U.S. patent application number 10/064807 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-06 for device for enveloping inserts in an envelope.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mathias Bauerle GmbH. Invention is credited to Haller, Jurg Paul, Lehmann, Jurgen, Markgraf, Willi, Pittelkow, Ralph, Schlipf, Robert.
Application Number | 20030041571 10/064807 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7697032 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030041571 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haller, Jurg Paul ; et
al. |
March 6, 2003 |
Device for enveloping inserts in an envelope
Abstract
A device for enveloping inserts in an envelope has at least one
feeder for supplying first and second articles. A transporting
device for the first and second articles received from the at least
one feeder is arranged downstream of the at least one feeder. A
first adhesive station with at least one applicator unit is
configured to apply an adhesive onto the first article provided for
forming an envelope, wherein the envelope is produced from the
first article without waste. The at least one applicator unit is
stationary during application of the adhesive onto the first
article.
Inventors: |
Haller, Jurg Paul; (Madrid,
ES) ; Lehmann, Jurgen; (Schonwald, DE) ;
Markgraf, Willi; (Tennenbronn, DE) ; Pittelkow,
Ralph; (St. Georgen, DE) ; Schlipf, Robert;
(St. Georgen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUDRUN E. HUCKETT
LONSSTR. 53
WUPPERTAL
42289
DE
|
Assignee: |
Mathias Bauerle GmbH
Gewerbehallestr. 7-11
St. Georgen
DE
78112
|
Family ID: |
7697032 |
Appl. No.: |
10/064807 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/569 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 25/14 20130101;
B65B 51/02 20130101; B65B 11/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/569 |
International
Class: |
B65B 043/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2001 |
DE |
101 42 380.2 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for enveloping inserts in an envelope, comprising: at
least one feeder for supplying first and second articles (1, 1',
1", 57); means for transporting the first and second articles
received from the at least one feeder and arranged downstream of
the at least one feeder; a first adhesive station (15) comprising
at least one applicator unit (16, 17) and configured to apply an
adhesive onto the first article (1') provided for forming an
envelope, wherein the envelope is produced from the first article
(1') without waste; wherein the at least one applicator unit (16,
17) is stationary during application of the adhesive onto the first
article (1').
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
applicator unit (16, 17) is arranged in the area of an edge (21,
22) of the first article (1'), which edge (21, 22) extends in a
transport direction of the means for transporting.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first adhesive
station (15) has two applicator units (16, 17).
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the two applicator
units (16, 17) are arranged in the area of the edges (21, 22) of
the first article (1'), which edges (21, 22) extend in a transport
direction of the means for transporting.
5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second
adhesive station (37), wherein the first and second adhesive
stations (115, 37) are arranged angularly to one another relative
to a transport direction of the first article (1').
6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising an erecting
unit (27) positioned between the first and second adhesive stations
(15, 37), wherein the erecting unit (27) moves the first article
(1') into an upright position when the first article (1') passes
from the first adhesive station (15) to the second adhesive station
(37).
7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising an insert
folding device (51) configured to fold the second articles (1", 57)
to inserts, wherein the first adhesive station (15) is arranged
upstream of the insert folding device (51) in a transport direction
of the first article (1').
8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second
adhesive stations (15, 37) are configured to apply a hot-setting
adhesive.
9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the inserts folded in
the insert folding device (51) are transported on an insert
transport path, wherein the transport path of the first article
(1') is a branch path of the insert transport path, wherein the
first and second adhesive stations (15, 37) are positioned in the
branch path.
10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second
adhesive stations (15, 37) in the transport direction of the first
article (1') are arranged downstream of the insert folding device
(51).
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first and second
adhesive stations (15, 37) are configured to apply a cold-setting
adhesive.
12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the means for
transporting comprise at least one vacuum drum (8, 81) and a stop
(6, 80) correlated with the at least one vacuum drum (6, 80),
wherein the at least one vacuum drum (8, 81) transports the first
and second articles in a direction toward the stop (6, 80).
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one
vacuum drum (8, 81) is connected to a vacuum source.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one
vacuum drum (8, 81) has a peripheral surface provided with through
openings (9).
15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one
vacuum drum (8, 81) has a peripheral surface provided with a
friction coating.
16. The device according to claim 12, further comprising at least
one sensor (31) arranged in the area of the at least one vacuum
drum (8, 81), wherein the at least one sensor (31) is positioned in
a transport path of the first and second articles (1', 1", 57).
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one
sensor (31) is configured to switch vacuum from the at least one
vacuum drum (8, 81) to a transport device (82, 93) of the means for
transporting.
18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the transport device
(82, 93) has a conveying direction (33, 99) oriented
perpendicularly to a conveying direction (32, 97) of the at least
one vacuum drum (6 ,81).
