Controlled speed single file conveyor
First Claim
1. A controlled speed single file conveyor for conveying upright substantially cylindrical articles at a controlled speed from an upstream location to a downstream location, said single file conveyor comprising:
- a deck plate extending from said upstream location to said downstream location, said deck plate having an upper surface, opposite inboard and outboard side edges spaced at a lateral distance, and an underside;
a plurality of rows of louvers, each having a width, communicating said upper surface and said underside, extending generally parallel to said side edges from said upstream location to said downstream location, at least some of said rows of louvers being angled so that air discharged through said angled rows of louvers has a force vector component toward said inboard side edge and a force component vector in a downstream direction;
a plenum connectable to a pressurized source of the air and is attached to said underside of said deck plate;
a vertical wall positioned above said deck plate adjacent and substantially parallel to said inboard side edge, said vertical wall having a lower edge positioned at a height above said upper surface; and
means for adjusting said height of said lower edge of said wall above said deck plate to control the amount of the air from said rows of louvers being exhausted over said inboard edge by passing under said wall.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controlled speed single file conveyor conveys upright cylindrical articles in single file along a deck plate-from an upstream location to a downstream location. A plurality of rows of louvers extend through the deck plate which are generally parallel to one of the side edges. The louvers are at a very shallow angle and some of them are angled so that air discharged therethrough has a force vector component toward the inboard side edge and a force vector in the downstream direction. A vertical wall, above the deck plate and parallel to an inboard edge, is vertically adjustable above the upper surface of the deck plate to control the exhausting of air. The shallow angle of the louvers causes a portion of the air to flow along the deck and under the articles at sufficient speed to the articles toward the deck to hold them in upright position. A second portion of the air travels above the deck to create a mass air flow to move the articles along the deck in a downstream direction. A method includes supplying air through deck plate louvers wherein the air has a lateral force component and a downstream force component. A variable space between the deck plate and a wall is provided to allow air to be exhausted over the longitudinal edge of the deck plate to control the downstream speed of the articles. A low pressure area is created along the wall to hold the articles in single file.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A controlled speed single file conveyor for conveying upright substantially cylindrical articles at a controlled speed from an upstream location to a downstream location, said single file conveyor comprising:
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a deck plate extending from said upstream location to said downstream location, said deck plate having an upper surface, opposite inboard and outboard side edges spaced at a lateral distance, and an underside; a plurality of rows of louvers, each having a width, communicating said upper surface and said underside, extending generally parallel to said side edges from said upstream location to said downstream location, at least some of said rows of louvers being angled so that air discharged through said angled rows of louvers has a force vector component toward said inboard side edge and a force component vector in a downstream direction; a plenum connectable to a pressurized source of the air and is attached to said underside of said deck plate; a vertical wall positioned above said deck plate adjacent and substantially parallel to said inboard side edge, said vertical wall having a lower edge positioned at a height above said upper surface; and means for adjusting said height of said lower edge of said wall above said deck plate to control the amount of the air from said rows of louvers being exhausted over said inboard edge by passing under said wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of conveying upright cylindrical articles in single file at a controlled downstream speed and in a downstream direction from an upstream location to a downstream location along a deck plate, having an inboard edge and an outboard edge and having a plurality of rows of louvers extending therethrough at an angle, and a wall, having a lower edge spaced from said deck plate, which serves as a barrier along the inboard edge of the deck plate, said method comprising the steps of:
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supplying air under pressure through the louvers so that the air has a lateral force component and a downstream force component; and varying the space between the deck plate and the lower edge of the wall to allow the air from the louvers to pass under the wall and be exhausted over the inboard edge of the deck plate to control the amount of mass air moving in the downstream direction to control the downstream speed of the articles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of conveying upright substantially cylindrical articles in single file at a controlled speed in a downstream direction from an upstream location to a downstream location along a deck plate, having an inboard edge and an outboard edge and having a plurality of first rows of louvers therethrough, and a wall, having a lower edge, which serves as a barrier along the inboard edge of the deck plate, said method comprising the steps of:
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supplying air under pressure through the first rows of louvers so that the air has a lateral force component and a downstream force component; and placing the first rows of louvers at an angle to the deck plate which is so shallow that a first portion of the air travels along the deck plate due to the Coanda Effect causing the air to flow under the articles at sufficient speed to create a low pressure area thereunder in accordance with Bernoulli'"'"'s Principle so that the articles are pulled toward the deck plate and a second portion of the air travels above the deck plate to create a mass air flow to move the articles along the deck plate in the downstream direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification