초록 ▼

An air knife or air nozzle manifold for drying or blowing off passing articles moved by a conveyor system is provided with a coupling that permits rotation of the air knife or air nozzle manifold relative to the air inlet duct leading from a blower. The air knife or air nozzle manifold has opposing

An air knife or air nozzle manifold for drying or blowing off passing articles moved by a conveyor system is provided with a coupling that permits rotation of the air knife or air nozzle manifold relative to the air inlet duct leading from a blower. The air knife or air nozzle manifold has opposing ends located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of rotation relative to a stationary element of the coupling. Thrust nozzles are provided at each of the opposing ends of the air knife or air nozzle manifold to deflect a certain portion of the air from the plenum chamber to provide thrusting jets of air that rotate the air knife or air nozzle manifold about the longitudinal axis. The flow of air emitted from the air knife or air nozzle manifold is thereby directed onto the passing articles from different directions as the articles move by. The efficiency of drying and blowing off the articles to be processed is thereby significantly improved.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An apparatus for directing air under pressure at passing articles comprising: an air distribution enclosure having opposing, laterally separated ends along a central axis and from which air under pressure is directed at said passing articles in a first direction through at least one op

We claim: 1. An apparatus for directing air under pressure at passing articles comprising: an air distribution enclosure having opposing, laterally separated ends along a central axis and from which air under pressure is directed at said passing articles in a first direction through at least one opening; an inlet opening located between said opposing ends and defining a longitudinal axis of rotation transverse to the central axis; at least one thrust nozzle located on at least one of said opposing ends of said distribution enclosure to receive air and directed to emit a jet of air in a direction tangential relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation and in a direction transverse relative to the first direction; a blower having an inlet duct leading to said inlet opening in said air distribution enclosure; and a rotatable coupling that joins said distribution enclosure to said inlet duct and which permits rotation of said air distribution enclosure relative to said inlet duct about said longitudinal axis of rotation. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein thrust nozzles are located at both of said opposing ends, and said air distribution enclosure is an elongated air knife with the opening being a narrow air discharge slot extending between said opposing ends to discharge air in the first direction in a linearly extending band that is rotated over a circular area by jets of air from said thrust nozzles. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said thrust nozzle is provided with an adjustment mechanism to vary the force of said jet of air. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling is comprised of an annular, rotatable tube connected to said air distribution enclosure in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, an annular stationary coupling duct joined to said inlet duct in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, and a greaseless bearing ring interposed between said rotatable tube and said stationary coupling duct. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said air distribution enclosure is a manifold having at least a pair of outlet nozzles, one at each of said laterally separated ends. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising interior outlet nozzles located between said outlet nozzles at said ends, whereby said air distribution enclosure directs air onto said passing articles along a linear band that is rotated over a circular area by said thrust nozzle. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet opening is located midway between the opposing ends of the air distribution enclosure. 8. An apparatus for directing air under pressure at passing articles comprising: an air distribution enclosure having opposing, laterally separated ends along a central axis and from which air under pressure is directed at said passing articles in a first direction through at least one opening; an inlet opening located between said opposing ends and defining a longitudinal axis of rotation transverse to the central axis; at least one thrust nozzle located on at least one of said opposing ends of said distribution enclosure to receive air and directed to emit a jet of air in a direction tangential relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation and in a direction transverse relative to the first direction; a blower having an inlet duct leading to said inlet opening in said air distribution enclosure; and a rotatable coupling that joins said distribution enclosure to said inlet duct and which permits rotation of said air distribution enclosure relative to said inlet duct about said longitudinal axis of rotation, wherein said coupling is comprised of an annular, rotatable tube connected to said air distribution enclosure in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, an annular stationary coupling duct joined to said inlet duct in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, and a greaseless bearing ring interposed between said rotatable tube and said stationary coupling duct, wherein both said rotatable tube and said stationary coupling duct are provided with radially projecting flanges that meet face to face at an interface, and said flanges are configured to define a tortuous radial path through which air must pass to escape across said face-to-face interface from within said coupling. 