An envelope inserting system has an envelope duct for empty envelopes, a transport device for transporting the envelopes from the duct to a packing pocket, a feeding device for feeding the envelope content to and into the pocket, and an outlet-transport device for reforwarding the filled envelope. The transport device has an envelope tunnel mounted movably on the inserting system about a pivot axis, upper and lower tunnel guidances for aligning the envelope with the pocket, and a swivel device operatively connected to the tunnel, and at least one drivable envelope pusher roll. The roll, in a first position, which the tunnel and roll occupy relative to the pocket, is fed from below against the downstream end portion of the upper tunnel guidance and a lower edge of an end edge of the end region is offset downwards relative to a plane defined by the guiding surface of the pocket.

An envelope processing apparatus that inserts an enclosure into an envelope includes an envelope conveyor, a flap opener, an enclosure pusher, and circuitry. The envelope conveyor extends in a vertical direction and conveys the envelope to an enclosing position via an envelope conveyance passage as a passage in which the envelope is conveyed. The flap opener opens a flap of the envelope. The enclosure pusher pushes the enclosure toward an opening of a body of the envelope conveyed to the enclosing position with the flap open. The circuitry changes a pushing amount of the enclosure into the envelope and adjusts the pushing amount based on the opening of the body of the envelope within a specified range from an inside to an outside of the body of the envelope.

A method for opening an envelope for insertion of a collation in an envelope inserting machine. The envelope is fed into an inserting station with its flap in an open position. The insertion station has vacuum belts to hold the envelope in position, and to move the envelope in an upstream or downstream direction. A suction cup is positioned above the envelope in the insertion station. The suction cup is moved downward to engage a top surface of the envelope near an upstream edge of the top surface. The suction cup then lifts the top surface of the envelope to open a throat of the envelope to facilitate insertion of a collation. The envelope on the vacuum belt is then moved in the upstream direction by a small amount so that the top surface of the envelope forms a more open angle for receiving the collation.

Systems and methods of forming a mailpiece by folding an envelope sheet around one or more insert sheets (e.g., an insert stack) include creating the insert stack, staging the insert stack proximate to the transport path of the envelope sheet, dispensing the insert stack onto the envelope sheet, applying adhesive to the envelope sheet, using a buckle folder to wrap the envelope sheet at least partially around the insert stack to form an unsealed envelope without stopping the envelope sheet and without bending the insert stack, folding the envelope flap of the unsealed envelope onto the back thereof using a plow folder, and sealing the flap of the envelope to the back of the envelope, creating the mailpiece.

The invention relates to a method for producing collections (15) from a plurality of N (N=2, 3, 4, . . . ) different printed products (11a-d), which collections (15) each comprise a stack (13) of printed products (11a-c), which stack is packed in a packaging element (11d) wrapped around the stack (13). A solution that does not require additional material use includes the following steps: providing the N printed products (11a-d): forming an intermediate stack (13) from Nx (x=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the N printed products (10a-d); providing the x remaining printed products as a packaging element (11d); and wrapping the intermediate stack (13) in the packaging element (11d).

An apparatus and method for opening an envelope for insertion of a collation. The apparatus includes a plurality of actuated suction cups that are positioned above an envelope in an insertion station. The actuated suction cups move downward to engage a top surface of the envelope and to lift the top surface away from the bottom surface in order to facilitate insertion of the collation. The suction cups include a first group that is actuated for opening all envelopes, and a second group, independently actuatable from the first group, and that is actuated only for opening envelopes having characteristics that require the additional suction cups.

A conveyor system is provided including a conveyor and a plurality of functional trays that are removably attachable to the conveyor. Each tray includes a plate having first and second dimensions that are orthogonal to each other, and the plate includes a coupler configured to be removably attached to the conveyor with the second dimension of the plate being in parallel with a moving direction of the conveyor. The plurality of functional trays include one or more of an envelope-opening mechanism, an item-pushing mechanism, an envelope-closing mechanism, an item-wrapping mechanism, and a tray-height-adjustment mechanism. For example, the item-pushing mechanism includes a pusher slidably coupled to the plate, and a linear actuator configured to move the pusher relative to the plate along the first dimension so as to push an item off the functional tray.

A mail creation method includes forming an address, forming an image, folding, inserting, sealing, and fixing a voucher. In the forming of the address, an image forming section forms the address on an envelope. In the forming of the image, the image forming section forms the image on paper. In the folding, a folding section folds the paper having the image formed thereon. In the inserting, an enclosing section inserts the folded paper into the envelope having the address formed thereon. In the sealing, the enclosing section seals the envelope having the folded paper inserted therein. In the fixing of the voucher, a voucher fixing section fixes the voucher to the sealed envelope. The voucher indicates that postage has been paid.

An apparatus for inserting one or more goods into a moving cover includes a cover transport, and at least one separating device configured to engage with a first part of the cover and to maintain the first part of the cover separate from a second part of the cover during at least a part of the movement of the cover.

A method for opening an envelope throat of an envelope transported along an envelope channel dependably opens the envelope throat of the envelope during insertion in an inserter. The envelope, in order to open the envelope throat, is first over-pressed against a counter-pressure and then the counter-pressure is released to open the envelope throat, and/or the envelope is over-pressed against the hold-down force that holds the envelope down on an envelope transport, in order to open the envelope throat. For this purpose, an inserter inserts one or more items into an envelope moving along an envelope channel.