Automated Sortation Series, Part Three: Sorter Types
If you haven’t yet, be sure to read Part One and Part Two of our Automated Sortation Series, where we list the key benefits and applications of using Automated Sortation in your warehouse operation.
This third and final entry of the series will cover the different types of Automated Sortation systems and go over the pros and cons of each. Collectively, you’ll be able to use this information to make an educated decision about a) whether or not Automated Sortation is right for your operation and b) what the best Sortation system for your throughput needs is.
There are a wide variety of Sortation options currently available. Here, we have listed 7 of the most common types. Each type has listed whether or not it is best for Case Sorting or Unit Sorting, a brief description of each, an outline of the pros and cons of each an an estimated throughput range which can vary from system to system.
| Sorter Name | Type | Description | Pros | Cons | Throughput Range |
| Pusher Sorter | Case | Pneumatic pushers mounted next to conveyor push a case at a right angle when activated onto a different conveyor line. |
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10 - 30 parcels per minute |
| Paddle Sorter | Case | A pivoting arm implement activates to manually direct a case to auxiliary conveyor lines. |
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30 - 100 parcels per minute |
| Pop-up Sorter | Case | Wheels, rollers or belts housed inside of a belt conveyor “pop up” to move an item at an angle to different conveyor lines. |
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40 - 100 parcels per minute |
| Cross-belt Sorter | Unit | Miniature conveyor belts placed perpendicularly on top of a conveyor line activate to move product into chute or other takeaway conveyor. |
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100 - 200+ parcels per minute |
| Tilt Tray Sorter | Unit | A system of linked trays tilt to transfer a parcel into a chute where orders are compiled. |
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100 - 200+ parcels per minute |
| Push Tray Sorter | Unit | Trays mounted to carts on a conveyor line hold items and when activated a push bar diverts the item. |
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30 - 60 parcels per minute |
| Flat Sorter | Unit | Trays on a conveyor system act like trap doors and drop parcels either directly into a shipping carton or another sorting chute. |
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100 - 230 parcels per minute |
This concludes our Sortation Series. If you missed them, click here to read Part One, and click here to read Part Two.
If you think Automated Sortation could help improve efficiency in your system, feel free to Contact Us to discuss possible solutions. You can find information about out Sortation Solutions here: https://www.cartercontrols.com/conveyor/sortation-transfers.
