Patent ID: 6978995

Claim:
A collector apparatus adapted for handling letter and flat units, the apparatus comprising: (a) a first staging area comprising a first staging surface disposed along an at least substantially horizontal plane and a first stage transport assembly; (b) a second staging area generally disposed downstream from the first staging area, the second staging area comprising a second staging surface disposed along an at least substantially horizontal plane and a second stage transport assembly; (c) a third staging area comprising at least a portion of the second staging area; and (d) a conveying device adjustable between a letters mode position using the first and second staging areas and a flats mode position using the third staging area, wherein: (i) in the letters mode position, a first material flow path is defined through the first and second staging areas and the conveying device is adapted for letters to be advanced by the conveying device to and staged in the first staging area in an at least substantially horizontal orientation for subsequent advancement to the second staging area; and (ii) in the flats mode position, a second material flow path is defined through the third staging area wherein the conveying device is adapted for flats to be advanced by the conveying device to pass over at least a portion of the first staging area and advance to the third staging area.