US 6,802,500 B2 · Systems and methods of providing inserts into envelopes

Abstract

The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a paper feeding mechanism (210) to feed sheets of paper into a collection bin (220) that is adapted to receive in a stack the sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism (230) to remove a bottom one of said sheets of paper from the stack, and a deionizer (240) that reduces static electricity in the vicinity of the stack. In this manner, the deionizer helps facilitate removal by the retrieval mechanism of only one of the sheets of paper at a time, by reducing static electricity on the sheets.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A mail processing apparatus comprising:

a track over which paper sheets are adapted to pass in sequence;
a moving mechanism that is adapted to move the sheets along the track;
and
an inserting mechanism that is adapted to add an insert to one of the sheets while on the track, wherein the inserting mechanism includes;
a grasping mechanism that is adapted to grasp and move the insert onto the sheet, the grasping mechanism swinging in a first direction about a hinge point prior to grasping the insert and swinging in a second direction about the hinge point to move the insert;
and
a nozzle positioned above the track that is adapted to direct a gas stream onto the insert to hold the insert to the sheet, so that the grasping mechanism passes over both the sheet and the insert when the grasping mechanism is moving in the first direction to grasp a subsequent insert for a subsequent sheet.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods of providing inserts into envelopes

Life of this patent

Systems and methods of providing inserts into envelopes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20