Patent ID: 8201387

Claim:
A method for automatically inserting at least one small item, to be transmitted via a mailing service, into an envelope via a device comprising: a storage bin for storing envelopes; an envelope feeding mechanism for successively feeding individual envelopes from the storage bin to a control drum with a periphery of the control drum having at least a vacuum portion, with the control drum being rotatably driven; an item feeding mechanism for sequentially moving at least one item, to be inserted, toward an envelope being conveyed from the storage bin toward an introduction zone by the vacuum portion of the control drum with a closing flap of the envelope being maintained in an opened position to facilitate insertion of at least one item into the envelope; an item inserting mechanism for inserting at least one of the items into the envelope being conveyed by the control drum, and the item inserting mechanism comprising at least one guide, located adjacent the control drum and in the introduction zone, for guiding the at least one item into the opened envelope, and at least one scraper located adjacent and contacting an exterior surface of said control drum, for facilitating detachment of the envelope from the vacuum portion of the control drum; and a discharge mechanism for removing the envelope from the introduction zone once the at least one item is inserted into the envelope conveyed by the control drum, said method comprising the steps of: storing the envelopes such that the closing flap of each individual envelope is in a folded closed position with the closing flap directly abutting a back surface of the envelope and adjacent the control drum, unfolding said closing flap by generating at least one stream of air, which is supplied by a rotary cam and directed at the closing flap, to convey the closing flap from the folded closed position into the opened position, moving said closing flap into contact with an exterior surface of the control drum, drawing said closing flap against said exterior surface of the control drum by suction via the vacuum portion of the control drum, scraping the exterior surface of said control drum with at least one scraper such that, as the control drum rotates, the at least one scraper is introduced between the envelope and the exterior surface of the control drum and the envelope is detached from the control drum, further opening the envelope to facilitate insertion of the at least one item, introducing the at least one item into said opened envelope, and discharging the envelope ( 15 ) once the at least one item is inserted into the envelope ( 15 ).