Abstract: An inserting apparatus, for inserting documents into envelopes, comprising: an envelope holder for holding an envelope at least in a document inserting position, a document inserting path arranged upstream of the envelope holder for feeding a document to the envelope, an envelope opening device comprising an opening element adapted to be inserted in the envelope to move an envelope throat and an envelope body away from each other, the opening element comprising an opening element inserting finger arranged to be inserted in an inner space of the envelope, a sensor device with a primary sensor part mounted to the inserting finger and a secondary sensor part mounted to a base part or to the inserting finger of the opening element, wherein the sensor device is adapted to detect if the inserting finger is positioned in between the throat and the body.

Abstract: During a setting stage, a scanner of an apparatus for preparing mail pieces scans a postal item. From the scanned image an area containing a mark is selected and a mark data set representing the mark or the position of the selected area is generated and stored. Instruction data representing a mail preparation instruction are stored in association with the mark data set. During an operating stage after the setting stage, one or more postal items are fed to the scanner, which scans item image data representing an image of the scanned portion of each postal item that is scanned. In response to agreement between the scanned item image data and the mark data set, instruction data associated to the mark data are selected. The mail piece including the scanned postal item is prepared in accordance with the selected instruction data.

Abstract: For preparing mail pieces including reply items to be returned by addressees of the mail pieces, address carriers (20) are fed one by one from a first feeding station (2). An address (21) is scanned from each fed address carrier (20). Address data sets each representing a scanned address (21) are stored. A unique identification code (23) is scanned from each fed reply item (22) and stored as a reply code data set representing the scanned identification codes (23). Mail pieces of which at least a plurality each comprises at least one of the fed address carriers (20) and at least one of the fed reply items (22) are prepared. For each assembled mail piece comprising at least one of the address carriers (20) and at least one of the reply items (22), an association between the reply code data set and the address data set of that mail piece is stored.

Abstract: An inserting apparatus, for inserting documents into envelopes, comprising: an envelope holder for holding an envelope at least in a document inserting position, a document inserting path arranged upstream of the envelope holder for feeding a document to the envelope, an envelope opening device comprising an opening element adapted to be inserted in the envelope to move an envelope throat and an envelope body away from each other, the opening element comprising an opening element inserting finger arranged to be inserted in an inner space of the envelope, a sensor device with a primary sensor part mounted to the inserting finger and a secondary sensor part mounted to a base part or to the inserting finger of the opening element, wherein the sensor device is adapted to detect if the inserting finger is positioned in between the throat and the body.

Abstract: During a setting stage, a scanner of an apparatus for preparing mail pieces scans a postal item. From the scanned image an area containing a mark is selected and a mark data set representing the mark or the position of the selected area is generated and stored. Instruction data representing a mail preparation instruction are stored in association with the mark data set. During an operating stage after the setting stage, one or more postal items are fed to the scanner, which scans item image data representing an image of the scanned portion of each postal item that is scanned. In response to agreement between the scanned item image data and the mark data set, instruction data associated to the mark data are selected. The mail piece including the scanned postal item is prepared in accordance with the selected instruction data.

Abstract: For preparing mail pieces including reply items to be returned by addressees of the mail pieces, address carriers (20) are fed one by one from a first feeding station (2). An address (21) is scanned from each fed address carrier (20). Address data sets each representing a scanned address (21) are stored. A unique identification code (23) is scanned from each fed reply item (22) and stored as a reply code data set representing the scanned identification codes (23). Mail pieces of which at least a plurality each comprises at least one of the fed address carriers (20) and at least one of the fed reply items (22) are prepared. For each assembled mail piece comprising at least one of the address carriers (20) and at least one of the reply items (22), an association between the reply code data set and the address data set of that mail piece is stored.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing physical documents, comprising: at least two processing modules, at least two module control units, each arranged for controlling a processing module. The module control units are each provided with a function memory for storing function data and limitation parameters. The function data represent processing functions to be performed by the processing module. The limitation parameters represent limitations of the processing functions. The module control units are further arranged for receiving function control data and controlling the separate functions of the respective processing module on the basis of the function control data. The apparatus further comprises a central control unit which is arranged for sending the function control data to the module control units.

Abstract: A method for determining a topology of an apparatus for processing physical documents. The apparatus comprises processing modules and a central control unit. The central control unit and the processing modules are connected by central communication connections. A module communication connection connects the processing modules in series. The module communication connection has a data flow direction with a predetermined orientation with respect to the processing direction. A processing module upstream in the data flow direction sends first network configuration data. The first network configuration data represents the topology of an upstream part of the data communication network located upstream of the downstream processing module and contains the upstream processing module.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting sheets into sets, having a main supply station (16) and at least two insert supply stations (17-20). A first one of the insert supply stations (17-19) is arranged for supplying sheets to a first position on a conveyor track (5) and a second one of the insert supply stations (18-20) is arranged for supplying sheets to a second position on the conveyor track (5) downstream of the first position on the conveyor track (5). The insert supply stations (17-20) each comprise a stacking position (46) arranged for collecting sheets, received piece by piece, into a stacked set and for feeding the set. At least the sheet supply track (6, 53-57) of the second insert supply station is provided with a waiting position, which is arranged for receiving a set coming from the stacking position (46) and holding the received set in readiness while in the stacking position (46) a next set (2) is being collected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the printing and transport of documents through a system for preparing items to be mailed. The method comprises obtaining a reference code for the documents from a file on the basis of which the respective document has been printed, transporting the printed documents through the system, obtaining an image from the printed document in a location in the system for obtaining an image data set representing the obtained image, comparing each of the image data sets with at least one of the reference codes, and in response to the image data set and the at least one compared reference code not matching, generating a warning. The reference codes are compared with associated image data sets in an order corresponding to the order or to an inversion of the order in which the documents have been printed.