초록 ▼

A damperless, controlled speed, coverless, isometric air conveyor and method for conveying lightweight containers en masse or individually at a controlled speed includes a first set of louvers extending through a conveyor surface from a common plenum at an incline to a conveying surface so that the

A damperless, controlled speed, coverless, isometric air conveyor and method for conveying lightweight containers en masse or individually at a controlled speed includes a first set of louvers extending through a conveyor surface from a common plenum at an incline to a conveying surface so that the air passing through the louvers has a downstream force vector of a first magnitude. A second set of louvers extend through the conveyor surface from the common plenum at an incline to the conveyor surface so that the air passing through the louvers has an upstream force vector of a second magnitude which is less than the first magnitude thereby creating a vector force differential in the downstream direction at any given location under the bottom of each container to cause movement of the containers in the downstream direction. An outboard row of louvers along each edge of the conveying surface may be angled in the inboard direction to urge the mass of containers toward the center of the conveying surface into a tight pack and to provide a downstream force to assist in moving the mass in the downstream direction and to cause a cross flow of air creating an air barrier through which a single or sparse flow of containers must move, thereby limiting the speed of the single or sparse containers. The inboard cross flow of air also creates low pressure at the trailing edge of the single or sparse containers to maintain them in an upright position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In combination, a plurality of upright lightweight containers, each having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom surface thereof, and a coverless conveyor for conveying said plurality of lightweight containers by air supplied under pressure thereto, said combination comprising:said cove

1. In combination, a plurality of upright lightweight containers, each having a cylindrical side wall extending from a bottom surface thereof, and a coverless conveyor for conveying said plurality of lightweight containers by air supplied under pressure thereto, said combination comprising:said coverless conveyor having a surface extending from an upstream location to a downstream location for moving said plurality of upright lightweight containers en masse therealong, said surface having a center, first and second opposite side edges, and an underside; a common plenum connectable to a source of air under pressure and attached to said underside of said conveyor surface for supplying the air under pressure; said bottom surface of each of said plurality of upright lightweight containers being positioned in fluidic communication with said conveyor surface; and a first and a second set of louvers extending through said conveyor surface from said plenum for creating downstream and upstream force vectors of the air respectively which support said plurality of upright lightweight containers above said conveyor surface, said upstream and downstream force vectors of air creating a first low pressure area under each of said plurality of upright lightweight containers to maintain them in an upright position for downstream movement without tipping, said first and second sets of louvers being arranged in predetermined row arrangement on said conveyor surface to enable controlled movement of said plurality of upright lightweight containers at a controlled speed from the upstream location to the downstream location.