Compensating support arrangement

A compensating support arrangement for a stack of envelopes located on a stacking table of a printer for aligning an uppermost envelope for a take-off suction device of the printer arranged above the uppermost envelope with operational accuracy, comprising:

• a base plate adapted to be supported on the stacking table;
• a bearing plate arranged at a distance above the base plate and providing a support surface for supporting the envelope stack;
• at least two spring elements arranged between the base plate and bearing plate, said spring elements being adapted for lifting the uppermost envelope into alignment with the suction device;
• and
• means for positioning the bearing plate relative to said base plate,
• said bearing plate being moveable between unloaded and loaded positions relative to said base plate, said bearing plate being substantially parallel to said base plate while occupying said unloaded position and said means for positioning the bearing plate relative to the base plate comprises a support which is arranged on the base plate, said support projecting through an opening formed in the bearing plate and being adapted to provide support to the envelope stack.

In a printing machine for printing on a variety of paper products including envelopes, said printing machine having a stacking table for aligning an uppermost envelope of an envelope stack and a take-off suction device arranged above the uppermost envelope of the stack for removing said uppermost envelope with operational accuracy, the improvement comprising a compensating support arrangement to assure that the uppermost envelope of the stack is substantially parallel to the stacking table when removed by the take-off suction device, said compensating support arrangement comprising:

• a base plate being supported by said stacking table;
• a bearing plate arranged at a distance above said base plate and having a support surface provided for support of the envelope stack, said support surface being arranged in substantially one plane;
• at least one spring element arranged between said base plate and said bearing plate for lifting the uppermost envelope into alignment with the suction device and
• means for holding and guiding the bearing plate in position relative to the base plate,
• said bearing plate being moveable between unloaded and loaded positions relative to said base plate, said bearing plate being substantially parallel to said base plate while occupying said unloaded position.