METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING ENVELOPES CONTAINING CONTENTS

摘要

A mail processor (20) and a method for processing mail is provided. The mail processor severs envelopes along one or more edges and transports the envelopes to a work desk (21) where an operator removes contents from the envelopes. A feeder (30) draws envelopes from the bottom of a stack of mail placed in a hopper (32). The envelopes are serially fed by the feeder to a cutting assembly (40) that severs each envelope along one or more edges. A transport assembly (60) tilts each envelope in an inclined plane and presents the tilted envelope to an operator. An extractor (70) opens the severed faces of the envelope to expose the contents to the operator and permit the operator to remove the contents from the envelope. In one embodiment of the invention, the envelope is discharged from the extractor (70) to a verifier (80) that confirms that the envelope is empty prior to disposal of the envelope.