Patent ID: 6471044
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A hold and release singulator, comprising:a conveyor including a transport mechanism for carrying a group of items 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 transport mechanism so that such items are not transported by the conveyor, while causing one item to be transported by the conveyor; 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 and a vision system including a camera that records an image of the items to be singulated by the hold-and-release system, and the control system includes logic for operating the hold-and-release system based on item positions determined from the image.