19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the transport device
is comprised of at least one vacuum belt (82).
20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one
vacuum belt (82) is an endless circulating belt.
21. The device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one
vacuum belt (82) is provided with openings (26).
22. The device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one
vacuum belt (82) is connected to a vacuum source.
23. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least
one deflection unit (93) configured to change a transport direction
of the first and second articles.
24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the deflection device
(93) has at least one roller pair with rollers (94) driven in
opposite directions.
25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the rollers (94) have
axes of rotation (100) are positioned in a feed direction (99) of
the first and second articles (1, 1', 1", 57).
26. The device according to claim 24, wherein the rollers (94) have
a flattened side (95).
27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the rollers (94) have
an initial position in which the flattened sides, which are
parallel in the initial position, of the rollers (94) delimit a
free space (96), wherein the first and second articles (1', 1", 57)
are fed in the feed direction (99) into the free space (96).
28. The device according to claim 25, wherein the axes of rotation
(100) of the rollers (94) are positioned perpendicularly to a stop
(6) for the first and second articles (1', 1", 57).
29. The device according to claim 25, wherein the axes of rotation
(100) of the rollers (94) are positioned in a plane perpendicular
to the feed direction (99).
30. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least
one folding unit (67, 86) having at least one folding element (70,
71; 87, 88) which is adjustable transverse to a transport direction
of the first and second articles.
31. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one
folding element (70, 71; 87, 88) is a roller rotatable about an
axis extending in the transport direction of the first and second
articles (1', 1", 57).
32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one
folding element (70, 71; 87, 88) is arranged above a transport path
for the first and second articles.
33. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one
folding unit (67,86) in the transport direction of the first and
second articles (1', 1", 57) has two of the folding elements (70,
71; 87, 88) positioned sequentially behind one another.
34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the two folding
elements (70, 71; 87, 88) are adjustable independently from one
another transversely to the transport direction of the first and
second articles (1', 1", 57).
35. The device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one
folding element (70, 71; 87, 88) in the transport direction of the
first and second articles (1, 1", 57) is positioned behind erecting
means (68, 69; 89) arranged in a movement path of laterally
projecting flaps (65, 66; 79) of the first article (1').
36. The device according to claim 35, wherein the erecting means
(68, 69; 89) are wing-shaped.
37. The device according to claim 35, wherein the erecting means
(68, 69; 89) extend counter to the transport direction of the first
and second articles (1'; 1", 57) at a slant outwardly.
38. The device according to claim 35, wherein the erecting means
(68,69; 89) are upright.
39. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an insert
folding device (51) configured to fold the second articles (1", 57)
to inserts, wherein the insert folding device (51) has two folding
rollers (52, 53).
40. The device according to claim 39, wherein the insert folding
device (51) has a folding blade (106) arranged upstream of the two
folding rollers (52, 53).
41. The device according to claim 40, wherein the folding blade
(106) is adjustable in the direction toward a roller gap between
the two folding rollers (52, 53).
42. The device according to claim 40, wherein the second articles
(1", 57) to be enveloped are supplied on the folding blade
(106).
43. The device according to claim 39, wherein the second articles
to be enveloped (1", 57) and the first articles (1') forming the
envelope are supplied transversely relative to one another to the
insert folding device (51).
44. The device according to claim 39, wherein the insert folding
device (51) has a stop (102) for the first article (1') forming the
envelope.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a device for enveloping inserts in
an envelope, the device comprising at least one feeder, at least
one transport unit for the articles to be transported, and at least
one adhesive station having at least one applicator unit with which
the adhesive is applied onto the article provided for manufacturing
the envelope, wherein the envelope is produced from the article
without any waste.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Enveloping devices are known in which a paper sheet is
folded to an envelope when passing through the device. The
folded-over flaps of the paper sheet are provided with an adhesive.
The adhesive station employed for this purpose has applicator units
which apply the adhesive onto the paper sheet slantedly to the
transport direction. The control required for moving the applicator
unit as a function of the transport speed of the paper sheet is
complex.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to configure the
enveloping device of the aforementioned kind such that a
problem-free enveloping of the inserts is possible with a simple
configuration.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved
in that the applicator unit is arranged stationarily during the
application of the adhesive.
[0007] According to the present invention, the applicator unit is
stationary during application of the adhesive onto the article. The
article to be provided with the adhesive moves past the applicator
unit. When doing so, the adhesive is applied by the applicator unit
onto the article along a line which extends in the transport
direction of the article through the device. As a result of the
configuration according to the invention, a complex control of the
applicator unit as a function of the transport speed of the article
is not required.
