport means and the abutment means, and second transport means for transporting a folded envelope away from the abutment means, the second transport means being arranged to apply pressure to the folded flap of the envelope.
Thus the apparatus can accomodate envelopes of different sizes without the need for adjustment.
The invention also provides a method of closing an envelope comprising: feeding the envelope towards an abutment member in a direction with the edge of the envelope opposite to the flap first; the abutment member being biased towards the envelope such that it is movable against the bias by the envelope unless the crease of the envelope flap lies between the feeding means and the abutment means, such that the envelope folds at the crease; feeding the folded envelope away from the abutment means; and applying pressure to the folded envelope.
In a preferred embodiment, the first and second transport means each comprise a pair of rollers. For example, the first transport means comprises first and second rollers, and the second transport means comprises the second and a third roller. In this case, the second roller may have a textured surface, for providing frictional adherence with the folded crease of the envelope.
The abutment means is conveniently mounted in a channel for receiving the envelope. For example, the abutment means may comprise the free end of a leaf spring projecting into the channel. The abutment means may be mounted above the first transport means, in which case the abutment means may comprise a slidably mounted weight.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is cross-sectional side view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 2a to 2d are cross-sectional side views of an apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus has a housing 2 including an entrance region 4 for open envelopes, and an exit region 6 for closed envelopes. The entrance region 4 includes a support surface 12 for supporting envelopes for introduction into the apparatus, for example by means of a pair of feed rollers. Such a pair of feed rollers may for example be one of a plurality of such pairs mounted adjacent the support surface 12, for example for transporting envelopes from a filling station where the contents are inserted.
First transport means comprises first and second nip rollers 16, 18, for transporting an envelope 14 towards an abutment member 24 in the form of the free end of a leaf spring 25. The leaf spring 25 is conveniently mounted on the housing 2 above the first and second nip rollers 16, 18, such that the distance between the first and second nip rollers 16, 18 and the free end 24 of the spring 25 is smaller than the depth of the smallest envelope with which the apparatus is intended to be used, where the depth is the distance from the crease of the envelope flap to the opposite edge of
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patent: 4619101 (1986-10-01), Havey, Jr. et al.
patent: 4955186 (1990-09-01), Gough
patent: 5125885 (1992-06-01), Wooley et al.
patent: 5129876 (1992-07-01), Brabant et al.
patent: 5511357 (1996-04-01), Ricketts et al.
Coan James F.
Jensen Steven
Printed Forms Equipment Limited
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