Patent ID: 8602201
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A sorter conveyor apparatus comprising: an endless upwardly facing conveying surface movable in a conveying direction, the conveying surface defined by a plurality of surfaces separated by a plurality of slots extending in a transverse direction relative to the conveying direction; a plurality of shoe assemblies, each shoe assembly comprising a shoe disposed above the conveying surface and a carrier disposed below the conveying surface, each of the plurality of shoe assemblies extending through at least one of the slots in the conveying surface to permit each shoe assembly to move in the transverse direction while also moving in the conveying direction with the conveying surface; each of the shoe assemblies comprising a snap-fit connection coupling the shoe and the carrier together, wherein the snap-fit connection has a structure which permits the shoe to detach from the carrier in response to an undesirable force acting on the shoe without damaging any part of the shoe assembly, and wherein the snap-fit connection has a structure that permits the shoe to be fully recoupled to the carrier manually without the use of tools after being detached from the carrier; wherein the shoe comprises a base and a cover above the conveying surface, and the snap-fit connection is positioned to detach both the base and cover from the carrier in response to the undesirable force acting on the shoe.