Selector device for selecting envelope flaps with a view to moistening them

Abstract

A device for separating flaps in a feeder of a mail handling machine, said device comprising blower means disposed under a conveyor table for conveying the mail items through the feeder, which blower means generate a flow of air directed towards the inside of the flap, and said conveyor table for conveying the mail items is spaced apart from a referencing wall by a distance D equal to at least the largest width of flap to be stuck down by a moistener device of the feeder, and over a length L equal to at least the largest length of flap to be stuck down by said moistener device.

1 . A method of separating flaps in a feeder of a mail handling machine, in which method the flap of an envelope is separated from the body of the envelope by totally releasing the flap from the body of the envelope and by pressing the flap released in this way against a vertical referencing wall of the feeder by means of a flow of air directed towards the inside of the flap. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said total release of the flap is obtained by making provision for a conveyor table for conveying the mail items through the feeder to be spaced apart from said referencing wall by a distance D equal to at least the largest width of flap to be stuck down by a moistener device of the feeder, and over a length L equal to at least the largest length of flap to be stuck down by said moistener device. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said distance D lies in the range 50 mm to 100 mm. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said length L lies in the range 230 mm to 334 mm. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said flow of air is generated by blower means disposed under said conveyor table for conveying the mail items. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said vertical referencing wall is provided with a stationary deflector for co-operating with a moistener body having a complementary shape to fold the flap in from a vertical position obtained by said blower means to an inclined position suitable for enabling said flap to be moistened by said moistener device. 
   
   
       7 . A device for separating flaps in a feeder of a mail handling machine, said device comprising blower means disposed under a conveyor table for conveying the mail items through the feeder, which blower means generate a flow of air directed towards the inside of the flap, and said conveyor table for conveying the mail items is spaced apart from a referencing wall by a distance D equal to at least the largest width of flap to be stuck down by a moistener device of the feeder, and over a length L equal to at least the largest length of flap to be stuck down by said moistener device. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein said blower means comprise at least one turbine for blowing ambient air through an air dispenser duct, an outlet opening of said duct having a flattened profile that is substantially triangular and that is adapted to delivering a glancing flow of air under the body of the envelope. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein said vertical referencing wall is provided with a stationary deflector for co-operating with a moistener body having a complementary shape to fold the flap in from a vertical position obtained by said blower means to an inclined position suitable for enabling said flap to be moistened by said moistener device. 
   
   
       10 . A feeder module for feeding mail items into a mail handling machine, which feeder includes an envelope flap separator device according to  claim 7 .