| 摘要 |
A sorting switch (220) for diverting articles (22) from one or more infeed conveyors (24) to two or more outfeed conveyors (26, 27). A pre-alignment conveyor (30) receives articles from one or more infeed conveyors and selectively diverts individual articles into two or more lateral regions for delivery to an alignment conveyor (28) downstream. The alignment conveyor (28) more precisely aligns the articles (22) within each of the regions for delivery to outfeed conveyors (26, 27) at the downstream end of the alignment conveyor (28). The alignment and pre-alignment conveyors are realized as belt conveyors with rollers (52) arranged to rotate universally or on axes in specific orientations. In some versions, a belt's rollers roll on bearing surfaces whenever the belt is advancing. In other versions, rollers are selectively actuated by moving bearing surfaces. In yet other versions, rollers (52) are not contacted by bearing surfaces at all. |
