Automated mail creation and processing system

A system for preparing mail packages to be sent to recipients, a mail package comprising:

• a carrier envelope having a front address window and a back window;
• a content document within the carrier envelope positioned at the back of the carrier envelope, the content document having a content style code printed on it, and the content style code being visible through the back window of the carrier envelope;
• and
• a reply envelope within the carrier envelope positioned at the front of the carrier envelope, the reply envelope having a recipient address area aligned with the address window on the front of the carrier envelope;
• the system comprising:
• a computer storing a list of recipients and for each recipient storing a corresponding content style for the recipient;
• a mail package transport;
• a scanner arranged proximal to the transport and scanning the content style code while the mail package is on the transport;
• the scanner coupled to the computer system, the computer system determining the content style for the content document from the scanned content style code and selecting a recipient having the corresponding content style from the list of recipients;
• and
• a printing mechanism contiguous to the transport and coupled to the computer system and arranged to print the recipient's name and address information, received from the computer system, onto the address area of the reply envelope.

A method for preparing mail packages to be sent to recipients, a mail package comprising a carrier envelope, a content document within the carrier envelope, the content document having a content style code printed on it, and a reply envelope within the carrier envelope, the method comprising:

• storing in a computer a list of recipients, comprising storing a corresponding content style for each recipient;
• preparing the mail package, comprising inserting the content document and the reply envelope into the carrier envelope, wherein inserting is carried out independently of any determination of the recipient to whom the mail package will be sent;
• feeding, using a mail package transport, the mail package in a series of mail packages;
• scanning, using a scanner arranged proximal to the transport, the content style code while the mail package is being fed;
• determining, using a computer, a content style for the content document from the scanned content style code;
• selecting, using the computer, a recipient having the corresponding content style from the list of recipients;
• and
• printing, using a printing mechanism coupled to the computer system, the recipient's name and address information onto an address area of the reply envelope.