Patent ID: 8783094

Claim:
A method of identifying an imperfection in a seal of a sealed mail envelope, comprising: moving a sealed mail envelope laterally on a surface of a feed member relative to an air delivery system, the sealed mail envelope having a seal positioned between a top flap and a bottom flap or side flap of the envelope; delivering a positive flow of air from the air delivery system to a leading edge of the top flap of the envelope at a pressure and angle to at least partially separate the top flap from the bottom flap or the side flap of the envelope at an imperfection in the seal without removing the envelope from the feed member; further moving the envelope on the surface of the feed member under a stationary wedge, the wedge being spaced above the feed member such that sealed mail envelopes having imperfect seals engage the wedge and sealed mail envelopes having adequate seals only pass under the wedge; and as the envelope advances past the wedge, engaging the partially separated top flap with the wedge and unfolding the top flap of envelope to a substantially 180 degree position relative to a sealed position of the top flap, the wedge having a shape that increases in height and width with a direction of travel of the feed member for unfolding the top flap from the envelope.