Multi-angle sorter

A grid sorter comprising:

• a plurality of first conveyor lines arranged in parallel in a first direction and including series of first conveyors;
• a plurality of second conveyor lines arranged in parallel in a second direction transverse to the first direction and including series of second conveyors forming a first grid of the first conveyor lines intersecting the second conveyor lines at a plurality of intersections;
• wherein at least some of the first and second conveyors are multi-angle sorters disposed at selected intersections, each of the multi-angle sorters including:
• a frame having a perimeter about a central axis;
• an omnidirectionally endless conveyor belt having an exterior surface and an interior surface bounding an interior of the conveyor belt, wherein the frame is disposed in the interior;
• a roller drive having a plurality of roller sets arranged in pairs of diagonally opposite roller sets at different radial angles about the central axis;
• wherein each of the roller sets includes a first roller and a second roller that are situated external to and below the conveyor belt;
• a plurality of discharges adjacent at least some of the multi-angle sorters in the first and second conveyor lines to receive articles from the multi-angle sorters;
• wherein each of the pairs of diagonally opposite roller sets selectively engages the conveyor belt to drive the conveyor belt over the frame along a corresponding radial angle in the first direction, the second direction, or another direction toward one of the discharges.

A grid sorter comprising:

• a plurality of first conveyor lines arranged in parallel in a first direction and including series of first conveyors;
• a plurality of second conveyor lines arranged in parallel in a second direction transverse to the first direction and including series of second conveyors forming a first grid of the first conveyor lines intersecting the second conveyor lines at a plurality of intersections;
• wherein at least some of the first and second conveyors are multi-angle sorters disposed at selected intersections, each of the multi-angle sorters including:
• a frame having a perimeter about a central axis;
• an omnidirectionally endless conveyor belt having an exterior surface and an interior surface bounding an interior of the conveyor belt, wherein the frame is disposed in the interior;
• a roller drive having a plurality of roller sets arranged in pairs of diagonally opposite roller sets at different radial angles about the central axis;
• a plurality of discharges adjacent at least some of the multi-angle sorters in the first and second conveyor lines to receive articles from the multi-angle sorters;
• wherein each of the pairs of diagonally opposite roller sets selectively engages the conveyor belt to drive the conveyor belt over the frame along a corresponding radial angle in the first direction, the second direction, or another direction toward one of the discharges;
• a plurality of third and fourth conveyor lines forming a like second grid of the third and fourth conveyor lines intersecting at a plurality of intersections, wherein the second grid forms a grid-sorter level below the first grid and wherein at least some of the discharges in the first grid discharge articles to the third or fourth conveyor lines in the second grid.