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US 2017/0036866 A1Published application
Singulators with ports for diverting items
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsHarald Mueller, Louis George Smarzinski, Glenn Turnbull, Jason Dean Grace, Jeffery Lynn Brazeal, Michael Jay Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments for a singulator that has a port for diverting items. An item is received on at least one conveyor segment of a singulator. The item is transported using at least one conveyor segment to a side wall of the singulator. The item is transported using at least one conveyor segment through a port in the side wall of the singulator.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a singulator that comprises:
- a side wall having a port that forms an opening in the side wall, the port having a vertical height based at least in part on a thickness of a packaged product;
- a guard that covers a portion of the port in the side wall;
- and
- at least one conveyor segment configured to:
- receive the packaged product;
- transport the packaged product to be positioned against the side wall by at least forcing the packaged product along at least a first portion of the at least one conveyor segment;
- transport the packaged product along the side wall to the port;
- and
- transport the packaged product through the port;
- and
- wherein the thickness of the packaged product can interfere with an operation of a second portion of the at least one conveyor segment.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a singulator that comprises:
- a side wall having a slot that forms an opening in the side wall, the slot having a vertical height based at least in part on a thickness of a packaged product;
- a guard that covers a portion of the slot in the side wall and restricts access to the singulator through the slot;
- and
- at least one conveyor segment configured to:
- transport the packaged product along a first portion of the at least one conveyor segment;
- and
- transport the packaged product through the slot in the side wall;
- a container configured to receive the packaged product after the packaged product is transported through the slot in the side wall;
- and
- wherein the thickness of the packaged product can interfere with an operation of a second portion of the at least one conveyor segment.
8 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving a packaged product on at least one conveyor segment of a singulator;
- transporting the packaged product to a side wall of the singulator by at least forcing the packaged product along at least a first portion of the at least one conveyor segment;
- and
- transporting, using the at least one conveyor segment, the packaged product through a slot that forms an opening in the side wall, the slot having a vertical height based at least in part on a thickness of the packaged product, the slot having a guard that covers a portion of the slot in the side wall and restricts access to the singulator through the slot, wherein the thickness of the packaged product can interfere with an operation of a second portion of the at least one conveyor segment.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.