U.S. patent application number 10/604665 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-10 for inserting device and method for inserting inserts into envelopes.
This patent application is currently assigned to Haller, Jurg Paul. Invention is credited to Lehmann, Jurgen, Markgraf, Willi, Pittelkow, Ralph.
Application Number | 20040108643 10/604665 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32471473 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040108643 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pittelkow, Ralph ; et
al. |
June 10, 2004 |
Inserting Device and Method for Inserting Inserts into
Envelopes
Abstract
An inserting device has at least one transport device having at
least one first transport element for transporting envelopes. At
least one downstream station is arranged downstream of the at least
one transport device. The envelopes are supplied to the at least
one downstream station such that the envelopes are deposited in the
at least one downstream station in an overlap arrangement. The
overlap arrangement can be an imbricated arrangement or a stacked
overlap arrangement. An inserting unit is arranged downstream of
the at least one downstream station, and the envelopes are supplied
to the inserting unit in the overlap arrangement.
Inventors: |
Pittelkow, Ralph; (St.
Georgen, DE) ; Markgraf, Willi; (Tennenbronn, DE)
; Lehmann, Jurgen; (Schonwald, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUDRUN E. HUCKETT
LONSSTR. 53
WUPPERTAL
42289
DE
|
Assignee: |
Haller, Jurg Paul
Jorge Juan 16
Madrid
ES
|
Family ID: |
32471473 |
Appl. No.: |
10/604665 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
270/58.06 ;
271/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 29/40 20130101;
B43M 5/042 20130101; B65H 15/016 20200801; B65H 2301/342 20130101;
B65H 2301/33222 20130101; B65H 2301/33214 20130101; B65H 2404/653
20130101; B65H 2404/268 20130101; B65H 2404/656 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
270/058.06 ;
271/002 |
International
Class: |
B65H 039/00; B65H
029/66 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 9, 2002 |
DE |
10236497.4 |
Jul 21, 2003 |
EP |
03016387.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An inserting device comprising: at least one transport device
having at least one first transport element for transporting
envelopes; at least one downstream station arranged downstream of
the at least one transport device, wherein the envelopes are
supplied to the at least one downstream station such that the
envelopes are deposited in the at least one downstream station in
an overlap arrangement.
2. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the overlap
arrangement in the at least one downstream station is an imbricated
arrangement.
3. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the overlap
arrangement in the at least one downstream station is a stacked
overlap arrangement.
4. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one downstream station has a supply area for the envelopes that is
provided with at least one second transport element for depositing
the envelopes in the overlap arrangement.
5. The inserting device according to claim 4, wherein the at least
one second transport element comprises at least one roller pair
between which the envelopes are transported into the overlap
arrangement.
6. The inserting device according to claim 5, wherein the rollers
of the at least one roller pair have a flat peripheral section and
wherein the rollers are positioned in an initial position such that
the flat peripheral sections are facing one another.
7. The inserting device according to claim 4, wherein the at least
one first transport element has a drive operating in a cycled
fashion.
8. The inserting device according to claim 4, wherein a transport
path of the envelopes from the at least one transport device into
the at least one downstream station is limited by a stop.
9. The inserting device according to claim 8, wherein in a stop
position of the envelopes at the stop the at least one second
transport element is switched on.
10. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one first transport element is at least one endless circulating
transport belt or at least one endless circulating transport
band.
11. The inserting device according to claim 10, wherein the at
least one transport element has a deflection area.
12. The inserting device according to claim 11, wherein in the
deflection area at least one guide roller is provided, wherein the
at least one guide roller transports together with an upper run of
the at least one first transport element the envelopes to the at
least one downstream station.
13. The inserting device according to claim 1, further comprising a
magazine for storing the envelopes arranged upstream of the at
least one transport device.
14. The inserting device according to claim 13, wherein the
magazine has at least one transport roller for the envelopes.
15. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one first transport element of the transport device is twisted in
the area of the at least one downstream station.
16. The inserting device according to claim 15, wherein the at
least one transport device has a guide roller located adjacent to
the at least one downstream station, wherein the guide roller is
positioned at a slant relative to a plane in which plane an upper
run of the at least one first transport element extends.
17. The inserting device according to claim 1, further comprising
an inserting unit arranged downstream of the at least one
downstream station, wherein the envelopes are supplied to the
inserting unit in the overlap arrangement.
18. The inserting device according to claim 17, wherein the
inserting unit has two feed units for an insert to be inserted into
the envelopes.
