Patent ID: 6575450
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A singulation head for use in a singulation mechanism for flat articles of varying size and weight, which mechanism includes a takeaway mechanism for articles exiting the head, detectors for selectively detecting article position for an article being singulated and the singulation head including:a selectively perforated belt driven across said head at a selected rate, at least three vacuum chambers positioned behind said belt so as to apply vacuum thereto when energized, said chambers being successively positioned along said belt; wherein a first of the at least three vacuum chambers begins extraction of an article by applying a substantially light vacuum pressure thereto; a second of the at least three vacuum chambers continues extraction of the article in a controlled manner for presentation to downstream devices and, after detection of a successfully captured double, begins extraction of an article in that double; and a third of the at least three vacuum chambers provides additional necessary vacuum pressure to move heaviest of articles upon failure by the first chamber to move the heaviest of articles; and a feed mechanism selectively controlling at least one of pressure and flow for at least one of said chambers to facilitate the feeding by said head to said takeaway mechanism of heavier articles to be singulated while inhibiting bleed through doubles for lighter articles to be singulated.