Glossary · Packaging and intralogistics
Shoe sorter
Also known as: Sliding shoe sorter
German: Schuhsorter
In intralogistics, a shoe sorter is a sorter made of a slat conveyor with sliding shoes that move diagonally across the slats to push items gently onto the assigned exit lane.
- Intralogistics
In one sentence
A shoe sorter uses shoes sliding across a slat conveyor to push items diagonally onto the assigned exit lane.
Example
Cases from the picking area pass a shoe sorter that distributes them to 20 shipping lanes by route.
How it applies
- Engineering: Shoes are guided by switches under the conveyor; several shoes form a diagonal line that moves each item sideways while it keeps traveling forward. Shoe sorters handle cases, totes and parcels with flat bottoms at high rates.
- Operation: Item length and gap determine how many shoes are needed and thus the sorter's capacity. Items that are too small, soft or unstable can be sorted incorrectly.
- Maintenance: Shoes, switches and slats wear and are inspected regularly; the maintenance procedure requires energy isolation because slats and shoes can move unexpectedly.
- Documentation: Specify the accepted items (size, weight, bottom type), the minimum gap, the lane assignment logic and the procedure for replacing shoes.
Shoe sorter vs. cross-belt sorter
A shoe sorter pushes items off a continuous conveyor. A Cross-belt sorter carries each item on a separate carrier with its own belt and handles more varied items.