GB1237871A - Improvements in or relating to machines for inserting paper sheets into envelopes - Google Patents

Abstract

1,237,871. Filling and sealing envelopes; feeding and folding sheets. BUSINESS AID INVENTIONS Ltd. 28 June, 1968 [7 July, 1967], No. 31510/67. Headings B8C and B8R. A machine for inserting sheet material into envelopes comprises first and ,second conveyer means for conveying respectively the envelopes and sheets from their input stations to an insertion station, whereupon an envelope mouth is opened and a sheet is bowed upwardly, in its mid-portion, transverse to its direction of travel so that its side edges which are to contact the envelope's side edges are directed towards the inner surface of the envelope front wall whilst the, mid-region of the sheet remains spaced from such front wall. Feeding the envelopes.-Envelopes E, Fig. 4, with their closed flaps uppermost and rearmost, are fed singly and intermittently by rollers 22, 23 on to a conveyer 35 and past apivoted machine drive operated transverse flap lifting blade 38 and an air jet 40 which fold back the .envelope flap and partially open the envelope mouth. A pivoted moistened roller 47 is raised from a moisture supply roller 51 and then descends upon the flap's gummed portion as the envelope passes towards constantly rotating rollers 54, 55 and thence on to a tiltable table 56 where it is arrested by a stop 58, adjustable for various sized envelopes. The end of the envelope flap is retained between the rollers 54, 55. - First Sheet feeding means. -Paper sheets or inserts I are fed from a supply 20 to fold plates 64 and co-operating folding rollers 65 which both may be detached when pre-folded sheets are used, and then by a conveyer 71, beneath separating and holding fingers 88 which are pivoted to a fixed rod 90, towards a nip between pairs of transversely spaced co-operating rollers 75, 82. The rollers 82 are pivotably mounted on a spindle 83, Fig. 5; itself rotatably mounted on the free ends of lever arm 84 pivoted on arms 77 and are spring urged towards the rollers 75 which, with larger diameter discs 76 are mounted on a shaft 74 carried by, swinging arms which are pivotably mounted on machine side plates 11, 12 so that the roller couple 75/82 can be bodily moved forward whilst rotating. Insertion of the sheets. -The envelope mouth is fully opened by the combined action of an air jet 60 and the insertion of two fingers 85 on swinging arms 86. As the sheet passes through the roller couple 75/82, the combined effect of this couple with the discs 76 bows the sheet upwardly in its mid-region transverse to its direction of travel so that only its side edges contact the lower inside face of the envelope upon entry. This may be facilitated by guide fingers which depress the sheet's advancing forward corners towards the inside face. The roller couple 75/82 is then moved forward whilst still advancing the sheet by rotation so that insertion is completed. Second sheet feeding: means.-An optional second sheet.feeder 21, Fig. 4, e.g. for cards, transports the cards through constantly rotating rollers 92, 93 on to the separating and holding fingers 88. Further pivoted holding fingers 94 are lowered to hold the card until both it and the underlying first sheet are propelled towards the insertion station by abutments 72 on the conveyer 71. Sealing the envelopes.-The table 56 is tilted about a horizontal axis to its broken line position, Fig. 4, whereupon the envelope flap in being freed from the constantly rotating rollers 54, 55 is deflected to its proper closed position. The air jet 60 presses the flap on to the envelope body and the envelope falls from the table 56 to the nip between constantly rotating rollers 100, 101 which effect sealing and discharge on to a guide plate 102.