Abstract:
The invention concerns a machine for providing a sealed cover for documents comprising a document conveying table ( 18 ) with a general longitudinal shape, arranged upstream of a unit for inserting ( 20 ) said documents in an envelope ( 26 ), at least a contact member ( 40, 42 ) mobile longitudinally, under the action of driving means ( 76, 82, 84, 88 ) in the direction of the inserting unit and which is designed to drive the documents on the conveying table, the driving means being distant from the inserting unit. The invention is characterized in that said at least one contact member is arranged on a mobile support ( 44 ) linked to the driving means in a zone ( 44   b ) located upstream of said at least one contact member, the driving means imposing on said at least one contact member is reciprocating translational movement between two extreme positions, in one of said extreme positions said at least one contact member being placed proximate to the inserting unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The invention relates to a machine for inserting documents into an envelope, the machine including a generally elongate document routing table on the upstream side of an insertion unit for inserting said documents into an envelope, and at least one contact member that can be moved longitudinally by drive means remote from the insertion unit toward the insertion unit and is adapted to push the documents on the routing table. 
   In prior art machines of the above type for inserting documents into envelopes an envelope held open by a plurality of suckers disposed above it is disposed on the insertion unit, aligned with the routing table, in order to receive documents coming from the table. 
   The side of the envelope with the flap is placed on a table forming part of the insertion unit, with the flap directed downward and disposed under the routing table, and the other side of the envelope, with no flap, is placed above the first face and clings to the suckers so that the envelope can be opened. 
   SUMMARY 
   The Applicant has addressed the problem of inserting documents into an envelope and has found that, in some cases, the routing table can receive a stack of documents which, in the case of A4 sheets of paper, can be up to 8 mm thick. 
   The Applicant has also addressed the problem of inserting into an envelope documents having different formats. 
   With documents having different formats, the contact member(s) connected to the drive means must be able to push the documents to the far end of the envelope, and because of the relatively large volume and/or the varied formats of the documents, the flap of the envelope must be held as close as possible to the plane containing the side of the envelope to which the flap is attached. 
   To do this, the drive means are spaced from the insertion unit in order to form between them a space adapted to receive a solenoid, for example, whose function is to hold the flap as much as possible against the lower portion of the routing table. 
   The Applicant has developed an envelope filling machine of relatively simple design that allows for at least some of the constraints imposed by inserting into an envelope a relatively thick set of documents, possibly with varied formats. 
   The present invention therefore provides a machine for inserting documents into an envelope, the machine including a generally elongate document routing table on the upstream side of an insertion unit for inserting said documents into an envelope, and at least one contact member that can be moved longitudinally by drive means remote from the insertion unit toward the insertion unit and is adapted to push the documents on the routing table, which machine is characterized in that said at least one contact member is on a mobile support connected to the drive means in an area upstream of said at least one contact member and the drive means imposing on said at least one contact member and on the support a reciprocating movement in translation between two extreme positions in one of which said at least one contact member is in the vicinity of the insertion unit. 
   Thus the contact member(s) on a mobile support connected to the drive means are offset from those means and therefore have sufficient extension in the longitudinal direction to be placed in the vicinity of the insertion unit and thus to be able to push the documents on the routing table to the far end of the envelope. 
   Also, because the combination of the contact member(s) and the support reciprocates in longitudinal translation, it can be moved back to a so-called initial position once the documents are inserted into the envelope, without damaging the envelope, unlike a solution with one or more stops on a longitudinal belt running around two shafts parallel to the routing table and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the documents are fed. 
   In that kind of solution, the stop(s) would have to be sufficiently high to be able to push the documents to the far end of the envelope and would tear the envelope on beginning their downward movement to complete their travel by returning to the initial position. 
   To provide an envelope filling machine capable of pushing a relatively thick and therefore heavy set of documents and of resisting the forces that are generated in the event of a document jam on the routing table without damaging the machine, the drive means advantageously include an endless loop longitudinal transport member rotatably mounted around two parallel shafts perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the table and contained in a plane P under and parallel to the routing table and the support is connected to said drive means by a mechanism which reduces the mechanical forces exerted on the transport member by distributing those forces, in particular in the mechanism itself. 
   Thus the longitudinal transport member (for example a belt) cannot be damaged by shear forces, as would be the case if there were high stops on the belt. 
   When a thick set of documents is to be pushed, or if a document jam occurs on the routing table, the maximum forces are transmitted to the base of the stop(s), where they are mounted on the belt. 
   These forces cause shearing at this point and this would require relatively major maintenance operations, since it would be necessary to remove and replace the entire belt. 
   Note that the machine according to the invention is particularly advantageous in that documents are pushed at a constant speed. 
