In this paper, we propose a distributed max-min consensus algorithm for a discrete-time n-node system. Each node iteratively updates its state to a weighted average of its own state together with the minimum and maximum states of its neighbors. In order for carrying out this update, each node needs to know the positive direction of the state axis, as some additional information besides the relative states from the neighbors. Various necessary and/or sufficient conditions are established for the proposed max-min consensus algorithm under time-varying interaction graphs. These convergence conditions do not rely on the assumption on the positive lower bound of the arc weights. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.