FR2739593A1 - FOLDING MACHINE FOR CARDS AND INSERTS - Google Patents

Abstract

A stuffing machine capable of recognising addressee references on inserts and cards and assembling them for mailing in an envelope. The machine comprises a stationary insert feed path (1) and a card feed path (2). The card feed path (2) is moved (X, Y) in a direction parallel and/or perpendicular to the insert feed path (1), so that a card can be placed in the desired position anywhere on the surface of an insert.

Description

The present invention is an enveloping machine allowing the recognition of the recipients' references written on the inserts and cards, carrying out their assembly and their shipment in an envelope.

We know a certain number of enveloping machines performing the recognition of inserts or documents to group them and send them in a single envelope.

In this patent, it is an envelope-filling machine, specialized in sending a letter called an insert and a card which can be either a bank card or an access card of a format always small and generally compliant with AFNOR standards for such cards. The big difference comes from the position of the card location on the insert; we have created this position on any surface of the insert, in order to meet the needs of the publicists who design the inserts and who are always looking for new positions on the map, for marketing purposes.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the card movement corridor moves in X and in Y either parallel, or perpendicularly, or parallel and perpendicular to the corridor for moving inserts which is fixed and integral with the whole machine.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the card movement corridor includes a sticker deposition station or double-sided sticky label for sticking the card on the insert, this sticker deposition station being integral with the movement corridor cards and characterized by a cam ensuring sufficient pressure to achieve an effective bonding and by a hot wire knife which cuts the adhesive tape.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the card movement corridor includes a card laying station on the insert, thanks to a cam controlling the movement of a part of the suction cups to grip the card and deposit it at the chosen location, and on the other hand a stamp pressing the card on the insert in order to bond the card.

Other characteristics will be defined by means of the exemplary embodiments given by way of non-limiting example for which: - Figure I is a plan view of the entire machine, - Figure 2 is a view in vertical projection of the station for placing a sticker on the insert, - Figure 3 is a sectional view of the station for laying the card on the insert, - Figure 4 is a sectional view of the folder folder with its card .

Figure I is a plan view of the enveloping machine according to the invention.

We find the fixed corridor I for moving the inserts, and the corridor 2 for moving the cards which moves in X and in Y either parallel or perpendicularly, or parallel and perpendicular to the corridor 1 for moving the inserts, so that the positions 11 for applying the sticker, 12 for placing the card, and 13 for controlling the positioning, all three integral with the corridor 2 in its movements, are located above the inserts at the desired location over the entire insert, the inserts being respectively located in their fixed waiting stations 6, 7 and 8 in corridor 1.

Inserts can either come from the listing and be cut by a cutter 3, or from separate sheets and be cut by a feeder 3.

The cards come from a storage bin 4, shown rotatable to allow the storage of a larger number of cards, but it could just as easily be linear.

Corridor 1 for moving the inserts comprises a station 5 for direct reading by camera and character recognition for reading the recipient's references (number, address, name, etc.) on the inserts, a station 6 for waiting inserts for the removal of the sticker, a station 7 for waiting for inserts provided with their sticker for depositing a card, a station 8 for controlling the positioning of the card on its insert.

Corridor 2 for moving the cards includes a station 9 for reading by character recognition for reading the recipient's references (number, address, name, etc.) written on the card, a station 91 for reading the magnetic stripe and / or of the chip fitted to the card, a station 10 for waiting for the card, a station 11 for placing a sticker on the insert situated above the waiting station 6, and a station 12 for depositing the card on the insert at the location of the sticker, located above the waiting station 7, and a station 13 for controlling the positioning of the card on the insert, located above the waiting station 8.

We then find a station 14 integral with the corridor I allowing the folding of the insert provided with its card, a station 15 for inserting the insert in the envelope coming from the envelope feeder 16, a station 17 for controlling thickness and weight of the envelope, a station 61 at the outlet of the machine allowing the writing of the address on the envelope by an inkjet printer.

