Abstract: In an apparatus for inserting a postal item into an envelope, the envelope is fed with its flap fold trailing its envelope body and its flap along a flap opener. A free flap opener edge enters between the flap and the envelope body until the flap fold abuts the free flap opener edge. While holding the flap against the flap opener, the flap is pivoted relative to the envelope body about the flap fold to an open position and subsequently the postal item is inserted into the envelope body. An apparatus for carrying such a method is also described.

Abstract: An insertion system includes an enclosure supply device, an envelope supply device, an insertion device to insert an enclosure supplied from the enclosure supply device into the envelope supplied from the envelope supply device, a first input unit to input identification data of the enclosure inserted into the envelope in each of multiple insertion setting records, a second input unit to input identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container of the enclosure supply device, and a controller to determine whether the identification data of the enclosure to be inserted, input by the first input unit, matches the identification data of the enclosure set in the enclosure container, input by the second input unit, and to control supply of the envelope by the envelope supply device as well as supply of the enclosure by the enclosure supply device based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. A feeder serially feeds envelope from a stack of mail. Two cutters at a cutting station cuts one or two edges of the envelopes. As the envelopes travel from the feeder to the cutters the envelope is jogged on two edges to justify the contents with the envelopes. Additionally, an improved feeder is provided to reduce the number of jams created when feeding the envelopes from the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input been having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes to a cutter that severs the top edge of the envelopes. A transport conveys the envelopes from the top cutter to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. From the extractor, the operator manually feeds the extracted documents to a document input. From the document input, the documents are fed to a document transport that conveys the documents past an imaging module to obtain image data for the documents before sorting the documents to output bins.

Abstract: A filling station for filling an envelope with a filling material includes a filling area, a holder configured to hold an envelope to be filled in the filling area while it is being filled and to release the filled envelope once it has been filled, at least one opener configured to open the envelope to be filled, an inserter configured to insert a filling material into the opened envelope to be filled, and a transport unit configured to move a subsequent envelope into the filling area while the envelope to be filled is being filled, the opener being configured to open the subsequent envelope before the filled envelope has completely left the filling area.

Abstract: A filling station for filling an envelope is configured to receive a filling material and an envelope. The filling station includes a filling area including at least one filling aid, an envelope feeder configured to receive an envelope and to hold the envelope at least partly at a position outside the filling area, and a transport device configured to move an envelope, which is arranged in the envelope feeder, to the filling aid. The envelope feeder is configured to receive a further envelope during a movement of the preceding envelope from the envelope feeder to the filling aid and/or during filling of the preceding envelope. The transport device is configured to move the further envelope from the envelope feeder to the filling aid once filling of the preceding envelope has been completed and before transporting of the filled envelope out of the filling station has been completed.

Abstract: An inserting apparatus is equipped with a circulatable member arranged downstream of an envelope feeding path and rotatable about an axis transverse to the envelope feeding path. The circulatable member has envelope flap catcher members, each having a free edge arranged for entering between a flap and a body of an envelope fed along the envelope feeding path for engaging the flap and for holding the flap while the circulatable member is circulated so as to turn the flap to an opened position. An envelope support is provided for holding an envelope of which the opened flap is held by one of the catcher members of the circulatable member in an inserting position.

Abstract: An envelope filling apparatus inserts a sheet of paper into an envelope having a flap, and includes an envelope feed device, an air nozzle for blowing air into the envelope fed by the envelope feed device from an open end of the envelope to open the open end, and a sensing device for detecting that the open end of the envelope is opened. The apparatus further includes an insertion device for inserting the sheet of paper into the envelope from the open end, if the sensing device detects that the open end of the envelope is opened after the air nozzle is actuated, and a removal device for removing the envelope from a transport route, if the sensing device does not detect that the open end of the envelope is opened after the air nozzle is actuated and the insertion device is not actuated.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a document into an envelope. The apparatus includes a mechanism for holding an envelope at an insert station; pivotally mounted fingers for opening the envelope; and a platform for guiding the document over the fingers and into the envelope. The platform is pivoted at an upstream end and upwardly spring biased so that the platform is depressed against the spring bias, by an amount dependent on the weight of the insert document moving over, so that a light insert document follows a path which subtends a steeper angle to the horizontal compared to a heavy insert document.

Abstract: An envelope opener is that includes a table for routing documents along a longitudinal document guide wall and a cutting device for cutting off an edge of an envelope is described. The guide wall is movable laterally relative to the cutting device into a plurality of lateral or cutting positions in order to obtain a plurality of cutting widths. The machine also includes a bypass control to enable driving a document in the downstream direction when the cutter device is in the non-cutting position to enable counting envelopes without opening them.

