A narrow belt sorter moves product on several parallel narrow belts and diverts each item with pop-up rollers or wheels that rise between the belts. Set at 30 or 90 degrees and able to divert to either side, it sorts small to medium cartons in up to 75 percent less floor space than other sorters.

Narrow belt sorter at a glance

A narrow belt sorter, sometimes called an activated roller belt sorter, transports product across multiple parallel narrow belts. At each divert point, pop-up rollers or wheels rise between the belts and push the item off to the side. A 30 degree divert keeps product orientation and pulls minimal gaps for higher throughput, while a 90 degree divert transfers product straight off either side into a spur or workstation. The design is compact and cost-effective, using up to 75 percent less space than other sorters with close divert centers, which makes it a fit for small to medium cartons rather than large or fragile loads. Hytrol builds this as the ProSort MRT line, and HOJ integrates it to your product size and rate.

How does a narrow belt sorter work?

A narrow belt sorter runs several narrow belts side by side with gaps between them. Product rides on top of the belts, tracked by sensors to its assigned destination. At that point, a bank of powered rollers (90 degree) or angled wheels (30 degree) pops up through the gaps between the belts, lifts the item slightly, and drives it off the side of the conveyor onto a takeaway spur. Because the diverter sits between the belts and only rises when needed, divert points can be placed close together, and the sorter transfers to either one or both sides. The 30 degree version maintains the product's orientation and creates minimal gaps, which raises throughput for small cartons.

Narrow belt sorter specifications

Verified against Hytrol ProSort MRT product data and model specification sheets. Final configuration is engineered to product size, weight, and rate.

Where are narrow belt sorters used?

Order fulfillment. Diverting small to medium cartons to pack lanes in tight floor space.

Two-sided sortation. Transferring product off both sides into spurs or workstations.

Value-added stations. Routing items to ticketing, quality control, and packing positions.

Space-constrained lines. Fitting close divert centers where larger sorters will not.

Cost-sensitive operations. Sorting cartons at mid rate without a high-speed sorter's cost.

How is a narrow belt sorter different from a sliding shoe sorter?

Both are linear sorters that divert product off a straight conveyor, but they suit different product and budget. A narrow belt sorter uses pop-up rollers or wheels between parallel belts to divert small to medium cartons in a compact, lower-cost footprint at mid rate. A sliding shoe sorter slides guided shoes across slats to push product off with a gentle positive divert at higher speed, handling mixed sizes and more fragile or larger cases. Choose a narrow belt sorter for small to medium cartons, two-sided transfer, and tight space at lower cost. Choose a sliding shoe sorter for high rate, mixed product, and gentle handling.

Plan a narrow belt sorter

HOJ engineers and integrates narrow belt sorters as an independent integrator, building on Hytrol ProSort MRT platforms and matching divert angle and rate to your product and floor space. Talk to a specialist.