Patent ID: 7117988

Claim:
A positive displacement sorter apparatus, comprising: a plurality of interconnected slats defining an endless web, an upper run of said web defining a conveying surface conveying articles in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of pusher shoes, each moving along at least one of said plurality of slats to laterally displace articles on said conveying surface; at least one diverting rail extending diagonally under said conveying surface; at least one diverter associated with said at least one diverting rail; wherein at least one of said pusher shoes includes a base and a member extending from said base below said conveying surface; wherein said member comprises a bearing engaging one of said diverting rails and a pin extending below said bearing; wherein said at least one diverter includes an actuator, said actuator adapted to selectively actuating said member toward said at least one diverting rail; wherein said at least one diverting rail has a terminal portion opposite said at least one diverter wherein said terminal portion comprises an upper curved surface engaging said bearing and a lower curved surface engaging said pin, said upper curved surface directing said bearing in said longitudinal direction and said lower curved surface directing said pin in said longitudinal direction.