Integrated envelope sealer and flip module
AssigneeDMT Solutions Global Corporation
InventorsArthur H. DePoi, John R. 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.
Claims23
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.
A system for sealing one or more envelopes, the system comprising:
- a frame mounted to one or more gears configured to rotate the frame about an axis, the frame comprising a first pair of nip rollers and a second pair of nip rollers located opposite the first pair of nip rollers;
- an envelope receiving area configured to support an envelope and feed the envelope between one of the pairs of nip rollers;
- a moveable brush located in the receiving area and configured to contact a flap of the envelope thereby to wet an adhesive on the flap when a body of the envelope has been received between one of the pairs of nip rollers;
- a curvilinear paper guide located beneath the frame configured to bear against the flap of the envelope as the frame rotates about the axis;
- and
- a sealer nip positioned opposite the envelope receiving area, configured to press the flap against the body of the envelope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.