A transportation equipment branch convergence device has a curving transportation device that tangentially connects to a straight track anchored at a fixed height so as to transport an object along the entirety of a curving track at the same level as the straight track. The straight track comprises a straight track section of a fixed length encompassing an entire area of overlap with the curving transportation device. A straight transportation device constituting this straight track section of fixed length comprises a vertical transportation mechanism that slopes in the vertical direction with pivot points at both ends of the straight track section. When the vertical transportation mechanism is in a downward sloping state, the straight transportation device is retracted beneath the transported object for transport. When the vertical transportation mechanism is in an upward sloping state, the transported object for transport passes over the curving transportation device.

A curved conveyor in a horizontal curved path section of a conveying path has an inner idler wheel array arranged to the inside of the horizontal curved path section with respect to an arc-shaped center line that passes through the center of the path width of the horizontal curved path section, and an outer driving wheel array arranged to the outside of the horizontal curved path section with respect to the arc-shaped center line, wherein the distance from the arc-shaped center line to the outer driving wheel array is smaller than the distance from the arc-shaped center line to the inner idler wheel array.

A curved conveyor in a horizontal curved path section of a conveying path has an inner idler wheel array arranged to the inside of the horizontal curved path section with respect to an arc-shaped center line that passes through the center of the path width of the horizontal curved path section, and an outer driving wheel array arranged to the outside of the horizontal curved path section with respect to the arc-shaped center line, wherein the distance from the arc-shaped center line to the outer driving wheel array is smaller than the distance from the arc-shaped center line to the inner idler wheel array.

A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from the conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface. A plurality of pushers are configured to move together in a lateral direction in order to displace an item on the conveying surface to the diagonal take-away lane. A rotational system is configured to rotate a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane. A belt drive system is provided for driving live roller conveyors about a curved section of a roller conveyor of the sorter. The drive belt is guided along a single conical drive plane that maintains the orientation of the drive belt relative to the single conical drive plane and limits twisting and stress in the drive belt.

A transport device includes a carriage that travels along a traveling path that is predetermined; a transfer mechanism provided on the carriage and transfers an article in a transfer space set in the traveling path; a first movable element that is a rod shaped component attached to the carriage, extends in a traveling direction of the carriage, and operates by magnetism to drive the transfer mechanism; and a first stator fixedly disposed with respect to the traveling path, has a partially cutout ring shape, and causes the first movable element to operate by magnetism when part of the carriage is positioned outside the transfer space.

A transport device includes a carriage that travels along a traveling path that is predetermined; a transfer mechanism provided on the carriage and transfers an article in a transfer space set in the traveling path; a first movable element that is a rod shaped component attached to the carriage, extends in a traveling direction of the carriage, and operates by magnetism to drive the transfer mechanism; and a first stator fixedly disposed with respect to the traveling path, has a partially cutout ring shape, and causes the first movable element to operate by magnetism when part of the carriage is positioned outside the transfer space.

An object is to provide a conveyor that enables the number of information read-out devices to be largely reduced and that can be easily constructed. An object identifying device (45) is installed in the first zone. The object identifying device (45) is a bar code reader. Information read by the bar code reader is transmitted to a host control device (46). The host control device (46) identifies an object from information described in a bar code, makes an inquiry about a conveyance destination of an object, transmits the address of the target place to a zone controller (10) of the second zone, and inputs the address to a conveyance destination storage unit of the zone controller (10) of the second zone. The conveyance destination information input to the conveyance destination storage unit is passed on to the downstream zone controller (10) with the conveyance of the object.

An object is to provide a conveyor that enables the number of information read-out devices to be largely reduced and that can be easily constructed. An object identifying device (45) is installed in the first zone. The object identifying device (45) is a bar code reader. Information read by the bar code reader is transmitted to a host control device (46). The host control device (46) identifies an object from information described in a bar code, makes an inquiry about a conveyance destination of an object, transmits the address of the target place to a zone controller (10) of the second zone, and inputs the address to a conveyance destination storage unit of the zone controller (10) of the second zone. The conveyance destination information input to the conveyance destination storage unit is passed on to the downstream zone controller (10) with the conveyance of the object.

Conveyor roller for a conveyor device, in particular for conveying an object, in particular packaged food, the conveyor roller comprises a cylindrical roller body which can be mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation; a conical sleeve (3), having at least one sleeve element, the conical sleeve being arranged coaxially around the roller body and forming a conveyor surface for an object to be conveyed, wherein the sleeve element comprises a first axial sleeve element end and a second axial sleeve element end; wherein the first axial sleeve element end sealingly abuts the roller body, and that the second axial sleeve element end sealingly abuts the roller body.

Conveyor roller for a conveyor device, in particular for conveying an object, in particular packaged food, the conveyor roller comprises a cylindrical roller body which can be mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation; a conical sleeve (3), having at least one sleeve element, the conical sleeve being arranged coaxially around the roller body and forming a conveyor surface for an object to be conveyed, wherein the sleeve element comprises a first axial sleeve element end and a second axial sleeve element end; wherein the first axial sleeve element end sealingly abuts the roller body, and that the second axial sleeve element end sealingly abuts the roller body.