A mailpiece sorting apparatus is described which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner,
a mailpiece transporter, a sanitizer and compartments or bins for receiving sorted
mailpieces, an optical character recognition system (OCR) for reading addressee
information, an addressee database, and a personal computer (PC) or microprocessor
based control system. In one configuration, mailpieces are feed, singulated and
sanitized. In another configuration, mailpieces are fed, singulated, sanitized
and sorted. In another configuration, the system is contained in a sanitization
area and clean room. The system provides for sanitization of mailpieces so as to
help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming
material and sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm.
