Package making – Means to open or erect receptacle – Means to open envelope
Patent
1994-11-07
1996-06-11
Coan, James F.
Package making
Means to open or erect receptacle
Means to open envelope
533815, 53569, B43M 304, B65B 4339
Patent
active
055244173
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an envelope opening mechanism for an inserter apparatus, that is, an apparatus for effecting insertion of desired insert material into each of a series of envelopes.
Such apparatus comprises conveyor means defining a flow path along which envelopes are conveyed successively from a stack or other supply source through an opener station, at which each envelope is opened, to an insert station at which desired insert material, comprising one or more items usually in the form of printed cards or sheets, which may or may not be folded, is placed inside each opened envelope. The filled or loaded envelope is then conveyed from the insert station to be closed, and sealed if required.
Where the insert material is to comprise a plurality of items, a second conveyor means can be provided along which the two or more insert items are assembled into a stack, as by depositing, on each first item, the or each additional item from separate feeder devices, some or all of which can include folding equipment, located along the flow path provided by the second conveyor means. This path ends at the insert station, where each assembled stack is loaded into a respective envelope carried there by the first-mentioned conveyor means.
The envelopes typically comprise panels folded and secured together to form a rectangular pocket or body portion open along one edge at which an integrally formed flap portion is hinged. The flap portion may be generally triangular or rectangular with end edges converging away from the body portion. Initially, the flap portion overlies the body portion, so to enable insert material to be loaded into the body portion, the envelope has to be opened, by turning of the flap portion about the hinge line to a position at which the flap portion extends at least approximately in the plane of the panel of the body portion with which it is integrally formed. The opening mechanism of an inserter apparatus is of course required to operate reliably, and is desirably simple in construction.
The invention accordingly provides an envelope opening mechanism for an inserter apparatus, the mechanism comprising conveyor means for firstly feeding envelopes in succession, with the flap hinges leading, to a first or preliminary opening device which effects a degree of angular separation between the envelope flap and body portions about the hinge line, and for secondly effecting relative movement in the direction of the hinge line of the envelopes, and an edge member engageable with the free edge of the envelope flap, the edge member being shaped to effect further angular movement of the flap and body portions about the hinge line to a relationship permitting insertion of insert material into the envelope body.
Conveniently, the edge member is fixed within the apparatus, and the secondary movement of the envelopes is past the edge member to an insert station at which insert material is fed into the opened envelope in the direction opposite to the first feed direction of the envelopes. With the flap portion upwards and somewhat upwardly inclined, the envelope body then moves beneath the edge member, and the leading edge of the flap portion engages the operative edge of the edge member. The operative edge is advantageously inclined away from the hinge line in the direction of travel at a suitable angle, for example in the range of 45.degree. to 50.degree., and is curved or otherwise shaped to ensure non-damaging contact with the flap portion edge and smooth sliding along it. As the envelope moves beneath the edge member, the operative edge acts on the flap portion leading edge so as to turn the flap portion to and beyond the upright position, and then at least approximately to a fully opened position.
The edge member is preferably associated with an upstream portion which is inclined to guide the leading edge of the envelope body adjacent the hinge line beneath the edge member. At the downstream end, the edge member is preferably associated with a downturned portion under which the now fully exposed upper
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Coan James F.
Printed Forms Equipment Limited
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