An enclosing device includes an envelope conveyance path, an envelope loader, an envelope-position restrictor, and an envelope-position adjuster. The envelope conveyance path conveys an envelope to an enclosing position at which an enclosure is enclosed into the envelope. The envelope loader loads the envelope to be supplied to the envelope conveyance path. The envelope-position restrictor restricts a loaded position of the envelope in the envelope loader. The envelope-position adjuster adjusts a position of the envelope with respect to a conveyance direction of the envelope while maintaining a state in which the envelope-position restrictor restricts the loaded position of the envelope.

An envelope sealing and flipping system can be incorporated into a mail inserter system to seal an envelope with a complete unbroken glue line and simultaneously flip the envelope face-up for downstream processing. The system includes a flip cage that receives an envelope and a moveable wetting brush that contacts the flap. The flip cage rotates, causing the flap to drag underneath the wetting brush, and realigning the envelope with a sealer nip which seals the envelope. The flip cage rotates continuously to receive, flip, and seal many envelopes.

An envelope processing apparatus includes a flap opener, a first envelope detector, a second envelope detector, and circuitry. The flap opener opens a flap of an envelope during conveyance of the envelope in an envelope conveyance passage in which the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. The first envelope detector detects the envelope at a position upstream from the flap opener in a conveyance direction of the envelope. The second envelope detector detects the envelope at a position downstream from the flap opener in the conveyance direction. The circuitry causes the flap opener to execute an opening operation of the flap of the envelope conveyed to the enclosing position and causes the flap opener to execute the opening operation of the flap again when an opening-and-closing state of the flap determined based on detection results of the envelope by the first and second envelope detectors is abnormal.

An envelope sealing and flipping system can be incorporated into a mail inserter system to seal an envelope with a complete unbroken glue line and simultaneously flip the envelope face-up for downstream processing. The system includes a flip cage that receives an envelope and a moveable wetting brush that contacts the flap. The flip cage rotates, causing the flap to drag underneath the wetting brush, and realigning the envelope with a sealer nip which seals the envelope. The flip cage rotates continuously to receive, flip, and seal many envelopes.

Stations for sealing envelopes include a spacer, a positioning surface, and an envelope support surface configured to support the envelopes. A sealing mechanism is provided with sealing members configured to apply heat and pressure to a sealable member on the envelope to form a closure seal. The spacer and the positioning surface are configured to align the sealable member with the sealing members when the envelope is resting on the envelope support surface.

Envelope sealing machines include a sealer that can operate in different sealing modes in which the values of the sealing parameters are tailored to the specific material configuration of the envelope being sealed. For example, a first sealing mode can be used to apply sealing conditions appropriate for paper envelopes, and a second sealing mode can be used to apply sealing conditions appropriate for plastic film. A controller can receive inputs identifying the material configuration of the envelope to be sealed, select the appropriate values for the sealing parameters for that material configuration, and provide inputs to the sealer that cause the sealer to apply the sealing conditions appropriate for the material configuration.