	US 7,591,454 B2
	Paper handling system material feed path arrangement
Carl R. Chapman, Monroe, Conn. (US); James A. Fairweather, Milford, Conn. (US); and Thomas M. Lyga, Southbury, Conn. (US)
Assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, Conn. (US)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/84,233.
Prior Publication US 2006/0220296 A1, Oct. 05, 2006
Int. Cl. B65H 39/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 270—58.06 [270/52.19; 270/52.2; 270/58.07; 270/58.14; 270/58.18]

3 Claims

3. In a materials handling system having a feeder station including a common transport path, a first feed mechanism for feeding an enclosure envelope to said common transport path and at least one second feed mechanism for feeding material to be inserted into said enclosure envelope to said common transport path, a method comprising the steps of:

feeding said enclosure envelope from said first feed mechanism to said common transport path;

passing said enclosure envelope from said common transport to a first transport path to transport said enclosure envelope from said common transport path to an insertion subsystem;

opening said enclosure envelope in said insertion subsystem to provide an opened enclosure envelope;

feeding material from said at least one second feed mechanism to said common transport path;

selectively passing said material from said common transport path to a second transport path or a third transport path, said second transport path transporting said material to said insertion subsystem, said third transport path transporting said material to a folder subsystem;

for said material passed to said second transport path, inserting said material into said opened enclosure envelope with said insertion subsystem;

for said material passed to said third transport path, folding said material with said folder subsystem and to provide folded material and then transporting said folded material to said insertion subsystem; and

inserting said folded material into said opened enclosure envelope with said insertion subsystem.