Wrapping module and a method for providing a sleeve around a mail item

A wrapping module for providing a sleeve of packaging material around a mail item, the mail item comprising at least one printed document, wherein the wrapping module comprises:

• a first transport section extending in a transport direction along a transport plane and configured for continuously transporting the mail item in the transport direction along the transport plane, the mail item having an initial leading edge and an initial trailing edge;
• a sheet supplying station configured for supplying a sheet of packaging material to an intermediate position at a downstream end of the first transport section, wherein in the intermediate position the sheet extends in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the transport plane and protrudes with a first part above the transport plane and protrudes with a second part below the transport plane and in which the leading edge of the mail item is upstream from the sheet;
• a second transport section extending in the transport direction along the transport plane and configured for continuously transporting the mail item in the transport direction along the transport plane, the second transport section having an upstream end adjacent the downstream end of the first transport section leaving a gap in between through which the sheet is able to pass the transport plane to the intermediate position, wherein the wrapping module is configured such that, when the mail item is transferred from the first transport section to the second transport section, the sheet in the intermediate position is engaged by the initial leading edge and subsequently the sheet is folded around the initial leading edge so that the first part is folded against an upper side of the mail item and the second part is folded against a lower side of the mail item, wherein a third part of the sheet is a part of the second part of the sheet that extends in the upstream direction beyond the initial trailing edge of the mail item;
• a glue dispensing station positioned above the second transport section and configured for dispensing glue;
• a turning station positioned at a downstream end of the second transport section and being configured to turn the mail item around so that the initial leading edge becomes a subsequent trailing edge and the initial trailing edge becomes a subsequent leading edge, and wherein during the turning the third part of the sheet is folded around the initial trailing edge which becomes the subsequent leading edge so that the third part of the sheet is folded against the mail item at the side along which the first part of the sheet extends as well and wherein the third part overlaps the first part and the dispensed glue provides a connection between the first part and the third part so as to form the sleeve of packaging material;
• and
• a third transport section having an upstream end adjacent to an outlet of the turning station being configured to transport the mail item being wrapped in the sleeve of packaging material further,
• wherein the turning station comprises:
• a first roller positioned above the downstream end of the second transport section;
• a leading edge lifting unit downstream of the downstream end of the second transport section and being configured to lift the initial leading edge of the mail item during transport of the initial leading edge over the leading edge lifting unit;
• a pendulum pivotally mounted along a first pivot axis which extend substantially perpendicular to the transport direction and parallel to the transport plane, wherein the pendulum has a pendulum foot;
• and
• a second roller positioned downstream of the leading edge lifting unit and being positioned so as to press the mail item between the pendulum foot and the second roller,
• wherein the leading edge lifting unit and the second roller are mounted so as to be pivotable below the transport plane;
• wherein the turning station is configured to:
• lift the initial leading edge of the mail item above the transport plane during transport of the initial leading edge of the mail item over the leading edge lifting unit,
• subsequently engage the mail item by the pendulum foot of the pendulum at a bottom side of the mail item adjacent the initial leading edge, while pivoting the pendulum in a first pivot direction,
• continue to pivot the pendulum in the first pivot direction while pressing the mail item against the first roller until the initial trailing edge of the mail item is raised to a level equal or higher than an upper side of the circumference of the second roller, and
• subsequently reverse pivot direction of the pendulum and move the pendulum in a second pivot direction opposite the first pivot direction, so that the initial trailing edge of the mail item becomes the subsequent leading edge and is moved over the second roller, and
• wherein the mail item is subsequently pressed onto the second roller by the pendulum foot and is transferred to the third transport section.