The operation of this machine is as follows:
When the machine stops, the corridor 2 is moved in X and in Y so as to position the positions 11 for applying the sticker, 12 for placing the card, and 13 for positioning control respectively above the waiting stations 6 , 7, and 8 at the precise location chosen to stick the card among the total surface of the insert, this displacement can be achieved either by screws, or by sliding, or by any other means, these known devices being not patentable.

When the machine is running, the cutter or feeder 3 positions an insert on the corridor 1 of the inserts.

The character reading and recognition station 5, thanks to its camera, transmits to the computer 60 the recipient's references read on the insert (number, name, address, etc.).

Once read, the insert is moved to the waiting station 6.

As for the card, it leaves the storage station 4 to be placed on the corridor 2 for moving the cards.

It advances to station 9 for reading and character recognition equipped with a camera which reads and transmits to the computer 60 the recipient's references (number, name, address ...), continues to station 91 which reads the magnetic strip and / or the chip on the card and transmits the indications read to the computer 60, then arrives at the waiting station 10.

The reading stations 5, 9, 91 being all three connected to the computer 60, the latter performs the check of the concordance of the information relating to the recipients read from the card and the insert.

If the recipient's references match, the sticker fitting station 11 deposits the sticker on the insert at the waiting station 6, at the location chosen on the entire insert, then the insert with its sticker passes at the waiting station 7 in order to receive the card by the card laying station 12, the card coming from the waiting station 10. The document with its card goes to the waiting station 8 so that the control station 13 the correct positioning of the card on the insert performs this check, thanks to a height difference detection system between the insert and its card at the precise location of the bonding.

Once the card is stuck and the position has been checked, the insert goes to the folding station 14 to be folded to the size of the envelope, then to the document insertion station 15 in the envelope, the envelope coming from the feeder of envelopes 16. The glued envelope goes to the position 17 for controlling the weight and / or thickness of the envelope in order to control the presence of the glued card and to eject the non-conforming folds, then to the equipped station 61 an inkjet printer connected to the computer 60 making it possible to write the address of the recipient on the envelope.

The operation of the machine is described here step by step.

In reality, each time a document and / or a card is transferred from one station to another, the vacated station immediately receives another insert and / or another card, in order to obtain a particularly fast folding.

Of course, certain other control stations and ejecting inserts and / or cards 17 can be provided at various locations on the machine without departing from the scope of the invention.

In addition, certain items or feeders of documents not shown, can be added to the envelope-filling machine so that their documents, for example advertising, are inserted in the envelope with the insert and the card, without thereby leaving the part of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical projection view of the post 11 of sticker installation.

The sticker is a double-sided adhesive tape 50 with differentiated adhesive power, the sticky side being strongly bonded on the paper side, the sticky side weakly receiving the card, this adhesive tape being wound around a plastic protector 51 coming from a reel not shown. A triple cam 18 allows, when it is driven by the shaft 19, on the one hand to lower the arm 20 in contact with the document positioned on the waiting station 6 in order to stick the sticker on it, and on the other hand to rotate the arm 23 carrying an electric wire 24 placed perpendicularly and heated by resistance in order to cut the adhesive; in fact, the caster 21 of the arm 20 strongly presses the adhesive tape 50 on
The insert moving from back to front, (the plastic protector 51 being on the roller side, and the face with strong adhesive power being on the paper side) then lifts when the arm 23 moves and therefore that its electric wire 24 cuts the adhesive tape 50 without cutting its plastic protector 51 which is either wound on another reel or is evacuated directly.

The arm 23 is articulated on the support 20 by an axis 25 and is supported on the external path 27 of the cam 18 by the caster 26. The arm 20 goes up and down thanks to the double cam 28 and 29 integral with the cam 18, guided by roulette 22.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the post 12 for laying a card on the insert provided with its sticker.