[0008] In another embodiment, at least one vacuum drum is provided
in the transport path of the article to be transported and
transports the article in a direction toward a stop. In this
configuration, by means of the vacuum drum the article is
transported against a stop and is aligned at the stop. The vacuum
drum is advantageously continuously rotated so that a rebound
action of the article on the stop is prevented.
[0009] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
device has at least one deflection unit for changing the transport
direction of the article. In this configuration, the deflection
unit for the article has a roller pair whose rollers are driven in
opposite directions relative to one another. The article, which is
supplied in one direction, is received between the rollers of the
roller pair and is transported farther by them in another
direction.
[0010] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the device has
at least one folding unit with at least one folding element which
is adjustable in a direction transverse to the transport direction
of the article. By means of this configuration, a portion of the
article is folded by adjusting the folding element in order to
produce, for example, an envelope from a paper sheet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] In the drawing:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a plan view onto an
enveloping device according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic and enlarged view in the direction
of arrow II of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a plan view onto a deflection unit of the device
according to the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a plan view onto an accumulator of the device
according to the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a view in the direction of arrow V in FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a view in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a folding unit of the
device according to the invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a plan view onto a paper sheet with an adhesive
pattern applied by the device according to the invention in
connection with using a hot-setting adhesive.
[0020] FIG. 9 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 8 showing
the adhesive pattern when employing a cold-setting adhesive.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a plan view onto an insert folding device of the
device according to the invention.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a side view of the insert folding device
according to FIG. 10.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a front view of the insert folding device
according to FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The device is provided for the purpose of enveloping sheets
of paper, cardboard, plastic and the like in an envelope which is
produced in the device from a sheet of paper, carton, plastic or
the like. The illustrated embodiment will be explained in
connection with paper sheets 1.
[0025] The device is supplied, for example, with printed paper
sheets 1 which may be supplied individually or as an endless web
uncoiled from a roll. In the illustrated embodiment according to
FIG. 1, the paper sheets are supplied first as an endless web
uncoiled from the roll and are cut, as is known in the art, in the
longitudinal and transverse direction of the roll. The resulting
paper sheets 1', 1" are used as inserts (paper sheets 1") as well
as for producing an envelope (paper sheets 1') for these inserts.
The paper sheets 1'/1" are transported first in their longitudinal
direction to a deflection unit 3. The transport direction of the
paper sheets is changed at this deflection unit 3. As illustrated
in FIG. 1, the paper sheets are deflected by 90.degree. relative to
the supply direction by the deflection unit 3 and then transported
farther.
[0026] The paper sheets 1', 1" are transported perpendicularly to
their longitudinal direction into a feeder 4 and stacked in the
illustrated embodiment. The configuration and function of the
feeder 4 is known in the art and is therefore not described in
detail in this context. The individual paper sheets 1'/1" are
stacked in the stack 2 in an imbricated arrangement and, after
individualization on a stop 11, are supplied perpendicularly to
their longitudinal direction to an accumulator 5. The accumulator 5
has a stop 6 on which the paper sheets 1" come to rest with their
longitudinal side leading in the transport direction. In the
accumulator 5 the paper sheets 1" are collected to individual sets
which are to be enveloped in the envelope 1'.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the stop 6 for the paper sheets 1"
is formed by an edge of the plate-shaped support 7 for the paper
sheets 1" angled at a right angle. The accumulator 5 is provided
with a vacuum drum 8 which is arranged on a horizontal axis
extending perpendicularly to the feeding direction of the paper
sheets 1" coming from the feeder 4. The vacuum drum 8, as
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, has openings 9 in its peripheral
surface which are arranged uniformly distributed about the
periphery of the vacuum drum and via which vacuum can act on the
paper sheets 1". The vacuum drum 8 is connected to a vacuum source
and is rotated continuously about its axis such that the paper
sheets are transported against the stop 6 and are held thereat. The
vacuum drum 8 may have a friction coating on its peripheral
surface.
[0028] For paper sheets of different weight the magnitude of the
vacuum can be advantageously adjusted. The vacuum drum 8 can be
provided underneath or above the paper sheets 1" to be transported,
depending on whether they are to be stacked underneath or on top.
Because of the constant rotary movement of the vacuum drum 8, the
paper sheets are reliably pressed against the stop 6 and rebound of
the paper sheets is prevented in this way. The vacuum drum 8 is
advantageously provided with a friction coating so that the
respective paper sheet can be reliably transported. The vacuum drum
8 in the accumulator 5 has correlated therewith at least one sensor
31 (FIG. 4) which is, for example, a photocell. As soon as the
paper sheet 1" is positioned in the area of the sensor 31 and is
detected by it, the vacuum of the vacuum drum 8 is switched
off.