   This is very important because, if documents are stacked and the speed of the contact member(s) is not constant, the documents tend to slide relative to each other and this impedes their insertion into the envelope, with the possible risk of causing a document jam on the routing table. 
   According to one feature, the connecting mechanism converts rotation of the longitudinal transport member into longitudinal reciprocation in translation. This caters for prior art envelope filling machines, which frequently include a longitudinal transport member that rotates about two axes. 
   According to another feature, the connecting mechanism includes at least one pusher member perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of movement of the support for pushing the support and link means articulated about two link shafts that are parallel to the shafts of the transport member and one of which is fastened to the pusher member and disposed in the plane P and the other of which is fastened to the transport member. 
   According to one feature, the connecting mechanism includes means for holding the pusher member in a position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of movement of the support. 
   This achieves better distribution of the forces exerted on the mechanism and prevents those forces being concentrated at the link shaft connecting the pusher member to the link means. 
   To be more specific, the holding means include two bearings mounted on the pusher member, offset relative to each other in the longitudinal direction and respectively cooperating with two parallel longitudinal grooves disposed one above the other. This advantageous arrangement guides the pusher member and keeps it vertical. 
   According to one feature, the pusher member has a reduced section area in an upper portion in which the maximum forces are exerted. 
   The pusher member is intentionally weakened, constituting a kind of “mechanical fuse” that can be broken by an excessive force. 
   Accordingly, in the event of a break in this area, maintenance personnel need only change the pusher member, instead of having to remove and replace the longitudinal transport member, as in the solution referred to above. 
   Alternatively, the portion of the mechanism forming a mechanical fuse can be the link means, which are intentionally weakened. 
   According to another feature, the machine includes guide means for guiding longitudinal movement in translation of the support, which facilitates that movement. 
   To be more specific, the guide means include bearings cooperating with longitudinal members, for example angle-irons. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     Other features and advantages will become apparent in the course of the following description, which is given by way of nonlimiting example and refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section of a machine in accordance with the invention for filling envelopes; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic plan view of the portion of the envelope filling machine shown in  FIG. 1  containing contact members and a support in the form of a carriage; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view in cross section of the machine shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial diagrammatic view to a larger scale and in longitudinal section of the portion of the machine shown in  FIG. 1  containing contact members and a support in the form of a carriage; and 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are views of the machine shown in  FIG. 1  with the support carriage and the contact members in different positions. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     FIG. 1  is a partial diagrammatic view of a document processing machine, for example a machine for inserting documents into envelopes. 
   This kind of machine includes document dispensers, not shown, which dispense documents on a document feeder table  12 . 
   The documents on the feeder table pass between two pairs of rollers  14  and  16  before they are deposited on a routing table  18 . 
   The table  18  is of generally elongate shape in the direction in which documents on the table are routed, and extends from an end under the document feeder table  12  to an insertion unit  20  facing the opposite end of the table  18 . 
   Broadly speaking, the insertion unit  20  takes the form of a table  22  on legs  24   a  and  24   b.    
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , an envelope  26  coming from an envelope dispensing station known in the art, and not shown in the figures, is placed on the table  22  so that the side of the envelope  26   a  carrying the flap  26   b  is in contact with the table and the other side  26   c  with no flap is on top. 
   A sucker is provided at the end of each tube of a set of tubes, only one tube  28  and one sucker  30  being shown in the figure. The set of tubes is disposed above the routing table  18  and the table  22  so that the suckers can come into contact with the side  26   c  of the envelope and lift it, holding the envelope open and ready to receive documents. The upward and downward movements of the tubes are controlled in a manner that is known in the art by a solenoid  31 . 
   As is also known in the art, another solenoid  32  is located under the routing table  18  in line with the area which contains the flap  26   b  of the envelope and is placed under this table. 
   When the solenoid is activated ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ) its plunger presses the flap  26   b  of the envelope against the lower portion of the table  18  so that the flap is aligned with the side  26   a  of the envelope as much as possible. 
   This shapes the envelope so that its opening is as wide as possible and it can therefore receive as many documents as possible. 
   The documents  34  shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 1  consist of A4 and A5 sheets and sheets one third of the A4 size, for example, and form on the routing table  18  a stack of documents up to 8 mm thick. 
   The mobile end of a solenoid  36  is provided with one or more stops  38  which serve as an abutment for stopping the documents  34  before they reach the insertion unit  20 , if necessary. 
   In  FIG. 1 , the solenoid is activated and the stop  38  is positioned against the table  18 . 
   When the solenoid is deactivated, the stop  38  is raised to allow the documents to pass, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   The envelope filling machine according to the invention includes at least one contact member adapted to push the documents  34  on the routing table  18  toward the envelope  26  on the table  22  of the insertion unit  20 . 
