Apparatus and method for automated mail extraction and remittance processing

摘要

An apparatus (1) for the automated processing of bulk mail, wherein envelopes are transferred to the apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, communicates with a remittance processing device (2), preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system. Also disclosed are various presorting functions so that only envelopes containing documents of a specified type will be fully processed, other sorting functions such as the identification of specific types of documents (invoices or checks) for separate processing, and the use of a single extraction device (25) to deliver extracted documents to either one, or a series of remittance processing devices (2,2',2"); if desired, in connection with a buffer (135) which can receive and temporarily store documents received from the extraction device, for appropriate delivery to the remittance processing device responsive to demand.