Hold and release singulator

US6471044B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens ElectroCom, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Gerald A. Isaacs · Arlington, US
• James M. Pippin · Keller, US
• Stephen T. Kugle · Arlington, US
• Hans-Joachim Grund · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 31, 2000
• Grant date: Oct 29, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 31, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G2207/30
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A hold-and-release singulator includes a conveyor having a transport mechanism for carrying a group of items such as parcels, packages, containers or the like from an entry end towards an exit end of the singulator, a hold and release system that can hold items that have entered the singulator on the conveyor so that such items are not transported by the conveyor while causing one item to be transported by the conveyor, and a control system that controls operation of the conveyor and the hold-and-release system in a manner effective to remove the group of items from the exit end of the conveyor one at a time according to a removal scheme, preferably with a predetermined minimum spacing. The hold and release system can take several forms, such as a mechanism for selectively actuating a portion of the conveyor at a time to remove an item from the exit end of the conveyor, or a mechanism that can hold items off of the conveyor surface so that such items are not transported when the conveyor is running, and selectively set items onto the conveyor surface so that such items are transported when the conveyor is running. In the latter case, the control system controls operation of the con…