Patent ID: 8109063
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: B43M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An envelope sealing apparatus for sealing an envelope having a main body and a sealable flap at one end of the main body foldable about a hinge between the flap and main body, the flap being sealable to said main body under applied pressure when folded about said hinge into contact with the main body, the apparatus comprising: A. a feed path along which an envelope can be fed; B. driving means associated with said feed path for, at least in part, feeding an envelope along said feed path; C. flap securing means cooperative with said driving means to secure an open envelope flap in contact with the driving means; and D. flap sealing means cooperative with said driving means to seal the flap to the main body when the driving means drives the envelope in a flap sealing direction along the feed path, wherein said driving means is movable from a flap securing position to a flap sealing position, the driving means being operable: I. to secure an open envelope flap in contact therewith cooperatively with said flap securing means while in the flap securing position; II. to move from the flap securing position to the flap sealing position with the flap secured in contact therewith, so as to at least partially fold the flap about the hinge; and III. thereafter to drive the envelope in the flap sealing direction along the feed path, so as to seal the flap to the main body by applying pressure cooperatively with said flap sealing means while in the flap sealing position, wherein the size of the sealing apparatus is reduced by integrating the driving means with the flap securing and sealing means.