Systems and methods for detecting double-feed items on mail processing equipment

A mail processing automation system, comprising:

• an imager;
• a control system connected to control the imager;
• and
• an identifier database stored in the control system, wherein the automation system is configured to:
• receive a first mail piece and a second mail piece together as a combined mail piece in a first automation pass;
• scan both sides of the combined mail piece with the imager to determine a first side identifier and a second side identifier, wherein the first side identifier is determined from the first side of the first mail piece and the second side identifier is determined from the second side of the second mail piece;
• store the first side identifier and the second side identifier in the identifier database as associated with the combined mail piece;
• separately scan the first mail piece with the imager to determine the first side identifier and a different second side identifier, in a second automation pass after the first mail piece has separated from the second mail piece;
• separately scan the second mail piece with the imager to determine the second side identifier and a different first side identifier, in the second automation pass after the first mail piece has separated from the second mail piece;
• query the identifier database using the first side identifier to retrieve the second side identifier associated with the combined mail piece;
• determine that the different second side identifier is now associated with the separate second mail piece;
• and
• identify at least one of the first mail piece or the second mail piece as a double feed mail piece.

A computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause an automation system to:

• receive a first mail piece and a second mail piece together as a combined mail piece in a first automation pass;
• scan both sides of the combined mail piece with an imager to determine a first side identifier and a second side identifier, wherein the first side identifier is determined from the first side of the first mail piece and the second side identifier is determined from the second side of the second mail piece;
• store the first side identifier and the second side identifier in the identifier database as associated with the combined mail piece;
• separately scan the first mail piece with the imager to determine the first side identifier and a different second side identifier, in a second automation pass after the first mail piece has separated from the second mail piece;
• separately scan the second mail piece with the imager to determine the second side identifier and a different first side identifier, in the second automation pass after the first mail piece has separated from the second mail piece;
• query the identifier database using the first side identifier to retrieve the second side identifier associated with the combined mail piece;
• determine that the different second side identifier is now associated with the separate second mail piece;
• and
• identify at least one of the first mail piece or the second mail piece as a double feed mail piece.