Article feeder with a retractable product guide

A system for unloading a container comprising:

• a container configured to hold articles;
• an automatic stack feeder comprising:
• a singulator;
• a conveyor configured to receive a first stack of articles and the container, wherein the container has a second stack of articles therein, the conveyor further configured to move the first stack of articles and the container toward the singulator;
• a stack guide aligned substantially parallel to the conveyor, wherein the stack guide comprises a continuous, substantially vertical surface configured to contact an edge of the first and second stacks of articles, and wherein the stack guide is moveable from a first position to a second position;
• a sensor configured to detect the presence of the container on the conveyor;
• and
• a controller, in communication with the sensor, and configured to control movement of the stack guide between the first position and the second position in response to the presence of the container on the conveyor.

A method of sorting articles comprising:

• operating a stack feeder comprising a stack guide;
• receiving a container having a first stack of articles therein onto a conveyor of the automatic stack feeder;
• detecting the presence of the container on the conveyor;
• moving the stack guide in response to the detected presence of the container;
• unloading the first stack of articles from the container;
• detecting the absence of the container;
• and
• moving the stack guide in response to the absence of the container.

A system for sorting articles comprising:

• operating a stack feeder comprising a stack guide;
• means for receiving a container having a first stack of articles therein onto a conveyor of the automatic stack feeder;
• means for detecting the presence of the container on the conveyor;
• means for moving the stack guide in a first direction in response to the detected presence of the container;
• means for unloading the first stack of articles from the container;
• means for detecting the absence of the container;
• and
• means for moving the stack guide in a second direction in response to the absence of the container.