U.S. patent application number 11/617950 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-19 for inserter and method for inserting postal items into envelopes.
This patent application is currently assigned to Neopost Technologies SA. Invention is credited to Fransiscus Hermannus Feijen.
Application Number | 20070164497 11/617950 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36591327 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070164497 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Feijen; Fransiscus
Hermannus |
July 19, 2007 |
INSERTER AND METHOD FOR INSERTING POSTAL ITEMS INTO ENVELOPES
Abstract
An inserter has a motor (37), a drive line between the motor
(37) and a path for transporting envelopes or postal items and a
coupling in the drive line, a coupling control mechanism (48, 59,
76) connected for engaging a control member (47; 58) of the
coupling; and an at least two-way selector transmission (74, 75,
77, 78) for driving the drive line if the selector transmission
(74, 75, 77, 78) is in a first operating condition and for driving
the coupling control mechanism (48, 59, 76) for operating the
coupling if the selector transmission (74, 75, 77, 78) is in a
second operating condition.
Inventors: |
Feijen; Fransiscus Hermannus;
(Leeuwarden, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERMAN & GREEN
425 POST ROAD
FAIRFIELD
CT
06824
US
|
Assignee: |
Neopost Technologies SA
Bagneux
FR
|
Family ID: |
36591327 |
Appl. No.: |
11/617950 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43M 5/042 20130101;
B43M 3/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/002 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/00 20060101
B65H005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 31, 2005 |
EP |
05078063.4 |
Claims
1. An inserter comprising: an envelope transport path for
transporting envelopes one by one from an envelope start position
to an inserting position; a postal item transport path for
transporting postal items one by one from a postal item start
position to the inserting position until at least one of the
transported postal item is inserted in the envelope; an exit for
transporting the envelope with the at least one inserted postal
item therein from the inserting position; a motor; at least one
drive line between the motor and at least one of the paths for
driving transport along that at least one of the paths; at least
one coupling included in the at least one drive line; a coupling
control mechanism connected for engaging a control member of the
coupling; and an at least two-way selector transmission for driving
the at least one drive line if the selector transmission is in a
first operating condition and for driving the coupling control
mechanism for operating the at least one coupling if the selector
transmission is in a second operating condition.
2. An inserter system according to claim 1, wherein the selector
transmission is arranged for driving the drive line in response to
being driven in a first sense of rotation and for driving the
coupling control mechanism in response to being driven in a second
sense of rotation opposite to said first sense of rotation.
3. An inserter according to claim 2, wherein the selector
transmission comprises a first one-way clutch via which the drive
line is coupled to the motor, the first one-way clutch being
mounted for driving in response to rotation of the motor in the
first sense of rotation and a second one-way clutch via which the
coupling control mechanism is coupled to the motor, the second
one-way clutch being mounted for driving in response to rotation of
the motor in the second sense of rotation.
4. An inserter according to claim 1, wherein the coupling control
mechanism includes at least one cam having a cam surface arranged
for engaging a control member of the at least one coupling.
5. An inserter according to claim 4, wherein the at least one cam
is a curve disk.
6. An inserter according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of cams
are provided.
7. An inserter according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the
cams engages an envelope flap closing control member.
8. An inserter according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the
cams engages a carrier control member for selectively moving a
transport roller between a transport position for transporting a
postal item or an envelope and a retracted position.
9. An inserter according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is
adapted for selectively coupling the motor to the drive line or at
least one of the drive lines and uncoupling the motor from the
drive line or at least one of the drive lines.
10. An inserter according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is a
reversing coupling.
11. A method for inserting postal items into envelopes using an
inserter for inserting postal items into envelopes, comprising, for
each envelope: transporting the envelope from an envelope start
position to an inserting position; transporting at least one of the
postal items from a postal item start position to the inserting
position until the at least one postal item is inserted in the
envelope; and transporting the envelope from the inserting
position; wherein the transportation is driven by a motor via at
least one coupling; wherein the coupling or at least one of the
couplings is operated for controlling transportation driven by said
motor; and wherein the operation of controlling said coupling is
driven by said motor.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the transporting of the
envelopes and of the postal items is driven in response to the
motor rotating in a first sense of rotation and wherein the
operation of controlling said coupling is driven in response to the
motor rotating in a second sense of rotation opposite to said first
sense of rotation.