[0029] Since the paper sheet 1" or the set of paper sheets
collected in the accumulator 5 must be deflected by 90.degree. for
further transport, the accumulator 5 is provided with a transport
device 93 which is comprised of two rows of transport rollers 94
which are positioned at a spacing opposite one another and have
aligned axes. The rollers 94 have a flattened periphery and have
correspondingly a planar section 95. When the paper sheet set for
the paper sheet 1" is supplied, the transport rollers 94 are in the
position illustrated in FIG. 5 in which their planar sides 95 are
facing one another and extend parallel to one another. In this way,
the transport rollers 94 of the two rows do not contact one another
but delimit a free space 96 which transversely to the axis of the
transport rollers 94 has such a size that the paper sheets 1" can
enter the free space 96 between the rows of transport rollers 94
(FIGS. 5 and 6).
[0030] The transport rollers 94 are arranged near the narrow side
21 of the paper sheets 1". In the described initial position of the
transport rollers 94, the paper sheets 1" can be transported
unimpededly from the feeder 4 in the transport direction 97 (FIG.
4) to the stop 6. As soon as the paper sheets 1" contact the stop
6, the vacuum of the vacuum drum 8 is switched off. At the same
time, the transport rollers 94 are driven in opposite directions as
indicated in FIG. 5 by the arrows. After having been rotated about
a short rotary angle, the transport rollers 94 engage with their
cylindrical peripheral surface 98 the paper sheets 1" positioned
therebetween and transport them in the transport direction 99 to a
folding device 54 (FIG. 1) to be described in the following. The
axes of rotation of the two rows of rollers are positioned
perpendicularly to the stop 6 so that the paper sheets 1" are
transported by the transport rollers 94 in a direction
perpendicularly to the narrow side 21 of the paper sheets 1".
[0031] The transport direction 97 in which the paper sheets 1" are
transported into the accumulator 5 is parallel to the axis 100 of
the transport rollers 94. In this way, it is ensured that the paper
sheets 1" reach with one edge area the free space 96 between the
transport rollers 94 positioned in their initial position. The
transport direction can be changed easily in this way because it is
then only necessary to drive the transport rollers 94 in rotation
in order to transport the paper sheets 1" in the transport
direction 99 out of the accumulator 5.
[0032] Since the paper stack 2 also contains the paper sheet 1' for
manufacturing the envelope, this paper sheet, when transferred from
the feeder 4 to the accumulator 5, is deflected by a diverting
device 10 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) to a different transport path than
the inserts 1" to be enveloped. The diverting device 10 is
connected to a read head (not illustrated) in the feeder 4 with
which the paper sheets 1', 1" can be read, for example, by means of
a bar code. Depending on the bar code, the respective paper sheet
is then deflected by means of the diverting device 10 to the
support 7 of the accumulator 5 or to a descending transport path 14
on which the paper sheet 1' is transported in the area below the
accumulator 5 to an adhesive applicator device 15. The paper sheets
1" positioned on the support 7 of the accumulator 5 are transported
by the vacuum drum 8 against the stop 6 in the described way.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the adhesive application device
(adhesive station) 15 is provided with two adhesive applicator
units 16, 17 positioned at a spacing from one another in a
direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper
sheet 1'.
[0034] Three adhesive strips 18 to 20 (FIG. 8) are applied onto the
paper sheet 1' by the adhesive applicator units 16, 17. The
adhesive strips extend parallel to one another and to the narrow
sides 21, 22 of the paper sheet 1'. The adhesive strips 18 to 20
have different lengths. The length of the adhesive strips 18 to 20
depends on the shape of the flaps which result upon folding of the
paper sheet.
[0035] While the inserts 1" to be enveloped in the envelope are
collected in the accumulator 5, the adhesive application is carried
out in the adhesive application device 15. After adhesive
application is complete, the paper sheet 1' is guided between two
rollers 23, 24 (FIG. 2) whose axes of rotation are positioned
horizontally and perpendicularly to the supply direction of the
paper sheet 1' and by which the paper sheet 1' is moved from a
horizontal position into an upright position. The transport of the
paper sheet 1' via the transport path 14 into the adhesive
application device 15 is carried out as is known in the art, for
example, by means of a vacuum belt 25, illustrated in an exemplary
fashion in FIG. 3, or by means of transport rollers.
