While developments such as Dematic L&A’s Crossbelt sorting technology has the capability to sort up to 80,000 parcels, cartons or totes per hour, the majority of typical conveyor applications require much simpler solutions for medium throughput rates of from 40-80 parcels, cartons or totes per minute (2400-4800 per hour).

Drawing on its extensive conveyor sortation systems design experience, Dematic has developed a totally new style of conveyor sorter for these types of applications.

Called the Pivot Arm Sorter, it is a remarkably compact and versatile system. Because it has been designed to adapt to a variety of conveyor types and sortation requirements, the Pivot Arm Sorter can not only be installed on new systems, it can also be retrofitted to existing conveyors, or removed and relocated to a new location at any time.

Designed to suit just about all types of conveyor systems including roller and belt, the Pivot Arm Sorter is a totally modular, self-contained system, which can be bolted onto any conveyor frame with beds ranging in width from 550-900mm (24-36”).

The device provides positive sortation through a combination of the pivoting arm diverter working in conjunction with a powered “Vertibelt”.

The Pivot Arm Sorters can be configured in a number of ways to provide single sided, two sided or bi-directional sorting, and are suitable for handling products weighing up to 25kg at the rate of 40-80 per minute depending on carton length and operational parameters.

Applications include Shipping Sortation, Task Routing, Zone Routing and Replenishment.

The modular Pivot Arm Sorter units are easy to assemble, install and maintain. Each unit houses its own easily accessed servo motor within the drive tower.

The Pivot Arm Sorter is activated by a Sorter Control Unit (SCU), which can be located at the unit or remotely. The sorter can also be activated by a Dematic Sort Controller, PLC, Photo Eye, or even manually.

A video showing the new system in operation is available through Dematic.