The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 01, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1997
Albert F Stevens, Moorestown, NJ (US);
Mark A Stevens, Medford, NJ (US);
Robert R Dewitt, Moorestown, NJ (US);
William R Lile, Medford, NJ (US);
Michael E York, Sicklerville, NJ (US);
Jeffrey L Chodack, Newark, DE (US);
Roy E Patterson, Tabernacle, NJ (US);
Opex Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US);
Abstract
In a method for the automated processing of bulk mail, envelopes are transferred to a receiving apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, and the extracted documents are delivered to a remittance processing device, 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 to deliver extracted documents to either one, or a series of remittance processing devices. If desired, a buffer is provided which can receive and temporarily store documents received from the extraction device, for appropriate delivery to the remittance processing device responsive to demand.