SORTING AND ACQUIRING IMAGE DATA FOR DOCUMENTS

摘要

An apparatus (10) is provided for sorting a group of documents contained wit h an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder (15) feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport (75). A document extractor (50) extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller (95) identifies the documents extracted from each envelope along with the envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector (135, 140) determines the orientation of selected documents. A document orientor (150, 170) changes the orientation of documents into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device (230) acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed to enable the syst em controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches. A non-volatil e image storage medium stores the acquired images of the envelopes. A document sorter sorts the documents and envelopes of respective batches into selected output areas.