13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the coupling and
uncoupling is operated by driving movement of a cam engaging a
control member of a coupling.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an inserter and to a method for
inserting postal items into envelopes. Such apparatuses are known
from practice and are typically used in mailrooms where large
numbers of documents or sets of documents are each to be inserted
in an envelope in order to send these documents to addressees.
[0002] However, also in small organizations that send relatively
small numbers of documents, and where the documents to be sent are
for a considerable part processed by hand, also when being prepared
prior to insertion, mechanized insertion could lead to considerable
saving of labor. To be considered here are, for instance, medical
practices, workshops and club administrations, as well as service
companies taking care of sending smaller mailings for third
parties. Accordingly, there is a need for inserters that are simple
enough to be attractive in cost price and complexity of operation
for applications on a smaller scale than existing inserters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple
solution for driving various functions of an inserter.
[0004] According to the invention, this object is achieved by
providing an inserter including:
[0005] an envelope transport path for transporting envelopes one by
one from an envelope start position to an inserting position;
[0006] a postal item transport path for transporting postal items
one by one from a postal item start position to the inserting
position until at least one of the transported postal item is
inserted in the envelope;
[0007] an exit for transporting the envelope with the at least one
inserted postal item therein from the inserting position;
[0008] a motor;
[0009] at least one drive line between the motor and at least one
of the paths for driving transport along that at least one of the
paths;
[0010] at least one coupling included in the at least one drive
line;
[0011] a coupling control mechanism connected for engaging a
control member of the coupling; and
[0012] an at least two-way selector transmission for driving the at
least one drive line if the selector transmission is in a first
operating condition and for driving the coupling control mechanism
for operating the at least one coupling if the selector
transmission is in a second operating condition.
[0013] For achieving this object, the invention also provides a
method for inserting postal items into envelopes using an inserter
for inserting postal items into envelopes, including, for each
envelope:
[0014] transporting the envelope from an envelope start position to
an inserting position;
[0015] transporting at least one of the postal items from a postal
item start position to the inserting position until the at least
one postal item is inserted in the envelope; and
[0016] transporting the envelope from the inserting position;
[0017] wherein the transportation is driven by a motor via at least
one coupling;
[0018] wherein the coupling or at least one of the couplings is
operated for controlling transportation driven by the motor;
and
[0019] wherein the operation of controlling the coupling is driven
by the motor.
[0020] Because the coupling for driving the transport paths via the
coupling and the coupling control mechanism for operating the
coupling control mechanism can be driven by the same motor, a
particularly low cost design of the drive structure of the inserter
can be achieved.
[0021] Further features, effects and details of the invention
appear from the detailed description and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially cut-away, side view of an
example of an inserter according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of the
drive structure of the inserter according to FIG. 1; and
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective, partially cut-away view, seen at
another angle, of the drive structure of the inserter according to
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The inserter according to the example shown in the drawings
has a housing 1 in which an envelope feeder 2, an envelope stuffing
mechanism, a document feeder 4, a folder 5 and a tray 6 for
receiving completed mail pieces can be distinguished.
[0026] In an envelope holder 7 a stack 8 of envelopes is held. A
separating lip 9 and envelope feeder roller 10 at the top end of
the holder 2 define an envelope start position 11.
[0027] A set of envelope transport rollers 12, guide rollers 13, 14
and a guide plate 15 extending along the envelope transport roller
define an envelope transport path for transporting envelopes one by
one from the envelope start position 11 to an inserting position in
which, in FIG. 1, an envelope 16 is shown. The inserting position
is determined by the positions of the transport roller 12 and the
most downstream guide roller 14 between which, in operation, the
flap 17 of an envelope 16 in the inserting position is held, and by
upper guides 18 and lower guides 19 between which the body 20 of
the envelope 16 to be filled is guided. A sensor 21 for sensing the
passage of an envelope and a flap opener 17 are situated along the
envelope transport path (FIG. 1).
