Patent ID: 8122845
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: B43M

Abstract:
1. An envelope flap moistener comprising: a housing and support frame; a moisture transfer member for transferring liquid adhering thereto to a flap of an envelope, said moisture transfer member having a plurality of moistening portions and a moistening portion holder for holding said plurality of moistening portions; a support for supporting an envelope in a flap moistening position with a flap of the envelope in contact with a contact surface of the moisture transfer member; a liquid reservoir communicating with the moisture transfer member for feeding liquid to the moisture transfer member; and an encapsulation containing the moisture transfer member; the encapsulation having a cap suspended movably relative to said housing and support frame between a closed position and an open position; and the encapsulation encapsulating at least a portion of the moisture transfer member including the contact surface from all sides when the cap is in the closed position and leaving the contact surface of the moisture transfer member exposed for allowing the contact surface to contact an envelope flap when the cap is in the open position, wherein the moisture transfer member including said plurality of moistening portions and said moistening portion holder is movable relative to said housing and support frame between a moistening position projecting to an envelope flap position for moistening an envelope flap and a retracted position retracted relative the moistening position, and wherein the cap is coupled to the moisture transfer member including said plurality of moistening portions and said moistening portion holder so that the cap moves to the open position when the moisture transfer member including said plurality of moistening portions and said moistening portion holder moves to the moistening position and the cap moves to the closed position when the moisture transfer member including said plurality of moistening portions and said moistening portion holder moves to the retracted position; wherein the envelope flap moistener further comprises: