Automatic mail processing apparatus

A mail processing apparatus comprising:

• means defining a mail transport path along which said mail is transported;
• means for feeding said mail piece-by-piece to said mail transport path;
• a pair of postage stamp detectors provided on both sides of said mail transport path;
• a first light coupler provided in said mail transport path upstream of said postage stamp detectors and adapted to sense each piece of said mail passing thereby;
• a pair of cancelers provided on both sides of said mail transport path downstream of said postage stamp detectors, each of said cancelers being adapted to be actuated at a predetermined time after each piece of said mail is sensed by said first light coupler;
• means defining a return path;
• means responsive to a failure of said postage stamp detectors to detect a postage stamp on each piece of said mail for switching said piece of mail from said transport path to said return path at another predetermined time after said piece of mail is sensed by said first light coupler;
• means provided in said return path for reversing each piece of said mail;
• a second light coupler provided in said return path to sense each reversed piece of said mail passing thereby;
• means for aligning the lower sides of the reversed pieces of said mail with each other;
• means for switching said reversed mail in said return path back to said mail transport path;
• means for controlling the operation of said feeding means in response to each piece of said mail being sensed by said second light coupler;
• and
• means responsive to a failure of said postage stamp detectors to detect a postage stamp on the reversed piece of said mail for removing said piece of mail from said mail transport path.