   To be more specific, and as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , two contact members in the form of contact fingers  40  and  42  ( FIG. 2 ) are fitted into notches at an end  44   a  of a support  44  in the form of a carriage. 
   This support takes the form of a plate over the routing table  18 . 
   The support carriage is connected to drive means under the routing table  18 , upstream of the solenoid  32 , and therefore remote from the insertion unit  20 . 
   As shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 , the drive means, which are described later, move the support carriage equipped with the contact members  40  and  42  with a reciprocating movement in translation in the longitudinal direction of the routing table  18 , between two extreme positions, one of which is a rest position shown in  FIG. 1  and the other of which is shown in  FIG. 6  and is described later. 
   In this latter extreme position, the contact members  40  and  42  are in the vicinity of the insertion unit  20 . 
   The support carriage  44  and the contact members  40  and  42  are above the routing table  18  and during the reciprocating movement in translation of the combination of the support and the contact members, the contact members slide in two parallel longitudinal slots  46  and  48  in the table  18 . The slots are shown partly and diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 . 
   A document routing table with slots like these is known in the art. 
   Note that, to prevent mechanical friction, the support  44  is not in contact with the table  18 . 
   The envelope filling machine further includes means for guiding longitudinal movement in translation of the support carriage which also raise the support relative to the routing table  18 . 
   The guide means include two parallel support members  50  and  52  under the support carriage and perpendicular to the surface thereof. 
   The support members  50  and  52  are symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal axis XX′ of the support  44  and the routing table  18 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the support members  50  and  52  slide in longitudinal slots  53  and  55  in the routing table  18  parallel to the longitudinal slots  46  and  48  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Each support member includes two parallel shafts parallel to the support carriage and facing outward. 
   The shafts  54  and  56  (respectively  58  and  60 ) of the support member  50  (respectively  52 ) are provided at their free ends with respective bearings  62  and  64  (respectively  66  and  68 ). 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , parallel longitudinal guide members  70  and  72  in the form of angle-irons are provided under the routing table  18 . 
   The angle-irons have a generally elongate shape and an L-shaped cross section. 
   The two angle-irons face each other so that the inside of the L-shape of one angle-iron faces the inside of the L-shape of the other angle-iron and the angle-irons can cooperate with the respective bearings  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  of the respective support members  50  and  52 . 
   Locating the guide means as close as possible to the lateral edges  44   c  and  44   d  of the support carriage improves the guidance of the carriage when it moves in longitudinal translation on the table  18  and prevents transverse movements of the support. 
   Transverse movements could occur if the support carriage guide means were near the plane P  1  ( FIG. 3 ). 
   It should be noted that if high forces are generated, for example if there is a document jam on the routing table  18 , the guide means previously mentioned absorb some of the forces transmitted to the structure. 
   The mobile support carriage  44  is connected to the drive means by a connecting mechanism  74  in an area upstream of the contact members  40  and  42 , to be more precise in the vicinity of the end  44   b  of the support. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the drive means include an endless loop longitudinal transport member  76  running around two parallel shafts  78  and  80  lying a plane P parallel to and under the routing table  18 . 
   The shafts  78  and  80  are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction XX′ of the routing table. 
   The longitudinal transport member takes the form of a notched belt, for example, cooperating with pulleys  82  and  84  rotating about respective shafts  78  and  80 . 
   Note that the notched belt and pulleys can be replaced by a chain and sprocket system. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , rotation of the pulley  82  is driven by a shaft  83  and a belt  86  connected to a clutch  87  which is in turn connected to a motor  88  by a belt  89 . 
   Two blocks  90  and  92  support the shaft  83  of the pulley  82  and the shaft of the pulley  84 , which is not shown in the figures. 
   The shaft  83  of the pulley  82  passes through the blocks  90  and  92 , which are provided with respective bearings  94  and  96 . The blocks  90  and  92  lie one on each side of a pulley  98  on which the belt  86  is mounted; the belt is also mounted on another pulley  100  on an output shaft  102  of the clutch  87 . 
   The pulley  84  is an idler pulley and is not described further. 
   The connecting mechanism  74  converts rotation of the belt  76  into a reciprocating movement in longitudinal translation. The mechanism is supported by a frame  104  on a plinth  106  on which the blocks  90  and  92  are also disposed. 
   The mechanism  74  providing the mechanical connection between the drive means  76 ,  82 ,  84  and  88  and the support carriage  44  includes at least one support pusher member  110  perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of movement of said support. 
   In the embodiment shown in the figures, there is only one support pusher member. 
