Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a paper feeding mechanism (210) to feed sheets of paper into a collection bin (220) that is adapted to receive in a stack the sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism (230) to remove a bottom one of said sheets of paper from the stack, and a deionizer (240) that reduces static electricity in the vicinity of the stack. In this manner, the deionizer helps facilitate removal by the retrieval mechanism of only one of the sheets of paper at a time, by reducing static electricity on the sheets.

Abstract: A method for covering a book includes delivering a book into a pocket, delivering an inverted cover for the book into the pocket, the cover having a first side and a second side, the first side of the cover contacting a side of the book in the pocket, and reversing the second side of the cover so as to contact another side of the book. Also disclosed is a book covering device including a plurality of movable pockets for receiving a book and an inverted cover, each pocket having a support wall and a spine stop movable with respect to the support wall, and each pocket including a cover reversing device for reversing the inverted cover.

Abstract: A collating machine for printed sheets having a row of feeding stations with magazines for accommodating stacks of printed sheets and at least one magazine for accommodating cards, stickers, product samples or similar advertising means to be affixed onto printed sheets, having devices for individually separating the printed sheets and advertising means from the magazines, having a device for applying an adhesive prior to the joining of the advertising means to the printed sheet, having a collecting conveyor which comprises a collecting channel and a continuous conveyor chain with drivers, which from behind push the printed sheets along the collecting channel, and having an intermediate conveyor, which is disposed above the collecting conveyor and on which a printed sheet and an advertising means are joined together by adhesion and conveyed further in a clocked manner for deposit onto a printed sheet and/or printed sheet stack fed by the drivers of the conveyor chain of the collecting conveyor in the collectin