Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.

Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.

Abstract: The present application relates to techniques and equipment to manufacture mailpieces containing inserts. The equipment can be an inserter or an envelope wrapper that collects documents and inserts on a collating track before the material is inserted into an envelope by inserting equipment or wrapped with paper or film to make an envelope by wrapping equipment. More specifically, the present application relates to a rotary insert feeder that feeds inserts to a collating track on inserting or wrapping type equipment.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for improving handling of sheet articles during processing within sheet or mail processing machines, particularly for causing creased sheet articles to assume a more planar position within a sheet or mail processing machine. Rollers may be provided for bending a crease of a sheet article along its crease.

Abstract: Inserting systems and methods are provided for use in sheet processing. The inserting systems and methods provide improved handling of sheet articles during processing. Sheet articles can be advantageously and efficiently advanced in separate stacks and later combined for insertion into an envelope. For insertion into an envelope, the mouth of the envelope can be selectively variably opened depending upon the amount of insertion material to go into the envelope where the amount an envelope is to be opened can be based upon processing or job information. Sheet articles can be registered and aligned to facilitate processing efficiencies. Sheet articles with creases, such as envelopes with mouth flaps, can be processed through a roller system to bend the crease so that the flap of the envelope assumes a desired position for subsequent processing. Additionally, sheet articles can be processed through a staging station with increased capacity for sheet processing.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for staging and processing documents including sheet articles, particularly for processing of sheet articles for mail processing. Different sets of pusher members for advancing document sets along a conveying path are used within the sheet processing machine. The action of the different sets of pusher members within the staging station permits a larger window and location to feed document sets into the staging station to increase processing efficiency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining density and positioning of a grouped sheet articles, such as for feeding of sheet articles from or into the group. One or more pneumatic sensing systems can be used to monitor and control pressure of sheet articles within the group. Dynamic adjustment can be made to the density and position of the sheet articles in the group such as by controlling a motorized belt to move at least a portion of the group of sheet articles in response to an indication to do so from a controller in communication with the pneumatic sensor.

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: A collating apparatus and method to merge different types of document sets into a single collated packet prior to a mail processing insertion operation. The collating device utilizes a synchronous conveyor pathway for conveying different types of document sets serially down the pathway and merging them into a single collated packet. The document sets are delivered downstream with a combination of pivotable and fixed position pusher members and are combined into a single collated packet in any desired order.

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: Apparatuses and methods are provided for improving handling of sheet articles during processing within sheet or mail processing machines, particularly for causing creased sheet articles to assume a more planar position within a sheet or mail processing machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining density and positioning of a grouped sheet articles, such as for feeding of sheet articles from or into the group. One or more pneumatic sensing systems can be used to monitor and control pressure of sheet articles within the group. Dynamic adjustment can be made to the density and position of the sheet articles in the group such as by controlling a motorized belt to move at least a portion of the group of sheet articles in response to an indication to do so from a controller in communication with the pneumatic sensor.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for improving handling of sheet articles during processing within sheet processing machines, particularly for apparatuses and methods for registering sheet articles within a sheet or mail processing machine. A registration apparatus can be provided that aligns sheet articles, such as envelopes, by using negative pressure to register the sheet articles. The registration apparatus can have an elongated housing defining a slit therein for receiving a sheet article. At least a portion of a sheet article may be advanced within the slit of the registration apparatus. A negative pressure may be applied within the housing to pull the sheet article into alignment within the registration apparatus.

Abstract: Sheet accumulator systems and methods are provided for forming a stack of under-accumulated sheets. The method can include advancing sheets in a predetermined sequence and under-accumulating a first portion of the advanced sheets in a first stack. The method can also include under-accumulating a second portion of the advanced sheets in a second stack and automatically stacking the first stack of sheets on the second stack of sheets to form a combined stack wherein the combined stack is in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A collector apparatus and method capable of collecting material in two modes of operation, flats and letters. With a minor adjustment, the apparatus can be transformed from a two-stage device optimal for the letter mode of operation, to a one-stage device optimal for the flats mode of operation. The apparatus includes a first staging area, a second staging area generally disposed downstream from the first staging area, and a conveying device. The first staging area includes a first staging surface and a first stage transport assembly, and the second staging area includes a second staging surface and a second stage transport assembly. The conveying device is adjustable between the flats and letters modes. In the letters mode position, the conveying device provides a first material flow path running through the first and second staging areas.

Abstract: Sheet accumulator systems and methods are provided for forming a stack of under-accumulated sheets. The method can include advancing sheets in a predetermined sequence and under-accumulating a first portion of the advanced sheets in a first stack. The method can also include under-accumulating a second portion of the advanced sheets in a second stack and automatically stacking the first stack of sheets on the second stack of sheets to form a combined stack wherein the combined stack is in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A collector apparatus and method capable of collecting material in two modes of operation, flats and letters. With a minor adjustment, the apparatus can be transformed from a two-stage device optimal for the letter mode of operation, to a one-stage device optimal for the flats mode of operation. The apparatus includes a first staging area, a second staging area generally disposed downstream from the first staging area, and a conveying device. The first staging area includes a first staging surface and a first stage transport assembly, and the second staging area includes a second staging surface and a second stage transport assembly. The conveying device is adjustable between the flats and letters modes. In the letters mode position, the conveying device provides a first material flow path running through the first and second staging areas.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking and controlling mailpiece processing utilize one or more postal service mailpiece codes. The postal service mailpiece codes can include a United States Postal Service POSTNET code and a PLANET code. Using the same code or codes for mailpiece processing that the postal service uses to track mailpieces in a mail stream simplifies reader design and decreases the number of codes required to be printed on a mailpiece. In addition, the number of different types of readers for reading the codes is reduced.

Abstract: A portable viewer for viewing bar codes and other markings printed at least in part with invisible inks includes a light source for illuminating and exciting the ink of the bar code, a camera for detecting light emitted by the excited bar code and for outputting image data, a display for creating a visible image of the bar code from the image data output from the camera, and an optical system for projecting the visible image onto a viewing screen. The display may be a miniature, transmissive active matrix liquid crystal display with high resolution that produces a sharp, bright image. A backlight and lens project the image produced by the display to generate an enlarged virtual image that can be easily viewed by a user. The portable viewer is compact in size and can be accommodated in a small package and requires only a small amount of power.