Abstract: A dual sack rack frame (10) allows mail sacks (12) and (14) of different sizes or, alternatively, tray receptacles (100) and (110) to be used as output for the small parcels and bundles sorting system used by the United States Post Office. The mail sacks (12) and (14) are connected to rear, pivotable, spring biased retention hooks 46 and front, stationary hooks (50) or (52), respectively. The tray receptacles (100) and (110) are positioned on tray supports (36) which are pivoted downward when mail sack collection is no longer desired. The dual sack rack frame (10) is easily exchangeable with other collection receptacles by simply pivoting the chute support brackets (32) to a non-supportive position and detaching the plunger pin (22) which connects it to the stabilizing frame.

Abstract: An optical reader system configured as a kit for retrofitting the input consoles of existing letter sorting machines of the type used by the U.S. Postal Service. Such machines require that an operator, stationed at a console, enter sorting information for each mail piece, by way of a manually actuated keyboard. The present invention expands the processing capabilities of the machines by permitting the machine reading of mail pieces that have had their address information pre-coded in machine readable form on their respective faces. At the same time, the automatic function does not impair or modify the usual operator controlled console operation when non-coded mail is being processed.

Abstract: A mail processing system is described for performing several basic functions. The first of these entails the receipt by the system of mail in single file or in small clumps which arrive synchronously or asynchronously in a random manner. Secondly, the system stores or buffers the mail in an orderly shingled fashion wherein the first batch of mail stored is the first batch to subsequently exit the buffer. Finally, the third function involves the output feeding of the shingled batch of mail from the system to further processing equipment. The system may advantageously include for some applications one or more singulators for generating from the shingled batch, a defined stream of mail pieces separated from one another. It is a significant feature of the buffer feeder system that the above-mentioned functions are interwoven such that the system is capable of receiving and storing one batch of mail while concurrently feeding out a previously stored batch.

Abstract: A document singulator is described for use in separating into single items mail pieces derived from a source of collection mail. The device comprises a plurality of spaced-apart singulation stations each having a friction roller and adapted to be actuated in a predetermined manner to effect the separation of documents lying on top of one another. The rollers are mounted in an inclined slide which has a compound slope and a single registration wall, thereby assuring mail flow down the length of the slide as well as proper registration of the mail pieces at each station. The device is capable of processing a variety of mail pieces including flats such as magazines, folded newspapers, etc., and is virtually free from hard, mail-damaging jams.

Abstract: A device is described for capturing certain predetermined types of mail pieces from a moving mail flow and for regulating the subsequent delivery thereof to processing equipment. The device is comprised of a receiving station and a delivery station linked by a common narrow transport. The latter forms a shallow shelf or ledge situated at the bottom of the receiving station and adapted at any given time to catch a limited number of certain types of mail from a mixed stream as it flows through the station. Additionally, the receiving station includes a vane-like member for selectively deflecting all of the mail from the transport. The operation of the member is under control of the delivery station and depends upon whether or not mail pieces awaiting further processing downstream are present in the station. The motion of the transport is controlled by both the delivery station and the processing equipment to insure that they will be kept continuously supplied with mail.

Abstract: A system is described for receiving mixed mail pieces, for singulating the machinable mail including flats, and for culling all of the pieces into respective discrete categories for further processing. The system is characterized by an inherent freedom from jams and consequent mail damage and features a recycle loop which provides a continuous, substantially uniform output of machinable mail.