Abstract: A sortation system and method includes providing a sorter assembly and a slug-building assembly. Product is received by the sorter assembly and sorted to a series of sortation lanes. The slug-building assembly includes a plurality of supply lines supplying product for sorting by the sorter assembly. At least one of the supply lines includes an accumulation conveyor and a slug conveyor. Product is accumulated in slug portions at the accumulation conveyor. Slug portions are combined into product slugs at the slug conveyor. Product slugs are discharged from the slug conveyor for sorting by the sorter assembly.

Abstract: A conveyor roller or pulley includes an axle portion mountable to opposite sidewalls of a conveyor and a roller portion rotatable relative to said axle portion. The roller includes a braking device positioned at least partially within said roller portion and selectively operable to restrict rotation of said roller portion relative to said axle portion. The braking device may be biased to restrict rotation, such that the braking device restricts rotation when an actuator of the braking device is deactivated, and allows substantially unrestricted rotation when the actuator is activated. The actuator may be activated when a drive motor of the conveyor is activated to drive one of the rollers of the conveyor, and may be deactivated when the drive motor is deactivated. The conveyor may comprise a roller conveyor or a belted conveyor.