We find a triple cam 30 driven by its axis 31 and having an external support path 37 on which the two arms 32 and 33 are supported, each pivoting about their respective axis 34 and 35 by means of springs not shown. These two arms 32 and 33 serve to hold the card before it is stuck on the insert positioned on the waiting station 7. The arm 36 goes up and down vertically, by the drive of the wheel 40 resting on the two cams 38 and 39 integral with the cam 30. The two vacuum suction cups 41 and 42 of the arm 36 suck the card during the descent of the arm 36 and hold it until the card contacts the insert, thus allowing very precise positioning of the card on the insert, the arm 36 being able to comprise a buffer 43 for pressing strongly on the card once it has been placed on the insert. (The fixed part supporting the different axes has not been shown).

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the folder of the insert with its card.

Conventional roller benders no longer suitable because of the impossibility of folding the card, it is a folder comprising three plates 45, 46, 47 provided with their deflector 48, 49, 50. Each plate and its deflector allows the realization of a fold up or down. Take for example the case of the plate 45. The insert is stopped very precisely by the rollers 51 and 52, the plate 45 and its deflector 48 being positioned downwards. When the plate 45 and its deflector 48 rise, the insert begins to be folded against the roller 53, the arm 55 pivots towards the plate 45,
Accompanying him in his horizontal ascent and thus participates in the folding of the insert.

The first fold produced is completely marked when it passes through the following rollers 53, 54.

According to the desired folds, in "Z" or "rolled", we will choose to use the combination of two trays among the three, the one not being chosen to make the fold remaining horizontal. If it is desired to make a single fold or no fold, it is sufficient that respectively two of the plates or the three plates remain horizontal.

Of course, it would be possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to bond the card to the corresponding insert and not to put them in an envelope in order to obtain a cheaper machine.

We could also fix the card on the insert through slots drilled diagonally, which currently exists, without departing from the scope of the invention.

We could also recognize the insert by reading a barcode, which would avoid character recognition.

Claims (8)

 1) Folding machine allowing the recognition of the recipients' references written on inserts and cards and carrying out their assembly for their shipment in an envelope, and comprising on the one hand a fixed corridor 1 for moving the inserts, and on the other hand share a corridor 2 for moving the cards, characterized in that the corridor 2 for moving the cards moves in X and Y either parallel, or perpendicularly, or parallel and perpendicular to the corridor 1 for moving the inserts, so as to be able to position the map over the entire surface of the insert, at the desired position. 2) Folding machine, according to the first claim, characterized in that the corridor 2 for moving the cards comprises a station 11 for applying a sticker, a station 12 for laying the card, and a station 13 for positioning control of the card on its insert, these three stations being integral with the corridor 2 in these displacements in X and in Y and being positioned above the corridor 1 of the inserts. 3) Folding machine, according to the first two claims, characterized in that the corridor 2 for moving the cards comprises a station 11 for installing the sticker equipped with a cam 18 ensuring on the one hand the bonding of the sticker on the insert via an arm 20 and its caster 21 and on the other hand cutting the sticker through the arm 23 and its electric wire 24 heated by a resistor which cuts the double-sided adhesive 50 without severing its plastic protector 51. 4) Folding machine, according to the first three claims, characterized in that the corridor 2 for moving the cards comprises a station 12 for laying cards performing the laying of the cards by means of a second cam 30 and its arm 36 controlling d 'firstly the movement of two vacuum cups 41 and 42 which position the card on the insert, and secondly a pad 43 pressing this card on the insert to ensure its bonding. 5) Folding machine, according to all of the preceding claims, characterized in that a folder comprises three plates 45, 46, 47, and their deflector 48, 49, 50, each plate and its deflector producing a fold either upwards or downwards, and the combination of the choice of using two of the three trays allowing the production of "Z" or "rolled" folds, if two or three trays remain horizontally, the folder performs respectively one or no fold. 6) Folding machine, according to all of the preceding claims, characterized in that the corridor 2 for moving the cards comprises a station 13 for checking correct positioning, of the card on the insert, performs this control by a height difference detection system between the insert and its card at the precise location of the bonding. 7) Folding machine, in accordance with all of the preceding claims, characterized in that a weight and / or thickness check is carried out at station 17 after folding, or after the envelope has been glued, to check for the presence of the glued card. 8) Folding machine, according to all of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inkjet printer 61 makes it possible to write the addresses on the envelopes leaving the machine.