   It takes the form of a plate of generally elongate shape in a direction in a plane P  1  ( FIG. 3 ) containing the median longitudinal axis XX′ and constituting a plane of symmetry for the combination of the support  44  and the contact members  40  and  42 . 
   In the  FIG. 4  side view, the pusher member has a general shape similar to that of a bottle, comprising a body  110   a  at the upper end of which is a reduced section area constituting a neck  110   b  that is fastened to the support  44 . 
   The portion  110   b  forming the neck of the pusher member slides in a groove  112  in the routing table  18  ( FIG. 2 ) when the support  44  moves. 
   Thus the reduced section area  110   b  is mechanically weakened and constitutes a kind of mechanical fuse that breaks if maximum mechanical forces are exerted in this area. 
   Accordingly, maintenance personnel need only remove and replace the pusher member, instead of removing and replacing the whole of the belt  76 . 
   A support  114  mounted on the frame  104  helps to guide the movement of the pusher member  110  in longitudinal translation. 
   The longitudinal support  114  incorporates two parallel longitudinal housings located one above the other and each having an opening facing toward the pusher member  110 . 
   The open housings  116  and  118  constitute grooves adapted to receive respective bearings  120 ,  122  mounted on respective hubs  125 ,  127  fastened to the pusher member  110 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bearings  120  and  122  are offset relative to each other in the longitudinal direction XX′ to distribute the forces transmitted to the pusher member  110  and thereby to compensate a torsion force that would be exerted on that member if the bearings were disposed on the same vertical line. 
   Note that additional bearings could be added alongside at least one of the bearings  120 ,  122 , preferably alongside the bearing  120 , to improve the resistance of the pusher member to a torsion force. 
   The bearings mounted on the pusher member and respectively cooperating with the grooves  116  and  118  constitute means for holding the pusher member in a position perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support carriage  44 . 
   The mechanism  74  also includes link means  124  articulated about two link shafts parallel to the shafts  78  and  80 . 
   One shaft  126  connects the pusher member  110  to the link means  124  and remains at all times in the plane P containing the shafts  78  and  80 . 
   The other shaft  128  is fastened to the belt  76 . 
   In a different embodiment, the link means can be weakened instead of a portion of the pusher member  110 , and constitute a mechanical fuse for the connecting mechanism  74  as a whole. 
   The presence of the connecting mechanism  74  reduces the mechanical forces exerted on the transport member consisting of the belt by distributing those forces, in particular in the mechanism itself. 
   The forces appear if the support carriage  44  with the contact members  40  and  42  has to move heavy documents and also in the event of a document jam on the routing table  18 . 
   Because of the structure of the mechanism  74  shown in the figures, the forces that would otherwise be exerted on the belt in the absence of the mechanism, and which would therefore deform it, or even damage it, are distributed between the shafts  126  and  128 , the link means  124  and the guide means for the pusher member  110 . 
   It should be noted that in the absence of the bearings  120  and  122  that help to guide the pusher member, the mechanical forces exerted on that member would be exerted only on the link shaft  126 . 
   Because, in the connecting mechanism  74 , the link means are never perpendicular to the routing table  18  and the forces exerted by the belt  76  on the link means are only thrust or traction forces, the forces to which said belt is subjected are greatly reduced. 
   Because the weakened area  110   b  of the pusher member  110  is lower than a stop formed directly on the belt  76  would be, the torque transmitted to the pusher member is reduced compared to a solution with stops mounted directly on the belt. 
   Furthermore, in the event of a document jam, the pusher member  110  can, in some situations, be raised slightly and thereby transmit to the guide means of the support carriage some of the forces transmitted to it. 
   The guide means therefore also contribute to the distribution of mechanical forces as taught by the invention. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 , the support carriage  44  with the contact members  40  and  42  moves from a rest extreme position shown in  FIG. 1  to an intermediate position shown in  FIG. 5  in which said contact members come into contact with the documents  34  and push them in the downstream direction toward the insertion unit  20 . 
     FIG. 6  shows the support carriage  44  with the contact members  40  and  42  in another extreme position, in which they are virtually in contact with the table  22  of the insertion unit  20  and the contact members push the documents  34  all the way into the envelope  26 . 
   Note that the system according to the invention consisting of contact members mounted on the support  44  and the connecting mechanism  74  with the drive means imparts to the contact members sufficient extent for them to reach the opening of the envelope  26 , although the drive means are remote from the insertion unit and converts the rotation of the drive means  76 ,  82 ,  84 ,  88  into front to back reciprocation in translation between the extreme positions previously cited, to return the combination of the contact members and the support to the initial position shown in  FIG. 1  without damaging the envelope. 
   Without the mechanism  74  that converts the rotation of the drive means  76  into longitudinal front to back movement, the rotation of the contact members would tear the envelope.