9. An apparatus for directing air under pressure at passing articles comprising: an air distribution enclosure having opposing, laterally separated ends along a central axis and from which air under pressure is directed at said passing articles in a first direction through at least one opening; an inlet opening located between said opposing ends and defining a longitudinal axis of rotation transverse to the central axis; at least one thrust nozzle located on at least one of said opposing ends of said distribution enclosure to receive air and directed to emit a jet of air in a direction tangential relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation and in a direction transverse relative to the first direction; a blower having an inlet duct leading to said inlet opening in said air distribution enclosure; and a rotatable coupling that joins said distribution enclosure to said inlet duct and which permits rotation of said air distribution enclosure relative to said inlet duct about said longitudinal axis of rotation, wherein said coupling is comprised of an annular, rotatable tube connected to said air distribution enclosure in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, an annular stationary coupling duct joined to said inlet duct in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis, and a greaseless bearing ring interposed between said rotatable tube and said stationary coupling duct, wherein both said rotatable tube and said coupling duct are provided with radially projecting flanges that meet face to face at an interface, and one of said flanges is configured with at least one circular, annular groove facing said other flange and said other flange is configured with at least one circular, annular, raised ring facing said one of said flanges and said raised ring projects into said groove to define a tortuous radial path through which air must pass to cross said face-to-face interface from within said coupling. 10. An apparatus for directing a flow of air on passing articles comprising: an air distribution structure having a longitudinal axis of rotation and opposing ends along a central axis, the longitudinal axis of rotation being transverse to the central axis, wherein said air distribution structure is configured with at least one primary outlet to emit a flow of air in a direction along a laterally extending swath, and said air distribution structure is equipped with thrusting air jet nozzles located at said opposing ends and oriented tangentially relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation so as to deliver sufficient thrust to rotate said air distribution structure about said longitudinal axis of rotation, thereby sweeping said swath in a circle centered upon said longitudinal axis of rotation. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said air distribution structure is an air knife. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said air distribution structure is an elongated air manifold having a plurality of primary outlet nozzles spaced along its length. 13. Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a blower having an inlet duct leading to said air distribution structure, and a coupling having a stationary tubular member oriented coaxially with said longitudinal axis, and said air distribution structure has an inlet opening centered on said longitudinal axis and a rotatable tubular member projecting from said inlet opening in said air distribution structure toward said stationary tubular member and in coaxial alignment therewith, and a bearing ring interposed between said stationary tubular member and said rotatable tubular member. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said coupling forms an interface between said stationary tubular member and said rotatable tubular member that defines a tortuous path of resistance to the flow of air radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis from said coupling. 15. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said thrusting air jet nozzles are provided with adjustable valves to selectively control their thrusting force. 16. An apparatus for directing a flow of air on passing articles comprising: an air distribution structure having a longitudinal axis of rotation and opposing ends along a central axis, the longitudinal axis of rotation being transverse to the central axis, wherein said air distribution structure is configured with at least one primary outlet to emit a flow of air in a direction along a laterally extending swath, and said air distribution structure is equipped with thrusting air jet nozzles located at said opposing ends and oriented tangentially relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation so as to deliver sufficient thrust to rotate said air distribution structure about said longitudinal axis of rotation, thereby sweeping said swath in a circle centered upon said longitudinal axis of rotation, a blower having an inlet duct leading to said air distribution structure, and a coupling having a stationary tubular member oriented coaxially with said longitudinal axis, and said air distribution structure has an inlet opening centered on said longitudinal axis and a rotatable tubular member projecting from said inlet opening in said air distribution structure toward said stationary tubular member and in coaxial alignment therewith, and a bearing ring interposed between said stationary tubular member and said rotatable tubular member. wherein said tubular members both have radially projecting flanges defined at their extremities, and said flanges reside in mutually facing relationship, and a plurality of annular grooves are defined in one of said flanges and a plurality of raised rings are defined in the other of said flanges, whereby said rings extend into said grooves and said flanges together define a tortuous path of resistance to the flow of air radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis from said coupling. 17. In an air knife assembly for directing a flow of air at passing articles including an elongated air distribution enclosure having opposing ends along a central axis with an inlet side having a longitudinally aligned inlet opening therein equidistant from said opposing ends and an outlet side having an elongated outlet slot defined therein, whereby said air distribution enclosure emits a flow of air through said outlet slot along an elongated linear band, and a blower supplying air under pressure to said elongated air distribution enclosure and including an air supply duct leading to said elongated air distribution enclosure, the improvement comprising: a coupling interposed between said inlet opening of said elongated air distribution enclosure and said air supply duct to join said elongated air distribution enclosure to said supply duct and said coupling permits rotation of said elongated air distribution enclosure relative to said air supply duct about a longitudinal axis of rotation perpendicular to the central axis of said elongated air distribution enclosure and centered at said inlet opening, and laterally directed thrust nozzles on said opposing ends of said elongated air distribution enclosure oriented to emit tangential jets of air at a radially spaced distance from said longitudinal axis to thereby rotate said elongated air distribution enclosure relative to said supply duct about said longitudinal axis. 18. An air knife assembly according to claim 17 said coupling includes a rotatable element connected to said inlet opening of said air distribution enclosure and a stationary element connected to said air supply duct, and said rotatable and stationary elements of said coupling meet at an interface that defines a tortuous radial path to limit the lateral escape of air from within said coupling. 