Inter-machine buffer for mailpiece fabrication system

A system for wrapping sheet material to produce finished mailpieces, comprising:

• an upstream content fabrication module for conveying content material along a feed path;
• a downstream mailpiece assembly module including a wrapping module adapted to convey a web of sheet material along a downstream conveyance deck, the wrapping module adapted to encapsulate the content material in a tube-shaped wrap to produce wrapped mailpieces;
• and
• a buffer module including a plurality of buffer gates disposed in serial arrangement and interposing the upstream content fabrication module and the downstream mailpiece assembly modules, the buffer gates adapted to convey the content material from an upstream buffer gate to a downstream buffer gate to maintain a threshold pitch distance between pieces of content material;
• and
• a controller, operatively coupled to the upstream content fabrication module, the downstream mailpiece assembly module and the buffer module, the controller operative to control the conveyance of the content material through the buffer gates to coordinate the delivery and insertion of the content material into the tube-shaped wrap to maintain acceleration in the wrapping module below a threshold level.