Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting the contents of envelopes, each of which has been opened along at least one edge and has an opposite edge which is unopened. The envelopes are successively projected with their unopened edges leading, against an adhesive surface of a travelling belt. The belt is subsequently oriented so that the envelopes are suspended therefrom and the belt is simultaneously vibrated to cause the contents of the envelopes to migrate downwardly and leave the envelopes. The contents are conveyed in an orderly fashion on a belt conveyor and formed into a stack. The empty envelopes are stripped from the belt. The adhesive surface on the belt is formed by renewable adhesive strips.