Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for closing and sealing the flaps of envelopes that have passed through an inserting machine in which collations of insert material have been inserted into the envelopes, and for detecting whether or not certain envelopes cannot be properly closed and sealed and for separating such envelopes from those that are properly closed and sealed. The apparatus is constructed and arranged such that if insert material is improperly inserted into the envelope such that the flap cannot turn freely about the crease line that connectes the flap to the envelopem, the flap will remain substantially in the flat, extended position it occupies when the envelope enters the closing and sealing apparatus. That position of the flap is sensed and the envelope is then diverted from the normal path of properly closed and sealed envelopes into a collection bin for retreival by an operator.

Abstract: A method and improved system for controlling an inserter having a plurality of functional devices, including the steps providing a control system that divides the inserter into a plurality of logical stations each of which control at least one of the functional devices, separating the control system into a top-level, generic supervisor which is operative independent of the functional devices, and a lower level comprising the logical stations, and storing the supervisor and the logical stations in a central processor, the supervisor being operative for selecting an appropriate one of the logical stations at an appropriate time whereby the selected one of the logical stations controls a corresponding one of the functional devices. The method further includes the steps of providing a plurality of distributed processors electrically coupled to the central processor and associated with the functional devices, and controlling the functional devices by the logical stations through the distributed processors.

Abstract: A document inserter has a touch screen for manually controlling the functioning of the inserter from a central location. The touch screen is capable of providing a plurality of different displays. A remote transmitter communicates with the control system of the inserter to remotely control a limited number of functions of the inserter, and preferably only during the occurrence of one or a limited number of the possible displays. Remote control also causes the emission of an audible warning.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for interfacing with envelope handling accessories for a universal multi-station document inserter for performing predetermined functions with envelopes having documents inserted therein by the multi-station document inserter, comprising the steps of providing an accessory interface microcomputer, arranging accessories responsive to output signals from the accessory interface microcomputer in an array, providing envelope sensing means in the array for providing clock signals to the accessory interface microcomputer, storing data words in the accessory interface microcomputer, certain of the data words indicating particular combinations of enelope sensing means for envelope jams and other data words indicating the type of accessory, its output location and providing clock data relating to the particular accessory, and indicating the accessories to be actuated by an envelope entering the array, storing envelope handling programs in the accessory interface microcomputer, and act

Abstract: A method and associate apparatus for providing a scanner interface circuit for a universal multi-station document inserter having a plurality of document feeder stations has a central processor which stores a supervisory program and scanner interface circuits associated with at least some of the feeder stations. Each scanner interface circuit has a unique address, a portion of which is shared with that of its associated feeder station and a distributed processor which stores a scanner program containing instructions for scanning coded documents. The scanner circuit, in response to address signals received from the central processor, scans the coded document and provides document present and end of collation signals to the central processor. A programmable counter is provided in the scanner circuit to provide timing signals for reading codes on coded documents.