Apparatus and method for inserting one or more goods into a moveable cover

An apparatus for inserting one or more goods into an envelope, comprising:

• a goods conveyor that moves the one or more goods with a first velocity;
• at least one filling aid including a pair of filing fingers;
• and
• an envelope conveyor that moves the envelope with a second velocity, the second velocity being different from the first velocity, wherein
• the pair of filling fingers guide the one or more goods to be inserted into an opening of the envelope while avoiding collisions between side edges of the goods and side edges of the envelope and without moving the envelope,
• a distance between the pair of filling fingers is dependent on the goods to be inserted and not dependent on a lateral dimension of the envelope,
• the envelope conveyor moves the envelope in the goods transport direction with the opening of the envelope extending perpendicular to the envelope transport direction,
• the goods conveyor and the envelope conveyor move the one or more goods and the envelope continuously,
• the apparatus comprises an additional envelope conveyor that transports the envelope, after the envelope has been filled, with a velocity higher than the envelope conveyor, higher than a velocity of the at least one filling aid and/or higher than a velocity of the goods transport,
• the envelope conveyor, the goods conveyor, and the at least one filling aid are each driven independently from one another using individual driving and velocity curves,
• the envelope comprises a first side comprising an envelope flap, and a second side being opposite to the side comprising the envelope flap, and
• the envelope conveyor comprises an envelope protector causing the one or more goods to move over the flap of the envelope which is adjacent to the envelope protector.

A method for inserting one or more goods into an envelope, comprising:

• moving the one or more goods with a first velocity;
• moving a filling aid including a pair of filing fingers;
• and
• moving, by an envelope conveyor, the envelope with a second velocity which is different from the first velocity, wherein
• the pair of filling fingers guide the one or more goods to be inserted into an opening of the envelope while avoiding collisions between side edges of the goods and side edges of the envelope and without moving the envelope,
• a distance between the pair of filling fingers is dependent on the goods to be inserted and not dependent on a lateral dimension of the envelope,
• the envelope is moved in the goods transport direction with the opening of the envelope extending perpendicular to the envelope transport direction,
• the one or more goods and the envelope are moved continuously,
• the envelope, the one or more goods, and the at least one filling aid are each moved independently from one another using individual driving and velocity curves,
• the envelope comprises a first side comprising an envelope flap, and a second side being opposite to the side comprising the envelope flap, and
• the envelope conveyor comprises an envelope protector causing the one or more goods to move over the flap of the envelope which is adjacent to the envelope protector.

A method for inserting one or more goods into an envelope, comprising:

• moving the one or more goods with a first velocity;
• moving a filling aid including a pair of filing fingers;
• moving, by an envelope conveyor, the envelope with a second velocity, the second velocity being different from the first velocity, wherein the envelope is moved in the goods transport direction with an opening of the envelope extending perpendicular to the envelope transport direction, and wherein the one or more goods and the envelope are moved continuously;
• and
• drawing the envelope, after the envelope has been filled, off the filing aid by transporting the filled envelope with a velocity higher than a velocity of the filling aid;
• wherein
• the pair of filling fingers guide the one or more goods to be inserted into the opening of the envelope while avoiding collisions between side edges of the goods and side edges of the envelope and without moving the envelope,
• a distance between the pair of filling fingers is dependent on the goods to be inserted and not dependent on a lateral dimension of the envelope,
• the envelope, the one or more goods, and the at least one filling aid are each moved independently from one another using individual driving and velocity curves,
• the envelope comprises a first side comprising an envelope flap, and a second side being opposite to the side comprising the envelope flap, and
• the envelope conveyor comprises an envelope protector causing the one or more goods to move over the flap of the envelope which is adjacent to the envelope protector.