A multistage multi-lane singulator conveyor system for separating side by side packages in stages. A first conveying lane having a high friction surface is combined with a second conveying lane adjacent thereto in lateral flow communication therewith having a lower friction conveying surface including both forward and lateral conveying forces urging parcels forward and away from the first conveying lane. The conveying surface of the second conveying lane may form an inclined plane extending above an inner lateral receiving edge of an adjacent third conveying lane having a high friction surface in lateral flow communication therewith. Each of the high friction conveying lanes may utilize a plurality of narrow belts to vary the area of the high friction surface. Assembling one or more multi-lanes comprising narrow belts on a conveyor end to end, or assembling multi-lane conveyors end to end in flow communication provides means to control the residence time and lateral movement of articles with formation of high friction surface conveying lanes of narrow belts in selected locations in lateral flow communication with conveying lanes having a low friction conveying surface with forward and lateral movement to control movement of parcels.

A system for separating packages of different sizes includes a conveyor segment and a plurality of alignment members dividing the conveyor segment into a plurality of conveyor lanes. The conveyor segment has an input end, a discharge end and transport mechanism for transporting packages from the input end to the discharge end. The transport mechanism is configured to impart a lateral shift to packages on the conveyor segment. One or more of the alignment members each forms a respective window to allow lateral shifting of packages across adjacent conveyor lanes. Each window has a uniquely defined vertical height to the limit lateral shifting of packages across adjacent conveyor lanes based on a height of each package. Each conveyor lane delivers packages of a uniquely different size group at the discharge end of the conveyor segment. The packages in a conveyor lane are aligned against a respective alignment member.

According to one embodiment, an article management device includes a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive article measurement information. The processor is configured to select a first divergence control signal or a second divergence control signal based on the article measurement information, the first divergence control signal being for forwarding the article to a sorter configured to sort the article according to sorting destination information corresponding to the article, the second divergence control signal being for forwarding the article to a carrier. The transmitter is configured to transmit the first or the second divergence control signal to a diverger configured to forward the article toward the sorter or the carrier.

A mail singulator system determines a position of an optical panel to automatically adjust a loading conveyor speed to prevent stacked and overlapped mailpieces in the singulator and large gaps between mailpieces. The optical panel is configured between the front mailpiece of a mail stack on the loading conveyor and the optical sensor. The optical panel changes position with the pressure exerted by the mail stack and provides signals to the controller to adjust the conveyor speed. An optical sensor may detect a far threshold position or limit distance to increase the speed of the conveyor and may detect a near threshold position of limit distance to reduce the speed of the conveyor. The optical panel may have a low friction surface to allow the mail to slide into the conveyor and an optical surface to allow reliable optical sensor detection of the optical panel position.

A mail singulator system determines a position of an optical panel to automatically adjust a loading conveyor speed to prevent stacked and overlapped mailpieces in the singulator and large gaps between mailpieces. The optical panel is configured between the front mailpiece of a mail stack on the loading conveyor and the optical sensor. The optical panel changes position with the pressure exerted by the mail stack and provides signals to the controller to adjust the conveyor speed. An optical sensor may detect a far threshold position or limit distance to increase the speed of the conveyor and may detect a near threshold position of limit distance to reduce the speed of the conveyor. The optical panel may have a low friction surface to allow the mail to slide into the conveyor and an optical surface to allow reliable optical sensor detection of the optical panel position.

A mail processing system utilizes a conveyor to shingle or de-shingle mailpieces as they move through the processing system and utilizes belts to move the mailpieces. A first shingling conveyor moves a first mailpiece to overlap with a second mailpiece to create shingled mailpieces. A second shingling conveyor moves a first mailpiece away from a second mailpiece to de-shingle them to create singulated mailpieces. A camera takes images of the mailpieces in the conveyor and image analysis software is used to determine dimensional aspects of the mailpieces that are used to control the belt speeds to move mailpieces with respect to each other. A mail processing system may include a mail processing station that scans addresses, applies postage and/or weighs the mailpieces. Mail may be de-shingled prior to being weighed and then re-shingled for subsequent processing, or mail may be shingled prior to passing through a scale if weighing is not necessary.

A mail processing system utilizes a conveyor to shingle or de-shingle mailpieces as they move through the processing system and utilizes belts to move the mailpieces. A first shingling conveyor moves a first mailpiece to overlap with a second mailpiece to create shingled mailpieces. A second shingling conveyor moves a first mailpiece away from a second mailpiece to de-shingle them to create singulated mailpieces. A camera takes images of the mailpieces in the conveyor and image analysis software is used to determine dimensional aspects of the mailpieces that are used to control the belt speeds to move mailpieces with respect to each other. A mail processing system may include a mail processing station that scans addresses, applies postage and/or weighs the mailpieces. Mail may be de-shingled prior to being weighed and then re-shingled for subsequent processing, or mail may be shingled prior to passing through a scale if weighing is not necessary.

A mail sorting system and method process mail pieces that arrive at a feed point. The mail pieces are classified into machinable mail pieces and non-machinable mail pieces. The machinable mail is processed in an automated sorting machine. Mail pieces with incomplete or incorrect addressing information are classified as rejects and diverted for manual processing. A manual processing station receives the non-machinable mail pieces from the feed point and also the rejects from the automated sorting machine. In the manual processing station the mail pieces are scanned in a scanning device and the images are send to an image processing system, which also receives images from the automated sorting machine. Upon receiving the results from the automated image processing system, an operator completes labeling process from each mail piece.

A mail singulator system determines a position of an optical panel to automatically adjust a loading conveyor speed to prevent stacked and overlapped mailpieces in the singulator and large gaps between mailpieces. The optical panel is configured between the front mailpiece of a mail stack on the loading conveyor and the optical sensor. The optical panel changes position with the pressure exerted by the mail stack and provides signals to the controller to adjust the conveyor speed. An optical sensor may detect a far threshold position or limit distance to increase the speed of the conveyor and may detect a near threshold position of limit distance to reduce the speed of the conveyor. The optical panel may have a low friction surface to allow the mail to slide into the conveyor and an optical surface to allow reliable optical sensor detection of the optical panel position.

A mail singulator system determines a position of an optical panel to automatically adjust a loading conveyor speed to prevent stacked and overlapped mailpieces in the singulator and large gaps between mailpieces. The optical panel is configured between the front mailpiece of a mail stack on the loading conveyor and the optical sensor. The optical panel changes position with the pressure exerted by the mail stack and provides signals to the controller to adjust the conveyor speed. An optical sensor may detect a far threshold position or limit distance to increase the speed of the conveyor and may detect a near threshold position of limit distance to reduce the speed of the conveyor. The optical panel may have a low friction surface to allow the mail to slide into the conveyor and an optical surface to allow reliable optical sensor detection of the optical panel position.