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US 2014/0260115 A1Published application
System and method for processing stacks of articles
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsRiley Houston Mayhall, III, Edward S. Mascali, Anthony B. Taylor
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims23
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 more elements
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.
8 more elements
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.
6 more elements
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.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.