Sorting Conveyor

A sorting conveyor can be used for assembling items or cartons, by identifying and classifying the different products, and transport them to the respective points.
In a sorting conveyor system, it consists of four main steps which are merge step, induction step, sorting step and takeaway step.

1. Merge
The merge step refers to the combination of different and various kinds of conveyors like skewed rollers or belts. It consists of multiple infeed lines, and it will lead to the main conveying line where the sorting of items will take place.

2. Induction
In the induction step, it emphasize on gap control so as to identify the products and sort them accordingly. It can be done by controlling the speed of belts, or tracking the location of the products by using bar code scanners.

3. Sorting
In the sorting process, various devices like push diverter, deflector, rake puller and pop-up rollers and wheels are used to control and facilitate the direction movement of the products. Some examples of devices are shown as below:

• Pop-up device
  
  
  The rollers are pop up above the surface of conveyor to divert the direction of the product. They are available in the right or left hand direction and they are able to sort up to 50 times per minute.

• Deflector
  A deflector is like a movable arm which deflects, push or pull a product to a specific direction.
  
  
  

• Push Diverter

A push diverter does not come in contact with the conveyor but it functions like a deflector which pushes the product to the desired location.

4. Takeaway
Finally, the last step is takeaway which is to move the sorted products by using either using powered or non-powered (gravity) conveyors.


The video below is an example of a high speed package sorting conveyor system in a distribution centre which demonstrates how the system operates and the efficient use of sorters.

Sources

Industrial Conveyor
http://www.mmh.com/article/CA6509899.html#8
http://info.lu.farmingdale.edu/depts/met/ind315/conveyors.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljppe_Rn1rk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMEQgGcl1ik

Belt Conveyor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conveyor_belt

For more information on other types of conveyors http://www.ise.ncsu.edu/kay/mhetax/TransEq/Conv/index.htm#Flat%20belt%20conveyor