[0028] In a document holder 22 (partially shown) a stack 23 of
sheets is held. The holder and a feeding roller 24 at the top end
of the holder define a postal item start position 25 from where
transport of a document (or other postal item to be inserted in the
envelope) starts when the inserter is in operation. A set of
transport rollers 26, a set of separating rollers 27, a buckle
folding chute 28, a set of folding rollers 29 and a pivotable guide
plate 30 define a postal item transport path for transporting
postal items one by one from the postal item start position 25 to
the inserting position until the postal item is inserted in the
envelope 16. In FIG. 3, the transport rollers a26 are not visible,
however an axle 32 via which the transport rollers 26 are drivable
and are suspended is visible in FIG. 3.
[0029] In FIG. 1, one document 31 is shown in the postal item
transport path in a position just before a fold is made in a
folding nip between the transport rollers 26 (which also form
folding rollers) and the folding rollers 29.
[0030] The inserting position also extends between upper and lower
envelope closing rollers 34, 35. Together with an exit opening 36
in the housing 1, the envelope closing rollers 34, 35 define an
exit path for transporting the envelope 16 with the at least one
inserted postal item therein from the inserting position to the
exit 36 from where the filled and completed envelope, now forming a
completed mail piece, can drop into the tray 6.
[0031] For driving the rollers, the inserter according to the
present example has a single motor 37. To allow sequentially
driving various functions of the inserter with the same motor 37, a
coupling is provided. For the sake of clarity, this coupling is
first described with respect to the function of switching between
driving envelope transport and postal item transport only.
[0032] The motor 37 has a drive pulley 38 which is coupled to a
pulley 39 on a main drive shaft 40 via a toothed drive belt 41. An
postal item drive gear wheel 42 and an envelope drive gear wheel 43
are fixedly mounted to the main drive shaft 40.
[0033] The postal item drive gear wheel 42 permanently engages
intermediate gear wheel 44, which, in turn, permanently engages
intermediate gear wheel 45. The intermediate gear wheels are
rotatably suspended from an postal item drive rocker 46, which, in
turn, is rotatably mounted on the main drive shaft 40 and carries
an operating pawl 47 engaged by a postal item drive coupling
control cam 48. A spring (not shown) keeps the operating pawl 47 of
the postal item drive rocker 46 in engagement with the postal item
drive coupling control cam 46. By rotating the postal item drive
coupling control cam 48, the rocker 46 can be rotated between a
coupled position in which the intermediate gear wheel 45 is in
engagement with a gear wheel 49 on a postal item drive shaft 50 and
an uncoupled position, in which the intermediate gear wheel 45, and
thereby the main drive shaft 40, is uncoupled from the gear wheel
49 on the postal item drive shaft 50.
[0034] A pulley 51 fixedly mounted to the postal item drive shaft
50 is coupled to a pulley 52 fixedly mounted to the transport
roller axle 33 via a toothed drive belt 53 for driving the
transport of postal items.
[0035] Thus, the postal item drive rocker 46 and the postal item
drive gear wheels 42, 44, 45, 49 form a coupling in the postal item
drive line for coupling the motor 37 for driving the postal item
transport path for transporting the postal items from the postal
item start position 25 to the inserting position 16 and for
uncoupling the motor 37 when the postal item has been inserted in
the envelope 16. The uncoupling of the postal item drive gear wheel
45 from the gear wheel 49 on the postal item drive shaft 50 may for
instance be carried out in response to detection of the trailing
end of the postal item near the inserting position 16. The
separating unit is not further described and may for instance be of
a design as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,037.
