Automatic envelope feeder device for a document enveloping works

Abstract

An automatic envelope feeder device adapted to feed a plurality of document enveloping machines is shown wherein the device includes a conveyor for conveying the envelopes to the plurality of enveloping machines and a centralized station for loading the envelopes onto the conveyor.

1 . An automatic envelope feeder device adapted to feed a plurality of document enveloping machines, comprising: 
 a conveyor for conveying the envelopes to the plurality of enveloping machines; and    a centralized station for loading the envelopes onto the conveyor.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one area for unloading envelopes from the conveyor for the purpose of feeding the plurality of enveloping machines, the centralized loading station being situated away from said at least one unloading area.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor is an overhead conveyor.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the conveyor for conveying the envelopes is suspended from a wall of a premises in which the enveloping machines are installed.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the centralized loading station comprises one or more units for loading envelopes onto the conveyor.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a station for unloading envelopes from the conveyor for the purpose of feeding each of the enveloping machines.    
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises devices for holding the envelopes onto the conveyor.  
     
     
         8 . The device according  claim 7 , wherein the devices for holding the envelopes onto the conveyor are hinged pincers.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein each pincer comprises a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw provided with an external operating lever the movement of which controls the opening/closing movement of said jaw.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 at the centralized loading station and at each of the unloading stations of the conveyor, a movable actuating device which is adapted to occupy two positions, a first (A), referred to as a rest position, and a second (B), referred to as an active position, in which the actuating device is placed on the trajectory followed by the external operating levers for actuation of the moveable jaws of the pincers in order to cause the movement of said members.    
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance of the envelopes to the plurality of the enveloping machines is performed according to the needs of the machines for envelopes.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a system of flow management for the envelopes on the conveyor.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the system for envelope flow management on the conveyor is adapted to manage the flow of the envelopes at the centralized loading station and at the unloading stations according to the needs of the enveloping machines for envelopes.  
     
     
         14 . An enveloping system for documents comprising a plurality of enveloping machines each comprising at least one envelope feeder and which are installed in a document enveloping works, characterized in that the system comprises an automatic envelope feeder device which comprises: 
 a conveyor for conveying the envelopes to the plurality of enveloping machines, and    a centralized station for loading the envelopes onto the conveyor.    
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the centralized loading station is situated away from the enveloping machines.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the centralized loading station is installed in a different premises from the premises of the enveloping works.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the enveloping works being set up over several levels, the centralized loading station is installed at a different level from that at which the enveloping machines are installed.