System and method of unloading a container of items

A system for unloading a container comprising:

• a container configured to enclose a stack of articles, the container comprising a door and at least one channel formed in a side surface of the container;
• a feeder comprising:
• a frame having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a singulator;
• a belt assembly disposed on the frame, the belt assembly having at least one opening disposed therein, wherein the belt assembly is configured to support the container and the stack of articles, and to move the stack of articles toward the singulator;
• a lower paddle disposed generally below the belt assembly, the lower paddle comprising lower tines, wherein a portion of the lower paddle is moveable through the opening of the belt assembly, and
• an upper paddle disposed generally above the belt assembly, the upper support comprising upper tines, at least a portion of the upper paddle being configured to extend through the at least one channel formed in the side surface of the container;
• wherein the upper paddle and the lower paddle are configured to provide supporting pressure to the stack of articles when the stack of articles is on the belt assembly and wherein the plurality of upper and lower tines are offset from each other such that the upper and lower tines are configured to mesh within the same plane, without impinging on each other.

A method of unloading a container comprising:

• operating a feeder, the feeder comprising:
• a frame having a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a singulator;
• a belt disposed on the frame, the belt having an opening therein, wherein the belt is configured to move an article toward the second end and into contact with the singulator;
• an upper paddle disposed above the belt;
• a lower paddle moveably connected to the frame and disposed at least partially below the belt;
• extending at least a portion of the lower paddle upward through an opening disposed in the belt, at a location more proximal to the second end of the belt than the location of the container;
• receiving a container enclosing a stack of articles onto the first end of the belt, wherein the container comprises a door and a rear surface with at least one channel formed therein;
• opening the door of the container using the upper paddle, wherein the upper paddle is moveable between the first end and the second end of the feeder;
• moving at least a portion of the upper paddle through the channel in the rear surface of the container;
• supporting the stack of articles in the container with the portion of the upper paddle;
• and
• moving the upper paddle toward the second end of the feeder, thereby pushing the stack of articles through the door of the container, and impinging a lead article in the stack of articles against the portion of the lower paddle which extends above the belt;
• removing the container from the feeder while leaving the stack of articles sandwiched between the upper paddle and the lower paddle;
• withdrawing the lower paddle through the opening disposed in the belt;
• advancing the stack of articles toward the singulator using the belt and supporting the stack of articles with the at least a portion of the upper paddle.