Method and system for singulating and dispensing an object, fruit or produce

Abstract

An automated system for singulating and dispensing an object from a bunch of objects comprises: a hopper adapted to hold the bunch of objects; a rotating drum arranged adjacent the hopper and comprising at least one cutout to pick up one object at a time from the bunch of objects in the hopper; a funnel arranged on an opposing side of the drum to the hopper, wherein the drum is operable to transfer one of the objects at a time from the hopper to the funnel; and a trapdoor assembly at the base of the funnel comprising a first closed configuration for staging the object, and a second open configuration for transferring the object to a processing area for further processing. Computer and electronics are programmed and operable to control the modules. Related methods are described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.