Cheap Envelope Feeder for Okidata

[csudman]

Ok, trying to do this on a shoestring budget.

I have an astro envelope inserter like this for our AB Dick Press 3246 ASTRO Envelope Feeder - YouTube
Its got an optical sensor on the end that triggers the next envelope. I think with a little fab work to the input of the oki and the end of the inserter I can make this work.

Any issues I'm missing here?

[UnlimitedBT]

I don't mean to rain on your parade but Yes you might hit some issues. The by-pass tray that you plan to feed the envelopes trough has a sensor of it's own and designed to work with stack of whatever is in it. It raises the bottom plate to give pick-up/feed rollers enough grip to feed. As it taking on envelope from the feeder, it may not allow for a second one to be squeezed in continuously. Once the current fed in and nothing left it will lower the plate and allow more to come but will trigger "out of paper" message, once next envelope arrives it would have to raise the plate, feed and so on and on. It would probably slow down the printer to like 10ppm and eventually wear out lifting mechanism which made a lot out of plastic. You can go beyond all that and completely remove by-pass tray and work around sensors which is possible. I wish I would have enough time for this, not like I really have a need but I really wanted to do the same thing just lacking envelope feeder and time to experiment, printers - we always have plenty since we sell them. I have few of these printers for parts so you can count on me if you become in need of the whole by-pass assembly I will try to look in to it myself and if I will see any cheats, easy way to modify - will repost.Good luck.
Roman.

[csudman]

I don't mean to rain on your parade but Yes you might hit some issues. The by-pass tray that you plan to feed the envelopes trough has a sensor of it's own and designed to work with stack of whatever is in it. It raises the bottom plate to give pick-up/feed rollers enough grip to feed. Roman.

Have you seen the straight shooter work? Straight Shooter Laser Envelope Feeder - YouTube

It looks like the exact same principle. Just cost 8k, Oh. Incase people haven't heard. Xante bought the rights to the straight shooter. It now cost a grand more. There is another company that makes a similar inserter thought.

[JayDA]

I was not so happy when I realized Xante had taken over the distribution of the Straight Shooter. But to be honest, it's built like a tank....and it just WORKS. The first time, every time...I can't say enough good things about it.

[csudman]

Well, I just bought a Xerox Phaser 7400 on ebay. Same machine as the OKI 9800 series. 50.00 to buy it. 300 to ship it. Haha.

60k so its low milage.

It will be here in a week. I'll post back when and if I get this to work.

If it does work. You can by these feeders on ebay for cheap. We'll see.

[methogod]

Just got a full tower C9600HDN which i was going to get the straight shooter for, but if you have an test unit you want me to put in my production, weekly use, digital printing, i have planed on biting the bullet and purchasing the straight shooter, but if you have another solution, please let me know.


thanks



mike

[csudman]

I should be getting my 7400 delivered next week. I plan on getting into it right way. This is not something that I am going to sell. This is just a DIY idea.

Thanks
CJ

[csudman]

Well, I'm still waiting on deliver. Ebay seller screwed up. Hopefully by the end of next week I can try this.

[csudman]

First test (with a broken Oki/Zerox) waiting on a drum. Tommorow supposedly. Got my Xerox Phaser 7400 (Oki 9600) from ebay. Got the inserter from our old AB Dick Press.

Anyway. Here is the proof of concept. I have some tweeking to do. But I'm hopeful.

http://youtu.be/ESOwwVXJ4Rs

[JayDA]

Link doesn't work.....