Envelope flap moistening apparatus

Claim 2

An envelope flap moistening apparatus, comprising: a reservoir containing an envelope flap moistening fluid; means defining an envelope feed path; a fluid nozzle for discharging moistening fluid received from said reservoir, said nozzle being disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path so that an envelope flap passing in proximity to the nozzle will be moistened by said discharged fluid; fluid supply means operatively connectEd between said reservoir and said nozzle for supplying the moistening fluid from the reservoir to the nozzle; and sensing means disposed adjacent said feed path for sensing an edge of an envelope moving past said sensing means, said sensing means operatively connected to said fluid supply means for actuating said fluid means to supply the nozzle with moistening fluid from the reservoir in response to the sensing of said envelope edge.

Claim 3

The envelope flap moistening apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid supply means comprises a conduit connecting said nozzle to the reservoir and a fluid pump connected to said conduit for pumping fluid through the conduit from said reservoir to the nozzle.

Claim 4

The envelope flap moistening apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a photocell and a juxtaposed light source adjacent said envelope feed path, the envelope feed path intersecting a light path formed by said photocell and said light source.

Claim 5

An envelope flap moistening apparatus, comprising: a reservoir containing an envelope flap moistening fluid; means defining an envelope flap feed path; a fluid nozzle operatively connected to said reservoir for discharging moistening fluid received from the reservoir, said nozzle being disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path so that an envelope flap passing in proximity to the nozzle will be moistened by said discharged fluid, said nozzle being movable from a first flap moistening position to a second flap moistening position, so that different areas of the envelope flap will be moistened; means connected to the nozzle for moving the nozzle from said first flap moistening position to said second flap moistening position; and flap sensing means disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path, and operatively connected to said means for moving the nozzle, said flap sensing means sensing an edge portion of an envelope flap, and in response thereto, actuating said means to move the nozzle.

Claim 6

An envelope flap moistening apparatus, comprising: a reservoir containing an envelope flap moistening fluid; means defining an envelope flap feed path; a fluid nozzle operatively connected to said reservoir for discharging moistening fluid received from the reservoir, said nozzle being disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path so that an envelope flap passing in proximity to the nozzle will be moistened by said discharged fluid, said nozzle being movable from a first flap moistening position to a second flap moistening position, so that different areas of the envelope flap will be moistened; means connected to the nozzle for moving the nozzle from said first flap moistening position to said second flap moistening position; and flap sensing means disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path, and operatively connected to said means for moving the nozzle, said flap sensing means sensing an edge portion of an envelope flap, and in response thereto, actuating said means to move the nozzle.

Claim 7

The envelope flap moistening apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for moving said nozzle from said first flap moistening position to said second flap moistening position comprises a solenoid connected to said nozzle, said solenoid being operative to move said nozzle to one of said two positions, and a spring operatively biasing said nozzle towards the other of said two positions.

Claim 8

The envelope flap moistening apparatus of claim 4, wherein said flap sensing means comprises a photocell and a juxtaposed light source adjacent said envelope flap feed path, the envelope flap feed path, a light path formed by said photocell and said light source intersecting said envelope flap feed path.

Claim 9

An envelope flap moistening apparatus, comprising: a reservoir containing an envelope flap moistening fluid; means defining an envelope flap feed path; at least two fluid nozzles operatively connected to said reservoir for discharging moistening fluid received from the reservoir, said nozzles being disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path and adjacent each other, so that an envelope flap passing in proximity to the nozzles will be moistened by said discharged fluid, each of the nozzles being operative to moisten a different portion of the envelope flap; valve means connected between said nozzles and the reservoir for selectively supplying each of the nozzles with moistening fluid from said reservoir; and flap sensing means disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path for sensing an edge portion of an envelope flap, and operatively connected to said valve means for supplying a signal for switching the valve means to a different valve supply position, whereby each nozzle is selectively supplied moistening fluid in response to the sensing of the edge portion of said envelope flap.

Claim 10

An envelope flap moistening apparatus, comprising: a reservoir containing an envelope flap moistening fluid; means defining an envelope flap feed path; at least two fluid nozzles operatively connected to said reservoir for discharging moistening fluid received from the reservoir, said nozzles being disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path and adjacent each other, so that an envelope flap passing in proximity to the nozzles will be moistened by said discharged fluid, each of the nozzles being operative to moisten a different portion of the envelope flap; valve means connected between said nozzles and the reservoir for selectively supplying each of the nozzles with moistening fluid from said reservoir; and flap sensing means disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path for sensing an edge portion of an envelope flap, and operatively connected to said valve means for supplying a signal for switching the valve means to a different valve supply position, whereby each nozzle is selectively supplied moistening fluid in response to the sensing of the edge portion of said envelope flap.

Claim 11

The envelope flap moistening apparatus of claim 7, wherein said flap sensing means comprises a photocell and a juxtaposed light source adjacent said envelope flap feed path, a light path foRmed by said photocell and said light source intersecting said envelope flap feed path.

Claim 12

An envelope flap moistening apparatus, comprising: means defining an envelope flap feed path; means to move said envelope flap along said feed path and past a spray moistening means; and spray moistening means disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path for spraying moisture in strip segments to a gummed surface of said flap as the flap moves past the moistening means, said moistening means applying moisture to said flap in tiered segmented strips so as to substantially cover most of the gummed surface of the flap with moisture, as the envelope flap moves past.

Claim 13

An envelope flap moistening apparatus, comprising: means defining an envelope flap feed path; means to move said envelope flap along said feed path and past a spray moistening means; and spray moistening means disposed adjacent said envelope flap feed path for spraying moisture in strip segments to a gummed surface of said flap as the flap moves past the moistening means, said moistening means applying moisture to said flap in tiered segmented strips so as to substantially cover most of the gummed surface of the flap with moisture, as the envelope flap moves past.