Patent ID: 7516835
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A sortation conveyor configured to selectively divert articles carried by said sortation conveyor traveling in a longitudinal direction laterally at one of a plurality of divert locations, said sortation conveyor having a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, said sortation conveyor comprising: a. a plurality of switches associated with said plurality of divert locations; b. a plurality of divert guide paths, each respective divert guide path of said plurality of divert guide paths disposed downstream of a respective associated one of said plurality of switches; c. a plurality of pushers, each pusher of said plurality of pushers configured to be selectively diverted by any of said switches to travel along said associated divert guide path so as to engage and divert a selected one of said articles; and d. each said divert guide path comprising an arcuate portion having an entrance, said entrance being disposed at a divert angle of less than 20°, said divert guide path configured to guide pushers traveling along said divert guide path to distribute force necessary to laterally accelerate said selected one of said articles being diverted toward said divert location over a longitudinal and lateral distance without an abrupt initial force being applied to said selected one of said articles by said pushers so as to maintain control of said selected one of said articles while said selected one of said articles is being diverted.