An orientation changing apparatus includes a transport path along which a transport object is transported and that includes a portion having a space; a changing unit that changes an orientation of the transport object transported toward the space, the changing unit changing the orientation in the space by applying a rotational force to the transport object in a direction that crosses a transporting direction in which the transport object is transported; and a receiving unit that receives the transport object after the orientation of the transport object is changed by the changing unit.

A method for adjusting at least one means of an inserting apparatus adjusted for processing envelopes according to at least one predetermined dimension of the envelope is described. A plurality of envelopes is measured, while the envelopes are moved to obtain at least one predetermined dimension of the envelope. Depending on a comparison of the obtained dimension with the adjusted dimension and/or with one or several previously obtained dimensions, at least one means of the inserting apparatus is adjusted for processing the envelopes.

An orientation changing apparatus includes a transport path along which a transport object is transported and that includes a portion having a space; a changing unit that changes an orientation of the transport object transported toward the space, the changing unit changing the orientation in the space by applying a rotational force to the transport object in a direction that crosses a transporting direction in which the transport object is transported; and a receiving unit that receives the transport object after the orientation of the transport object is changed by the changing unit.

An envelope processing apparatus inserts an enclosure into an envelope and includes a first conveyor, a first ejector, a second conveyor, a second ejector, and circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the enclosure to an enclosing position. The envelope in which the enclosure is enclosed is ejected to the first ejector. The second conveyor conveys the envelope to the enclosing position via an envelope conveyance passage extended in a substantially vertical and up-and-down direction and conveys the envelope in which the enclosure is inserted to the first ejector. The second ejector is separate from the first ejector. The enclosure is ejected to the second ejector. The circuitry controls a conveyance operation of the first conveyor and the second conveyor.

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a system and method for inserting contents into envelopes that generally reduces the number of operative device components, locates all components in a readily and accessible location, reduces the number of adjustments needed to change envelope size and contents size, provides an efficient and aesthetically pleasing design, allows for a highly flexible arrangement of backup hoppers to primary hoppers for feeding envelope contents and otherwise affords a substantial number of improvements over currently available envelope inserters. The illustrative embodiment includes a feed table with a low-slung swing arm for handling contents, a pivoting feed table that exposes the operative components on the underside, a novel raceway belt with projecting lugs for transporting contents to the insertion area, a primary and secondary contents hopper backup system, a mechanism for easily adjusting for different-sized envelopes, and a variety of other novel features.

A filling station for filling an envelope is configured to receive a filling material and an envelope. The filling station includes a filling area including at least one filling aid, an envelope feeder configured to receive an envelope and to hold the envelope at least partly at a position outside the filling area, and a transport device configured to move an envelope, which is arranged in the envelope feeder, to the filling aid. The envelope feeder is configured to receive a further envelope during a movement of the preceding envelope from the envelope feeder to the filling aid and/or during filling of the preceding envelope. The transport device is configured to move the further envelope from the envelope feeder to the filling aid once filling of the preceding envelope has been completed and before transporting of the filled envelope out of the filling station has been completed.

Folding information and printing surface information, included in content information of a sealed letter creation job, are compared with content printing conditions stored in a storage section, and an appropriate condition (a conveyance path after printing, execution/non-execution of image rotation, and printing page order) is selected such that the position of a window of a windowed envelope is aligned with the position of specifying information printed on a print sheet P to be a content when the print sheet P is enclosed in the envelope. A convey section and a printing section are controlled based on the selected content printing condition.

An apparatus for inserting one or more goods into a moving cover includes a cover transport, and at least one filling aid configured to move at least partially into the cover and to be maintained within the cover during at least a part of the movement of the cover.

An enclosing device that inserts an enclosure into an envelope includes an envelope conveyance passage, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a conveyance guide, and a flap opener. The envelope is conveyed in the envelope conveyance passage. The first conveyor conveys the envelope in the envelope conveyance passage. The second conveyor is positioned downstream from the first conveyor in a conveyance direction of the envelope in the envelope conveyance passage. The conveyance guide is positioned between the first conveyor and the second conveyor in the envelope conveyance passage. The flap opener opens a flap of the envelope. At least one of a part of the conveyance guide or one end of the flap opener is positioned to straddle the envelope conveyance passage.

An automated greeting card conveyance system is disclosed that includes a first conveyor configured to transport pre-decorated greeting cards along a first conveyance path and a second conveyor configured to transport envelopes along a second conveyance path. A control system controls customization of each greeting card and envelope by (a) determining a card identifier of the greeting card, (b) identifying customized content associated with an order for the greeting card having the card identifier, and (c) causing the customized content to be printed on the greeting card and envelope. A coupling system may also be used to automatically insert the greeting card into the envelope. In addition, a sealing system may be used to automatically seal envelope having a pointed envelope flap.