[0036] The paper sheet 1', which has been deflected by 90.degree.
into an upright position, is conveyed into a holding and guiding
unit 27 which has parallel vertically extending sidewalls 28, 29
between which the paper sheet 1' is positioned. The sidewalls 28,
29 secure the paper sheet 1' in its upright position. In order for
the paper sheet 1' to reach reliably the unit 27, the lower end of
the sidewall 28 is bent in the direction toward the roller 23. The
sidewall 29 remote from the roller 23 is straight across its height
and projects past the bent end of the sidewall 28 in the downward
direction. In this way it is ensured that the paper sheet 1'
reaches the area between the two sidewalls 28, 29 without the risk
of being caught. The upper ends of the two sidewalls 28, 29 are
connected by a transverse wall 30. The transverse wall 30 serves
advantageously as an adjustable stop for the paper sheet 1'. The
paper sheet 1' rests on the transverse wall 30 with one
longitudinal side.
[0037] For transporting the paper sheets 1' until it rests against
the transverse wall 30 at least one vacuum drum 25 is provided
(FIGS. 1 and 2) which is identical to the vacuum drum 8 of the
accumulator 5. In the unit 27 the vacuum drum 8 can be rotated
about a horizontal axis which is parallel to the axes of rotation
of the rollers 23, 24. The vacuum drum 8 is driven in rotation such
that the paper sheet 1' is moved upwardly into a contact position
at the transverse wall 30. The vacuum which acts via the openings 9
in the vacuum drum 8 onto the paper sheet 1' is advantageously
adjustable. In this way, the vacuum can be adjusted in a simple way
to the weight of the paper sheet.
[0038] The vacuum drum 8 of the unit 27 is arranged at such a
spacing to the rotatably driven rollers 23, 24 that the vacuum drum
8 has already engaged the paper sheet 1' when the paper sheet 1' is
still positioned between the two rollers 23, 24. In this way, a
reliable transport of the paper sheet 1' up to the point of contact
on the transverse wall 30 is ensured.
[0039] In the holding and guiding unit 27 the upright paper sheet
1' is transported farther by transport rollers (not illustrated)
perpendicularly to the feed direction determined by the vacuum drum
8 in the transport direction 34 (FIG. 1). In the above described
way, the vacuum of the vacuum drum 8 is advantageously switched off
when the paper sheet 1' is engaged by the transport rollers for
which purpose a sensor (not illustrated) is employed which detects
the supplied paper sheet in the unit 27 and effects switching off
the vacuum.
[0040] The upright paper sheet 1' is guided by the transport
rollers (not illustrated) between two rollers 35, 36 which are
driven in rotation about vertical axes and supply the paper sheet
1' to a second adhesive application device (adhesive station) 37.
The adhesive strips 38 and 39 (FIG. 8) are applied by the adhesive
application device 37 onto the upright paper sheet 1'. The strips
38, 39 extend at a minimal spacing parallel to the two longitudinal
edges of the paper sheet 1'. Both adhesive strips 38, 39 begin at
the narrow side 21 of the paper sheet. The adhesive strip 38 is
significantly longer than the oppositely positioned, parallel
extending adhesive strip 39. The length of the two adhesive strips
38, 39 depends on the flaps resulting from folding the paper sheet
for producing the envelope.
[0041] After application of the adhesive in the adhesive
application device 37, the paper sheet 1' moves between two
vertical, rotatably driven rollers 40, 41 for manufacturing the
envelope; the rollers 40, 41 transport the paper sheet between two
vertical sidewalls 42, 43. In the transport unit 44 provided with
these sidewalls the upright paper sheet 1' is transported to two
further vertical and rotatably driven rollers 45, 46 having
arranged downstream thereof at a minimal spacing in the transport
direction two further vertical, rotatably driven rollers 47, 48.
The paper sheet 1' is supplied to a deflection unit 49 by means of
the rollers 47, 48 and the deflection unit 49 transports the paper
sheet 1', after deflection by 90.degree., in the transport
direction 50 into the insert folding device 51 which comprises
rollers 52, 53 in front of which the paper sheet 1' provided with
adhesive is positioned.
[0042] During application of the adhesive onto the paper sheet 1'
to be used for manufacturing the envelope, the paper sheets
collected as a set within the accumulator 5 are supplied to a
folding device 54 with which the paper sheets 1" are folded in a
manner known in the art to the size of the envelope to be produced.
The folded paper sheets 1" are transported with transport belts 55
or the like in the direction toward the insert folding device 51.
In the area adjacent to the transport devices (belts) 55, insert
feeders 56 can be provided which supply inserts transversely to the
transport direction of the transport belts 55 to the folded paper
sheets 1". The transport belts 55 transport the folded paper sheets
1" on an insert transport path parallel to the paper sheet 1' which
is transported on a branch path via the transport unit 44 and the
deflection unit 49 parallel to the folded paper sheets 1".
