Abstract: A sorter conveyor system includes a conveyor forming an upwardly facing support surface for conveying objects. The support surface includes slots oriented transversely to the conveying direction and a plurality of shoe assemblies mounted for sliding movement along respective slots for transversely discharging objects from the conveying surface. Each shoe assembly includes a carrier disposed below the conveying surface, and a shoe disposed above the support surface. The shoe and the carrier together form a releasable connection therebetween. The releasable connection is configured to enable the shoe, in response to an undesirable force applied thereto, to detach completely from the carrier without breakage or failure of any part of the shoe assembly, and to be manually reattached without the use of tools or special skills. Various related methods are additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A shoe sorter switch for a conveyor includes a main body member positioned relative to the conveyor away from contact with any passing shoe of the conveyor. A plurality of subcomponents are mounted to the main body member and positioned to contact and direct passing shoes of the conveyor. The main body member and each of the plurality of subcomponents together define a plurality of precision fit couplings that each comprise a precision protrusion that is fit into a corresponding precision aperture. Related methods for assembling and installing the switch, including replacing damaged switch subcomponents without the need for any calibration to adjust the position of the replacement subcomponent relative to the main body member and to the conveyor are also provided.

Abstract: A conveyor system can includes a feed conveyor, a declined conveyor, and an inclined conveyor. A declined stationary surface is suspended above the declined conveyor and positioned to exert a counter-moment on the articles related to the weight of the stationary support surface and the coefficient of sliding friction of the stationary support surface that is sufficient to resist forward rotation of the articles down the declined conveyor. An inclined stationary support surface is suspended above the inclined conveyor and positioned to exert a forward-moment on the articles related to the weight of the stationary support surface and the coefficient of sliding friction of the stationary support surface that is sufficient to resist counter-rotation of the articles that results in movement of the articles down the inclined conveyor. The vertical height of the stationary surfaces can be adjusted. A related method is also described.

Abstract: A conveyor system can includes a feed conveyor, a declined conveyor, and an inclined conveyor. A declined stationary surface is suspended above the declined conveyor and positioned to exert a counter-moment on the articles related to the weight of the stationary support surface and the coefficient of sliding friction of the stationary support surface that is sufficient to resist forward rotation of the articles down the declined conveyor. An inclined stationary support surface is suspended above the inclined conveyor and positioned to exert a forward-moment on the articles related to the weight of the stationary support surface and the coefficient of sliding friction of the stationary support surface that is sufficient to resist counter-rotation of the articles that results in movement of the articles down the inclined conveyor. The vertical height of the stationary surfaces can be adjusted. A related method is also described.

Abstract: A diverting system for displacing articles from a conveying surface including a diverter blade adapted to be rotated about a rotary axis from a retracted position along the edge of the conveying surface to an extended position to displace the articles, the diverter blade having a pusher surface spaced apart from the rotary axis by a connecting portion of the blade. A section of the connecting portion located immediately downstream of the rotary axis extends away from the edge in the blade's retracted position to form a void, so that when the blade is in an extended position for diverting a leading (downstream) article, the presence of the void prevents contact between the diverter blade and a trailing (upstream) article. The trailing article can travel downstream past the axis even while the blade is in the extended position. Thus, the trailing article can be positioned closer to the leading article without risk of contacting the blade, thereby increasing the throughput of the system.

Abstract: An unstacking apparatus includes a feed conveyor for feeding stacks of items, and a decline unstacking section including at least first and second declined conveyors arranged in series. A stack of items being transferred from the feed conveyor to the first declined conveyor tilts forwardly to cause the items to slide forwardly off one another into a shingle arrangement on the first declined conveyor. The second declined conveyor includes an upstream end which is offset upwardly relative to a downstream end of the first declined conveyor, causing items to travel upwardly in order to pass from the first to the second declined conveyors. The second declined conveyor travels at a faster speed than the first declined conveyor for at least partially de-shingling the items. A transfer conveyor conveys items to an incline unstacking section which includes at least first and second incline conveyors arranged in series.

Abstract: An unstacking apparatus includes a feed conveyor for feeding stacks of items, and a decline unstacking section including at least first and second declined conveyors arranged in series. A stack of items being transferred from the feed conveyor to the first declined conveyor tilts forwardly to cause the items to slide forwardly off one another into a shingle arrangement on the first declined conveyor. The second declined conveyor includes an upstream end which is offset upwardly relative to a downstream end of the first declined conveyor, causing items to travel upwardly in order to pass from the first to the second declined conveyors. The second declined conveyor travels at a faster speed than the first declined conveyor for at least partially de-shingling the items. A transfer conveyor conveys items to an incline unstacking section which includes at least first and second incline conveyors arranged in series.

Abstract: Packages are conveyed in a direction of travel by transferring the packages from an upstream conveying surface to an intermediate conveying surface, conveying the packages along the intermediate conveying surface, and transferring the packages from the intermediate conveyor surface to a downstream conveying surface. A discharge member situated along at least one laterally outer edge of the intermediate conveying surface is driven such that a discharge surface thereof situated above the intermediate conveying surface moves in a direction away from a center line of the intermediate conveyor and pulls wide packages from the intermediate conveying surface, i.e., packages having a width great enough to contact the discharge surface.

Abstract: A conveying system includes first and second straight side supports arranged parallel to one another on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis. A plurality of roller structures is provided, each having opposite ends mounted in respective ones of the side supports. An endless web is mounted for travel along the rollers in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Each roller structure is associated with a set of mounting holes formed in the side supports, whereby each set comprises a first series of holes formed in the first side support and a second series of holes formed in the second side support. One end of the roller structure is mounted in a selected one of the holes of the first series, and the other end of the roller structure is mounted in a selected one of the holes of the second series. Each hole of the first series is aligned with a respective hole of the second series to form a pair of aligned holes.