Abstract: A device for arranging a sleeve-like foil envelope around an object, including supply means for supplying said sleeve-like foil envelope around at least one spreading element in a horizontal orientation, as well as discharge means for discharging the sleeve-like foil envelope from the device and arranging it around the object, wherein said spreading element has an inlet side configured as a flat element portion, an outlet side and a transition area located between said inlet side and said outlet side, and wherein said spreading element widens towards the transition area in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the flat element portion, whilst the spreading element has an at least substantially constant circumference at least in the direction from the inlet side to the transition area.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic device which is used to envelope small items and which can be used to perform very-high-speed enveloping. The inventive device comprises a frame (11) having the following components mounted thereto, namely: a storage bin (12) containing a pile of stacked envelopes (15) which are disposed such that they can be removed one by one from the base of the bin, and a control drum (13) which is associated with a rotary cam (14). The aforementioned control drum (13) is arranged such as to move the envelopes (15) individually and successively from the storage bin (12) towards an area where a document is inserted therein and such as to open the envelope when the rotary cam (14) has unfolded the flap of same. The documents (30) to be inserted into the envelopes (15) are conveyed by way of cogs (32) which are solidly connected to a continuously-moving transport chain (31).

Abstract: An inserter apparatus for inserting an item into a holder. The inserter apparatus includes a deck, a mover, an opening system, and a controller. The deck can slidably support the holder from a first location to an item loading location. The mover can move the holder along the deck, wherein the mover includes a drive motor, a conveyor connected to the drive motor, and a gripper connected to the conveyor. The drive motor is a servo motor. The opening system is at the item loading location for opening the holder and inserting the item into the holder. The controller is connected to the servo motor. The controller is adapted to vary speed of the servo motor to thereby vary speed of the conveyor and the holder along the deck.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to techniques and equipment to insert documents into either letter envelopes or flat mail envelopes on the same dual mode mailing inserter without the need to do machine setup between letter and flat mail envelope insertion. The dual mode mail inserting machine is configured to accept documents from a printer that are designed for insertion into flat mail envelope. If a document plus its inserts and envelope weighs less than a predetermined weight, the document will be diverted from the normal flat mail path to a second inserter and output section.

Abstract: An envelope filling apparatus is an apparatus for inserting a sheet of paper into an envelope having a flap, including envelope feed means, an air nozzle for blowing air into an envelope fed by the envelope feed means from an open end of the envelope to open the open end, and sensing means for detecting that the open end of the envelope has been opened. The apparatus further includes insertion means for inserting a sheet of paper into an envelope from an open end, if the sensing means has detected that the open end of the envelope has been opened after the air nozzle is actuated, and removal means for removing an envelope from a transport route, if the sensing means does not detect that the open end of the envelope has been opened after the air nozzle is actuated and the insertion means is not actuated.

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: Apparatus for inserting a content pack into an envelope, the apparatus comprising: a gripping mechanism; means for operating the gripping mechanism to hold an envelope; means for opening a throat of the envelope; means for moving the content pack in a direction toward and into the throat of the envelope; means for accelerating the envelope in the direction of movement of the content pack while the gripping mechanism is operational; and means for releasing the gripping mechanism at a predetermined time, to release the envelope, the predetermined time being while the content pack is at least partially inserted into the envelope, and being predetermined in dependence upon parameters comprising at least the content pack depth and the envelope depth.

Abstract: An envelope filling machine for introducing sheets into envelopes includes a sliding surface, for transferring the sheets to an envelope filling station by means of pushing lugs, operated along the sliding surface. An envelope supplying conveyor supplies individual envelopes to the station placing them between vertical shafts of a pair of screws. The turns of the screws hold the sides of the envelopes and move each envelope downwards keeping the envelope separated from a subsequent envelope. When the envelope has come to rest on a conveyor belt placed between and under the screws, the lugs push the sheets into the envelope kept steady by movable stop strips yieldingly maintained by elastic means. When the sheets are fully inserted, the lugs push the envelope and force the movable strips to swing and let the filled envelope leave the envelope filling station.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for variably opening envelopes, such as for an inserting system. A deck is provided that creates a conveying path on which insert material can travel. A feeding guide that holds open a mouth of each envelope can be attached to the deck. Based on the physical characteristics of the material to be inserted into the envelope, the deck and feeding guide are movable to control the amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open.

Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for providing a sealed cover for documents comprising a document conveying table (18) with a general longitudinal shape, arranged upstream of a unit for inserting (20) said documents in an envelope (26), at least a contact member (40, 42) mobile longitudinally, under the action of driving means (76, 82, 84, 88) in the direction of the inserting unit and which is designed to drive the documents on the conveying table, the driving means being distant from the inserting unit. The invention is characterized in that said at least one contact member is arranged on a mobile support (44) linked to the driving means in a zone (44b) located upstream of said at least one contact member, the driving means imposing on said at least one contact member is reciprocating translational movement between two extreme positions, in one of said extreme positions said at least one contact member being placed proximate to the inserting unit.

