Feed module including an envelope closure device that retains water

Abstract

A feed module for feeding envelopes into a mail handling machine, which feed module comprises envelope conveyor means for conveying said envelopes through the feed module, separator means for selecting said envelopes one-by-one, moistener means for moistening a flap of the envelope selected in this way, and closure means for pressing the envelope closed and for ejecting it from the feed module, said closure means comprising two superposed extractor rollers, each of which has a respective ribbed portion that is made of a hydrophobic material and that extends over a width corresponding to at least the width of a print zone in which the postal imprint is to be printed.

1 . A feed module for feeding envelopes into a mail handling machine, which feed module comprises envelope conveyor means for conveying said envelopes through the feed module, separator means for selecting said envelopes one-by-one, moistener means for moistening a flap of the envelope selected in this way, and closure means for pressing the envelope closed and for ejecting it from the feed module, wherein said closure means comprise two superposed extractor rollers, each of which has a respective ribbed portion that is made of a hydrophobic material and that extends over a width corresponding to at least the width of a print zone in which the postal imprint is to be printed. 
   
   
       2 . A feed module according to  claim 1 , wherein said ribs on said top extractor roller and said ribs on said bottom extractor roller are offset such that no contact can exist between them while said envelope is being closed. 
   
   
       3 . A feed module according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said extractor rollers has a ribbed portion over a length greater than the width of said flap. 
   
   
       4 . A feed module according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic material is chosen from among the following materials: polyoxymethylene, expanded polystyrene, Teflon®, and Versilic® silicone. 
   
   
       5 . A feed module according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said extractor rollers further has a smooth remaining portion made of a material having a high coefficient of friction in order to convey the envelopes properly. 
   
   
       6 . A feed module according to  claim 5 , wherein said ribbed portion and said smooth portion are mounted to rotate about a common axis of rotation. 
   
   
       7 . A feed module according to  claim 5 , wherein, disposed at least under said ribbed portion of said bottom extractor roller, it further comprises a squeegee for removing surplus water to a drainage channel in order to recycle said surplus water. 
   
   
       8 . A feed module according to  claim 7 , wherein said drainage channel is also extended under said smooth portion of said bottom extractor roller. 
   
   
       9 . A feed module according to  claim 1 , wherein said extractor rollers are connected mechanically to said envelope conveyor means via a movement transmission mechanism. 
   
   
       10 . A mail handling machine including an envelope feed module according to  claim 1 .