Product sorting apparatus for variable and irregularly shaped products

Apparatus for transporting and sorting a singulated stream of objects comprising:

• transport means defining a transport path for transporting a singulated stream of objects;
• a plurality of diverter gates spaced apart along the transport path, each diverter gate selectively and independently actuable and mounted to move into the singulated stream of objects for diverting a selected object from the singulated stream;
• a plurality of drive rollers spaced apart along the transport path, the plurality of drive rollers mounted between adjacent ones of the plurality of diverter gates;
• means for selectively actuating each drive roller independent of other of the plurality of rollers in response to an available signal to move an object along the transport path toward the next adjacent roller;
• a plurality of pinch rollers, each one of the plurality of the pinch rollers mounted adjacent to one of the plurality of drive rollers;
• a compressible foam cover for each of said plurality of pinch rollers, the compressible foam cover adapted to force an object against the adjacent drive roller;
• and
• a controller responsive to the position of objects along the transport path for tracking the position of objects in the singulated stream and selectively actuating each of the drive rollers independent of other of the plurality of drive rollers only when the downstream roller is available to receive the object to maintain separation between objects.