19. The inserting device according to claim 18, wherein the feed
units are staggered relative to one another in a feed direction of
the envelopes.
20. The inserting device according to claim 18, wherein the feed
units are arranged transversely to a feed direction of the
envelopes in a staggered arrangement.
21. The inserting device according to claim 18, wherein the feed
units each have at least one endless circulating transport
element.
22. The envelope device the inserting device according to claim 21,
wherein the endless circulating transport element has at least one
driver for the insert.
23. The inserting device according to claim 18, wherein the feed
units are driven separately from one another and are provided with
torque sensors.
24. The inserting device according to claim 18, further comprising
pivotable guide elements arranged in a transfer area from the at
least one downstream station into the inserting unit, wherein the
guide elements are pivoted about axes of rotation into corner areas
of the envelopes, respectively.
25. The inserting device according to claim 24, wherein the guide
elements have a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
26. The inserting device according to claim 24, wherein the guide
elements have a substantially V-shaped cross-section.
27. The inserting device according to claim 1, further comprising
at least one deflection device downstream of the at least one
downstream station for transporting the envelopes in a direction
toward a removal side of the inserting device.
28. The inserting device according to claim 27, further comprising
a closure device downstream of the at least one deflection device
for closing closure flaps of the envelopes.
29. A method for inserting inserts into envelopes with an inserting
device comprising an inserting unit, the method comprising the
steps of: opening sequentially the envelopes; depositing the
envelopes so as to overlap one another and supplying the envelopes
in an overlap arrangement to the insertion unit of the inserting
device; introducing an insert into the envelopes, respectively;
closing the envelopes.
30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the envelopes are
transported away from the overlap arrangement in a cycled
fashion.
31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the envelopes are
opened by suction devices and, after opening, are kept in an open
position during insertion of the insert by guide elements pivotable
into inner corner areas of the envelopes, wherein the guide
elements, after the suction devices have released the envelopes,
are slightly pivoted back for releasing tension before the
envelopes containing the insert are transported farther.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an inserting device comprising at
least one transport device for supplying envelopes to at least one
station arranged downstream and comprising at least one transport
element for the envelopes. The invention also relates to a method
for inserting inserts into envelopes, particularly by means of the
inserting device of the aforementioned kind, with which the
envelopes are opened sequentially, are provided with the insert,
and are subsequently closed.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Inserting devices are known where the envelopes are
sequentially removed by the transport device from a magazine and
are then supplied to the actual inserter. In the inserter, the
inserts are then pushed into the open envelope, and the envelope is
closed at a further station of the inserting device. The output of
such an inserting device is limited.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to configure the
inserting device of the aforementioned kind and the method of the
aforementioned kind such that the envelopes are passed in a simple
and reliable way with high output through the inserting device.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved
in regard to the inserting device in that the envelopes are
deposited in the at least one station arranged downstream in an
overlapped arrangement. In accordance with the present invention
this is achieved in regard to the method in that the envelopes,
before insertion of the insert, are positioned so as to overlap one
another and are then supplied in the overlapped arrangement to the
inserter.
[0007] With the inserting device according to the present
invention, the envelopes, before being filled with the inserts, are
arranged so as to overlap one another. This overlap arrangement can
be an imbricated arrangement (staggered overlap) but also without
an arrangement without staggering, i.e., a stacked arrangement. As
a result of this overlap arrangement, the envelopes can be supplied
in a rapid sequence one after another to the inserting station
(inserting unit). The inserting device according to the present
invention has therefore a high output. However, there is also the
possibility to operate the inserting device according to the
invention more slowly as a result of the overlap arrangement of the
envelopes so that the same output as with conventional inserting
devices is achieved but with significantly increased reliability
during the inserting process.
[0008] In order for the inserts to be reliably inserted into the
envelopes at the inserting station, according to another
configuration of the present invention, the transport element of
the transport device is twisted in the area of the downstream
station of the inserting device according to the invention. As a
result of this twisted arrangement, the transport element, which is
configured to circulate endlessly, has the effect that between the
closure flap and the remaining part of the envelope a free space or
an opening is formed during transport of the envelope; a catch rail
can engage this free space or opening upon further transport of the
envelope. This catch rail ensures reliably that the closure flap
will open upon further transport of the envelope.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the inlet area of the
inserting device according to the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows schematically in a plan view the inserting area
of the inserting device according to the invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the inserting area of the
inserting device according to the invention according to FIG.
