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US 7,067,036 B2Granted
Active moistening system for mailing machine
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorDavid W. Beckstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for moistening an envelope flap includes a reservoir for holding a moistening fluid and an applicator mounted above the reservoir for applying the moistening fluid to the envelope flap. The moistening device also includes a fluid transfer member that is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis to transfer moistening fluid from the reservoir to the applicator while the transfer member rotates.
Claims11
A device for moistening an envelope flap comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a moistening fluid;
- an applicator including a first brush mounted above the reservoir for applying the moistening fluid to the envelope flap;
- and
- a fluid transfer member, mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis such that a portion of the fluid transfer member is submerged in the moistening fluid, the fluid transfer member including a substantially cylindrical hub portion and a plurality of generally annular fins extending radially outward from the hub portion, the plurality of fins include a first plurality of fins having a first diameter and terminated in a knife edge and a second plurality of fins interspersed with the fins of the first plurality and having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the plurality of fins being separated by a distance that is sufficiently small to allow moistening fluid to be held between the fins by surface tension of the fluid to raise the moistening fluid above a surface of the fluid in the reservoir as the transfer member is rotated, the fluid transfer member transferring moistening fluid from the reservoir to the applicator while the transfer member rotates.
1 more element
A mailing machine comprising:
- transport means for transporting an envelope along an envelope feed path;
- a reservoir positioned below the envelope feed path and holding a moistening fluid;
- means for replenishing the moistening fluid in the reservoir to maintain a substantially constant level of the moistening fluid in the reservoir;
- a first brush pivotally mounted along the envelope feed path for transferring moistening fluid to a flap of an envelope transported along the envelope feed path;
- a fluid transfer member associated with the reservoir, the fluid transfer member including a substantially cylindrical hub portion and a plurality of generally annular fins extending radially outwardly from the hub portion, the plurality of fins including a first plurality of fins having a first diameter and terminated in a knife edge and a second plurality of fins interspersed with the fins of the first plurality and having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, the plurality of fins being separated by a distance that is sufficiently small to allow moistening fluid to be held between the fins by surface tension of the fluid, the fluid transfer member being mounted such that at least a portion of the plurality of generally annular fins are submerged in the moistening fluid in the reservoir;
- drive means coupled to the fluid transfer member for rotationally driving the fluid transfer member;
- and
- control means operatively connected to the drive means for selecting a rotational rate at which the drive means rotationally drives the transfer member
- wherein:
- as the fluid transfer member rotates, the fluid transfer member raises moistening fluid above the substantially constant level of the moistening fluid in the reservoir to transfer the moistening fluid to the first brush;
- and
- the first brush pivots between an upper position in which the envelope flap is interposed between the first brush and the fluid transfer member and a lower position in which the first brush is combed by the fins of the fluid transfer member.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.