System and apparatus for the orientation and bidirectional feed of indicia bearing mail

A mail handling apparatus for feeding envelope mail pieces according to the location of postal indicia thereupon comprising:

• A. feeding means for individually feeding mail pieces in a downward direction;
• B. a chute-like receptacle means located directly below said feeding means for receiving mail pieces fed downwardly from said feeding means, said receptacle means being positionable to at least two positions;
• C. a first conveyor means comencing adjacent one end of said receptacle and aligned with one of said receptacle positions.
• D. a second conveyor means comencing adjacent the other end of said receptacle and aligned with said other receptacle position.
• E. an indicia detection means located between said feeding means and said receptacle for detecting the location of postage indicia on each mail piece fed thereby and for controlling the positioning of said receptacle means;
• and
• F. ejection means operatively located at each position of said receptacle means for ejecting each mail piece from the receptacle means to one of the aligned conveyor means.