Abstract: A gravity conveyor system is disclosed including a device for actively stopping the rotation of the conveyor rollers following disengagement with a conveyed article after it passes thereover and in advance of a next succeeding article. This allows each article to accelerate an engaged roller from a rest position so that precise transport control is effected without the use of positive drive mechanisms. Accurate control for throughput and accumulation results from cooperation between brake assemblies associated with each conveyor roller, a sensor assembly and a pneumatic control assembly, each combination of which acts in an operational zone. The rotation of the rollers is preferably stopped as a function of the sensed position of articles along the system.

Abstract: A slat sorter comprises a main line conveyor with a transport surface on which pusher elements are mounted. The main conveyor is driven by a bearing chain that cooperates with a sprocket that is in turn driven by an electric motor. The pusher elements are selectively diverted by a divert switch from forward travel in a straight-through mode to diagonal travel across the transport surface in a divert mode to engage and direct articles to a takeaway conveyor. The divert switch comprises a switch arm that is positively actuated to both a home position for straight-through mode and a divert position for divert mode by a brushless torque actuator that generates rotary driving operation, but without linear-to-rotary motion conversion. A crossover switch is provided to guide the pusher elements in the proper diagonal path. A gate is driven to pivot between limit positions by a brushless torque actuator to facilitate unobstructed pusher element travel along the desired diagonal path.

Abstract: A slat sorter comprises a main line conveyor with a transport surface on which pusher elements are mounted. The main conveyor is driven by a bearing chain that cooperates with a sprocket that is in turn driven by an electric motor. The pusher elements are selectively diverted by a divert switch from forward travel in a straight-through mode to diagonal travel across the transport surface in a divert mode to engage and direct articles to a takeaway conveyor. The divert switch comprises a switch arm that is positively actuated to both a home position for straight-through mode and a divert position for divert mode by a rotary solenoid. A mechanical crossover switch is provided to guide the pusher elements in the proper diagonal path. Two one-way, spring biased fingers are pivotable between a rest position and a through guide position. The pusher elements engage and pivot the appropriate guide finger to its though position to facilitate travel by the pusher elements in the divert mode.