DE29808718U1 - Auxiliary device for envelope-oriented transverse folding of letterhead - Google Patents

Description

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(18 006)

Auxiliary device for folding letterheads crosswise into envelopes

The innovation concerns an auxiliary device for folding letterheads crosswise into envelopes.

Apart from the aid of a small edge line marking on letterhead, as far as is known, only fairly complex and relatively expensive mechanical inserting devices or folding machines are known with which the entire enveloping can be carried out, possibly up to the franking of the letterhead. Given the price of such office machines, it is only worthwhile using them if large quantities of letterhead have to be processed every day. For small quantities, letterheads are still folded by hand either with a so-called zigzag fold or a so-called wrap-around fold, using the edge line marking mentioned above, which is arranged in such a way that, for example, a DIN A4 sheet has two envelope-sized folding parts and a slightly shorter third part that is to be folded in. When folding by hand, care must be taken to ensure that the edges of the sheet lie exactly on top of one another so that a folding line is created that is exactly perpendicular to the edges of the sheet. If the letterhead has attachments,

sheets and these are to be folded at the same time, sheet shifts often occur when folding.

The innovation is based on the task of creating an easy-to-manufacture, cost-effective and easy-to-use auxiliary device with which letterheads and inserts of the same size can be folded neatly and easily. Whenever we talk about envelope size, this is always to be understood as meaning that the folded sheets can be inserted into the envelope, i.e. the long envelopes according to the standard have a certain excess size in relation to a double-folded DIN A4 sheet, for example.

According to the innovation, the problem is solved on the one hand by a simply folded cut-out in the middle, preferably made of thin, fold-stable sheet metal, between whose envelope-sized folding parts a gap is kept free for the insertion of the letter sheet, and on the other hand by a simply folded cut-out made of preferably thin, fold-stable sheet metal, between whose folding parts a gap is kept free for the insertion of the letter sheet, whereby one folding part is shorter in length in relation to the envelope-sized folding part, in the order of 1 to 2 cm.

In both embodiments, the corners of the cut are advantageously designed in the form of small rounded areas.

An advantageous further development that facilitates handling consists in having an address window in one of the folding parts.

With regard to the requirement that the blank should "preferably" be made of thin sheet metal, it should be noted that this blank can also be made of plastic, for example.
The terms "thin and foldable" used to define the material used are to be understood in such a way that the fold made on the cut is retained, but the two parts extending parallel to each other can be pressed together with a spring. Aluminium sheet with a thickness of approx. 0.5 mm is suitable for this.

The novel auxiliary device is explained in more detail below using drawings of exemplary embodiments.

It shows

Fig. 1 the sheet metal blank forming the auxiliary device in
still unfolded state;

Fig. 2 perspective view of the auxiliary device in the folded
Condition;

Fig. 3,4 perspective view of the auxiliary device with inserted
Letterhead during the folding process;

Fig. 5 perspective view of the auxiliary device in another embodiment
with inserted letterhead;

Fig. 6 the auxiliary device according to Fig.5 in the second
FaIt process and

Fig. 7 perspective view of a
letter bottom folded into an envelope.

Fig.7 shows a DIN A4 letterhead B folded with the auxiliary devices in the so-called circle fold with address field A ready to be inserted into an envelope with address window.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, the auxiliary device consists in a first version of a blank Z that is simply folded in the middle, namely made of preferably thin, fold-stable sheet metal, between whose envelope-sized folding parts 1 extending parallel to one another a letterhead insertion gap 2 is kept free.

The version according to Fig. 5, 6 differs from this only in that the folding part 3 is slightly shorter in relation to the envelope-sized folding part 1.

Furthermore, in both versions, the corners of the blank Z are designed in the form of small rounded areas 4. In addition, address windows 5 can advantageously be provided in one of the folding parts, which also makes handling easier.

With the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 4, which has equally sized folding parts 1, the letterhead B to be folded is simply inserted into the gap 2, as shown in Fig. 3, and folded backwards in the direction of the arrow P over the edge of the lower folding part 1. The sheet or the sheet is then turned, with its unfolded envelope-sized part in the gap 2

inserted and then the smaller remaining length of the sheet (sheet part B') is also folded over.

In the other version according to Fig. 5,6, in which the folding part 3 of the cut Z is somewhat shorter, the procedure is practically the same, with the only difference being that one first folds around the edge or border of the long part and, after turning the sheet, around the border of the somewhat shorter part 3, as also shown by arrows P.

Since the parallel folding parts 1/1 and 1/3 are elastic, the inserted sheet parts can be held securely in their position in gap 2 by applying slight pressure with the fingers and can thus be folded over precisely.

Claims (5)

(18 006) Protection claims: 1. Auxiliary device for folding letterheads crosswise into envelopes, marked by a blank (Z) folded in the middle, preferably made of thin sheet metal that remains stable when folded, with a gap (2) for inserting a letterhead kept free between the envelope-sized folding parts (1). 2. Auxiliary device for folding letterheads crosswise into envelopes, marked by a simply folded blank (Z) made of preferably thin sheet metal that remains stable when folded, between whose folding parts a gap (2) is kept free for inserting letterheads, whereby one of the other folding parts (3) is dimensioned in its length (L) in the order of 1 to 2 cm shorter than the envelope-sized folding part (l). 3. Auxiliary device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the corners of the blank (Z) are designed in the form of small rounded portions (4). 4. Auxiliary device according to claims 1 or 3 characterized in that an address window (5) is arranged in one of the folding parts (1). 5. Auxiliary device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that an address window (5) is arranged in the smaller folding part (3).