2.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a transfer device of the inserting device
according to the invention in a side view.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows an axial section of the transfer device
according to FIG. 4.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows in a side view, similar to FIG. 3, the
inserting area with individually supplied envelopes which, when
entering the transfer area, are arranged in a stack with
overlap.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 in which the envelopes
are however supplied in an imbricated flow.
[0016] FIG. 8a shows in a front view the opening action of the
envelope in the inserting area by means of suction devices as well
as pivotable guide elements introduced into the corner areas of the
envelope for providing a taut opening position for the closure
flap.
[0017] FIG. 8b shows a plan view of the opening action of FIG.
8a.
[0018] FIG. 9a shows a view similar to FIG. 8a where however the
guide elements have been pivoted into the corner areas of the
envelope and keep them open in a taut position.
[0019] FIG. 9b is a view similar to FIG. 8b with the guide elements
in the position of FIG. 9a.
[0020] FIG. 10a shows in a view similar to FIGS. 8a and 9a the
guide elements, after the envelope has been released by the suction
devices, being pivoted back slightly in order to relieve the
tension provided in the corner areas of the envelope.
[0021] FIG. 10b shows a view similar to FIGS. 8b and FIG. 9b with
the guide elements in the position of FIG. 10a.
[0022] FIG. 11a shows a U-shaped guide element in a front view.
[0023] FIG. 11b shows the U-shaped guide element of FIG. 11a in a
side view.
[0024] FIG. 11c shows the U-shaped guide element of FIG. 11a in a
plan view.
[0025] FIG. 12a shows a V-shaped guide element in a front view.
[0026] FIG. 12b shows the V-shaped guide element of FIG. 12a in a
side view.
[0027] FIG. 12c shows the V-shaped guide element of FIG. 12a in a
plan view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The inserting device is used to insert inserts into
envelopes and close the envelopes subsequently. The individual
envelopes 1 are individually supplied from a magazine 2 to an inlet
area 3 of the inserting device. In the inlet area 3 a transport
device 4 is provided with which the envelopes 1 are individually
supplied to a transport station 5. In the transport station 5, the
open envelopes 1 can be arranged already in an imbricated overlap
arrangement and can be transported farther in this overlap
position.
[0029] The transport device has two shafts 6, 7 arranged above one
another. The shafts 6, 7 are rotatably driven and are positioned
vertically at a spacing above one another. Advantageously, the two
shafts 6, 7 are positioned at a slant relative to a horizontal
plane. The slant angle is, for example, 30degrees. An endless
circulating transport band or endless circulating transport belt 8
is guided about the two shafts 6, 7; the transport belts or bands
are used for supplying the envelopes to the transport station 5 in
a way to be described in the following. Approximately at the level
of the lower shaft 7, an additional shaft 9 is provided across
which the transport belt 8 is guided. The shaft 9 is positioned at
an acute angle relative to the shaft 7 so that the two axes of the
shafts 7, 9 are not positioned in a common plane. As a result of
this slanted arrangement of the shaft 9, the transport belt 8 is in
a twisted arrangement, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the area of the
lower shaft 7, the upper run of the transport belt 1 is deflected
by approximately 90 degrees. For this purpose, a guide roller 10 is
provided whose axis 11 extends parallel to the shafts 6, 7. The
guide roller 10 has a significantly greater diameter than the
shafts 6, 7. The transport belt 8 in the illustrated embodiment
rests about an angular area of approximately 90 degrees against the
guide roller 10. The envelopes 1 are transported between the
transport belt 8 and the guide roller 10 in the direction toward
the transport station 5. The transport belt 8 is deflected at the
lower shaft 7 by 90 degrees relative to the shaft 9.
[0030] In order for the envelopes 1 located in the magazine 2 to be
supplied to the inlet area 3, at least one transport roller 12 is
provided; it extends parallel to and above the guide roller 11and
is driven in rotation. The envelopes 1 positioned sequentially
within the magazine 2 are advantageously loaded in the direction
toward the transport roller 12 so that they are engaged by the
transport roller 2 and supplied to the transport device 4. The
transport roller 12 is embodied as a suction drum. However, it can
also be provided with a friction coating in order to reliably
engage the envelopes 1.
[0031] In the magazine 2 the envelopes 1 are arranged upright and
are resting with a narrow side 13 on a support (not illustrated).
