System and method for identifying and transferring parcels from a first conveyor to a second conveyor

A system for identifying and transferring parcels, comprising:

• a first conveyor carrying a bulk flow of multiple parcels;
• an unstacking conveyor, which receives the bulk flow of multiple parcels from the first conveyor, wherein the unstacking conveyor has an upward incline, such that gravitational force causes certain parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels to unstack;
• an indexing conveyor positioned below a distal end of the unstacking conveyor that receives the bulk flow of multiple parcels from the unstacking conveyor and is selectively activated and deactivated to advance the bulk flow of multiple parcels, while creating gaps between parcels in the bulk flow;
• a robot singulator configured to engage and transfer individual parcels in the bulk flow of multiple parcels to a second conveyor;
• and
• a vision and control subsystem, including
• a first camera for acquiring image data of the bulk flow of multiple parcels, and
• a computer including a processor for executing instructions stored in a memory component to (i) receive and process the image data from the first camera to generate a three-dimensional representation of the parcels;
• (ii) identify individual parcels in the three-dimensional representation of the parcels;
• (iii) generate a ranked order of individual parcels as identified in the three-dimensional representation of the parcels for acquisition;
• (iv) communicate instructions to the robot singulator to engage and transfer each of the individual parcels to the second conveyor in the ranked order;
• and (v) communicate instructions to the indexing conveyor to selectively advance the bulk flow of multiple parcels toward the robot singulator.

A system for identifying and transferring parcels, comprising:

• a bulk flow conveyor carrying a bulk flow of parcels;
• multiple singulation stations, each of the multiple singulation stations receiving a volume of parcels from the bulk flow conveyor, and each of the multiple singulation stations including
• an induction conveyor,
• an unstacking conveyor, which receives the volume of parcels from the bulk flow conveyor, wherein the unstacking conveyor has an upward incline, such that gravitational force causes certain parcels in the volume of parcels to unstack,
• an indexing conveyor positioned below a distal end of the unstacking conveyor that receives the volume of parcels from the unstacking conveyor and is selectively activated and deactivated to advance the volume of parcels, while creating gaps between parcels,
• a robot singulator configured to engage and transfer each parcel in the volume of parcels to the induction conveyor, and
• a vision and control subsystem, including (a) a first camera for acquiring image data of the volume of parcels, and (b) a computer including a processor for executing instructions stored in a memory component to (i) receive and process the image data from the first camera to generate a three-dimensional representation of the volume of parcels;
• (ii) identify individual parcels in the three-dimensional representation of the volume of parcels;
• (iii) generate a ranked order of individual parcels as identified in the three-dimensional representation of the volume of parcels for acquisition;
• (iv) communicate instructions to the robot singulator to engage and transfer each of the individual parcels to the induction conveyor in the ranked order;
• and (v) communicate instructions to the indexing conveyor to selectively advance the volume of parcels toward the robot singulator.