An enclosing-sealing apparatus includes a flap opener that opens a flap of an envelope while the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. A first envelope detector is disposed upstream from the flap opener in an envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction. A second envelope detector is disposed downstream from the flap opener in the envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller determines the open state of the flap based on a first detection result sent from the first envelope detector and a second detection result sent from the second envelope detector. The controller performs troubleshooting for enclosing the enclosure into the envelope if the controller determines that the open state of the flap is faulty.

An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope conveyed to an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position. A first envelope length calculator calculates a first envelope length of the envelope in an envelope conveyance direction in which the envelope is conveyed in a close state in which a flap of the envelope closes. A flap opener opens the flap while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope. A second envelope length calculator calculates a second envelope length of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller calculates a flap length of the flap in the envelope conveyance direction based on the first envelope length and the second envelope length. The controller controls enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope based on the flap length.

In a sealed letter producing device which folds and seals, with a content, an envelope sheet on which pressure-sensitive adhesives are provided, sealing with pressure rollers smaller than in conventional rollers is achieved. Pressure-sensitive adhesives 106 are provided in both edge portions in the width direction of an envelope sheet 100, and remoistening paste 107 is provided inwardly of both edge portions. The remoistening paste is moistened when the envelope sheet wrapping a content is bent and formed into an envelope 50, the entire surface of the envelope is pressurized by low-pressure rollers and adhered with the remoistening paste, and further only both edge portions of the envelope 50 are pressurized by an upper and lower set and a left and right pair of the pressure rollers 80, 80 having a small width to adhere the pressure-sensitive adhesive 106. High pressure required for adhesion of the pressure-sensitive adhesives is only necessary in both edge portions of the envelope, and therefore small pressure rollers 80 will suffice.

In a sealed letter producing device which folds and seals, with a content, an envelope sheet on which pressure-sensitive adhesives are provided, sealing with pressure rollers smaller than in conventional rollers is achieved. Pressure-sensitive adhesives 106 are provided in both edge portions in the width direction of an envelope sheet 100, and remoistening paste 107 is provided inwardly of both edge portions. The remoistening paste is moistened when the envelope sheet wrapping a content is bent and formed into an envelope 50, the entire surface of the envelope is pressurized by low-pressure rollers and adhered with the remoistening paste, and further only both edge portions of the envelope 50 are pressurized by an upper and lower set and a left and right pair of the pressure rollers 80, 80 having a small width to adhere the pressure-sensitive adhesive 106. High pressure required for adhesion of the pressure-sensitive adhesives is only necessary in both edge portions of the envelope, and therefore small pressure rollers 80 will suffice.

A gluing station for applying glue to product elements guided in a product stream is intended to permit continuation of the production process and gluing of the product elements in a particularly simple and reliable manner even after a temporary machine stop or production standstill. For this purpose, according to the invention, a moistening system is assigned to a glue application roller that can roll on the product stream. During operation of the gluing station, in the event of a stopped product stream, the glue application roller is pivoted away from the product stream and the transfer roller for the duration of the standstill and is kept rotating, whereby the surface of the glue application roller is moistened.

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 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.

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.

A system (300) for closing mailers includes a forming funnel (320) and a fusing device (310). The forming funnel includes funneling surfaces that receive an opening of a mailer in an insertion direction (302) and constrain the opening of the mailer after the opening of the mailer is inserted. The funneling surfaces are arranged to continue constraining the opening of the mailer as the mailer moves in a sliding direction (304). The fusing device includes a slot that receives the constrained opening of the mailer from the forming funnel. The fusing device applies pressure and heat to the opening of the mailer as the opening of the mailer moves through the slot. The pressure and the heat applied by the fusing device cause portions of the opening to fuse together to close the mailer.

A system (300) for closing mailers includes a forming funnel (320) and a fusing device (310). The forming funnel includes funneling surfaces that receive an opening of a mailer in an insertion direction (302) and constrain the opening of the mailer after the opening of the mailer is inserted. The funneling surfaces are arranged to continue constraining the opening of the mailer as the mailer moves in a sliding direction (304). The fusing device includes a slot that receives the constrained opening of the mailer from the forming funnel. The fusing device applies pressure and heat to the opening of the mailer as the opening of the mailer moves through the slot. The pressure and the heat applied by the fusing device cause portions of the opening to fuse together to close the mailer.