Envelope sealing device for a mailing machine

An envelope sealing device comprising:

• an upper roller having an outer diameter that varies along a longitudinal axis of the upper roller to form radial rings and radial grooves;
• an upper shaft on which the upper roller is mounted;
• a lower roller positioned relative to the upper roller such that the upper and lower rollers form an envelope sealing nip, the lower roller having an outer diameter that varies along a longitudinal axis of the lower roller to form radial rings and radial grooves, a portion of the radial rings of the lower roller coinciding in an axial direction with respective grooves of the upper roller;
• a lower shaft on which the lower roller is mounted;
• and
• means associated with the lower shaft for adjusting an orientation of the lower shaft to match an orientation of the upper shaft.

A device for processing envelopes, comprising:

• a base;
• feed means mounted on the base for feeding envelopes along a feed path, the feed means including:
• an endless belt having a lower belt run that is adapted to contact and propel the envelopes along the feed path;
• a plurality of pressure rollers biased to contact a lower surface of the lower belt run;
• and
• a plurality of backup rollers in contact with an upper surface of the lower belt run;
• an upper sealer roller mounted on a common shaft with one of the backup rollers for rotation with the one of the backup rollers;
• a lower sealer roller positioned relative to the upper sealer roller such that the upper and lower sealer rollers form an envelope sealing nip;
• a lower shaft on which the lower sealer roller is mounted;
• and
• means associated with the lower shaft for adjusting an orientation of the lower shaft to match an orientation of the common shaft.

A device for processing envelopes, comprising:

• a base;
• feed means mounted on the base for feeding envelopes along a feed path adjacent a registration wall, the feed means including:
• an endless belt having a lower belt run that is adapted to contact and propel the envelopes along the feed path;
• a plurality of pressure rollers biased to contact a lower surface of the lower belt run;
• and
• a plurality of backup rollers in contact with an upper surface of the lower belt run;
• an upper sealer roller mounted on a common shaft with one of the backup rollers for rotation with the one of the backup rollers;
• a support shaft extending substantially horizontally from the registration wall toward the feed means;
• a ski pivotally mounted on the support shaft and having two arms extending upwardly substantially in parallel to each other, each of the arms having a respective slot formed therein, each of the slots having a generally vertical course;
• an idler shaft having a first end received in one of the slots and a second end received in the other of the slots;
• a lower sealer roller mounted on the idler shaft and in contact with the upper sealer roller;
• a first torsion spring installed on the support shaft adjacent one of the arms and in contact with the first end of the idler shaft to bias the first end in an upward direction;
• and
• a second torsion spring installed on the support shaft adjacent the other of the arms and in contact with the second end of the idler shaft to bias the second end in an upward direction.