Abstract: According to the invention, an insertion system for collating sheets of printed material for insertion into an envelope is disclosed. The insertion system includes an insertion machine, application software and an operating system. Included in the application software is a first function and a second function, where the first function performs tracking for each packet and the second function controls operation of the insertion machine. Each packet includes a plurality of pieces of printed material that may ultimately be sealed in an envelope. The operating system runs the application software at any given instant and executes the first and second functions.

Abstract: A method of reading cards includes receiving card carrier information for each of at least two card carriers. The card carrier information identifies at least one card relating to each card carrier. The method also includes reading card information from a card a first time, reading card information from the card a second time, comparing the card information as read the first time to the card information as read the second time, rejecting the card if the card information is inconsistent, comparing the card information as read either the first time or the second time to the card carrier information, rejecting the card if the card information does not match the card carrier information for one of the at least two card carriers, and mounting the card to one of the at least two carriers if the cards' card information matches the card carrier information of the carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for scheduling jobs to insertion machines. In one embodiment, the system comprises a communications interface to receive an insertion machine job and a data store to store the insertion machine job and setup information for a plurality of insertion machines, the setup information including job configuration information for jobs scheduled to the insertion machines. Logic is communicatively coupled with the data store and is configured to evaluate each of the insertion machines based at least in part on the setup information and one or more criteria associated with the insertion machine job, to select one of the insertion machines based on the evaluation, and to schedule the insertion machine job to the selected insertion machine.

Abstract: According to the invention, an insertion system for collating sheets of printed material for insertion into an envelope is disclosed. The insertion system includes an insertion machine, application software and an operating system. Included in the application software is a first function and a second function, where the first function performs tracking for each packet and the second function controls operation of the insertion machine. Each packet includes a plurality of pieces of printed material that may ultimately be sealed in an envelope. The operating system runs the application software at any given instant and executes the first and second functions.

Abstract: A delivery system comprises a frame, and a plurality of hoppers attachable to the frame in a vertically spaced apart arrangement. The hoppers are each configured to hold a plurality of sheet-like materials. At least one upper belt is movably coupled to the frame, with the belt being configured to move the sheet-like materials downward from the hoppers. At least one contact roller is disposed below each hopper, and at least one suction apparatus that is associated with each hopper. A moving system is configured to move the suction apparatus toward and away from the hopper to grasp and remove one of the sheet-like materials from the hopper, and to move the removed sheet-like material downward until grabbed by the contact roller.

Abstract: A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.