Automated parcel singulator

1. An automated parcel singulator for selectively transferring parcels from a hopper system onto a linear conveyor system, the automated parcel singulator comprising:

an infeed table comprising:

a first conveyor disposed approximately perpendicular to the hopper system, the first conveyor being configured to receive the parcels from the hopper system; and

a second conveyor disposed adjacent to and approximately perpendicular to the first conveyor, the second conveyor also being disposed adjacent to and approximately perpendicular to the linear conveyor system;

wherein the first conveyor is configured to transfer the parcels from the hopper system to the second conveyor and the second conveyor is configured to selectively transfer the parcels from the first conveyor to the linear conveyor system;

at least a first controller;

at least one position sensor configured to determine a gap between parcels on the linear conveyor system and to relay such gap determination to the first controller; and

at least one width sensor configured to determine the width of the parcels and to relay such width determination to the first controller as the parcels move along the first conveyor or the second conveyor, the width sensor being located so as to detect the width of the parcels while the parcels are at or upstream of an interface between the second conveyor and the linear conveyor system;

wherein the parcels are selectively held on and transferred from the second conveyor onto the linear conveyor system into the gap between parcels, based upon the widths of the parcels on the second conveyor and the gaps between parcels moving along the linear conveyor system, as determined by the position sensor, the width sensor, and the first controller.

2. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor is independently controllable and bi-directional to allow parcels to move both ways.

3. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sensor;

a second sensor; and

a third sensor;

wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor are spaced along the first conveyor; and

wherein the first controller utilizes the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor to activate the first conveyor when a parcel is transferred from the hopper system onto the first conveyor.

4. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a corner sensor spanning from a first side of the second conveyor to an adjacent second side of the second conveyor;

wherein the corner sensor is configured to inform the first controller whether a package is located in a first corner of the second conveyor.

5. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a first output sensor located near a third side of the second conveyor opposite the first side of the second conveyor;

wherein the first output sensor provides the first controller with data when a package is ejected from an end of the second conveyor; and

wherein the first output sensor is either an optical device or a pair of measuring sensors facing opposite directions.

6. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 1 , wherein the infeed table further comprises:

a wedge located between the first conveyor and the linear conveyor system.

7. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first controller can determine when to eject a parcel onto the linear conveyor system based upon signals from the position sensor.

8. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the first conveyor and a length of the second conveyor are each less than about 8 feet in length.

9. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the conveyors oscillates at a speed of the linear conveyor system.

10. The automated parcel singulator according to claim 5 , wherein the first output sensor is elevated over the second conveyor and faces downward toward the second conveyor.

11. An automated parcel singulator for selectively transferring parcels from a hopper system onto a linear conveyor system, the automated parcel singulator comprising:

an infeed table comprising:

a first conveyor disposed approximately perpendicular to the hopper system, the first conveyor being configured to receive the parcels from the hopper system and transfer the parcels to the second conveyor;

a second conveyor disposed approximately perpendicular to the first conveyor, the second conveyor being configured to selectively transfer the parcels from the first conveyor to the third conveyor, the second conveyor also being disposed approximately perpendicular to the third conveyor;

a third conveyor disposed approximately perpendicular to the second conveyor, the third conveyor being configured to selectively transfer the parcels from the second conveyor to the linear conveyor system, the third conveyor also being disposed approximately perpendicular to the linear conveyor system;

at least a first controller;

at least one position sensor configured to determine a gap between parcels on the linear conveyor system and to relay such gap determination to the first controller; and

at least one width sensor configured to determine the width of the parcels and to relay such width determination to the first controller as the parcels move along the first conveyor, the second conveyor, or the third conveyor, the width sensor being located so as to detect the width of the parcels while the parcels are at or upstream of an interface between the third conveyor and the linear conveyor system;

wherein the parcels are selectively held on and transferred from the third conveyor onto the linear conveyor system into the gap between the parcels, based upon the widths of the parcels on the third conveyor and the gaps between parcels moving along the linear conveyor system, as determined by the position sensor, the width sensor, and the first controller.