The support is positioned advantageously at the same angle relative
to the horizontal plane as the shafts 6, 7. The transport roller 12
engages the envelopes at their lower end and transports them into
the gap 14 between the guide roller 10 and the transport belt 8.
The spacing between this gap 14 and the envelopes 1 located in the
magazine 2 is so great that the envelopes 1 upon transport through
the transport roller 12 are reliably engaged by the guide roller 10
and the transport belt 8 and pulled into the gap 14. The envelope 1
is then transported between the transport belt 8 and the guide
roller 10 in the direction toward the transport station 5. A stop
(not illustrated) is provided where the envelopes 1 will come to
rest with their narrow side 13. By means of the transport roller 12
the envelopes 1 can be transported in such short temporal intervals
sequentially to the transport device 4 that the envelopes 1 in the
transport station 5 are arranged with overlap. In the illustrated
embodiment the overlap is only so great that the window 15 of the
envelopes 1 is still visible in the transport station 5. However,
it is also possible to provide the overlap to be greater so that
the window 15 is only partially or not at all visible in the
transport station. The transport station 5 has a corresponding
support on which the envelopes 1 are supported with overlap in the
illustrated embodiment. The lateral stop provided for the envelopes
1 in the transport station 5 ensures that the overlapped envelopes
1 will assume a precisely defined position relative to one
another.
[0032] Since the shaft 9 of the transport device 4 is positioned at
a slight slant relative to the shaft 7 and, accordingly, the
transport belt 8 in the area between the lower shaft 7 and the
shaft 9 is guided somewhat out of its plane, the respective
envelope 1 upon transport through the device 4 is deformed
minimally such that the closure flap 16 of the envelopes 1 is
slightly lifted off the remaining part of the envelope. In this
way, between the closure flap 16 and the remaining part of the
envelope a free space or opening is formed; during transport of the
envelope 1 in the area between the guide roller 10 and the shaft 9,
a catch rail (not illustrated) can engage the opening. This catch
rail extends in the transport direction of the envelopes 1 in the
area between the guide roller 10 and the shaft 9 in the transport
device 4. By means of this catch rail, the closure flap 16 during
transport in the transport station 5 is opened by 90 degrees. In
the magazine 2 the closure flaps 16 are still closed and rest on
the backside of the envelope 1, respectively. In this way, it is
ensured that the envelopes 1 can be reliably and without problems
transported out of the magazine 2. Once the area between the guide
roller 10 and the shaft 9 is reached, the closure flaps 16 are
opened by the catch rail in the described way. The twisted belt
section 17 in the area between the guide roller 10 and the shaft 9
has such a length that the envelopes 1 are secured between the
transport belt 8 and the guide roller 10 upon opening the closure
flap 16 by means of the catch rail. In this way, it is ensured that
the closure flaps 16 can be opened properly.
[0033] In the transport device 4 the envelopes 1 are transported in
their longitudinal direction. With their narrow side 13 leading in
the transport direction, the envelopes 1 collide in the transport
station 5 with the stop (not illustrated). Since the closure flaps
16 in the transport device 4 are folded open by the catch rail by
only 90 degrees, the transport path from the guide roller 10 to the
stop in the transport station 5 can be kept short. In this way, the
envelopes 1 can be transported at very short time intervals
sequentially into the transport station 5. The inserting device has
thus a high output.
[0034] In the transport station 5, the partially opened envelopes
are transported perpendicularly to their supply direction out of
the inlet area 3 in the direction of arrow 18 (FIG. 1). For this
additional transport at least two transport rollers 72, 73 are
provided (FIG. 3); between them the envelope is transported,
respectively. These transport rollers 72, 73 have a flat peripheral
section 74. In the initial position the two transport rollers 72,
73 are arranged relative to one another such that their flat
peripheral sections 74 are positioned opposite one another so that
the envelope 1, coming from the transport belt 8 with its
longitudinal edge leading in the transport direction 18, can move
into this gap between the two transport rollers 72, 73. As soon as
this envelope 1 contacts with its narrow side 13 the stop, the two
transport rollers 72, 73 are driven such that the envelope 1 is
transported by them in the transport direction 18 in the transport
station 5. In the described way, the rollers 72, 73 are rotatably
driven in a cycled fashion. The transport path of the envelopes 1
from the transport device 4 into the transport station 5 is
monitored by conventional sensors which send a signal to the
transport rollers 72, 73 as soon as the narrow side 13 of the
envelope 1 contacts the stop in the transport station 5. Now the
transport rollers 72, 73 are driven in rotation and the envelope is
transported in a cycled fashion out of the supply area of the
transport device 4 in the transport direction 18. In this way, the
envelopes 1 in this embodiment are transported sequentially by the
transport rollers such in the transport direction 18 that they will
be arranged in an overlap arrangement in the transport station
5.