[0036] The envelope drive gear wheel 42 permanently engages an
intermediate gear wheel 54 an a reverse gear wheel 55, which in
turn, permanently engages an intermediate gear wheel 56. The
intermediate gear wheels 54, 56 and the reverse gear wheel 55 are
rotatably mounted to an envelope drive rocker 57, which, in turn,
is rotatably mounted to the main drive shaft 40 and carries an
operating pawl 58 engaged by an envelope drive coupling control cam
59. A spring (not shown) keeps the operating pawl 58 of the rocker
57 in engagement with the envelope drive coupling control cam
59.
[0037] By rotating the envelope drive coupling control cam 59, the
envelope drive rocker 57 can be rotated between an envelope
transport position and a flap moistening and closing position and a
position in which none of the intermediate gear wheels 54 56
engages the gear wheel 60 on the envelope drive shaft 61. In the
envelope transport position, the intermediate wheel 54 is in
engagement with a gear wheel 60 fixedly mounted to an envelope
drive shaft 61 and in which the envelope drive shaft 61 is driven
to rotate in a sense of rotation indicated by arrow A by rotation
of the main drive shaft 40 in a sense of rotation indicated by
arrow B. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the envelope drive coupling control cam
59 is shown in a position keeping the envelope drive rocker 57 in
its flap moistening and closing position. In that position, the
intermediate gear wheel 56 that is in driving engagement with the
reverse gear wheel 55 is in engagement with the gear wheel 60 on
the envelope drive shaft 61. In this operating condition, the
rotation of the main drive shaft 40 in the sense of rotation B
causes the envelope drive shaft 60 to rotate in sense of rotation
indicated by an arrow C, which is opposite to the sense of rotation
A for transporting envelopes.
[0038] A drive pulley 62 fixedly mounted to the envelope drive
shaft 61 is coupled to a an envelope feed axle 63 carrying the
envelope feed rollers 10 via a toothed envelope drive belt 64 over
the drive pulley 62 and driven pulley 65. The driven pulley 65 is
mounted to an envelope transport axle 66 carrying the envelope
transport rollers 12. A drive pulley 67 is mounted to the same
envelope transport axle 66 for rotation together with the driven
pulley 65 and coupled to driven pulleys 68, 70 via a toothed
distribution belt 71. The driven pulley 68 is fixedly mounted to an
envelope closing axle 69 carrying an upper one of the envelope
closing rollers 34 and the driven pulley 70 is fixedly coupled a
gear wheel 72 that is in driving engagement with a gear wheel 73
fixedly mounted to the envelope feed axle 63.
[0039] Thus, the envelope drive rocker 57 and the envelope drive
gear wheels 43, 54, 55, 56, 60 form both a forward/reverse coupling
and a coupling for coupling and uncoupling, in the envelope drive
line for selectively driving the envelope transport and exit paths
for transport in opposite directions.
[0040] It is observed that the envelope feed rollers 10 should stop
rotating after the feeding of an envelope is completed. This can
for instance be achieved using a coupling controlled in response to
signals from the sensor 21. It is also possible to provide a
separate cam and coupling controlled thereby for coupling and
uncoupling the envelope feed rollers to the motor 37.
[0041] The pulley 39 that is driven by the motor 37 via the toothed
belt 41 is fixedly coupled to a gear wheel 74 of which the teeth
engage teeth of a gear wheel 75 that is mounted on a cam shaft 76
to which the cams 48, 56 are fixedly mounted. The gear wheel 75 is
coupled to the cam shaft 76 via a one-way clutch 77 that causes the
gear wheel 75 to entrain the cam shaft 76 if the gear wheel 75 is
rotated in a sense of rotation indicated by an arrow D and that
freewheels if the gear wheel 75 is driven by the gear wheel 74 to
rotate in the opposite sense of rotation. The pulley 39 and the
gear wheel 74 are coupled to the main drive shaft 40 by a one-way
clutch 78 that causes the gear wheel 74 to entrain the main drive
shaft 40 if the pulley 39 and the gear wheel 74 are rotated in the
sense of rotation B and that freewheels if the pulley 39 and the
gear wheel 75 are rotated in the opposite sense of rotation.
