Patent ID: 8226345

Claim:
A device for processing mail items in bundles, comprising: at least one stacking device ( 3 ) for forming a bundle ( 4 ) of said mail items ( 7 ) and moving said bundle into a loading position; and pickup and handling means ( 9 , 11 , 15 ) provided to place a container ( 12 ) over said bundle ( 4 ) so that said bundle ( 4 ) being disposed inside said container and container ( 12 ) having an opening and to pick up said bundle ( 4 ) in said loading position and move said bundle ( 4 ) into a covering position; said stacking device ( 3 ) comprising: at least one substantially horizontal, flat supporting wall ( 20 ), on which said bundle ( 4 ) being placed; a front retainer ( 31 ) and a rear retainer ( 32 ) engaging opposite faces of said bundle ( 4 ) to keep said mail items ( 7 ) in said bundle ( 4 ) substantially perpendicular to said flat supporting wall ( 20 ) while being supported by said flat supporting wall ( 20 ), wherein said pickup and handling means ( 9 , 11 , 15 ) comprise at least one robot ( 9 ) for picking up said bundle ( 4 ) in said loading position and moving said bundle ( 4 ) into said covering position; and wherein said robot ( 9 ) comprises: at least one substantially horizontal, flat loading wall ( 50 ); a first auxiliary retainer ( 54 ) and a second auxiliary retainer ( 58 ), which substitute respectively for said front retainer ( 31 ) and said rear retainer ( 32 ) to retain said bundle as it is moved from said flat supporting wall ( 20 ) to said flat loading wall ( 50 ); said first auxiliary retainer ( 54 ) and said second auxiliary retainer ( 58 ) being movable synchronously by actuating means to transfer said bundle from said flat supporting wall ( 20 ) to said flat loading wall ( 50 ) by moving said bundle.