[0035] During this transport of the envelopes 1 from the stop
position into the overlap position, the closure flaps, initially
opened by only 90 degrees, are opened mandatorily into the basic
180 degree position.
[0036] The open envelopes 1 are moved from the transport station 5
to a transport unit 19 (FIG. 3) which is arranged in the area
underneath the transport station 5. The overlapped envelopes 1
according to this embodiment are engaged by two transport roller
pairs 20, 21 which are positioned in the transport direction 18 at
a spacing sequentially behind one another. Their spacing from one
another is smaller than the length of the envelope 1 so that the
envelopes can be supplied reliably to the transport unit 19. The
two transport roller pairs 20, 21 are positioned in a staggered
arrangement in the vertical direction so that the envelopes 1 are
transported at a slant downwardly in the transport direction 18.
The closure flaps 16 are completely opened as the envelope 1 passes
through the transport roller pairs 20, 21. After passing through
the transport roller pair 20, the envelopes 1 reach the transport
unit 19 which extends with one end into the vicinity of the
transport roller pair 20 and with the other end into the vicinity
of the feed units 43, 44. The transport unit 19 has at least one
endless circulating transport element 22, preferably a transport
band, which is guided about rotatably driven guide rollers 23, 24,
29. The guide roller 29 has such a minimal spacing from the
transport roller pair 20 that the envelopes 1 are reliably
transferred to the transport element 22.
[0037] The transport element 22 interacts with an endlessly
circulating transport element 26 that is guided about two guide
rollers 25, 27. The transport element 26 can be in the form of a
transport belt or transport band. Between the transport elements
22, 26, the envelopes 1, preferably overlapping one another, can be
reliably transported and are entrained in the rotational direction
32. The guide roller 25 is positioned at a spacing and vertically
staggered relative to the guide roller 27 that has a significantly
larger diameter. The axes of the two guide rollers 25, 27 are
positioned horizontally and parallel to one another. The transport
belt 26 is guided about the guide roller 27 by more than 180
degrees.
[0038] The envelopes 1 are transported along the guide roller 27
upwardly to a transport unit 43. It has an endlessly circulating
transport belt 34 (FIG. 3) which is deflected by two guide rollers
35, 36 positioned at a spacing relative to one another. At least
one of these rollers is rotatably driven. The axes of the guide
rollers 35, 36 that are positioned at the same level are parallel
to one another and to the axis of the guide roller 27. In the area
between the two guide rollers 35, 36 and above the upper run of the
transport belt 34, two freely rotatable rollers 37, 38 are
positioned at a spacing to one another. By means of the transport
unit 33 the envelopes 1 are transported in the transport direction
39 to a deflection device 40.
[0039] The guide roller 35 positioned adjacent to the guide roller
27 is arranged such that the envelope 1 which leaves the guide
roller 27 is reliably transported onto the upper run of the
transport belt 34. In this transfer area 41, conventional suction
devices 83, 84 (FIGS. 8a, 8b; 9a, 9b; 10a, 10b) are arranged with
which the envelope 1 can be opened for insertion of an insert 42 in
that the upper part 1' of the envelope is lifted off the lower part
(see FIG. 8a).
[0040] In order to reliably secure the envelope for insertion of
the insert 42 in its opened position, as illustrated in FIGS. 8a,
8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, guide elements 81, 82 or 81', 82' can be
pivoted additionally into the inner corner areas 85, 86 of the
lateral edges of the envelope 1 held open by the suction devices 83
and 84. These guide elements, as can be seen in FIGS. 11a to 11c
and 12a to 12c, have a U-shaped cross-section or a V-shaped
cross-section and are pivotable about rotational axes A1 and A2.
The guide elements 81, 82; 81', 82' keep the opening of the
envelope 1 tautly open during the insertion process wherein the
curved areas of the U-shaped element or the edges of the V-shaped
element are pushed into the inner corner areas 85, 86 off the
lateral edges of the envelope 1 and in this way the corner areas
85, 86 are opened farther than possible by means of the suction
devices 83, 84 alone.