[0042] If the motor 37 is rotated in the sense of rotation
indicated by an arrow E, the pulley 39 and the gear wheel 74 are
rotated in the sense of rotation B so that the main drive shaft 40
is entrained while the gear wheel 75 is rotated in a sense of
rotation opposite to the sense of rotation D. This causes the
one-way clutch between the gear wheel 75 and the cam shaft 76 to
freewheel, so that the cam shaft 76 is left stationary. Conversely,
if the motor 37 is rotated in the opposite sense of rotation
indicated by an arrow F, the pulley 39 and the gear wheel 74 are
rotated in a sense opposite to the sense of rotation B so that the
one-way clutch 78 between main drive shaft 40 and the gear wheel 74
freewheels, causing the main drive shaft to be left stationary. The
gear wheel 75 is then rotated in the sense of rotation D, which
causes the one-way clutch 77 to engage and entrain the cam shaft
76.
[0043] Thus, the coupling control mechanism, formed by the cams 48,
59, is driven via the two-way selector transmission formed by the
gear wheels 74, 75 and the one way clutches 77, 78 for driving the
envelope and/or postal item drive lines if the selector
transmission is in a first operating condition and for driving the
coupling control mechanism for operating the couplings if the
selector transmission is in a second operating condition.
[0044] In the present example, the selector transmission is
arranged for driving the drive line in response to being driven in
a first sense of rotation and for driving the coupling control
mechanism in response to being driven in a second sense of rotation
opposite to said first sense of rotation. This provides the
advantage that simple switch gear is sufficient for switching
between the first and the second operating condition. It is however
also conceivable to provide other means for switching between the
two operating conditions, such as electromagnetically operated
couplings, an axially displaceable gear wheel or a differential
drive having two output drive shafts with stoppers for selectively
preventing rotation of one or, alternatively, the other of the
output drive shafts.
[0045] In present example, the selector transmission includes a
first one-way clutch 78 via which the drive line is coupled to the
motor 37 and a second one-way clutch 77 via which the coupling
control mechanism 48, 59 is coupled to the motor 37. This allows a
simple design with repeated use of standardized parts. It is
however observed, that driving different structures in response to
driving rotation in opposite directions can also be achieved in
other manners, for example using a gear wheel that is suspended for
moving between a position engaging a first driven gear wheel and a
position engaging between another driven gear wheel in response to
the driving torque.
[0046] That the coupling control mechanism includes cams 48, 59
each having a cam surface arranged for engaging a control member
46, 47 of the coupling controlled thereby is advantageous for
obtaining a simple design for transition of rotation of the motor
into control operations and freedom of design with respect to the
timing of operations is provided in a simple manner.
[0047] That the cams 48, 59 are curve disks further contributes to
the simplicity of design.
[0048] A further advantage of the use of cams is, that they allow
to perform several control operations driven by the same motor. To
this end, the inserter according to the present example is equipped
with a plurality of cams.
[0049] Apart from the cam 48 for controlling the coupling and
uncoupling of the postal item drive line and the cam 59 for
controlling the sense of rotation of the envelope drive line, the
inserter according to the present example also includes flap
closing cams 79 and flap pressing cams 80.
[0050] The flap closing cams 79 engage a roller 81 of envelope flap
closing members in the form of a rockers 82 carrying an axle 83 on
which a set of flap closing rollers 84 is mounted. In the drawings,
the flap closing rollers 84 are shown in a position free from the
envelope transport path. By rotating the camshaft 76, the flap
closing rollers 84 can be displaced from the shown position to a
position on the opposite side of the envelope transport path and of
the insert position, thereby pressing guide 19 away. If this is
carried out while an envelope is positioned with a fold between the
envelope flap and the envelope body is closely to the exit side of
the trajectory along which the flap closing rollers 84 are
displaced, the flap is pivoted towards a moistener 85 (FIG. 1). The
flap can then be moistened and closed by transporting the envelope
in a direction opposite to the direction in which it has arrived
from the starting position 11. Finally the flap can be pressed
against the envelope body for firm closing of the envelope by
transporting the envelope towards the exit 36 and passing the
envelope through a nip between the rollers 34, 35. Envelope
moistening and closing according to the same principle described in
more detail in Dutch patent application 1 027 889.
