Suction belt

Abstract

A suction belt for conveying an object, includes a first area configured to allow applying a suction force to at least a part of an object; and a second area which is arranged adjacent to the first area, wherein a thickness of the suction belt changes at a transition from the first area to the second area.

1 . A suction belt for conveying an envelope comprising an envelope front side, an envelope back side and an envelope flap at the envelope front side, the suction belt comprising:
 a first area configured to allow applying a suction force to at least a part of the envelope; and   a second area which is arranged adjacent to the first area,   wherein a thickness of the suction belt changes at a transition from the first area to the second area, and   wherein the envelope is arranged on the suction belt such that its envelope flap is arranged on the first area adjacent to the second area, so that during a filling process one or more goods to be inserted into the envelope pass the second area without colliding with the envelope flap.   
     
     
         2 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , comprising a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side of the first area is at least partially below the top side of the second area. 
     
     
         3 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , wherein the second area comprises a first, upwardly rising partial part, a second, horizontal partial part and a third, vertical partial part. 
     
     
         4 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , wherein the second area comprises a first, upwardly rising partial part and a second, vertical partial part. 
     
     
         5 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , wherein the first area comprises one or more openings extending from a bottom side of the suction belt to a top side of the suction belt, wherein a suction force can be applied through the one or more openings to the envelope arranged on the first area. 
     
     
         6 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , wherein at least two first areas and at least two second areas are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction of the suction belt. 
     
     
         7 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , wherein the envelope is moved during the filling process, or wherein the envelope is stopped during the filling process. 
     
     
         8 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , wherein the transition between the first area and the second area comprises a step or a ledge. 
     
     
         9 . The suction belt of  claim 1 , comprising one or more shallow recesses formed in the top side of the suction belt, wherein the respective openings extend from the bottom side of the suction belt to the respective recesses. 
     
     
         10 . The suction belt of  claim 9 , wherein the shallow recess is larger than a diameter of one or more holes connected the recess. 
     
     
         11 . The suction belt of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more shallow recesses comprise small and/or large recesses, wherein a small recess comprises a width along the width direction of the suction belt greater than a length along the longitudinal direction of the suction belt, and wherein a large recess comprises a length along the longitudinal direction of the suction belt greater than a width along the width direction of the suction belt. 
     
     
         12 . The suction belt of  claim 11 , comprising a large recess arranged adjacent to the transition from the first area to the second area with a small recess arranged between the transition and the large recess. 
     
     
         13 . A suction conveyor, comprising:
 vacuum generator,   a first, driven roller,   a second roller, and   a suction belt extending around the first roller and around the second roller, the suction belt for conveying an envelope comprising an envelope front side, an envelope back side and an envelope flap at the envelope front side, and comprising:   a first area configured to allow applying a suction force to at least a part of the envelope; and   a second area which is arranged adjacent to the first area,   wherein a thickness of the suction belt changes at a transition from the first area to the second area, and   wherein the envelope is arranged on the suction belt such that its envelope flap is arranged on the first area adjacent to the second area, so that during a filling process one or more goods to be inserted into the envelope pass the second area without colliding with the envelope flap, and   
       wherein the vacuum generator is arranged to provide a suction force to be applied to the envelope arranged on the first area of the suction belt.