Patent ID: 7398635

Claim:
A method of alignment in a mail inserter, the inserter having an insertion station and an insert feeding station adjacent to the insertion station, the insertion station having an insertion position for placing a receiving envelope, the envelope having two side edges defining a width of the receiving envelope, the insert feeding station having a transport mechanism to move insert material into the receiving envelope, the insert material having a leading edge, a trailing edge and two side edges, said method comprising the steps of: sensing a position of at least one of the side edges of the receiving envelope in the insertion station for providing an envelope edge position; sensing a position of at least one of the side edges of the insert material in the insert feeding station for providing an insert edge position; determining an actual edge clearance based upon a distance measurement between the sensed envelope and insert edge positions; comparing the actual edge clearance to a minimum desired edge clearance to determine an error value therebetween; and adjusting one of the envelope and insert edge positions relative to the other when the error value exceeds a predetermined amount.