Abstract: Inserter for inserting postal items into envelopes, wherein an envelope catcher separates the envelopes and transports the envelopes away from the stack of empty envelopes and the envelopes are subsequently transported further with the initially leading flap end trailing. The envelope catcher is suspended for movement and drivable along a catcher path, of which at least a section extends closely along the envelope to be separated. When the envelope is transported away from the envelope catcher with its flap end trailing the flap is folded open.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting documents (2) having at least one guide strip (13, 14) which is reciprocable between a retracted position and a projecting position in which it reaches further into the stuffing position than in the retracted position for guiding into an envelope (11) in the stuffing position at least one document (2) coming from the document transport path (1).

Abstract: A high-speed envelope transport and packing system includes a conveyor for conveying an open envelope having a flap, a packing station for inserting an object into a conveyed open envelope, and a bending member disposed upstream of the packing station. The bending member is configured to impart a bend in a conveyed open envelope by displacing a center portion of the envelope relative to widthwise distal end portions of the envelope and to maintain a bend in the envelope until the open envelope is gripped by a gripping device in such a manner as to provide access to an interior of the open envelope or until an object is at least partially inserted into an interior of the open envelope.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for variably opening envelopes, such as for an inserting system. A deck is provided that creates a conveying path on which insert material can travel. A feeding guide that holds open a mouth of each envelope can be attached to the deck. Based on the physical characteristics of the material to be inserted into the envelope, the deck and feeding guide are movable to control the amount that the mouth of each envelope is held open.

Abstract: In a mailing machine where an envelope feeder is used to feed envelopes one at a time into a mail inserter and an insert feeder is used to move insert material into the envelope in the mail inserter for mail insertion, a suction cup assembly having two suction cups is used to keep the throat of the envelope in the mail inserter open. Each suction cup is movably mounted on an air actuated holder so as to allow the suction cup to move up and down to open the envelope throat. The suction cup assembly is movably mounted on a mounting stand in the mail feeder at a pivot so that the suction assembly can be rotated at the pivot so as to deflect the suction cups further away from the insert feeder if a jam involving the insert material or the envelope occurs.

Abstract: An envelope insertion station having a plurality of actuating arms affixed to a rotatable shaft and a plurality of fingers pivotably mounted on the actuating arms for opening the throat of an envelope placed at an insertion area. The actuating arms are movable from a first position to a second position and then to a third position. When the actuating arms are in the first position, the fingers are freely pivotable so as to allow the envelope to be moved into the insertion area. When the actuating arms are in the second position, the fingers are caused to move along a defined path into the throat of the envelope placed at the insertion area. When the actuating arms are in the third position, the fingers are freely pivotable so as to allow enclosure material to move into the envelope through the throat.

Abstract: An adjustable stripper/moistener system for a mailing system is provided. The stripper blade and moistening assembly are adjustable in a direction transverse to the movement of a mail piece being passed through the mailing machine. By allowing the stripper blade to move with respect to the feed deck, the position of the stripper blade can be optimally set to reliably strip different size and shape flaps from different types of envelopes. Additionally, by allowing the moistening assembly to move in conjunction with the stripper blade, there is better control of the amount and location of deposition of the moistening fluid on the envelope flap, thereby preventing possible damage to the envelope or its contents. The position of the stripper blade and moistening assembly may be manually adjustable by an operator, or automatically adjusted based on an input or sensed profile of the envelope flap.

Abstract: A vacuum release assist system for a document insertion station is described. The vacuum suction cup system is used for opening an envelope. The vacuum release assist system ensures that the suction cup is timely released during the removal of the envelope from the insertion station. In one configuration, a solenoid actuator is used to push away the envelope from the suction cup. In another configuration, a blow-off valve is used to introduce positive air pressure to timely release the suction cup.

Abstract: An envelope filling station at which enclosures are pushed into envelopes. Envelopes are provide to the filling station via an envelope conveyor transverse to the push-in direction. A roller bar positioned above the conveyor is lowered while transporting envelopes and raised while documents are pushed into the stopped envelopes, A stop means, stops the envelopes on the conveyor at an appropriated filling location. Upstream of the conveyor an auxiliary conveying arrangement provides envelopes to the conveyor from a direction perpendicular to the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for guiding a mail piece traversing a mailing machine. A multi-ski guide can include an inner ski with one or more contact bumps positioned to engage a mail piece prior to its edge encountering a stripper blade. The multi-ski guide can be attached to a take away idler shaft located just prior to the stripping blade. A spring can provide a normal force holding the multi-ski guide down onto the top of the stripping blade. The multi-ski guide can contact the stripping blade with a contact bump. In addition, one or more inner skis can include mail piece guiding contact bumps. Idler segments can be interspersed between the skis included in the multi-ski guide such that the idler segments can guide and straighten a mail piece approaching the stripper blade.

