Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the position of an envelope stopper in an envelope inserting area of a mail insertion machine. By placing an envelope of a desirable size at a desired location in the envelope inserting area and using one or more fingers to sense the edge of the envelope. When the fingers are moved from the upstream end towards the downstream end, they are supported the envelope before they are moved past the edge of the envelope. As the fingers are moved past the edge of the envelope towards the downstream end, they are allowed to drop into a gap thereby changing the position of the fingers. A photosensing device is coupled to the fingers to sense the change of the position of the fingers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for staging envelopes in a mail insertion machine. In the mail insertion machine, envelopes are moved into an envelope inserting area one at a time with the flap of the envelopes trailing the envelope bottom edge and flipped away so as to allow enclosure material to be inserted into the envelope. While one envelope is paused in the envelope inserting area for receiving enclosure material, the next envelope is moved towards the envelope inserting area such that the flap of the paused envelope in the envelope inserting area is partially overlapped with the next envelope in a shingling fashion. In order to properly separate these envelopes, a sensing device is used to sense the arrival of the bottom edge of the next envelope in order to control the further movement of the next envelope.