Small item pneumatic diverter

An article diverter for high speed diversion of articles from a moving conveyor in a product handling system having a source of compressed air and a computer system, comprising:

• an air valve in pneumatic communication with the source of compressed air and in operative communication with the computer system;
• and
• a nozzle in pneumatic communication with said air valve, said nozzle having a nozzle body with a first end, an opposing second end and a plurality of spaced apart discharge ports at said second end, said first end of said nozzle body connected to said air valve, said nozzle body configured to allow compressed air to flow from said air valve to said plurality of discharge ports, said discharge ports configured to discharge a plurality of horizontal air streams, at least one of said plurality of horizontal air streams configured to pass across the top of the article.

A product handling system for sorting a plurality of articles, comprising:

• a moving conveyor configured to transport said articles, said moving conveyor operatively mounted on a support structure;
• an inspection means along said conveyor for inspecting said plurality of articles on said conveyor, said inspection means in operative communication with a computer system for reviewing an article of said plurality of articles;
• a diverter in communication with said computer system for selectively off-loading an article from said conveyor, said diverter having an air valve in pneumatic communication with a source of compressed air and a nozzle in pneumatic communication with said air valve, said nozzle having a nozzle body with a first end, an opposing second end and a plurality of spaced apart discharge ports at said second end, said first end of said nozzle body connected to said air valve, said nozzle body configured to allow compressed air to flow from said air valve to said plurality of discharge ports, each of said plurality of discharge ports in a vertical relationship relative to said plurality of articles on said moving conveyor.