[0043] In the insert folding device 51 the paper sheet 1', whose
adhesive strips 18 to 20, 38, 39 have dried in the meantime, and
the documents 1", 57 to be enveloped are combined. The paper sheet
1' is supplied to the insert folding device 51 such that its narrow
sides 21, 22 are positioned at an obtuse angle to the transport
direction of the transport belts 55. In the insert folding device
51 a first fold is produced so that a triangular flap 58 is formed
which is placed on top of the documents 1", 57. The documents 1",
57 are positioned with their longitudinal edge (FIG. 8) on the
folding edge 58a. In FIG. 8 the position of the documents 1", 57 is
illustrated by a dotted line.
[0044] Upon transfer from the deflection unit 49 to the insert
folding device 51, the paper sheet 1' is transported downwardly at
a slant, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The slant angle is selected
such that the folding edge 58a, along which the paper sheet 1' is
folded within the insert folding device 51, has the required
position for the folding process. The folding edge 58a is
positioned at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal side 104
of the paper sheet 1' and to the narrow side 21 adjoining it at a
right angle. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the paper sheet 1 is
deflected in the deflection unit 49 from its upright vertical
position into the slanted position. The insert folding device 51 is
provided with a stop 105 for the paper sheet 1'. The stop 105 has
two stop parts 106, 107 positioned at a right angle to one another.
The paper sheet 1' comes to rest with its narrow side 22 on the
stop part 106 and is positioned with its longitudinal side 108 on
the stop part 107. The two stop parts 106, 107 are positioned at a
slant relative to the roller gap between the folding rollers 52, 53
such that the folding edge 58a between the two folding rollers 52,
53 can be produced.
[0045] A folding blade 109 is arranged upstream of the two folding
rollers 52, 53 on which the insert 1" is supplied transverse to the
feed direction of the paper sheet 1' to the folding rollers 52, 53.
Advantageously, the folding blade 109 is adjustable into the area
between the two folding rollers 52, 53. The edge 107 of the folding
blade 109 facing the roller gap serves for assisting the folding
precision with which the paper sheet 1' is folded between the
folding rollers 52, 53 along the folding edge 58a. The insert 1" is
supplied together with the paper sheet 1' simultaneously to the two
folding rollers 52, 53, and the paper sheet 1' is pressed by means
of the transversely supplied insert 1", and assisted by the folding
blade 109, into the roller gap between the two folding rollers 52,
53 which engage the paper sheet 1' and in this way fold the
triangular flap 58 in the paper sheet 1'.
[0046] Downstream of the insert folding device 51 a diverting
device 59 is provided with which documents and envelopes which have
been combined wrongly can be removed without having to stop the
device. Since the inserts 1", 57 and the paper sheet 1' used for
producing the envelope are transported in the described way
separately to the insert folding device 51, these inserts and the
paper sheet 1' can be monitored with respect to proper combining of
the inserts and the paper sheets 1', for example, by means of
printed labels such as a bar code label. Moreover, it can be
monitored whether the insert and the paper sheet for producing the
mailing are even present. Sensors such as photocells can be used
for monitoring. When they indicate an error, the corresponding
insert 1", 57 and/or the paper sheet 1' can be deflected,
preferably upwardly, while the properly combined inserts and paper
sheets (future envelopes) are transferred onto a transport device
60. The upwardly deflected inserts and/or paper sheets (future
envelopes) transported in the area above this transport device 60
are then removed from the enveloping device.
[0047] The transport device 60 has two parallel positioned endless
circulating vacuum belts 61, 62 (FIGS. 1 and 7) which are provided
over their length with openings 63, 64. In the illustrated
embodiment, these openings 63, 64 are positioned at a minimal
spacing behind one another at half the width of the vacuum belts
61, 62. Via the openings 63, 64, vacuum can act on the paper sheet
1' positioned thereon which is thus reliably transported together
with the insert 1", 57 and the folded flap 58. As illustrated in
FIG. 1, the paper sheet 1' projects laterally past the two vacuum
belts 61, 62. The projecting lateral flaps 65, 66 of the paper
sheet 1' are folded by a downstream folding unit 67. The folding
unit 67 has two erecting means in the form of wings 68, 69 (FIG. 1)
oriented counter to the supply direction and arranged divergently
with which the lateral flaps 65, 66 are erected. Downstream of
these wings 68, 69, the folding unit 67 is provided with freely
rotating pressing-down rollers 70, 71 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 7) which are
positioned at a minimal spacing in the area above the vacuum belts
61, 62 and are adjustable transversely to the transport direction
of the vacuum belts in the direction of the indicated double arrows
72, 73. As soon as the upright lateral flaps 65, 66 of the paper
sheet 1' reach the area of the pressing-down rollers 70, 71, they
are adjusted relative to one another such that the flaps 65, 66 are
folded over. The folding edges 74, 75 are positioned, in a plan
view onto the transport device 60, at a minimal spacing adjacent to
the respective neighboring vacuum belts 61, 62. The axes of
rotation of the rollers 70, 71 are positioned parallel to the
conveying direction of the vacuum belts 61, 62. In the area above
the transport path the folding unit 67 is provided with a
holding-down device 101 which secures the paper sheet 1' and the
insert 1", 57 positioned thereon during the folding process. The
longitudinal edges 102, 103 of the sheet metal-shaped holding-down
device 101 extending in the conveying direction facilitate the
folding process during folding of the lateral flaps 65, 66 because
the flaps are folded along these edges 102, 103. In order to be
able to produce different envelope sizes, the holding-down device
101 is preferably adjustable so that the spacing between the
longitudinal edges 102, 103 can be changed.
