Method for Collating Documents and Device for Carrying Out this Method

Abstract

A collating method, particularly for a continuous production line of mailing covers that makes it possible to simultaneously collate the documents to be folded and their envelope and fold them in order to obtain a mailing cover finished in a single pass. The method includes, during the collating step, that the documents ( 1 ) to be enclosed are stacked and then advanced at a predetermined pace (P). The envelope ( 2 ) is next stacked such that the envelope ( 2 ) at least partially covers the documents ( 1 ) and the envelope ( 2 ), which are offset and carried away at the predetermined pace (P) toward a folding area. The collating method is for use in production lines for mailing covers of the like.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method for collating documents ( 1 ,  2 ) comprising the steps of delivering the documents;
 collating the documents by stacking and aligning the documents along at least one edge;   evacuating the stacked documents;
 the collating step including, at least one first type of document ( 1 ) is stacked, the first type of document ( 1 ) is advanced for a predetermined distance (P), at least one second type of document ( 2 ) is stacked, partially covering the first type of document ( 1 ); and 
 the evacuation step including, a combination formed by the first and the second types of document ( 1 ,  2 ) stacked and displaced for the predetermined distance (P) is evacuated. 
   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of folding the combination of the documents ( 1 ,  2 ), following the evacuation step, to form a rolled unit such that one of the documents ( 2 ) is outside the rolled unit and creates an envelope surrounding the other type of document ( 1 ). 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of designing the second type of documents to be outside the rolled unit and constitute an open envelope ( 2 ) and designing the first type of document to be inside the rolled unit and constitute the documents ( 1 ) contained within the envelope ( 2 ). 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of designing the second type of document ( 2 ) to be shorter in length than the first type of document ( 1 ). 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of basing parameters of the predetermined distance (P) on a length of the documents ( 1 ,  2 ) to be collated. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of setting the predetermined distance (P) to be essentially equal to one-third a length of the first type of document ( 1 ). 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of moving the documents and the envelopes, during the delivery step, along one after another in a continuous process such that each envelope follows a corresponding document, with the combination of the envelope and the corresponding document forming the rolled unit. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising the step of aligning each envelope ( 2 ) to follow a number (n) of the documents ( 1 ) destined to be contained in the envelope ( 2 ). 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of detecting the documents ( 1 ) corresponding to the first type and the documents ( 2 ) corresponding to the second type prior to the collating step and regulating at least the collating step by a control unit on a basis of data detected. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of integrating the method with a more general method of producing mailing covers according to a continuous procedure from a width of one of blank material and printed material culminating in closed mailing covers. 
   
   
       25 . A device ( 10 ) for collating documents ( 1 ,  2 ) comprising at least two superimposed, parallel and adjacent conveyors ( 11 ,  12 ) defining a trajectory (T) allowing documents ( 1 ,  2 ) to circulate between a delivery zone and an evacuation zone, and at least one alignment stop ( 15 ) interposed on the trajectory (T) to form a zone for collating documents ( 1 ,  2 ), the alignment stop ( 15 ) being connected to a drive means, at least one control unit regulating at least the means for driving the alignment stop ( 15 ) so as to advance at least one first type of document ( 1 ) for a predetermined distance (P) before at least one second type of document ( 2 ) is stacked to at least partially cover the first type of document ( 1 ) and evacuating a combination formed by the first and the second types of document ( 1 ,  2 ) stacked and displaced for a predetermined distance (P), the control unit being governed by a detector which identifies the first and the second types of document ( 1 ,  2 ). 
   
   
       26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the alignment stop ( 15 ) comprises at least one pair of driving guide wheels ( 16 ) in contact with a generatrix located in the trajectory (T) of the first and the second types of documents ( 1 ,  2 ). 
   
   
       27 . The device according to  claim 25 , further comprising, in the collating zone, at least one deflector ( 17 ) for displacing the first and the second types of documents ( 1 ,  2 ) one of upwardly and downwardly relative to the trajectory (T) defined by the conveyors ( 11 ,  12 ) so as to stack the documents ( 1 ,  2 ) collated one of above and below. 
   
   
       28 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the device is integrated into a production line for continuous production of mailing covers from a width of one of blank and printed material culminating in closed mailing covers.