Patent ID: 7381026

Claim:
The method of processing mail envelopes, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a mail processing machine including a stacker bin, having infeed and discharge ends, into which mail envelopes are placed in an upstanding position so as to be standing on edge; (b) providing a source of empty mail trays remote from the stacker bin; (c) providing a robot including a movable robot arm having a mail tray support and mail sweeper secured to the tool end thereof with the robot being positioned relative to the stacker bin and the source of empty mail trays so that the mail tray support and mail sweeper may be moved therebetween by the robot; (d) causing the robot arm to move to the source of empty mail trays; (e) positioning an empty mail tray in the mail tray support; (f) moving the robot arm so that the empty mail tray in the mail tray support thereon is positioned below the stacker bin at the discharge end thereof; (g) positioning the mail sweeper relative to the envelopes and moving of the mail tray support away from the stacker bin causing the mail envelopes in the bin to be swept into the mail tray; (h) moving the robot arm and the filled mail tray to a mail tray discharge area; (i) removing the filled mail tray from the mail tray support; and (j) repeating the steps of (d)-(i).