Abstract: A separating and feeding machine is disclosed for removing a succession of bound booklets or the like from a supply hopper adapted to hold a stack of the booklets for feeding them to a subsequent apparatus for further processing. The separating and feeding machine includes a reciprocating vacuum feed plate disposed in the bottom of the hopper for advancing the bottom booklet through a discharge opening to a take away feed mechanism, and includes first and second stage separating mechanism which initially maintains at least the bottom two booklets in the hopper in shingled relationship to expose a marginal portion thereof adjacent the bound edge so that a pressing member can maintain a normal force on the exposed marginal portion of the bottom booklet to prevent it from wrinkling and becoming jammed in the discharge opening while the vacuum feed plate is moving it toward the discharge opening.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for aligning the leading and trailing edges in abutting relationship of two adjacent webs preparatory to splicing the abutting edges together with adhesive tape, and for perforating the tape subsequent to being applied to the adjacent web wedges along the seam formed by the web edges. The apparatus comprises a fixture adapted to lie on a flat surface for holding the trailing and leading edge portions of a pair of preceding and succeeding tapes securely in place with the end edges thereof abutting so that a piece of adhesive tape can be applied thereto. The apparatus also comprises a device which cooperates with a guide on the fixture for perforating the tape along the seam formed by the aforementioned edges so that the web sheets can be separated by feeding the web into a bursting machine or otherwise.

Abstract: In an envelope inserting system, a method of digitally printing a postage indicia including a barcode on an envelope. The method includes: inserting a plurality of documents into an envelope to form a stuffed envelope; conveying the stuffed envelope to a digital, postage indicia printer; conveying an image of the postage indicia and included barcode to the printer; printing a postage indicia and included barcode on the stuffed envelope with the postgae indicia printer; conveying the printed, stuffed envelope to a barcode reader; determining with the barcode reader whether or not the barcode is readable; if the barcode is readable, determining whether or not the indicia was printed with the correct amount of postage; and if the barcode is not readable or if the indicia was not printed with the correct amount of postage, outsorting the stuffed envelope.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening an envelope having a front panel, a back panel and a closing flap. The apparatus includes: a device for supporting the envelope in a substantially horizontal plane wherein the back panel is situated above the front panel; a pair of pivotable paddles located beneath the closing flap and the front panel, each of the paddles having an interior end and an exterior end; a pair of pivotable, hold-down fingers located above and spaced from the pivotable paddles; a device for rotating the interior ends of the paddles downward; and a device for pivoting the hold-down fingers into engagement with the paddles when the ends of the paddles are rotated downward, whereby the front and back panels of the envelope is caused to separate.