Method and singulator for singulating pieces of luggage

A method for singulating piece goods with a singulator containing a receiving portion and a segment portion having a feed section with a feed direction and a delivery section with a conveying direction, wherein:

• one end of the receiving portion leads into a start of the segment portion and is disposed at a same level or above the start of the segment portion;
• one end of the segment portion leads transversely or obliquely into the delivery section and is disposed at a same level or above the delivery section;
• the receiving portion is individually drivable and configured to receive a multiplicity of unsorted said piece goods;
• and
• the segment portion has at least two individually drivable segments which are disposed alongside one another and parallel to the feed direction of the segment portion and each of the individually drivable segments extends from the start to an end of the segment portion;
• the method comprises the following steps of:
• a) filling the receiving portion with a plurality of the unsorted piece goods;
• b) transporting the unsorted piece goods to the receiving portion in the feed direction towards and onto the segment portion;
• c) selecting a segment of the individually drivable segments as a preferred segment;
• d) driving the preferred segment and not driving a non-preferred segment of the individually drivable segments;
• e) transferring at least one of the piece goods resting on the preferred segment to the delivery section;
• and
• f) repeatedly carrying out the method steps c to e.