Babcock Industries Inc.

Donald G Rearic

Gordon K Sapp

A slat sorter comprises a main line conveyor with a transport surface on which pusher elements are mounted. The main conveyor is driven by a bearing chain that cooperates with a sprocket that is in turn driven by an electric motor. The pusher elements are selectively diverted by a divert switch from forward travel in a straight-through mode to diagonal travel across the transport surface in a divert mode to engage and direct articles to a takeaway conveyor. The divert switch comprises a switch arm that is positively actuated to both a home position for straight-through mode and a divert position for divert mode by a rotary solenoid. A mechanical crossover switch is provided to guide the pusher elements in the proper diagonal path. Two one-way, spring biased fingers are pivotable between a rest position and a through guide position. The pusher elements engage and pivot the appropriate guide finger to its though position to facilitate travel by the pusher elements in the divert mode.

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Danville, KY, United States of America

Donald G Rearic