US 5,819,666 AGranted

Mailing system controlled by the computer software

AssigneePrinserter Corporation

InventorsYuji Ishikawa, Heinz Schmitz

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Abstract

The printing and post-processing system according to the invention provides as a compact integration unit a computer unit (10) for commanding with programs each component of the system for selective and controllable operation, a printer unit (12) selectively operable with program to print the sheet to be mailed, a folding unit (16) for folding the sheet with different folding modes including wrap and Z form foldings, a conveyor unit (18) for conveying the folded sheet with a selectively added enclosure to the enveloping or storing position, an envelope tray unit (20) for stacking a plurality of envelopes and discharging the same by piece, an insertion unit (22) for meeting the envelope with the folded sheet for subsequent insertion thereinto, a sealing unit (24) for sealing a flap of the envelope, a receiver unit (26) for receiving and storing the sealed envelopes therein, an enclosure supplying unit (28) for selectively supplying an enclosure to the conveyor unit.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A mailing system which performs selectively several operations under the control of a computer with software programs by previously inputting commands and parameters to the system, which comprises:

a computer unit for instructing and controlling the system as a whole;
a printer associated through a controller unit with the computer unit for selectively printing a sheet to be mailed;
a transfer unit connected to the printer and a manual tray for transferring the sheet to a folding station by the software instructions and under actuation with a first sensing means;
a folding unit connected in series to the transfer unit for accumulating, folding and feeding the sheet by the programmed instructions and under actuation with a second sensing means;
a conveyor unit arranged in association with the folding unit for conveying the folded sheet with a selectively added enclosure to an insertion station;
an enclosure supplying unit associated with the conveyor unit for selectively supplying an enclosure to the conveyor unit for addition to the sheet by the programmed instructions and under actuation with a third sensing means;
an envelope tray means associated with the conveyor unit for stacking a plurality of empty envelopes and feeding the same by piece with means for engaging with and turning over a flap of the envelope while leaving the tray;
an insertion unit arranged between the conveyer unit and the envelope tray means for inserting the sheet into the envelope and subsequently transferring the enclosed envelope to a sealing station;
a sealing unit associated with the insertion unit for closing and sealing the flap;
and
a receiver unit disposed in abutment with the sealing unit and in association with the enclosure feeding unit for receiving and storing the sealed envelopes.

8 more elements

A mailing system comprising:

a first means for inputting data and commands necessary to control and operate the system;
a second means for receiving the data from the first means for identification and sending the commands to the system for control;
a third means for receiving the data from the second means to control a printing operation of the printer and to output an information including an operation state of the printer;
a fourth means for receiving the data from the second means to control the folding, transferring and inserting operations of the sheet and also the sealing and depositing operations of the envelope and then output an information including operational states in respective steps;
a fifth means contained in the first means for receiving the data from the third and fourth means to monitor the printing operation and output an information including an operational status of the system;
a sixth means contained in the first means for receiving the data from the fifth means to display;
and
a seventh means contained in the first means for receiving the data from the sixth means to select an operation mode of the system for a printing mode, an inserting mode or a printing and inserting mode and to send a selection signal to the second means.

5 more elements

A method of controlling a mailing system comprising the steps of:

selecting one of three operation modes of printing, inserting and printing with inserting, processing in case the printing mode is selected the data in the printer for printing on the sheet with selection to continue or discontinue or divert the printing operations;
manually inserting in case the inserting mode is selected by software the sheet into a manual tray for preparation of transferring the sheet to the folding unit, predetermining a desired number of sheet to be enclosed in an envelope, displaying a warning notice when an admissible volume of the sheet to be enclosed in the envelope is exceeded;
selecting a mode of the folding into a wrap fold mode when an enclosure is desired to be enclosed with the sheet, verifying one piece of the sheet to be folded in the wrap mode, sending a warning notice when more than one piece of the sheet entails and folding the sheet and feeding the same with the enclosure into the receiver unit;
selecting a Z-fold mode by software when an insertion of the sheet into the envelope is desired, transferring the sheet to an accumulation means, taking the sheet out of the accumulation means, folding with rollers and subsequently transferring the folded sheet to the insertion means, inserting the sheet into the envelope, feeding the inserted envelope to the sealing means by wetting a gummed flap of the envelope, closing and sealing the flap of the envelope, and feeding the sealed envelope to the receiver unit;
setting in case the printing with inserting mode is selected a desired number of sheet to be printed and inserted into the envelope, setting the printer to transfer the printed sheet to the accumulator, accumulating the sheets to be folded, folding the sheet with rolls and transferring the folded sheets to the insertion means;
selecting a wrap fold mode when an enclosure is desired to be inserted, verifying presence of a piece of the sheet to be folded in the wrap mode, sending a warning notice to the computer when the sheet in the wrap mode exceeds over one limited piece and folding the sheet and feeding the same with the enclosure to the receiving unit;
selecting a Z-fold mode when an insertion into an envelope is not desired, accumulating the sheet in the accumulator, taking the sheet out of the accumulating means, folding the sheet with rolls, conveying the folded sheet to the insertion means, inserting the sheet into the envelope, feeding the enclosed envelope to the sealing means by wetting a gummed flap of the envelope, closing and sealing the flap of the envelope and feeding the sealed envelope to the receiving unit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.