thumb|right|300px|Mail sorter conveyor In logistics, a '''sorter''' is a system which performs sortation of products (goods, luggage, mail, etc.) according to their destinations.<ref name=pamm>Patrick M McGuire, ''Conveyors: Application, Selection, and Integration'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=558l93ERNU4C&pg=PA98 6.3. Sorters]</ref>
A common type of sorter is a conveyor-based system. While they may be based on other conveyor systems, usually sorters are unique types of conveyors.<ref name=pamm/>
'''Sortation''' is the process of identifying items on a conveyor system, and diverting them to specific destinations. Sorters are applied to different applications depending upon the product and the requested rate.
==Common elements of sorters== A feeder system whose sole purpose to feed the products into the sorter in proper orientation and with proper spacing, so that the sorter could operate correctly.<ref name=pamm/>
Another common element are receptacles which receive the products as they leave the sorter towards a proper destination. Receptacles may be as simple as chutes, or gravity conveyors, or powered conveyors.<ref name=pamm/>
==Sorter types== There is a number of typical sorter designs.<ref name=pamm/> *Cross belt sorter *Paddle sorter *Pop-up transfer sorter **Lineshaft pop-up wheel sorter **Pop-up steerable roller sorter *Pusher or puller sorter *Parcel Singulator *Line Sorter *Shoe sorter *Slide tray sorter *Split tray sorter (bomb-bay sorter) *Tilt tray sorter
==References== {{reflist}} Category:Logistics Category:Industrial machinery