[0051] Before the envelope flap can be pressed to the envelope body
in the nip between the rollers 34, 35, the nip must first be
provided. To this end, the pressing cams 79 are provided, which are
positioned on the camshaft 76 for engaging rollers 86 of rockers 87
that carry an axle 88 to which the lower ones 35 of the envelope
pressing rollers 34, 35 are mounted. By pivoting the rockers 88
under control of the pressing cams 79, the lower ones 35 of the
envelope pressing rollers can be selectively moved between a
transport position for transporting an envelope, in which a nip is
formed between the pressing rollers 34, 35 and the shown retracted
position free from the envelope 16 in the operating area of the
roller 35.
[0052] To bring the camshaft 76 accurately in the predefined
positions and for avoiding accumulation of tolerance errors when
the camshaft is repeatedly driven, an index wheel 89 is fixedly
mounted to the camshaft 76 and a positioning finger 90 carrying an
index pawl 91 is mounted to the main drive shaft via a slip clutch
92. When the motor 37 started to rotate in the sense of rotation E,
so that the main drive shaft 40 is driven and the gear wheel 75
freewheels on the cam shaft 76, the positioning finger 90 is
dragged along in the sense of rotation B of the main drive shaft 40
until it is lodged in an index recess on the circumference of the
index wheel 89. The cam shaft 76, which is then not controlled by
the motor 37, is thereby reliable maintained in position. When the
motor 37 is reversed into the sense of rotation F for driving the
camshaft 76, the driving torque is sufficient for pushing the pawl
91 of the positioning finger is pushed out of the indexing recess,
but when the motor 37 is stopped, the indexing forces are
sufficient for providing fine adjustments.
[0053] When the inserter according to the present example is in
operation, the motor 7 is alternatingly rotated in the senses of
rotation E and F over predetermined distances. To this end, the
motor 37 is preverably a stepper motor.
[0054] Operation the inserter according to the present example is
further illustrated by table 1 in which the successive stages of
operation and the control operations executed by the inserter are
set forth. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Envelope Postal item Flap Drive
drive Closing Pressing Stage Action Motor Coupling Coupling Roller
Roller I Operating inserter: see .fwdarw. Sense F 60.degree.
Forward Retracted (sense A) II Separating envelope Sense E to and
transporting insert envelope to insert position position. II
Operating inserter: see .fwdarw. Sense F 60.degree. Off Engaged IV
Separating, folding Sense E to and transporting and insert
inserting postal item. position V Operating inserter: see .fwdarw.
Sense F 60.degree. Forward Disengaged Pressing (sense A) position
VI Transporting filled Sense E to envelope to flap flap pivot
pivoting position. position VII Operating inserter: see .fwdarw.
Sense F 60.degree. Reverse Flap (sense C) closing position VIII
Transporting envelope Sense E to so that flap closes. flap closed
position IX Operating inserter: see .fwdarw. Sense F 60.degree.
Forward (sense A) X Transporting envelope Sense E to through
pressing exit rollers to exit. XI Operating inserter: see .fwdarw.
Sense F 60.degree. Off Released position
[0055] In each of the odd numbered stages, the camshaft is rotated
over 60.degree., so that after one operating cycle during which a
mail piece is prepared, the camshaft is rotated over 360.degree..
However, depending on the design of the inserter another total
number of stages is also conceivable. In the present inserter, it
would in principle be possible to combine stages I and X, but the
present sequence of stages is presently preferred, because all
transport rollers are uncoupled when the inserter in not in
operation, which facilitates cleaning and maintenance.
* * * * *