Envelope processing apparatus and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11970019-B2
Application number	US-202318298590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2023
Priority date	Apr 19, 2022
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

An envelope processing apparatus that inserts an enclosure into an envelope includes an envelope conveyor, a flap opener, an enclosure pusher, and circuitry. The envelope conveyor extends in a vertical direction and conveys the envelope to an enclosing position via an envelope conveyance passage as a passage in which the envelope is conveyed. The flap opener opens a flap of the envelope. The enclosure pusher pushes the enclosure toward an opening of a body of the envelope conveyed to the enclosing position with the flap open. The circuitry changes a pushing amount of the enclosure into the envelope and adjusts the pushing amount based on the opening of the body of the envelope within a specified range from an inside to an outside of the body of the envelope.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An envelope processing apparatus configured to insert an enclosure into an envelope, the envelope processing apparatus comprising:
an envelope conveyor extending in a vertical direction, the envelope conveyor configured to convey the envelope to an enclosing position via an envelope conveyance passage as a passage in which the envelope is conveyed;
a flap opener configured to open a flap of the envelope;
an enclosure pusher configured to push the enclosure toward an opening of a body of the envelope conveyed to the enclosing position with the flap open; and
circuitry configured to:
change a pushing amount of the enclosure pushed into the envelope in an inserting direction in which the enclosure is inserted into the envelope; and
adjust an inserting length of the enclosure relative to the opening of the body of the envelope by changing the pushing amount in the inserting direction while the enclosure is inserted into the envelope in a normal state.

2. The envelope processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the circuitry is configured to perform a mode for adjusting the inserting length such that the enclosure is placed at a position where the enclosure protrudes from the body of the envelope toward upstream in the inserting direction by a specified amount.

3. The envelope processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the circuitry is configured to perform a mode for adjusting the inserting length such that the enclosure is placed at a position where the enclosure does not protrude from the body of the envelope toward upstream in the inserting direction.

4. The envelope processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sealer configured to seal the envelope in which the enclosure is inserted.

5. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image onto a sheet medium; and
the envelope processing apparatus according to claim 1 , configured to insert the sheet medium as the enclosure into the envelope.

6. The image forming system according to claim 5 ,
wherein the image forming apparatus includes a display, and
wherein the circuitry is configured to cause the display to display a screen for inputting an adjustment value of the pushing amount and confirming an adjustment value input.

7. The envelope processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to complete an enclosing operation in a state where a part of the enclosure protrudes from the body of the envelope.

8. The envelope processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode for adjusting the inserting length, the first mode configured such that the enclosure is placed at a position where the enclosure protrudes from the body of the envelope toward upstream in the inserting direction by a specified amount, the second mode configured such that the enclosure is placed at a position where the enclosure does not protrude from the body of the envelope toward upstream in the inserting direction.

Assignees

• Suzuki Nobuyoshi
• Suzuki Michitaka
• Shibasaki Yuusuke
• Matsuda Takahiro
• Shinoda Atsushi
• Yoshizawa Shingo
• Watanabe Takahiro
• Morinaga Takuya
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Nobuyoshi
• Suzuki Michitaka
• Shibasaki Yuusuke
• Matsuda Takahiro
• Shinoda Atsushi
• Yoshizawa Shingo
• Watanabe Takahiro
• Morinaga Takuya

Classifications

• B43M3/045 Primary

  for envelopes with only one flap · CPC title

• B41J3/28

  for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes {, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers} · CPC title

• B43M5/042 Primary

  for envelopes with only one flap · CPC title

• G03G15/6588

  characterised by the copy material, e.g. postcards, large copies, multi-layered materials, coloured sheet material · CPC title

• G03G15/6591

  characterised by the recording material, e.g. plastic material, OHP, ceramics, tiles, textiles (details transferring the toner pattern onto particular materials G03G15/1625) · CPC title