Patent · US Expired

High speed machine for inserting sheets into envelopes

US6164046A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 16, 1999
Grant dateDec 26, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 16, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB43M3/045
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A high speed machine that inserts about twelve thousand sheets or stacks of sheets of paper per hour into the same number of envelopes. A first table delivers an elongate horizontal queue of thousands of envelopes to an envelope hopper. A second table, parallel to the first table, includes a plurality of independently-controllable sheet feeders and delivers individual groups of stacked sheets to an envelope insertion station that is transversely spaced apart from the envelope hopper. A third table is disposed transversely to the first two tables and includes the envelope insertion station. Clamps carried by an elongate sprocket chain mounted in the third table sequentially remove envelopes from the bottom of the envelope hopper and pull them past an envelope flap-opening structure to the envelope insertion station where the envelopes are opened by a puff of air. The envelopes are then pulled past a moistening device, an envelope flap-closing device, and a roller that seals the envelopes and ejects them from the third table to a collection station. Pusher members that push the sheets into the envelopes at the envelope insertion station are mounted on a high speed rotary assembly tha…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.