Inserter and method for inserting postal items into envelopes

Abstract

An inserter has a motor ( 37 ), a drive line between the motor ( 37 ) and a path for transporting envelopes or postal items and a coupling in the drive line, a coupling control mechanism ( 48, 59, 76 ) connected for engaging a control member ( 47; 58 ) of the coupling; and an at least two-way selector transmission ( 74, 75, 77, 78 ) for driving the drive line if the selector transmission ( 74, 75, 77, 78 ) is in a first operating condition and for driving the coupling control mechanism ( 48, 59, 76 ) for operating the coupling if the selector transmission ( 74, 75, 77, 78 ) is in a second operating condition.

1 . An inserter comprising: 
 an envelope transport path for transporting envelopes one by one from an envelope start position to an inserting position;    a postal item transport path for transporting postal items one by one from a postal item start position to the inserting position until at least one of the transported postal item is inserted in the envelope;    an exit for transporting the envelope with the at least one inserted postal item therein from the inserting position;    a motor;    at least one drive line between the motor and at least one of the paths for driving transport along that at least one of the paths;    at least one coupling included in the at least one drive line;    a coupling control mechanism connected for engaging a control member of the coupling; and    an at least two-way selector transmission for driving the at least one drive line if the selector transmission is in a first operating condition and for driving the coupling control mechanism for operating the at least one coupling if the selector transmission is in a second operating condition.    
   
   
       2 . An inserter system according to  claim 1 , wherein the selector transmission is arranged for driving the drive line in response to being driven in a first sense of rotation and for driving the coupling control mechanism in response to being driven in a second sense of rotation opposite to said first sense of rotation.  
   
   
       3 . An inserter according to  claim 2 , wherein the selector transmission comprises a first one-way clutch via which the drive line is coupled to the motor, the first one-way clutch being mounted for driving in response to rotation of the motor in the first sense of rotation and a second one-way clutch via which the coupling control mechanism is coupled to the motor, the second one-way clutch being mounted for driving in response to rotation of the motor in the second sense of rotation.  
   
   
       4 . An inserter according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling control mechanism includes at least one cam having a cam surface arranged for engaging a control member of the at least one coupling.  
   
   
       5 . An inserter according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one cam is a curve disk.  
   
   
       6 . An inserter according to  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of cams are provided.  
   
   
       7 . An inserter according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the cams engages an envelope flap closing control member.  
   
   
       8 . An inserter according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the cams engages a carrier control member for selectively moving a transport roller between a transport position for transporting a postal item or an envelope and a retracted position.  
   
   
       9 . An inserter according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is adapted for selectively coupling the motor to the drive line or at least one of the drive lines and uncoupling the motor from the drive line or at least one of the drive lines.  
   
   
       10 . An inserter according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is a reversing coupling.  
   
   
       11 . A method for inserting postal items into envelopes using an inserter for inserting postal items into envelopes, comprising, for each envelope: 
 transporting the envelope from an envelope start position to an inserting position;    transporting at least one of the postal items from a postal item start position to the inserting position until the at least one postal item is inserted in the envelope; and    transporting the envelope from the inserting position;    wherein the transportation is driven by a motor via at least one coupling;    wherein the coupling or at least one of the couplings is operated for controlling transportation driven by said motor; and    wherein the operation of controlling said coupling is driven by said motor.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the transporting of the envelopes and of the postal items is driven in response to the motor rotating in a first sense of rotation and wherein the operation of controlling said coupling is driven in response to the motor rotating in a second sense of rotation opposite to said first sense of rotation.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the coupling and uncoupling is operated by driving movement of a cam engaging a control member of a coupling.