[0048] A heating unit 76 is provided in the transport direction of
the vacuum belts 61, 62 behind the folding unit 67 and comprises a
heating pallet 77, 78 (FIG. 1). They are placed onto the
overlapping edge areas of the folded flaps 58, 65, 66. In this area
the folded flaps are resting on one another with their adhesive
strips. By applying heat and pressure, the folded flaps 58, 65, 66
are glued to one another by means of the heating pallets 77, 78. At
this stage of the process, only the flap 79 of the paper sheet 1'
projecting to the rear in the transport direction of the vacuum
belts 61, 62 is not yet folded.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the folding unit 67 the
pressing-down rollers 70, 71 are present in pairs. The two
pressing-down rollers 70, 71 on each side of the transport device
60 are moved independently from one another in the adjusting
direction 72, 73 (FIG. 7). This has the advantage that the first
rollers 70, 71 in the supply direction of the paper sheet 1' return
immediately after the folding process into their initial position
in order to receive the subsequent paper sheet 1' with the inserts
1', 57. The pressing-down rollers 70, 71 downstream in the
transport direction remain in the advanced position relative to the
vacuum belts 61, 62 until the paper sheet 1' with the folded-over
lateral flaps 65, 66 has been transported farther to the heating
device 76. In this way, it is ensured that the lateral flaps 65, 66
of the paper sheets 1' can be reliably folded over even when the
paper sheets with inserts are supplied in a rapid sequence.
[0050] With the transport device 60 the paper sheets 1' with the
now partially enveloped inserts 1", 57 are transported to the stop
80 (FIGS. 1 and 3). The envelope produced partially of the paper
sheet 1' is pressed by the vacuum drum 81 against the stop 80. The
vacuum drum 81 is of the same configuration as the vacuum drum 8.
The axis of rotation of the vacuum drum 81 is positioned
perpendicularly to the supply direction 32 of the envelope 1'. By
means of a sensor 31, for example, a photocell, the vacuum acting
on the paper sheets is switched from the vacuum drum 81 to a
transport device in the form of vacuum belt 82 as soon as the
envelope 1' contacts the stop 80. The vacuum belt 82 with the
openings 26 is of identical configuration as the vacuum belts 61,
62. By means of the vacuum belt 82 the envelope 1' is transported
along the stop 80 perpendicularly (arrow 33 in FIG. 3) to the
transport direction 32 of the transport device 60 up to a delivery
83. The vacuum belt 82 is an endless belt and is connected to a
vacuum source. By means of slots 26 the vacuum is applied onto the
transported articles. While the articles are transported against
the stop by means of the vacuum drum 81, whose axis of rotation
extends parallel to the stop 80, the vacuum belt 82 conveys the
articles parallel to the stop 80 in the conveying direction 33. The
paper sheet 1' is thus pulled onto the vacuum belt 82 and is
already aligned. By means of the vacuum belt 82 the paper sheet 1'
can then be transported turned by 90.degree..
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the paper sheet 1' is transported
by means of the vacuum drum 81 in the transport direction 32 to the
stop 80. As a result of the described switching of the vacuum from
the vacuum drum 81 onto the vacuum belt 82 the paper sheet 1' is
then transported farther in the transport direction 33
perpendicularly to the transport direction 32. On the vacuum belt
82 the paper sheet 1' can no longer be moved. In this way, no
complex and long alignment devices with alignment rails and
transport balls are required.
[0052] The partially closed envelope 1' reaches first a perforation
device 84 with which a perforation 85 is produced on the projecting
flap 79 of the envelope which is used as a folding edge for folding
over the flap 79 in the next station of the enveloping device. The
perforation 85 extends in the transport direction of the vacuum
belt 82 and facilitates later the opening of the envelope.