19. An air knife assembly according to claim 17 wherein said thrust nozzles include infinitely adjustable orifice control mechanisms to vary the output force of said jets of air. 20. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the air blower supplies air at up to ten pounds per square inch. 21. An apparatus for directing air under pressure at passing articles comprising: an air distribution enclosure having opposing, laterally separated end portions along a central axis and from which air under pressure is directed at said passing articles in a first direction through at least one opening and an inlet opening located between said opposing ends and defining a longitudinal axis of rotation transverse to the central axis, at least one thrust nozzle located on at least one of said opposing end portions of said distribution enclosure to receive air and directed to emit a jet of air in a direction tangential relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation and in a direction transverse relative to the first direction, a blower having an inlet duct leading to said inlet opening in said air distribution enclosure, and a rotatable coupling that joins said distribution enclosure to said inlet duct and which permits rotation of said air distribution enclosure relative to said inlet duct about said longitudinal axis of rotation. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 comprising at least one thrust nozzle located on each of said opposing end portions of said distribution enclosure to receive air and directed to emit a jet of air in a direction tangential relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation and in a direction transverse relative to the first direction. 23. The apparatus of claim 1 or 21 wherein the blower supplies air at up to ten pounds per square inch. 24. An apparatus for directing air under pressure at passing articles comprising: an air distribution enclosure having opposing, laterally separated end portions along a central axis and from which air under pressure is directed at said passing articles in a first direction through at least one opening; an inlet opening located between said opposing ends and defining a longitudinal axis of rotation transverse to the central axis; at least one thrust nozzle located on at least one of said opposing end portions of said distribution enclosure to receive air and directed to emit a jet of air in a direction tangential relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation and in a direction transverse relative to the first direction; a blower having an inlet duct leading to said inlet opening in said air distribution enclosure; and a rotatable coupling that joins said distribution enclosure to said inlet duct and which permits rotation of said air distribution enclosure relative to said inlet duct about said longitudinal axis of rotation, wherein said coupling is comprised of a rotatable tube connected to said air distribution enclosure and a stationary coupling duct joined to said inlet duct, and wherein the rotatable tube and the stationary coupling duct are configured to define between them a tortuous radial path through which air must pass to escape from within said coupling. 25. A method for applying air under pressure at passing articles comprising the steps of: a) selecting the apparatus of claim 1 or 24; b) positioning the selected apparatus so that the opening is directed toward the articles; and c) blowing air into the enclosure with the blower through the inlet duct so that the air is directed toward the passing articles and the enclosure rotates in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the blower supplies air at a pressure at up to ten pounds per square inch. 27. An apparatus for directing a flow of air on passing articles comprising: an air distribution structure having a longitudinal axis of rotation and opposing ends along a central axis, the longitudinal axis of rotation being transverse to the central axis, wherein said air distribution structure is configured with at least one primary outlet to emit a flow of air in a direction along a laterally extending swath, and said air distribution structure is equipped with thrusting air jet nozzles located at said opposing ends and oriented tangentially relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation so as to deliver sufficient thrust to rotate said air distribution structure about said longitudinal axis of rotation, thereby sweeping said swath in a circle centered upon said longitudinal axis of rotation, and wherein said tubular members are configured to define between them a tortuous path of resistance to the flow of air radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis from said coupling. 28. An apparatus for directing a flow of air on passing articles comprising: an air distribution structure having a longitudinal axis of rotation and opposing end portions along a central axis, the longitudinal axis of rotation being transverse to the central axis, wherein said air distribution structure is configured with at least one primary outlet to emit a flow of air in a direction along a laterally extending swath, and said air distribution structure is equipped with thrusting air jet nozzles located at said opposing end portions and oriented tangentially relative to said longitudinal axis of rotation so as to deliver sufficient thrust to rotate said air distribution structure about said longitudinal axis of rotation, thereby sweeping said swath in a circle centered upon said longitudinal axis of rotation.