Glossary · Packaging and intralogistics
Cross-belt sorter
Also known as: Crossbelt sorter
German: Quergurtsorter
In intralogistics, a cross-belt sorter is a sorter made of a loop of carriers, each with a small belt conveyor running across the direction of travel, that discharges items to either side at the assigned destination.
- Intralogistics
In one sentence
A cross-belt sorter moves items on carriers with small transverse belts that discharge each item at its assigned destination.
Example
The parcel center's cross-belt sorter feeds 300 destination chutes and handles items from envelopes to 30 kg parcels.
How it applies
- Engineering: Each carrier's belt accelerates the item sideways into a chute. Because the belt actively controls the item, cross-belt sorters handle a wide range of item shapes gently and at high rates.
- Operation: Induction stations place items on the carriers; the control assigns each carrier a destination from scan data provided by the Warehouse control system (WCS). No-reads and overflows go to special chutes.
- Safety: The sorter loop is a hazardous area while running; maintenance access is typically through interlocked gates and locked-out energy.
- Documentation: Describe induction rules (item size, weight, orientation), chute assignment, handling of no-reads and the maintenance procedures for carriers and power transfer.
Cross-belt sorter vs. shoe sorter
A Shoe sorter pushes items off a slat conveyor with sliding shoes and suits boxes with stable bottoms. A cross-belt sorter carries each item on its own belt and suits mixed items.