System and method for processing stacks of articles

Abstract

A stack of articles having a stack guide disposed thereon is disclosed. The stack guide comprises identifiers which relate to information about the stack and the articles within the stack, and to the orientation of the stack. The stack guide also comprises a guide for binding straps which can be identified during an unloading process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stack guide comprising:
 a first surface configured to be supported in a fixed location with respect to an article in a stack of articles;   a second surface which comprises:
 a securing guide configured to receive one or more securing members for bundling the stack of articles; and 
 at least one information source, the information source including a stack identifier and a stack orientation indicator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stack guide of  claim 1  further comprising a supplemental identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The stack guide of  claim 1 , wherein the stack identifier is a one or two-dimensional barcode. 
     
     
         4 . The stack guide of  claim 1 , wherein the stack orientation indicator is a marking recognizable by a computerized visual recognition system. 
     
     
         5 . The stack guide of  claim 1 , wherein the supplemental identifier comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
         6 . The stack guide of  claim 1 , wherein the articles are articles of mail. 
     
     
         7 . The stack guide of  claim 1 , wherein the securing guide forms a depression in the second surface, and wherein the stack identifier and the stack orientation indicator are disposed on opposite sides of the strap channel. 
     
     
         8 . A system for bundling articles into a stack comprising:
 a plurality of articles arranged into a stack, having the bound edge of each of the plurality of articles aligned within the stack;   a first surface configured to be supported in a fixed location with respect to an article in a stack of articles;   a second surface which comprises:
 a securing guide configured to receive one or more securing members for bundling the stack of articles; and 
 at least one information source, the information source including a stack identifier and a stack orientation indicator 
 a securing guide configured to receive one or more straps for bundling the stack of articles; and 
   wherein the stack identifier and the stack orientation indicator are disposed on opposite sides of the securing guide; and   one or more straps surrounding the stack of articles and passing through the securing guide, wherein a gap is created between the strap and a topmost article in the stack proximate to the stack guide.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an automatic unloading machine, wherein the automatic unloading machine is configured to read the stack identifier and the stack orientation indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the automatic unloading machine further comprises a cutting tool. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the gap between the strap and the topmost article in the stack is sized to accept the cutting tool on the automatic unloading machine. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the stack guide further comprises a supplemental identifier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stack identifier is a one or two-dimensional barcode. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stack orientation indicator is a marking recognizable by a computerized visual recognition system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the supplemental identifier comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stack of articles comprises articles of mail. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the securing guide forms a depression in the second surface. 
     
     
         18 . A method of processing a stack of articles comprising:
 receiving, into an automatic unloading apparatus, a stack of articles which are bound with a binding material and which includes a stack guide;   reading a stack identifier disposed on the stack guide;   retrieving stack information corresponding to the stack identifier from a database;   identifying the orientation of the stack using an orientation identifier disposed on the stack guide;   rotating the stack in response to the identified orientation;   identifying the location of the straps;   cutting the straps; and   unloading the articles from the stack in response to the retrieved stack information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising placing the articles from the stack into a tray with a bound edge of each of the articles aligned. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the stack guide further comprises a supplemental identifier. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising reading the supplemental identifier. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the stack of articles comprises articles of mail. 
     
     
         23 . A system of processing a stack of articles comprising:
 means for receiving, into an automatic unloading apparatus, a stack of articles which are bound with a binding material and which includes a stack guide;   means for reading a stack identifier disposed on the stack guide;   means for retrieving stack information corresponding to the stack identifier from a database;   means for identifying the orientation of the stack using an orientation identifier disposed on the stack guide;   means for rotating the stack in response to the identified orientation;   means for identifying the location of the straps;   means for cutting the straps; and   means for unloading the articles from the stack in response to the retrieved stack information.