Automatic singulation of items

A singulation system comprising:

• a first conveyor extending along a first length, the first conveyor configured for advancing any items received on the first conveyor along the first length of the first conveyor at a first speed to sequentially drop said items off of the first conveyor;
• a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor by a set height so as to receive the items dropped by the set height from the first conveyor, the second conveyor extending along a second length, the second conveyor configured for advancing items received on the second conveyor along the second length of the second conveyor at a second speed, the second speed being higher than the first speed so as to increase space between items that were sequentially adjacent one another on the first conveyor;
• a plurality of paddles that are each respectively arranged for protruding over a respective portion of the first conveyor and that each respectively comprise a member selectively positionable among different positions relative to the respective portion of the first conveyor;
• a sensor arranged to detect conditions relative to a part of the first conveyor associated with the sensor;
• and
• a controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
• receive information from the sensor about an item detected on the part of the first conveyor associated with the sensor;
• and
• cause a respective paddle of the plurality of paddles to change position relative to the respective portion of the first conveyor based at least in part on the information from the sensor about the item detected on the part of the first conveyor associated with the sensor.

A method for singulation of a plurality of items, the method comprising:

• advancing the plurality of items on a first conveyor at a first speed in a first direction to sequentially drop the plurality of items off of the first conveyor, wherein advancing the plurality of items on the first conveyor comprises advancing the plurality of items relative to a plurality of paddles that are each arranged for protruding over a respective portion of the first conveyor;
• receiving the plurality of items dropped off the first conveyor onto a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor;
• and
• advancing the plurality of items received on the second conveyor at a second speed higher than the first speed and in a second direction different from the first direction.

A method for singulation of a plurality of items, the method comprising:

• advancing the plurality of items on a first conveyor at a first speed in a first direction to sequentially drop the plurality of items off of the first conveyor;
• receiving the plurality of items dropped off the first conveyor onto a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor;
• and
• advancing the plurality of items received on the second conveyor at a second speed higher than the first speed and in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the second direction is parallel and opposite to the first direction.