Single feed one pass mixed mail sequencer

A letter and flat mail handling and sorting system, comprising:

• input feed means for feeding a random mixed input of letter and flat mail pieces having randomly arranged street addresses printed thereon;
• reader means for reading printed address information from said fed random mixed input of letter and flat mail pieces;
• a plurality of receiving compartments, respectively representing a plurality of delivery addresses arranged in a predetermined sequence which corresponds to sequenced delivery addresses upon a particular route to which letter and flat mail is to be delivered in accordance with a delivery address sequence, for receiving said letter and flat mail pieces in said delivery address sequence;
• conveyor means for conveying said random mixed input of letter and flat mail pieces from said reader means toward said plurality of receiving compartments;
• a plurality of loading and transfer compartments, respectively operatively associated with said plurality of receiving compartments, for receiving said random mixed input letter and flat mail pieces from said conveyor means and for transferring said random mixed input letter and flat mail pieces to predetermined ones of said receiving compartments so as to properly arrange said letter and flat mail pieces within said plurality of receiving compartments in accordance with said delivery address sequence;
• means operatively connected to said conveyor means for sorting said random mixed input of letter and flat mail pieces such that said sorted letter and flat mail pieces can be directed into said plurality of loading and transfer compartments, and in turn into said plurality of receiving compartments, as a result of a single pass of said random mixed input of letter and flat mail pieces through said system from said input feed means to said plurality of receiving compartments whereby letter and flat mail pieces originally comprising said random mixed input of said letter and flat mail pieces having said randomly arranged street addresses printed thereon are now disposed within said plurality of receiving compartments so as to be arranged in said delivery address sequence;
• and
• computer control means, into which is input said printed address information read by said reader means from said random mixed input letter and flat mail pieces, and within which said sequenced delivery addresses as respresented by said plurality of receiving compartments are also present, for controlling said sorting means and said plurality of loading and transfer compartments in order to properly route said random mixed input letter and flat mail pieces toward said plurality of receiving compartments such that said letter and flat mail pieces are now properly arranged within said plurality of receiving compartments in accordance with said delivery address sequence.