| US 7,611,139 B2 | ||
| Item transport with singulation detection | ||
| David W. Purcell, New Milford, Conn. (US); Steven J. DaCunha, West Hartford, Conn. (US); and Richard F. Stengl, Waterbury, Conn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, Conn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 22, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/341,839. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 61/015872, filed on Dec. 21, 2007. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2009/0160118 A1, Jun. 25, 2009 | ||
| Int. Cl. B65H 5/00 (2006.01); B65H 3/52 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 271—10.01 [271/104; 271/121; 271/124] | 18 Claims |
| 1. A method of transporting items, comprising:
receiving a group of one or more items in a singulation device, the singulation device comprising opposing transport elements;
implementing a singulation routine;
measuring a speed of a first portion of the group;
measuring a speed of a second portion of the group;
comparing the speed of the first portion with the speed of the second portion;
continuing the singulation routine where the speed of the first portion is not equal to the speed of the second portion;
terminating the singulation routine where the speed of the first portion is equal to the speed of the second portion; and
transporting a lead item away from the singulation device.
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