Abstract: Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a roller and a roller housing having a top part that defines a small space between them through which a flap-including longitudinal edge of an envelope passes. The edge is constrained to form a curvature as it passes through the small space, causing the flap to open at least to some extent. A second improvement in pre-openers includes a cut out formed in an envelope support plate and a rigid deflector positioned in the path of the envelopes as they leave the hopper. The envelope flaps are partly opened as they are deflected below the plane of the support plate. A third improvement includes a plurality of vacuum dishes formed in an envelope-supporting plate.

Abstract: In an inserting apparatus and method such as the continuous motion type, a motion controller electrically communicates with an encoder, a first motor driving an insert conveyor assembly, a second motor driving an envelope conveyor assembly, and an actuator operatively interfaced with a peripheral device. The motion controller controls insert conveyor assembly speed, envelope conveyor assembly speed, and the rotational position at which the actuator should be activated, based on the encoder signal. Once during every master cycle, the motion controller calculates the actuator activation position, and causes the first actuator to be activated at the calculated first actuator activation position.

Abstract: Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a roller and a roller housing having a top part that defines a small space between them through which a flap-including longitudinal edge of an envelope passes. The edge is constrained to form a curvature as it passes through the small space, causing the flap to open at least to some extent. A second improvement in pre-openers includes a cut out formed in an envelope support plate and a rigid deflector positioned in the path of the envelopes as they leave the hopper. The envelope flaps are partly opened as they are deflected below the plane of the support plate. A third improvement includes a plurality of vacuum dishes formed in an envelope-supporting plate.

Abstract: A drive and actuating system for an envelope-filling station in which enclosures or sets of enclosures are fed, by a driven conveyor, to a push-in station in which a push-in arrangement, which has a pivot drive, receives the enclosures or sets of enclosures and pushes them into envelopes, which are held ready in an open state. The envelopes are then delivered into a position opposite the push-in station, from oriented transversely to the push-in direction, by an envelope-conveying arrangement. Further, a multiplicity of functions of the individual parts of the envelope-filling station can be forcibly synchronized in an adjustable manner and a comparatively straightforward and clear construction of the overall drive and actuating system is produced.

Abstract: Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a roller and a roller housing having a top part that defines a small space between them through which a flap-including longitudinal edge of an envelope passes. The edge is constrained to form a curvature as it passes through the small space, causing the flap to open at least to some extent. A second improvement in pre-openers includes a cut out formed in an envelope support plate and a rigid deflector positioned in the path of the envelopes as they leave the hopper. The envelope flaps are partly opened as they are deflected below the plane of the support plate. A third improvement includes a plurality of vacuum dishes formed in an envelope-supporting plate.

Abstract: Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a roller and a roller housing having a top part that defines a small space between them through which a flap-including longitudinal edge of an envelope passes. The edge is constrained to form a curvature as it passes through the small space, causing the flap to open at least to some extent. A second improvement in pre-openers includes a cut out formed in an envelope support plate and a rigid deflector positioned in the path of the envelopes as they leave the hopper. The envelope flaps are partly opened as they are deflected below the plane of the support plate. A third improvement includes a plurality of vacuum dishes formed in an envelope-supporting plate.

Abstract: A stage and thread assembly is disclosed for use in a high speed envelope packing apparatus. The assembly receives from the side, a single envelope with flap open. The assembly precisely aligns and positions the envelope in a pre-stage area via a plurality of entry ramps, continuously running belts, and back stops, correcting any misalignment. Once positioned in the pre-stage area, the apparatus stages the envelope in a position above the thread roller of the high speed packing apparatus so that the envelope can be threaded on the packing plate for insertion of material into the envelope. The staging of the envelope is achieved via a plurality of rollers including, d-rollers, flipper rollers, and stage rollers. The envelope is staged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of entry of the envelope.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed packing of envelopes is disclosed. The apparatus includes an envelope flap opening assembly which facilitates the opening of each envelope by a finger of an opening element as the envelope passes through packing apparatus. Each envelope may then be conveyed into a first staging assembly where the envelope is stopped, allowing a freely rotating conveyor to force the envelope into contact with an ejection conveyor to direct the envelope from the first staging assembly. The envelope is then transported to the packing assembly by an intermediate conveyor having a plurality of distinctly and selectively driven conveyors to allow staging of the envelopes along the intermediate conveyor. A quick and efficient envelope packing assembly then packs the envelopes and ejects the envelope to an exiting conveyor which seals each packed envelope.