POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT SHOE AND SLAT SORTER APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

This invention relates to a positive displacement sorter of the pusher shoe and slat configuration, having a conveying surface and diverter shoes to displace articles laterally on the surface. Such conveyors may include a pair of endless chains in a plurality of slats being propeled by rotary motors; each slat is fitted with a diverter shoe mounted glideable laterally across the slat. The present invention provides a positive displacement sorter assembly, comprising slats defining an endless web, an upper run of said web defining a conveying surface; pusher shoes gliding along at least some of said slats to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface; secondary means for defining a plurality of linear motor secondaries at said slats; primary means for producing thrust in said secondaries and thereby propelling said web; and control means for controlling said primary means.