Wayzim All-Type Cross Belt Sorter: Automated Sorting for Non-Conforming Items

Technology Overview

The Wayzim All-Type Cross Belt Sorter addresses a specific niche in automated sortation: the handling of non-conforming (NC) items. Traditional automated sorters are typically optimized for standard rectangular packages (boxes, envelopes) and can struggle with items that are spherical (like balls), elliptical (like some fruits or components), or polygonal with unusual shapes. These items often require manual sorting, which is slow and labor-intensive. Wayzim's sorter is presented as a "brand new solution" to this challenge, leveraging cross-belt technology but presumably with adaptations in carrier design, item stabilization, and discharge logic to reliably grasp, transport, and accurately release these irregular items at high speeds.

How It Works

Core Principles

The sorter operates on the cross-belt principle but is engineered with a focus on securing and controlling non-standard shapes. Individual carriers with cross-belts circulate on a loop. The system likely incorporates specialized trays or containment features on the carriers to prevent spherical or elliptical items from rolling. The discharge mechanism must be precisely timed to ensure these unstable items are correctly directed into the target chute. High-speed imaging and sensing are likely used to identify and track each irregular item.

Key Features & Capabilities

Focus on Non-Conforming (NC) Items: This is the defining capability. The sorter is explicitly designed to handle items that defy the norms of typical parcel sortation—spheres, ellipses, and polygons—which are problematic for many automated systems.

High Theoretical Throughput: With a claimed efficiency of 9,000 pieces per hour per zone and a mainline speed of 1.5 m/s, the system is built for speed, aiming to match the throughput needs of large distribution centers even for difficult items.

Exceptional Accuracy Claim: A sorting accuracy rate of ≥99.99% is critical for automation, as errors with irregular items can be more common and more disruptive than with standard boxes. This suggests sophisticated tracking and control algorithms.

Advantages & Benefits

The primary advantage is automating a traditionally manual and inefficient process, leading to significant labor savings and increased throughput in operations that handle many irregular items. High speed and accuracy ensure that NC items are processed as quickly and reliably as standard parcels, improving overall operational flow. Reduced product damage is a potential benefit if the specialized handling is gentler than manual tossing or rough handling.

Implementation Considerations

The sorter is specialized; its value is maximized in facilities with a high proportion of non-conforming items that currently require manual sorting. The "theoretical" throughput and high accuracy need to be validated with the specific mix of items a facility handles (e.g., specific sizes and weights of spheres). Integration with upstream processes to identify and feed NC items to this dedicated sorter is necessary.

Use Cases & Applications

Ideal For

This sorter is ideal for parcel distribution centers that handle a significant volume of irregular packages (e.g., containing sports equipment, toys, or specialty retail items), as well as for certain manufacturing or food distribution operations sorting non-boxed products.

Conclusion

The Wayzim All-Type Cross Belt Sorter presents a targeted solution for a persistent pain point in logistics automation. By focusing on the automated sorting of non-conforming items, it addresses a segment often left to manual labor. For operations with a substantial flow of spherical, elliptical, or polygonal items, this technology offers a path to dramatically improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. Its high claimed performance metrics are promising, but real-world implementation will require careful assessment of item compatibility and system integration. When applied to the right use case, it has the potential to close a significant automation gap in modern distribution centers.