Patent ID: 7012210

Claim:
A parcel singulation detection system for use with at least one parcel group comprising: a transport subsystem capable of receiving and moving the at least one parcel group, said transport subsystem including a transport device; an evaluation subsystem capable of evaluating prior characteristics and subsequent characteristics of the at least one parcel group, said evaluation subsystem operably connected to said transport subsystem; an agitation subsystem capable of subjecting the at least one parcel group to agitation, said agitation subsystem capable of modifying said prior characteristics of the at least one parcel group thereby resulting in said subsequent characteristics, said agitation subsystem operably connected to said transport subsystem; said agitation subsystem capable of performing said agitation at a time before said subsequent characteristics are evaluated; a parcel order subsystem capable of associating a parcel order number with the at least one parcel group, said parcel order subsystem operably connected to said evaluation subsystem; and a controller capable of receiving said prior characteristics and said subsequent characteristics from said evaluation subsystem for the at least one parcel group identified by said parcel order number, said controller capable of comparing the difference between said subsequent characteristics and said prior characteristics to a predetermined threshold, said controller capable of detecting if the at least one parcel group is singulated as a function of said comparison, said controller operably connected to said evaluation subsystem, said transport subsystem, and said parcel order subsystem; wherein said transport subsystem moves the at least one parcel group past said evaluation subsystem, said agitation subsystem, and said parcel order subsystem while said controller detects if the at least one parcel group is singulated; and wherein said at least one agitation device comprises a paddle.