Patent ID: 7155878

Claim:
An envelope insertion station comprising: an insertion area; a driving mechanism for driving an envelope into the insertion area, the envelope having a throat; and an envelope opening device, the envelope opening device comprising: at least one actuating arm movably disposed in relationship to the insertion area between a first position, a second position, and a third position; at least one finger having a first end and a second end, the first end of said at least one finger pivotably mounted on said at least one actuating arm for pivoting motion, such that when said at least one actuating arm is in the first position, the second end of the finger is free to pivot so as to allow movement of the envelope into the insertion area and to be spaced from the throat of the envelop, and when said at least one actuating arm is in the second position, the second end of finger is limited from pivoting and is moved into the throat of the envelope; and when said at least one actuating arm is in the third position, the second end of the finger is free to pivot so as to allow enclosure material to be moved into the envelope through the throat of the envelope; and an actuating device, operatively connected to said at least one actuating arm for moving said at least one actuating arm between the first position, the second position, and the third position.