Abstract: A sorter feeder system for automatically singulating, orienting, accelerating and conveying an article in the form of commercial packages (boxes, cartons or crates of square or rectangular shape) onto a moving tray or slat sorter conveyor. The article is oriented such that its shortest dimension will be parallel to the direction of travel of the sorter conveyor. The system comprises an intermittently operated feeder conveyor which delivers articles to an elevated roller lift table having continuously running rollers which convey the article to a continuously running belt driven side guide which then acts in conjunction with the rollers to urge the article against a swing blade stop positioned at substantially right angle to the side guide.

Abstract: A tray sortation system particularly suited to the handling of tires which are at elevated temperature and tend to adhere to the tray which comprises a plurality of interconnected carriage assemblies movable along a track, each carriage assembly including a tray which is tilted on an axis generally parallel to the axis of travel. Each tray is provided with a fixed roller mounted along the center line of the tray and extending in the direction of movement of the tray. Each carriage assembly further includes a pair of rollers attached thereto and adapted to extend through openings in the tray when the tray is tilted thereby breaking any contact formed between the tire and the tray and insuring a free gravitational discharge of the tire from the tray at an assigned discharge location.