Patent ID: 8807320

Claim:
A sorting conveyor for transporting objects and unloading objects at one or more unloading stations adjacent the conveyor, said sorting conveyor comprising: (a) a conveyor track; (b) a train of conveyor carts connected end-to-end; and (c) at least one of said conveyor carts including (i) a frame base for engaging said conveyer track, (ii) a carrying tray for holding the objects, (iii) a support for supporting said carrying tray above said frame base, (iv) a tilting mechanism including at least one gear having at least one cam for tilting said carrying tray toward at least one side of the conveyor, and (v) a self-tensioning adjustment assembly including: a drive clamp plate connected to said lower base portion, a lever connected to said self-tensioning adjustment assembly and adapted to adjust said pivot block assemblies, and wherein said lever is adapted so that movement of each pivot block assembly mirrors movement of the other pivot block assembly, and said self-tensioning adjustment assembly includes a self-tensioning clamp plate for supporting said lever, and the clamp plate includes a mounting bracket connecting the proximate end of the lever to the clamp plate; a lever retainer affixed to said self-tensioning clamp plate to retain a distal handling end of said lever in an operating position; a coupling arm connecting said lever and said connecting roller link; a spring assembly between said coupling arm and said connecting roller link; and said second link is a motor adjustment link.