Package making – Methods – With contents treating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-10
2001-07-31
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
With contents treating
C053S206000, C053S447000, C053S460000, C053S493000, C053S540000, C053S569000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266944
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine and a process for the automatic enveloping of messages with a variable number of sheets, starting as single unfolded envelope sheets and message sheets.
2. Prior Art
The actual printing and dispatching on large scale of enveloped messages are handled by automatic systems, which handle in batches the messages with variable size, such that their subsequent enveloping can be efficiently automated. This has the disadvantage of making necessary a subdivision in distinct processing steps which, due to the higher number of utilized personnel, involves a series of problems not of little importance (organization, trade-union, time, confidentiality and reliability).
A further disadvantage is due to the need of providing a burdensome cost for equipment, offices and postal fees.
From EP-A-0 541 836 a method for mailing production is known, in which a first sheet is printed by a computer printer and then augmented by a second sheet prior to entering folding means, one of the sheets being twice transversely folded. The enveloping of messages with a variable number of sheets is not addressed.
From EP-A-0 297 843 an apparatus for manufacturing sealed postal mails or the like envelope assemblies is known, which in particular discloses grouping means to selectively add additional inserting elements to the message sheets. Being the process a continuous process, it is compelling to add these additional inserting elements in a single step. Therefore, a particular structure has to be adopted for the additional elements.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes such prior art problems by providing a process for the automatic enveloping of messages with a variable number of sheets, starting as from single envelope sheets and unfolded message sheets, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
a) supplying one or more message sheets and releasing the same on a first accumulating plane;
b) supplying one or more envelope sheets and releasing the same on a second accumulating plane which forms an angle with the first accumulating plane, such as to obtain the overlaying of the front ends of said envelope sheets and of the message sheets, once released;
c) simultaneously feeding said envelope sheets and message sheets so that complete overlaying thereof is obtained; and
d) simultaneously folding said envelope sheets and message sheets so that the remaining sheets are enveloped by one of said envelope sheets, obtaining an envelope.
The present invention further provides a machine for the automatic enveloping of messages with a variable number of sheets, characterized in that it comprises:
first means for supplying one or more message sheets;
a first accumulating plane of said sheets, located downstream of said first means for supplying message sheets;
second means for supplying one or more envelope sheets;
a second accumulating plane of said second envelope sheets, located downstream of said second means for supplying said envelope sheets and forming an angle with the first accumulating plane, so that, once said message sheets and envelope sheets are supplied, an overlaying of their front ends is obtained;
means for simultaneously feeding said message sheets and envelope sheets, and obtaining complete overlaying thereof; and
means for simultaneously folding said envelope sheets and message sheets, for obtaining an envelope.
The present invention further provides an envelope sheet, for enveloping, once folded, one or more message sheets, characterized in that it is rectangularly-shaped and comprises:
a transversal application of glue along a face, close to one of its transversal sides;
two longitudinal applications of glue, along said face, close to its respective longitudinal sides;
at least one transparent window; and
two longitudinal perforation lines, close to the longitudinal applications of glue respectively, disposed on opposite sides with respect to the longitudinal sides of the sheet.
The need of handling in batches is therefore reduced, as it is possible, by means of the present invention, to handle automatically the processing of messages with variable size, as the same can be enveloped at the time of being issued.
An additional advantage is due to the fact that handling can be performed by only a single processing step, in a single office and by a single operator only, not necessarily skilled. The operator, in fact, will have to control the starting and ending conditions only of the processing, as well as some limited and simple operations, such as handling of messages not automatically processable, advance maintenance, removal of anomalous messages and reset controls.
A further advantage is due to the decrease in the office and equipment costs; the machine according to the present invention in fact preferably works either with printers of small/medium type (30 sheets/minute) or with devices for supplying sheets, enabling the implementation of complete printing and shipping systems with low costs and size, to be installed in non-dedicated premises, such as for example in any working place, by utilizing, if necessary, already present computer equipment.
A still further advantage is due to the fact that in this way the delivery is timely performed, as the abovementioned cheap installation and handling encourages decentralization (and therefore the closeness to the delivery address) of the printing and shipping system so obtained.
A still further advantage is due to the quality of the processing, since as mailing is performed during the same processing step in which the printing operation is performed and by the same operator in charge of the procedure handling, a better result is obtained as far as processing time, confidentiality, performance and reliability are concerned.
The present invention will be illustrated herebelow by referring to a preferred embodiment thereof, explained by way of a non-limiting example.
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Browdy and Neimark
Desai Hemant M.
Gerrity Stephen F.
R.C.P. di Riccardo Consiglio
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