Patent ID: 7086519

Claim:
A positive displacement sorter apparatus for sorting articles to a plurality of spurs, comprising: a plurality of interconnected slats defining an endless web having upper and lower runs, said upper run of said web defining a conveying surface; a plurality of pusher shoes, each traveling along at least one of said slats to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface; a plurality of diverter assemblies, each of said diverter assemblies for laterally propelling a plurality of said pusher shoes laterally of said conveying surface toward one of the spurs in order to divert an article to that spur, each of said diverter assemblies comprising at least two generally parallel guide rails extending diagonally under said upper run of said web and at least two actuators, each for actuating pusher shoes toward the one of said guide rails associated with that actuator; a linear motor propulsion system for propelling said endless web, said linear motor propulsion system comprising a plurality of primaries and a plurality of secondaries, said plurality of secondaries joined with said slats; a control, said control controlling said linear motor propulsion system for propelling said endless web at a controlled speed, said control controlling said diverter assemblies for diverting articles to selected spurs, said control operating at least one of said actuators to cause said at least one of said actuators to actuate at least one of said pusher shoes toward the associated one of said guide rails to divert an article to the associated spur.