Method and apparatus for processing envelopes containing contents

Abstract

A mail processor and a method for processing mail is provided. The mail processor severs envelopes along one or more edges and transports the envelopes to a work desk where an operator removes contents from the envelopes. A feeder draws envelopes from the bottom of a stack of mail placed in a hopper. The envelopes are serially fed by the feeder to a cutting assembly that severs each envelope along one or more edges. A transport assembly tilts each envelope in an inclined plane and presents the tilted envelope to an operator. An extractor opens the severed faces of the envelope to expose the contents to the operator and permit the operator to remove the contents from the envelope. In one embodiment of the invention, the envelope is discharged from the extractor to a verifier that confirms that the envelope is empty prior to disposal of the envelope.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to mail processing, and more specifically to an apparatus that opens envelopes on one or more sides, presents the opened envelopes to an operator so that the operator can extract the contents from the envelopes, and discards the envelopes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Automated and semi-automated machines have been employed for processing documents such as bulk mail. Due to the large quantity of mail received by many companies, there has long been a need for efficient opening and sorting of incoming mail. Envelope opening and document sorting have become particularly important in the area of remittance processing. [0003] Utility companies, phone companies, and credit card companies routinely receive thousands of payment envelopes from their customers on a daily basis. Typically, a customer payment envelope contains an invoice stub and some type of customer payment, usually in the form of a bank check or money order. [...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In a first aspect of the present invention, a mail processor is provided which cuts open envelopes and conveys the opened envelopes to an extraction station where an operator can remove contents from the envelopes. The mail processor has a feeder that feeds envelopes from the bottom of a stack of mail placed in a hopper. The envelopes are serially fed to a cutting assembly that severs each envelope along one or more edges. The severed envelopes are sent to a transport assembly

Problems solved by technology

In addition, the opacity of the envelopes may vary significantly due to the differences between standard envelopes and privacy envelopes commonly used for financial documents.

Images