Sortation system diverter switch

A positive displacement parallel sorter capable of diverting at least some articles out of a stream of articles without substantial rotation of the diverted articles, comprising:

• a conveying surface;
• a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of said conveying surface, said pusher shoes having article-contacting members extending at least partially above said conveying surface to divert articles on said conveying surface;
• a plurality of diverting rails extending diagonally under said conveying surface;
• and
• a plurality of electromagnetic actuators associated with said diverting rail;
• wherein at least one of said pusher shoes includes a transfer assembly below said conveying surface, wherein said transfer assembly includes a pilot member made of a magnetically permeable material, an intermediate low-friction member and a trailing low-friction member, said pilot member, said intermediate member and said trailing member being commonly mounted on a toggle member that is pivotally mounted with respect to the article-contacting member of that pusher shoe wherein a divert is initiated by one of said actuators attracting said pilot member.

A sorter, comprising:

• a conveying surface;
• a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of said conveying surface, wherein said pusher shoes include article-contacting members extending at least partially above said conveying surface to divert articles on said conveying surface,
• a plurality of diverting rails extending diagonally under said conveying surface;
• and
• a plurality of diverters associated with said diverting rails;
• wherein at least one of said pusher shoes includes a transfer assembly below said conveying surface;
• wherein at least one of said diverters includes an actuator for selectively diverting said transfer assembly toward the associated one of said diverting rails to initiate a divert and a stationary curved surface for guiding said transfer assembly toward the associated one of said diverting rails wherein at least a portion of said transfer assembly being between said actuator and said curved surface when being diverted.

A sorter, comprising:

• a conveying surface;
• a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of said conveying surface, wherein said pusher shoes include article-contacting surfaces extending at least partially above said conveying surface to divert articles on said conveying surface;
• a plurality of diverting rails extending diagonally under said conveying surface;
• and
• a plurality of diverters associated with said diverting rails;
• wherein at least one of said pusher shoes comprising a transfer assembly below said conveying surface;
• wherein at least one of said diverters includes an actuator for selectively diverting said transfer assembly toward the associated one of said diverting rails to initiate a divert, said at least one of said diverters including a guide rail wherein at least a portion of said lateral propelling assembly passes between said actuator and said guide rail when not being diverted;
• and
• a magnet at one of said guide rail and said transfer assembly and a material that is magnetically responsive to said magnet at the other of said guide rail and said transfer assembly to maintain contact between said transfer assembly and said guide rail when said transfer assembly is not being diverted.

A sorter, comprising:

• a conveying surface;
• a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of said conveying surface, wherein said pusher shoes include article-contacting members extending at least partially above said conveying surface to divert articles on said conveying surface;
• a plurality of diverting rails extending diagonally under said conveying surface;
• and
• a plurality of diverters associated with said diverting rails;
• wherein at least one of said pusher shoes comprising a transfer assembly below said conveying surface;
• wherein at least one of said diverters includes an actuator for selectively actuating said transfer assembly toward the associated one of said diverting rails;
• and
• means for ensuring that an initiated divert of said transfer assembly will be completed.

A positive displacement parallel sorter, comprising:

• a conveying surface;
• a plurality of pusher shoes capable of traveling laterally of said conveying surface, said pusher shoes having article-contacting members extending at least partially above said conveying surface to divert articles on said conveying surface;
• a plurality of diverting rails extending diagonally under said conveying surface;
• and
• a plurality of electromagnetic actuators associated with said diverting rails;
• wherein at least one of said pusher shoes includes a transfer assembly below said conveying surface, wherein said transfer assembly includes a pilot member made of a magnetically permeable material mounted on a toggle member that is pivotally mounted with respect to the article-contacting member of that pusher shoe wherein a divert is initiated by one of said actuators attracting said pilot member.