Apparatus and method for mail sorting

摘要

For sorting mail to a case (70) having a plurality of slots (72), wherein each slot corresponds to a destination, an automated insertion mechanism is provided which can assure that a mail piece can be added to the slot without damaging the mail piece and without crushing or pulling out mail pieces already in the slot. The inserter apparatus (142) includes a frame, a pair of inserter plates (252,254) spaced to receive a mail piece (425) therebetween, a first guide disposed on the frame on which the inserter plates can move from a retracted position to an extended position, an H-shaped belt including two loops (280,282) united by a lateral connecting portion (284), the loops being slidably mounted on each of the plates, a first drive system (162) disposed on the frame for moving the plates and belt between the extended and retracted positions, and a second drive system (422) disposed on the frame and connected to the connecting portion of the belt for moving the connecting portion of the belt forward and back along the plates, causing sliding movement of the loops around the outsides of each of the belts, with forward movement being effective to move a mail piece received by the belt ahead of the connecting portion out of a front end opening of the plates, and rearward movement being effective to draw a mail piece received in the front end opening of the plates rearwardly to a position between the plates.