Paddle & Pusher Sorters

Sort small, medium and irregularly-shaped items with ease

Paddle sorters and pusher sorters are good, low to medium-throughput options for sorting irregularly shaped, difficult-to-convey items, and small items like polybags, costmetics, or pharmaceuticals. These sorters have been in use for decades, and have a long history of reliable, accurate performance.

Bastian Solutions has decades of experience in helping companies across many industries choose, design, and install sortation systems. Let us help you achieve new levels of automated sortation accuracy and efficiency.

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How High Speed Paddle Sorters Work

Paddle Sorters

Paddle sorters, pictured to the right, are a low to medium throughput conveyor sortation solution capable of handling items in a variety of sizes and shapes, from large boxes down to small, irregularly shaped items like polybags – all on the same sortation line. On a paddle sorter, paddles or deflector arms sit alongside a conveyor, opposite each divert. As a product approaches, the paddle swings out at an angle, catching the product and directing it down the divert. Paddles are flat, with an actuated air cylinder or pneumatic hinge that drives the swinging motion when activated.

Pusher Sorters

Pusher sorters, sometimes called push sorters or push bar sorters (but not to be confused with push tray sorters), were some of the first sorters used back in the 1950s. They are a low to medium throughput option for handling small to medium sizes items, from cartons and parcels to small, irregularly shaped items like polybags, in small spaces with closely spaced, narrow diverts.

Push sorters have pusher arms positioned directly across from each divert. When the product moves directly in front of the divert lane, the pusher extends to quickly send the product down the desired divert lane. The pushers consist of blocks mounted to actuated cylinders that extend out, forcing the pusher to make contact with the product. Several pushers can be mounted along a belt conveyor to increase the number of sorting points. This pushing motion changes the product orientation with respect to the direction of travel when the product is pushed, which should be considered for accurate scanning and labelling.

Features & Benefits

Paddle Sorters

  • Accurate sortation for low to medium throughput applications
  • Capable of handling a variety of product sizes on the same line, from large boxes to small parcels and polybags, plus products that are difficult to convey due to their irregular shapes, sizes, & weights

Pusher Sorters

  • Accurate sortation for low to medium throughput applications
  • Good for small to medium sized boxes, bins, parcels, polybags, and products that are difficult to convey due to their irregular shapes, sizes, & weights
  • Good for small to medium sized boxes, bins, parcels, polybags, etc.
  • Ideal application for sortation in minimal space, capable of accurately pushing products down closely spaced, narrow diverts

Considerations

Bastian Solutions’ experts will work with you to explore potential turnkey or custom sortation options. Consider the following details when exploring paddle or pusher sortation solutions:

  • Type, size and weight of items being sorted
  • Product handling needs
  • Desired throughput rate
  • Number, type placement, and angle of diverts
  • Facility layout and available space
 

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