Patent ID: 6459061
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B07C,B61B,Y10S

Abstract:
A sorter conveyor system, comprisinga conveyor loop including a rail; at least one conveyor segment, which segment comprises a series of cart units each having wheel structures mounted for rolling movement along the rail, wherein a first and last cart in each segment are adjacent to only one other cart in that segment, each cart having a carrier for carrying one or more items thereon, a selectively actuable mechanism for actuating the carrier in at least one direction to unload an item from the carrier to an unloading station adjacent the conveyor loop, and a coupling mechanism for joining each cart unit in each series in a head to tail relationship, and wherein one or more drive elements are connected to one or more of the cart units and configured to permit the conveyor segment to be driven by a linear drive; and a drive system for driving each of the drive elements of the cart units in each segment.