Abstract: A conveyor system including a main conveyor, a secondary conveyor, and an article diverter for selectively diverting articles from the main conveyor onto the secondary conveyor. The diverter includes a plurality of wheels for being mounted in a single aligned row across the top surface of the main conveyor. The gap in the main conveyor for receiving the wheels is substantially the same width as the wheels.

Abstract: A high speed sorting system includes a plurality of induction conveyors capable of depositing cartons sequentially and in a spaced relationship onto a merge conveyor. The merge conveyor includes a pair of angled roller sections which bias each carton toward the center of the merge conveyor for intake onto an alignment conveyor. The alignment conveyor includes a plurality of angled rollers and thereby biases each carton toward one lateral edge of the conveyor. Each carton is then discharged onto a main outlet conveyor which includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced diverter mechanisms. Positioned adjacent each diverter mechanism is a destination conveyor. A control system is provided for proper sequencing of each carton onto the merge conveyor and for operation of the diverter so that each carton may be directed to a preselected destination conveyor.

Abstract: An unscrambler for randomly arranged cartons includes a power driven conveyor bed having a plurality of separately driven roller sections. The sections are driven at progressively greater speeds from the receiving end to the discharge end. The interface between adjacent sections is along a split line extending at an acute angle relative to the sides of the conveyor bed. Each roller is skewed at an angle relative to the bed frame. A guard rail having a high friction surface extends parallel to the sides of the bed and includes an offset adjacent the last split line.

Abstract: A diverter for use in high speed transferring of selected articles moving along a conveyor onto an intersecting conveyor includes first and second rows of independently driven powered wheels and selectively movable mounting means for the two rows such that they can be moved between a first position where no diverting takes place and a second operative position in which the wheels of the first or upstream row are skewed at a first angle and positioned at a first vertical position above the conveyor surface and the wheels of the second row are skewed at a greater angle and are above the first row.