Letter moistener

A moistening apparatus for moistening an area containing glue on an envelope flap by continuously supplying water to the glue area comprising:

• a frame member;
• a support member for moving one envelope at a time with the envelope flap in a partially opened position toward the moistening apparatus;
• a brush member supported lengthwise within the frame member adapted to position elongated portions of the brush to moisten the glue;
• a water supply member in contiguous contact with the brush member and adapted to continuously supply the entire length of the brush with water;
• and a
• pumping device to pump water from a reservoir tank to the water supply member.

A mailing machine comprising a plurality of processing stations including a processing station for transporting an envelope and a processing station for sealing the envelope, the mailing machine including a moistening apparatus for moistening the area containing glue on an envelope flap in the processing station prior to sealing the envelope, the moistening apparatus comprising:

• a frame member;
• a support member for moving one envelope at a time with the envelope flap in a partially opened position toward the moistening apparatus;
• a brush member supported lengthwise within the frame member;
• and
• a water supply member in contiguous contact with the brush member and adapted to continuously moisten the entire length of the brush with water;
• the mailing machine including
• an envelope flap support element positioned under the brush member and adapted to force the glue area of the envelope flap against the moist brush member as the envelope moves through the moistening apparatus thereby supplying moisture to the entire length of the glue area on the envelope flap.