Patents Examined by DAvid P. Walsh
  • Patent number: 6401936
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an article sorting system includes successive coarse and fine singulators and a recirculating loop for processing a disordered stream of items including three-dimensional non-flat articles. A coarse singulator includes cascaded ramped conveyors, preferably operating at progressively greater speeds. A detection system, such as a vision system, for monitoring the stream of articles and identifying and/or tracking individual items passing through the system is used in conjunction with a fine singulator such as a chevron, hold-and-release or strip conveyor downstream from the coarse singulator. A control system is utilized in connection with the vision system to regulate the flow of articles through the system by, for example, diverting doubles or clusters for separations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens ElectroCom, L.P.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Isaacs, James M. Pippin, Stephen T. Kugle, George M. Mondie, M. Wayne Neff