Air actuated flow control/load breaker/gas seal unit
First Claim
1. Flow control apparatus for use in an article handling system having a conduit through which articles such as can ends in a facewise nested condition are conveyed from a first location to a second location, said flow control apparatus being interposed in said conduit for controlling the flow of articles therethrough, and comprising:
- a housing operatively interposed in said conduit;
an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in said housing and defining a through passage of a shape generally complementary to the shape of said articles;
means defining a pressure chamber;
said tubular sleeve member being responsive to the level of pressure in said pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of said articles.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control apparatus is provided for use in an article handling system having a conduit through which articles such as can ends in a facewise nested condition are conveyed from a first location to a second location. The control apparatus comprises a housing operatively interposed in the conduit and an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in the housing and defining a through passage of a shape generally complementary to the shape of the articles. The tubular sleeve member is responsive to the level of pressure in a pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of the articles.
16 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Flow control apparatus for use in an article handling system having a conduit through which articles such as can ends in a facewise nested condition are conveyed from a first location to a second location, said flow control apparatus being interposed in said conduit for controlling the flow of articles therethrough, and comprising:
- a housing operatively interposed in said conduit;
an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in said housing and defining a through passage of a shape generally complementary to the shape of said articles;
means defining a pressure chamber;
said tubular sleeve member being responsive to the level of pressure in said pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of said articles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a housing operatively interposed in said conduit;
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13. A gas seal apparatus for use in an elongate, article-carrying conduit through which articles such as can ends are conveyed in a facewise nested condition, said apparatus comprising a pair of gas seal units interposed at each of a pair of spaced apart locations along said conduit for maintaining a substantially gas-tight seal between portions of said conduit to either side of said gas seal units, at least one of said gas seal units comprising:
- a housing operatively interposed in said conduit;
an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in said housing and defining a through passage of a shape complementary to said articles;
means defining a pressure chamber;
said tubular sleeve member being responsive to the level of pressure in said pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of said articles as they pass through said passage for permitting articles to pass through said gas seal unit while maintaining substantially a seal between said tubular sleeve member and said articles, to thereby maintain a seal between the portions of said conduit to either side of said gas seal units as the articles are transported along said conduit and through said gas seal units. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
- a housing operatively interposed in said conduit;
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17. A method of controlling a flow of articles through a conduit in which articles such as can ends are conveyed in a generally facewise nested condition comprising:
- interposing in the conduit a flow control apparatus including an elastomeric tubular sleeve member responsive to a pressure applied thereto for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of said articles, and controlling the amount of pressure applied to said tubular sleeve member to thereby control the flow of articles past said tubular sleeve member, thereby controlling the flow of articles through said conduit.
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18. A method of forming a gas seal for an elongate conduit through which articles such as can ends are conveyed in a generally facewise nested condition, comprising:
- interposing in the conduit first and second gas seal units at spaced apart locations along said conduit, at least one of said gas seal units comprising an elastomeric tubular sleeve member responsive to a pressure applied thereto for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of said articles, and controlling the pressure applied to the tubular sleeve member of each of said gas seal units for causing said tubular sleeve members to maintain substantially a gas seal between said tubular sleeve members and the articles passing therethrough while permitting the articles to flow through said tubular sleeve members, thereby maintaining substantially a gas seal between the portions of said conduit to either side of the gas seal units.
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19. Sealing apparatus for use in an elongate, article-carrying conduit through which articles such as can ends are conveyed in a facewise nested condition, comprising:
- a gas seal unit interposed at each of a pair of spaced apart locations along said conduit for maintaining a substantially gas-tight seal between portions of said conduit to either side of said gas seal units;
at least one of said gas seal units comprising a housing operatively interposed in said conduit, an elastomeric tubular sleeve member mounted in said housing and defining a through passage of a shape complementary to said articles;
means defining a pressure chamber;
said tubular sleeve member being responsive to the level of pressure in said pressure chamber for applying a corresponding force about the periphery of said articles as they pass through said passage for permitting articles to pass through said gas seal unit while maintaining substantially a seal between said tubular sleeve member and said articles, to thereby maintain a seal between the portions of said conduit to either side of said gas seal units as the articles are transported along said conduit and through said gas seal units.
- a gas seal unit interposed at each of a pair of spaced apart locations along said conduit for maintaining a substantially gas-tight seal between portions of said conduit to either side of said gas seal units;
Specification