Patent ID: 7527261

Claim:
A system for stacking mail having an escort assembly for handling each mailpiece, comprising: a containment device having a base, vertical walls extending from the base and an open end for accepting the mailpieces therein; the containment device having a slot formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof, a transport mechanism having a first and second transport segments, the first transport segment for conveying escort assemblies and respective mailpieces over an open end of the containment device; the second transport segment for lowering the escort assemblies and respective mailpieces into the open end of the containment device such that an edge of the mailpieces is aligned along one of the vertical walls of the containment device and a portion of the escort assembly extends through the slot of the containment device; a detachment mechanism operative to release the mailpieces from the respective escort assembly and move the escort assemblies through the slot of the containment device.