# US 2014/0196414 A1 · Inserter and method for opening an envelope throat of an envelope transported along an envelope channel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196414 A1 - Document ID: US20140196414A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/132,511 - Filed: 2013-12-18 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-20 - Assignees: Boewe Systec GmbH - Applicants: Boewe Systec GmbH - Inventors: Harald SCHEMPP; Manfred ZIEGLER; Torsten PAESSLER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196414A1 ## CPC - B43M 3/045: {for envelopes with only one flap} - B43M 3/00: Devices for inserting documents into envelopes (combined devices for inserting documents into and closing envelopes B43M5/00) - B43M 7/004: {including non-mechanical means} - B43M: BUREAU ACCESSORIES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (stapling devices B25C5/00; devices for temporarily attaching sheets together B42F) ## Abstract A method for opening an envelope throat of an envelope transported along an envelope channel dependably opens the envelope throat of the envelope during insertion in an inserter. The envelope, in order to open the envelope throat, is first over-pressed against a counter-pressure and then the counter-pressure is released to open the envelope throat, and/or the envelope is over-pressed against the hold-down force that holds the envelope down on an envelope transport, in order to open the envelope throat. For this purpose, an inserter inserts one or more items into an envelope moving along an envelope channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for opening an envelope throat of an envelope transported along an envelope channel while the envelope is being transported comprising at least one of the following steps (i) and (ii): (i) first over-pressing the envelope against a counter-pressure and then releasing the counter-pressure to open the envelope throat; and (ii) over-pressing the envelope against a hold-down force that holds the envelope down on an envelope transport in order to open the envelope throat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the envelope has an upper cover and a lower cover, wherein the lower cover is configured to be longer than the upper cover, and wherein the counter-pressure of the upper cover is released in order to open the envelope throat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein counter-pressing takes place by under-pressing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the over-pressing and the counter-pressing takes place by a relative movement parallel to a main surface of the envelope. ### Claim 5 A method for opening an envelope throat of an envelope transported along an envelope channel while the envelope is being transported along the envelope channel comprising at least one of the following steps (i) and (ii): (i) moving the envelope past a counter-guide that is displaced in an identical direction as the envelope channel with reference to the envelope and past an over-presser that is displaced in the identical direction as the envelope channel with reference to the envelope; and (ii) moving the envelope past an over-presser that is displaced in an identical direction as the envelope channel with reference to the envelope, acting counter to a hold-down force that holds the envelope down on an envelope transport. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the over-presser and the counter-guide stand still with reference to the envelope channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the over-presser and the counter-guide stand still relative to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the envelope first moves past the counter-guide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the counter-guide is an under-presser. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the envelope is held open by at least one filling aid that moves along with the envelope and engages into the envelope. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one filling aid moves along with the envelope synchronously. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the envelope is held open by at least one filling aid that moves along with the envelope and engages into the envelope. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one filling aid moves along with the envelope synchronously. ### Claim 14 An insider for inserting at least one item into an envelope that moves along an envelope channel, said inserter comprising an opener for opening a moving envelope and holding the moving envelope open, wherein the opener comprises at least one over-presser that is fixed in place and a counter-guide that is fixed in place and acts against the at least one over-presser. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The inserter according to claim 14, wherein the counter-guide acts against the over-presser as an under-presser that is fixed in place or as a down-holder that runs along with the envelope transport. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The inserter according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the at least one over-presser and the counter-guide distort the cross-section of the envelope channel selected perpendicular to the movement path of the envelope through the envelope channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The inserter according to claim 14, wherein the at least one over-presser is disposed behind the counter-guide or behind the under-presser in a movement direction of the envelope. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The inserter according to claim 14, wherein the at least one over-presser projects beyond a path of the down-holder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The inserter according to claim 18, wherein the at least one over-presser projects beyond a first envelope cover of a first envelope that is being held down in a direction of a second envelope cover of a second envelope. ### Claim 20 An inserter for inserting at least one item into an envelope that moves along an envelope channel, said inserter comprising an opener for opening a moving envelope and holding the moving envelope open, wherein the opener comprises a distortion of a selected cross-section of the envelope channel selected perpendicular to a movement path of the envelope through the envelope channel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The inserter according to claim 20, wherein the cross-section is partly raised and partly lowered for the distortion. ### Claim 22 An inserter for inserting at least one item into an envelope that moves along an envelope channel, said inserter comprising an opener for opening a moving envelope and holding the moving envelope open, wherein the opener comprises a convex curvature of the envelope channel with reference to the envelope in a movement direction of the envelope. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The inserter according to claim 22, wherein the opener comprises a counter-guide disposed on an outside of the convex curvature, wherein the counter-guide opens just before an opening region, in a direction away from the envelope channel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The inserter according to claim 23, wherein the counter-guide ends just before the opening region. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The inserter according to claim 14, wherein the inserter comprises an envelope guide that moves filling aids along with a plurality of envelopes transported by an envelope transport, and an item transport for feed of the at least one item to the envelopes, and wherein the opener is disposed in a pivot-in region where each filling aid pivots into a respective envelope. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The inserter according to claim 20, wherein the inserter comprises an envelope guide that moves filling aids along with a plurality of envelopes transported by an envelope transport, and an item transport for feed of the at least one item to the envelopes, and wherein the opener is disposed in a pivot-in region where each filling aid pivots into a respective envelope. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The inserter according to claim 22, wherein the inserter comprises an envelope guide that moves filling aids along with a plurality of envelopes transported by an envelope transport, and an item transport for feed of the at least one item to the envelopes, and wherein the opener is disposed in a pivot-in region where each filling aid pivots into a respective envelope. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The inserter according to claim 25, wherein the envelope transport comprises a suction belt that serves as a down-holder. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The inserter according to claim 26, wherein the envelope transport comprises a suction belt that serves as a down-holder. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The inserter according to claim 27, wherein the envelope transport comprises a suction belt that serves as a down-holder. ### Claim 31 (depends on 14) The inserter according to claim 14, wherein the opener comprises at least one air nozzle. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The inserter according to claim 31, wherein the at least one air nozzle is in an over-presser, in a counter-guide, in an under presser, or in a down-holder that moves along with the envelope. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The inserter according to claim 20, wherein the opener comprises at least one air nozzle. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The inserter according to claim 33, wherein the at least one air nozzle is in an over-presser, in a counter-guide, in an under presser, or in a down-holder that moves along with the envelope. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The inserter according to claim 22, wherein the opener comprises at least one air nozzle. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The inserter according to claim 35, wherein the at least one air nozzle is in an over-presser, in a counter-guide, in an under presser, or in a down-holder that moves along with the envelope.