[0041] As soon as the insert has been inserted, the guide elements
81, 82; 81', 82' are slightly pivoted back (see FIG. 10b)
simultaneously with relieving the suction devices 82, 84 in order
to release the tension and in order to be able to transport the
envelope 1 together with the insert 42 away from this position by
means of the transport unit 33 without encountering any significant
resistance. As soon as the envelope 1 has left the inserting
station (inserting unit), the guide elements 81, 82, 81', 82' can
be pivoted back into the initial position illustrated in FIGS. 8a
and 8b, they are then ready for being pivoted into the next
envelope 1.
[0042] Examples for the concrete configuration of the guide
elements 81, 82; 81', 82' are illustrated in FIGS. 11a through 11c
and 12a through 12c. While the guide elements 81, 82 according to
FIGS. 11a through 11c has a uniform U-shaped cross-section across
its length, in the guide elements 81', 82' with a substantially
V-shaped cross-section according to FIGS. 12a to 12c the spacing of
the legs of the V from one another decreases like a funnel in the
direction toward the interior of the envelope.
[0043] The insert 42 can be comprised of a single sheet but can
also be comprised of two or more sheets. For introducing these
inserts 42 two feed units 43 and 44 are provided which are
identical. The two feed units 43, 44 have endless circulating
transport belts 45, respectively, which are guided about two guide
rollers 46, 47 positioned at a spacing to one another. The feed
unit 43 that is the upper one in the mounted position has at least
one driver 48 provided on the transport belts 45 which projects
transversely from the transport belt and engages the insert 42 at
its trailing edge in the transport direction 39. By means of this
driver 48 the insert is pushed into the open envelope 1 when it is
just about to be released from the guide roller 27 and reaches the
transport unit 33.
[0044] The supply unit 44 which is the lower one in the mounted
position has also at least one driver 48 projecting transversely
from the transport belts 45 and entrained by them. This driver 48
also engages the insert 42 at the edge which is trailing in the
transport direction 39.
[0045] The lower supply unit 44 engages underneath the upper feed
unit 43, when viewed in a plan view. The driver 48 on the transport
belt 45 of the two feed units 43, 44 are arranged relative to one
another such that they engage sequentially the respective insert 42
at the trailing end wherein the feed unit 43 takes over the insert
from the feed unit 44 and pushes it into the open envelope 1.
Accordingly, the rotational speed of the guide roller 27 as well as
the transport speeds of the transport belts 45 of the feed units
43, 44 are matched to one another such that the insert 42 can be
pushed into the envelope 1, respectively. The transport belt 45 of
the feed units 43, 44 are driven endlessly in rotation. In the
overlap area, the two feed units 43, 44 have such a spacing to one
another that the drivers 48 do not contact the neighboring feed
unit or its transport belts 45.
[0046] The feed units 43, 44 have separate drives and are monitored
by torque sensors with great sensitivity. They stop the drives
immediately when, as a result of torque monitoring, irregularities
during the insertion process are recognized. In this way, the
destruction of inserts 42 is prevented and in the case of
disturbances only minimal manual actions are required in order to
remove the cause of the disruption. The inserting process can then
be continued according to schedule without there being a need for
replacing or even re-manufacturing destroyed documents (inserts
42).
[0047] The envelopes 1 are transported by the transport unit 19
such that the closure flaps 16 point to the rear in the transport
direction. In this way, the insertion opening for the inserts 42 in
the transfer area 41 is pointing to the rear in the transport
direction 39 so that the inserts can be reliably inserted into the
envelopes. The inserts 42 are supplied continuously while the
envelopes 1 are stopped for a brief moment for the insertion
process. In this way, it is ensured that the inserts 42 are
completely pushed into the envelope by the driver 48 of the feed
devices before they are engaged by the transport roller 37 of the
transport unit 33.
[0048] It is also possible to transport the envelopes from the
magazine 2 via the inlet area 3, the transport station 5, and the
transport unit individually and arrange them with overlap only upon
entering the transfer area 41 to form a stack 80; this is
illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0049] Moreover, it is possible to arrange the envelopes, received
from the transport unit 19 in an imbricated overlap arrangement, to
a stack 80 in the transfer area 41 (FIG. 7) from which stack the
envelopes are removed, stuffed with inserts and guided farther to
the transport unit 33.
[0050] The transport rollers 37, 38 of the transport unit 33 have a
spacing which is matched to the measured length of the envelope 1
in the transport direction 39. In this way it is ensured that the
envelopes 1 in the area between the transport rollers 37, 38 will
not be released.
