Sorting method, for letters, involves sorting letters that cannot be read into special compartments for marking and return to sorting machine but not returning marked letters that can still not be read

摘要

The method involves using a sorting machine (1) with an imaging unit to record the letter surface and an evaluation unit to detect and read the address and postmarks. Letters that cannot be read are sorted into special compartments (3-5) according to the different reasons for non-reading and are returned in a position that can be read to the input (6) of the sorting machine. The beginning and end of the letter stack in each special compartment is readably characterized and the stack is returned to the sorting machine input in the reading orientation. Letters of a characterized stack that can still not be read are sorted into an additional compartment (11), and are not returned to the sorting machine input.