Singulation and automatic induction
Turns a pile of tipped parcels into a single spaced line and feeds the sorter automatically, with fewer people at induction.
Turns a pile of tipped parcels into a single spaced line and feeds the sorter automatically, with fewer people at induction.
Sorter throughput is often limited at the front end: after unloading, parcels arrive piled up, side by side and touching, and have to be placed on induction stations by hand. A singulation system uses vision and a matrix of independently driven belts to separate piled and side-by-side parcels into a single line with controlled gaps; automatic induction belts then feed them at the carrier pitch onto a cross-belt or narrow-belt sorter. Line throughput is calculated on belt induction; robot-arm induction only suits low volumes. It suits parcel hubs and e-commerce warehouses with high volumes and high manual induction costs.
Typical uses
- The section between truck unloading and the sorter in parcel hubs
- Returns and small-parcel handling in e-commerce
- Fewer induction operators and night-shift staff
- Front-end automation of existing sorting lines
Key figures
| Throughput | 4,000–10,000 items/h per line |
|---|---|
| Parcel size | 100×100×20 mm to 800×600×600 mm |
| Parcel weight | ≤ 30 kg |
| Parcel types | Mixed cartons, polybags, sacks and flats |
| Method | Vision plus a matrix of independently driven belts; separates stacked and side-by-side parcels |
| Output gap | Controlled automatically to the downstream sorter pitch |
| Exceptions | Items that cannot be separated are diverted to a manual lane |
Figures are typical configuration ranges; exact specifications are set per project.
Options
- Vision-guided robot induction
- Integrated DWS (dimensioning, weighing, scanning)
- Overlap, side-by-side and touching-parcel detection
- Interface to telescopic unloading conveyors
Scope of supply
- Machine, drives and control cabinet, assembled and dry-run tested before shipping
- The equipment's own control and fleet software; interfaces to your existing WMS / ERP as the project requires
- Drawings: general arrangement, foundation and anchor plan, electrical schematics
- Conformity documents for the equipment and the whole line, the split of responsibilities and the acceptance criteria are set out in the contract according to the project scope
- Spare-parts list and wear-part recommendation; a first batch can ship with the equipment
- Factory acceptance (FAT): attend in person or follow by live video
- Installation, commissioning and operator training can be included in the offer
What we need for an offer
- Items per hour and mix of parcel types
- Downstream sorter type and pitch
- Floor plan and unloading method
- Current induction staffing and shifts