[0051] In the transport unit 33 the envelopes provided with the
inserts 42 are supplied by means of the transport belts 34 and the
transport rollers 37, 38 to a deflection device 40 which is driven
about a horizontal axis 49 in a cycled fashion. The axis of
rotation 49 is positioned parallel to the axes of the guide rollers
35, 36. The deflection device 40 is arranged such that it engaged
the envelopes 42 filled with the inserts 42 already when the
envelope is still held between the transport roller 38 and the
transport belt 34. In this way, a safe transfer of the envelope 1
from the transport unit 33 to the deflection device 40 is ensured.
FIG. 3 shows as an example how an envelope 1 with insert is
positioned in one of the receptacles of the deflection device 40.
As soon as this envelope has reached this receptacle, the
deflection device 40 is rotated about its axis 49 by 90 degrees so
that the initially horizontally positioned envelope 1 is moved into
a vertical position. This envelope 1 is then further transported to
a closure device 50 (FIG. 2) in which the closure flaps 16 of the
envelope 1 are closed. Subsequently, the closed envelopes 1 are
transported into a collecting station 51 where the closed envelopes
are removed.
[0052] The deflection device 40 is star-shaped and has in the
illustrated embodiment four transport and receiving units 52 which
are staggered by 90 degrees relative to one another. They are
identical and each have a transport device 53 (FIG. 5) which in the
illustrated embodiment is an endless circulating suction belt. The
transport devices 53 are guided about two guide rollers 54, 55. The
guide roller 55 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 56. By means of the
transport devices 53 the envelopes 1 are transported into the
closing device 50 in a direction perpendicular to the feed
direction 39 into the transport/receiving units 52, respectively.
The shafts 56 are positioned radially relative to the axis of
rotation 49 of the deflection device 40. On their radially inner
end the shafts 56 are provided with a bevel gear 57. As illustrated
in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bevel gears 57, which are arranged at an
angular spacing of 90 degrees about the axis of rotation 49, engage
a common bevel gear 58 whose axis coincides with the axis of
rotation 49 of the deflection device 40. This bevel gear 58 is
mounted on a shaft 59 positioned perpendicularly to the shafts 56,
wherein the axis of the shaft 59 forms the axis of rotation 49 of
the deflection device 40. The shaft 59 is driven in a cycled
fashion by means of a servo motor such that the envelopes are
transported reliably out of the receptacles.
[0053] The shaft 59 is surrounded at a spacing by a pipe 60
projecting on the side facing away from the bevel gear 58 past the
transport devices 53. The shaft 59 itself projects past both ends
of the pipe 60 as well as past the bevel gear 58. At the end
projecting past the bevel gear 58, the shaft 59 is supported
rotatably in bearing 61. At the other end a pulley 66 is mounted
fixedly on the shaft 59 and is in driving connection by means of a
belt with the servo motor (not illustrated).
[0054] The pipe 60 has longitudinal slots 62, 63 sequentially
arranged at a minimal spacing in the axial direction by which air
is sucked in, in a way to be described in the following, in order
to secure the envelopes by means of the transport devices 53 and to
transport them reliably. The pipe 60 surrounds at a spacing an
inner pipe 64 which has slots 65 extending in the circumferential
direction and arranged at the level of the longitudinal slots 62,
63 of the outer pipe 60 . The exterior pipe 60 is secured on a
holder (not illustrated).
[0055] On the exterior pipe 60 arms 67, 68 are mounted at an
angular spacing of 90 degrees relative to one another; they
radially project from the exterior pipe 60 and are provided in
pairs (FIG. 4). The arms 67 and 68 are positioned with minimal
spacing opposite one another and delimit receptacles 69 for the
envelopes 1. The arms 68 are bent at their radial outer ends at an
obtuse angle so that in this area the receptacles 69 widen radially
outwardly. In this way it is ensured that the envelopes 1 are
reliably transported by the transport unit 33 (FIG. 3) into the
receptacle 69 of the deflection device 40, respectively. The
envelopes 1 rest in the receptacles 69 against the exterior pipe
60. Each receptacle 69 is delimited at one side by two arms 68
which in the axial direction of the shaft 59 are positioned at a
spacing relative to one another (FIG. 5). The arms 67, 68 project
radially past the transport devices 53 which extends in the axial
direction of the shaft 59.
