1. Course of MT- 362
Material Handling
Lecture # 8

2. Package and unit conveyor systems
Conveyor turns
Turns are provided in conveyors to shift the load from one direction to another direction
Turns are used in packaging system due to
To utilize minimum space for the transfer
To keep economy considerations
Safety of package by avoiding long distances
Easy replaceable of conveyor parts due to junction point (Note: some turns are continuous)

3. Package and unit conveyor systems
Common types of conveyor turns
Continuous curve turn
90 degree curve turn

4. Package and unit conveyor systems
Conveyor turn table
This may be continuously rotating Or rotate according to the requirement
Turntable has its own motor

5. Package and unit conveyor systems
Conveyor sortation
Sortation conveyors are used for
merging, (combine)
inducting, and
separating products to be conveyed to specific destinations
Sortation system throughput (amount being transferred) is expressed in cartons per minute (CPM)

6. Package and unit conveyor systems
Conveyor sortation
A sortation system is composed of three subsystems:
Merge subsystem
Induct subsystem
Sort subsystem

7. Package and unit conveyor systems
Conveyor sortation
Merge subsystem
Items transported from picking (storage) or receiving areas on conveyors and combined for proper presentation at the induct area.
Induct subsystem
Destination of each item identified by visual inspection or automatic identification system (e.g., bar code scanner), then a proper gap between items is generated using short variable speed conveyors as they are released to the sort subsystem.
Sort subsystem
Items are diverted to outbound (travelling away from a particular place) conveyors to shipping, palletizing, staging (temporary platforms), and/or secondary sort subsystems.

8. Package and unit conveyor systems
Gap generations
Visual inspection or automatic identification

9. Package and unit conveyor systems
Conveyor sortation devices
Diverters
Pop-up devices
Sliding shoe sorter
Tilting device
Cross-belt transfer device

10. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Diverters
Stationary or movable arms that deflect, push, or pull a product to desired destination
Since they do not come in contact with the conveyor, they can be used with almost any flat surface conveyor
Usually hydraulically or pneumatically operated, but also can be motor driven
Simple and low cost

11. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Diverters
Arm can be
moved to open or close the path
Deflector diverter

12. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Diverters
Pusher can be moved to divert the path of the unit
Push diverter

13. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Pop-up devices
One or more rows of powered rollers or wheels or chains that pop up (come up) above surface of conveyor to lift product and guide it off conveyor at an angle; wheels are lowered when products not required to be diverted
Only capable of sorting flat-bottomed items
Pop-up rollers are generally faster than pop-up wheels

14. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Pop-up devices
Note the angle of the pop-up wheels!
Pop-up wheel device

15. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Pop-up devices
Pallet
Powered chain
Non-powered rollers
Pop-up chain device

16. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Sliding shoe sorter
Sliding shoe sorter uses series of diverter slats that slide across the horizontal surface to engage product and guide it off conveyor
Slats move from side to side as product flows in order to divert the product to either side
Gentle and gradual handling of products

17. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Sliding shoe sorter
Shoes move electronically as the product reaches its destination
Slats
Sliding shoe

18. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Tilting device
Trays or slats provide combined sorting mechanism and product transportation
Tilt-Trays can accommodate elevation changes
Tilt tray sorters are usually designed in continuous loops with a compact layout and recirculation of products not sorted first time
Tilt slat sorters carry products on flat- surface slat conveyor and can handle wider variety of products

19. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Tilting device
Trays made up of wood, plastic, aluminum, or steel, to carry items through the sortation process

20. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Tilting device
When the carrier reaches its intended divert destination, the carrying tray tilts, causing the item to discharge with the help of gravity. Items can be discharged to either side of the conveyor.

21. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Cross-belt transfer device
The Cross-Belt or Loop Sorter is comprised of a chain of cross- belt conveyors riding on a looped track in a 90-degree orientation to the direction of the sorter’s flow
Each conveyor acts as a carrier for an item being sorted, which can be discharged to either side of the conveyor
Automatically separates single line of products into multiple in- line discharge lines

22. Package and unit conveyor systems
Sortation conveyor: Cross-belt transfer device
Cross belts
When the product reaches its destination, the cross belt moves to shift the product

23. Package and unit conveyor systems
Accmulation conveyor
Accumulation conveyors hold product in place until given a signal to release it
Applications include feeding product to a machine such as a case sealer at a specified rate, or to hold all items to be shipped on a given truck until that truck is ready to be loaded
The drive pressure on the product can be adjusted to a minimum, or even eliminated altogether

24. Package and unit conveyor systems
Accmulation conveyor

25. Package and unit conveyor systems
Accmulation conveyor types
Minimum pressure type
Minimum pressure accumulation conveyor allows products to lightly touch while being conveyed. The conveyor stops a moving package, but back pressure is kept to a minimum to eliminate package damage

26. Package and unit conveyor systems
Zero pressure type
Zero pressure conveyor prevents product from touching. Sensors detect product held at the end zone and keep all product from moving forward until the end product has been released. Upon release, products move in a well-spaced sequence into next holding slot