High speed vacuum system for inserters
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorBoris Rozenfeld
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum release assist system for a document insertion station is described. The vacuum suction cup system is used for opening an envelope. The vacuum release assist system ensures that the suction cup is timely released during the removal of the envelope from the insertion station. In one configuration, a solenoid actuator is used to push away the envelope from the suction cup. In another configuration, a blow-off valve is used to introduce positive air pressure to timely release the suction cup.
Claims20
An insertion station apparatus operative to insert an enclosure collation into an open end of an envelope, the insertion station having a deck with a transport mechanism for conveying an envelope, an opening mechanism for opening an envelope, the opening mechanism comprising:
- a suction device operatively connected to a suction assembly, the suction assembly having a first control mechanism controlled by a first electrical control signal and a transport system for moving the suction device into at least a first position and a second position;
- the suction device for applying vacuum to a top portion of the envelope;
- and
- a vacuum disengage assist system for disengaging the vacuum applied to the top portion of the envelope, wherein the vacuum disengage assist system includes a second control mechanism controlled by a second electrical control signal,
- wherein the second electrical control signal is actuated independently of the first control signal and wherein an actuation time between the actuation of the first electrical control signal and the second electrical control signal is adjustable.
A method for disengaging a vacuum from a top portion of an envelope in a system having a vacuum device for applying vacuum to the top of the envelope, a vacuum source and a blow-off valve for applying positive pressure to the vacuum device in a document inserter comprising:
- applying vacuum using the vacuum device for a first time interval using a first control signal;
- and
- applying positive pressure to the vacuum device after the first time interval13using a second control signal.
An insertion station apparatus operative to insert an enclosure collation into an open end of an envelope, the insertion station having a deck with a transport mechanism for conveying the envelope, an opening mechanism for opening the envelope, the opening mechanism comprising:
- a suction device operatively connected to a suction assembly, the suction assembly having a transport system for moving the suction device into at least a first position and a second position;
- a tube having a suction device opening, a vacuum source opening and a vacuum disengage assist system opening;
- the suction device connected to the suction device opening of the tube, wherein the suction device engages a top portion of the envelope in order to apply a vacuum to the top portion of the envelope;
- a vacuum source connected to the vacuum source opening of the tube for switching between a vacuum on state at a first time and a vacuum off state at a second time for applying vacuum to the top portion of the envelope and then removing vacuum to the top portion of the envelope;
- and
- a vacuum disengage assist system connected to the vacuum disengage assist system opening of the tube for providing positive pressure to the suction device for disengaging the vacuum applied to the top portion of the envelope,
- wherein an amount of time between the first time and the second time is adjustable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.