[0053] The perforation device 84 has arranged downstream thereof a
folding unit 86 which is substantially identical to the folding
unit 76. Since only one flap 79 of the paper sheet 1' must be
folded with the folding unit 86, the folding device 86 has only on
one side thereof two freely rotatable rollers 87, 88 which are
adjustable perpendicularly to the transport direction of the
endless circulating vacuum belt 82. Moreover, the folding unit 86
at the intake end is provided with a slanted, outwardly oriented
wing 89 which is oriented counter to the supply direction of the
paper sheet 1' at a slant to the exterior and on which the flap 79
projecting laterally past the vacuum belt 82 will impact. By means
of the wing 89 this flap 79 is erected during transport and reaches
the area of the pressing-down rollers 87, 88. The rollers 87, 88
positioned in this area above the vacuum belt 82 are adjusted in
the direction toward the vacuum belt 82 so that the flap which has
been erected by the wing 89 can be folded. The slight perforation
85 which has been previously produced in the perforation unit 84
facilitates this folding process. The folding unit 86 has also
advantageously two pressing-down rollers 87, 88 which are
positioned sequentially in the transport direction. The first
pressing-down roller 88 in the feeding direction can be retracted
immediately after the folding process while the pressing-down
roller 87 arranged downstream remains in its advanced position
until the closed envelope has been transported to the next station.
In this way, the first paper sheet 1' with the insert can be
supplied while the roller 87 is still in the advanced position.
[0054] Downstream of the folding unit 86, a heating device 90 is
provided which has at least one heating pallet 91. It is rests
against the edge of the folded flap 79 of the paper sheet 1. The
heating pallet 91 has an angular shape corresponding to the contour
of this edge. However, it is also possible to provide two heating
pallets positioned at an angle to one another. The heating pallet
or stamp 91 presses onto the corresponding adhesive strips and
heats them so that in this way the envelope produced of the paper
sheet 1' is closed or sealed.
[0055] Subsequently, the closed envelope 1' with the insert is
transported to the delivery 83. Between the vacuum belt 82 and the
delivery 83 a diverting device may be provided (not illustrated)
with which an envelope which is not properly sealed can be removed
from the enveloping device.
[0056] With the described device the inserts 1", 57 are collected
in sets and at the same time the corresponding envelope 1' is
produced of a paper sheet. The paper sheet provided for producing
the envelope can already be provided with the address, optionally
also the sender's address and other information. The adhesive is
applied onto the paper sheet 1' in two steps by means of the two
adhesive application devices 15 and 37 which are arranged upstream
of the insert folding device 51. In this way, a complex slanted
application of the adhesive can be avoided. In the two adhesive
application devices 15, 37 the adhesive is applied parallel to the
lateral edges of the paper sheet 1' (FIG. 8). The employed adhesive
is a hot-setting adhesive.
[0057] It is also possible to employ a cold-setting adhesive and to
thus eliminate the heating units. The cold-setting adhesive,
however, can be applied only downstream of the insert folding
device 51. The cold-setting adhesive in this case is applied
advantageously in two steps. First, the lateral flaps 65, 66 of the
paper sheet 1' are provided with adhesive within the area upstream
of the folding unit 67. The adhesive strips 20, 39 are applied
according to FIG. 9. The second adhesive application is carried out
after the perforation action in the perforation unit 84 has taken
place before folding of the flap 79 in the folding unit 86 has been
carried out. Between the perforation unit 84 and the folding unit
86 the adhesive strips 18, 19, 38 are applied. Subsequently, the
flap 69 with the applied adhesive is then folded over in the
folding unit 86.
[0058] For applying the cold-setting adhesive multi-head adhesive
applicators can be used which can apply droplets of adhesive at
spot locations at minimal spacing to one another. The corresponding
applicator nozzles can be controlled individually. When employing
such multi-head adhesive applicators it is also possible to carry
out a slanted adhesive application, i.e., the adhesive tracks can
also extend at a slant to the lateral edges of the paper sheet 1'
in that the corresponding applicator nozzles are closed or opened.
The adhesive strips 18 to 20, 38, 39 in this case can be applied
with a single adhesive station.
[0059] The transport device 93 with flattened transport rollers 94
(FIGS. 4 to 6) can be employed in the enveloping device where the
transport direction of the paper sheets has to be changed,
preferably by 90.degree.. In this way, such a transport device can
be provided also in the area of the stop 80, on which the partially
closed envelope 1' after passing through the heating unit 76 will
come to rest, or in the area of the holding and guiding unit
27.
[0060] With the described vacuum drum 8, 81, folded or unfolded
paper sheets 1' with or without insert 1", 57 can be transported.
Instead of paper sheets 1' it is also possible to process sheets of
plastic, cardboard, and the like.
[0061] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
* * * * *