Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets having folded edges comprising: a support for supporting a stack of upright sheets respectively on an edge thereof; a sliding wall engaged by a toothed belt for feeding the sheets in a path of travel; an endless belt having an upper run disposed for engagement of the edges of the sheets for feeding the sheets in a direction extending transverse to the path of travel; and a front wall resiliently biased against each sheet fed from the stack for exerting a force in a direction opposite to the path of travel.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets respectively having an upright surface and a lower edge, the apparatus comprising: structure for supporting a stack of said sheets on said lower edges thereof; first structure for feeding said sheets of said stack in a downstream path of travel; second structure for feeding said sheets on said lower edges thereof from said stack in a direction extending transverse to said path of travel, said second sheet feeding structure including structure for frictionally engaging the upright surfaces of successive sheets; and structure for resiliently urging said structure for frictionally engaging into engagement with said upright surfaces of successive sheets.

Abstract: Apparatus for singulating respective documents fed thereto, wherein each of the documents is uprightly oriented on an edge thereof and has oppositely facing upright surfaces, and wherein each successive document is slidably movable relative to a next successive document against an interdocument frictional force developed therebetween, the apparatus comprising: first document feeding structure including two first belts, the first feeding structure including first structure for moving the first belts downstream relative to a path of travel in vertically spaced first belt runs; second document feeding structure including a second belt, the second feeding structure including second structure for moving the second belt upstream relative to the path of travel in a second belt run, the second feeding structure including structure for resiliently urging the second belt run into interleaving relationship with the first belt runs; and the first belt runs exerting a downstream frictional force greater than the interdocu

Abstract: An in-line rotary inserter device comprises an envelope feed station (30) and insert feeding modules (20,22,24,26), an inserting station (32), a sealing and stacking assembly (38,40,42), and various diverters (33,36,56). The envelope feed station (30) withdraws envelopes from a hopper-held envelope stack )66,94) and conveys them to the inserting station (32). Each insert feeding module comprises a hopper-held insert stack disposed above, along, and in line with an insert conveyor (34). The conveyor, along its track, carries inserts dispensed from the hopper-held insert stacks to the inserting station (32). Diverter stations for diversion of envelopes and inserts in various locations along their feed paths are provided for normal operational purposes and for rectification of sensed fault conditions. Subsequently to inserting, insert-filled envelopes are conveyed from the inserting station (32), are sealed, turned, stacked, and processed through operations that are customary in preparation of mailable items.

Abstract: An in-line inserter device comprises envelope and insert feeding assemblies, an envelope inserting station assembly, a sealing and stacking assembly, and various diverter stations. The envelope feeding assembly withdraws envelopes from a hopper-held envelope stack and conveys them to the inserting station. Each modular insert feeding assembly comprises a hopper-held insert stack disposed above, along, and in line with an insert conveyor. The conveyor, along its track, carries inserts dispensed from the hopper-held insert stacks to the inserting station. Diverter stations are disposed ahead of the envelope inserting station for diversion of envelopes and inserts and ahead of the inserted envelope stacking assembly to divert inserted envelopes, for normal operational purposes and for rectification of sensed faults by rejection and extraction of processed faulty items.