Patent ID: 8181768

Claim:
A mailpiece inserter comprising: a feed conveyor adapted to feed a shingled stack of mailpiece envelopes along a feed path to an insert module; a chassis module adapted to produce content material for insertion into the mailpiece envelopes processed by the insert module, the chassis module having a workstation for an operator to feed content material; a first envelope position detector for sensing a discontinuity in the shingled stack of mailpiece envelopes at a first location along the feed path and issuing a first position signal indicative thereof; and an input module adapted to convey mailpiece envelopes into shingled engagement with an aft end of the shingled stack of mailpiece envelopes on the feed conveyor; the input module having an input end proximal to the workstation of the chassis module to enable an operator to feed mailpiece envelopes to the input module and content material to the chassis module, and an output end aligned with the feed path of the feed conveyor to dispense mailpiece envelopes, the input module having an extensible conveyor, responsive to the position signal, to advance an input module conveyor deck toward the aft end of the shingled stack on the feed conveyor and dispense mailpiece envelopes into shingled engagement therewith.