[0056] The inner pipe 64 is rotatably supported with its end
neighboring the bevel gear 58 by means of at least one bearing 70,
preferably a roller bearing, relative to the central shaft 59 and
the exterior pipe 60. The inner shaft 59 with the bevel gear 58 can
be rotated about its axis. Since the bevel gears 57 and the common
bevel gear 58 are engaged, by rotation of the bevel gear 58 all
bevel gears 57 and thus the shafts 56 are rotated. In this way, all
transport devices 53 are driven in circulation in the desired
direction.
[0057] The exterior pipe 60 is provided at the end facing away from
the bevel gear drive 57, 58 with a belt drive 71 with which the
exterior pipe 60 and thus the entire deflection device 40 is
rotated by means of a servo motor in a cycled fashion about the
axis 49. In this way, the entire deflection device 40, as soon as
the transport device 33 has transported the envelopes 1 into the
receptacle 69, can be moved from the position according to FIG. 3
by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction. Accordingly, the
receptacle containing the envelope 1 is moved into a vertical
position while the following receptacles 69 is located in the feed
area of the transport device 33 for receiving the next envelope.
Upon rotation of the deflection device 40, the bevel gears 57 roll
on the central bevel gear 58 so that the transport devices 53 are
driven accordingly and the envelope 1 is transported farther in the
direction toward the closing device 50. After this cycled rotation
step is complete, the belt drive 71 is stopped. In order for the
envelopes 1 to reach quickly the closing device 50, the shaft 59 is
driven in rotation so that the bevel gears 57 are driven by means
of the bevel gear 58 and the transport devices 53 are driven by
means of the shafts 56. The envelope 1 contained in the receptacle
69 is thus transported by the corresponding transport device 53
into the closing device 50 (FIG. 2) where a transport device (not
illustrated) is positioned with which the envelopes are transported
farther. In this way, the deflection devices 40 are rotatably
driven in a cycled fashion and the transport device 53 is driven
for transporting the envelope 1 away. The transport devices 53 are
advantageously suction belts which are configured such that the
suction air reaches via the transport belts the envelopes 1 and
pulls them against the transport belts. Since the exterior pipe 60
has the longitudinal slots 62, 63, which are provided at angular
spacings of 90 degrees relative to one another, for each cycle
rotation of the deflection device 40 the corresponding longitudinal
slots 62, 63 are rotated by 90 degrees across the slots 56 in the
interior pipe 64. The vacuum air which is generated via interior
pipe 64 can thus reach only via the longitudinal slots 62, 63 in
the area of the slots 65 the exterior and the corresponding suction
belts 53. The other longitudinal slots 62, 63 of the exterior pipe
60 are positioned in an area outside of the circumferential slots
65 of the inner pipe 64 so that these longitudinal slots are closed
relative to the interior space of the interior pipe 64. The suction
air can thus act only via the longitudinal slots 62, 63 arranged
above the circumferential slots 65. In this way it is ensured that
a sufficient vacuum is present in the receptacle 69 in which the
envelope 1 to be transported to the closing device 50 is
located.
[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacles 69 of the
deflection device 40 are provided at an angular spacing of 90
degrees so that the deflection device 40 can be rotated in a cycled
fashion by 90 degrees. In this way, the envelopes 1 can be
transported sequentially into the individual receptacles 69 and,
after rotation by 90 degrees, can be transported by actuation of
the transport devices 53 farther perpendicularly to the feed device
39 (FIG. 3) into the closing device 50. The cycled rotation of the
deflection device 40 and the drive of the transport device 53 can
be advantageously also such that they overlap. This has the
advantage that the envelopes 1 secured on the respective vacuum
belts 53 are already partially transported into the receptacles 69
while the deflection device 40 is cycled by 90 degrees. The output
of the entire inserting device is increased because by means of the
overlapped cycled rotation of the deflection device 40 and of the
drive of the suction belts 53 the envelopes 1 can be sequentially
transported with very minimal temporal intervals.
[0059] The deflection device 40 can also have fewer than four
receptacles 69 but also more than four receptacles 69 so that the
rotational angle of the deflection device 40 is accordingly varied.
Moreover, the deflection device 40 can be used in all situations
where articles must be deflected along their transport path. For
example, the deflection device 40 can be used for inserts such as
sheets or other flat articles which are to be deflected during
their transport. In the embodiment, the defection is by 90 degrees.
However, configurations of the deflection device 40 with different
deflection angles is possible.
[0060] 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.
* * * * *