Integrated envelope sealer and flip module
AssigneeDMT Solutions Global Corporation
InventorsArthur H. Depoi, John Robert Masotta, Boris Rozenfeld, Daniel Wright, Anthony E. Yap
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An envelope sealing and flipping system can be incorporated into a mail inserter system to seal an envelope with a complete unbroken glue line and simultaneously flip the envelope face-up for downstream processing. The system includes a flip cage that receives an envelope and a moveable wetting brush that contacts the flap. The flip cage rotates, causing the flap to drag underneath the wetting brush, and realigning the envelope with a sealer nip which seals the envelope. The flip cage rotates continuously to receive, flip, and seal many envelopes.
Claims10
A method for sealing and flipping an envelope, the method comprising:
- receiving a body of an envelope face-down between a pair of nip rollers mounted to a frame;
- wetting a flap of the envelope to activate an adhesive substance thereon, wherein wetting the flap comprises:
- lowering a moveable brush into contact with the flap portion prior to rotating the frame, wherein the moveable brush is actuated by a servomotor;
- and
- setting a brush contact height by recording a position at which the moveable brush contacts a moistening pad with the servomotor in an open loop mode;
- rotating the frame with the body of the envelope secured between the nip rollers to flip the envelope face-up and to cause the flap to bear against a paper guide to form a bend between the flap and the body;
- and
- drawing the bend into a sealer nip with the envelope face-up to press the adhesive substance against the body, to form a seal between the flap and the body of the envelope.
A method for sealing and flipping an envelope, the method comprising:
- receiving a body of an envelope face-down between a pair of nip rollers mounted to a frame;
- wetting a flap of the envelope to activate an adhesive substance thereon;
- rotating the frame with the body of the envelope secured between the nip rollers to flip the envelope face-up and to cause the flap to bear against a paper guide to form a bend between the flap and the body;
- and
- drawing the bend into a sealer nip with the envelope face-up to press the adhesive substance against the body, to form a seal between the flap and the body of the envelope,
- wherein the frame further comprises a second pair of nip rollers substantially similar to the first pair of nip rollers and mounted opposite the first pair of nip rollers, such that the pairs of nip rollers are 180 degrees apart from each other about the frame's axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.