Vacuum combiner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A conveyor for combining articles from a mass to a single file comprising:
- a single file lane;
a vacuum chamber;
a wear surface forming at least a portion of one side of said vacuum chamber;
a plurality of conveying surfaces adjacent said single file lane, each said conveying surface supported by said wear surface and circulating at a speed increasing with proximity to said single file lane;
a guide mounted above and traversing said plurality of conveying surfaces for urging articles toward said single file lane; and
a plurality of holes in said wear surface in a path substantially parallel to said guide to aid in preventing articles from tipping upon striking said guide while permitting articles to freely move between ones of the plurality of conveying surfaces before reaching said guide.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum combiner is provided comprising a vacuum chamber with a wear surface forming one side thereof, a plurality of air pervious conveying surfaces, a guide rail extending across the conveying surfaces toward a single file lane, and a vacuum suction region in the wear surface on an upstream side of the guide rail. The vacuum suction region extends approximately an article width upstream of the guide to prevent article tipping without impeding article movement between the conveying surfaces toward the single file lane.
19 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A conveyor for combining articles from a mass to a single file comprising:
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a single file lane; a vacuum chamber; a wear surface forming at least a portion of one side of said vacuum chamber; a plurality of conveying surfaces adjacent said single file lane, each said conveying surface supported by said wear surface and circulating at a speed increasing with proximity to said single file lane; a guide mounted above and traversing said plurality of conveying surfaces for urging articles toward said single file lane; and a plurality of holes in said wear surface in a path substantially parallel to said guide to aid in preventing articles from tipping upon striking said guide while permitting articles to freely move between ones of the plurality of conveying surfaces before reaching said guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A conveyor for combining articles from a mass to a single file comprising:
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a single file lane; a vacuum chamber; a wear surface forming at least a portion of one side of said vacuum chamber; a plurality of air pervious conveyor belts adjacent said single file lane, each said conveying surface supported by said wear surface and circulating at a speed increasing with proximity to said single file lane; a non-linear guide mounted above and traversing said plurality of conveying surfaces for urging articles toward said single file lane; and a vacuum suction region in said wear surface in a path substantially parallel to said guide to aid in preventing articles from tipping upon striking said guide, a width approximately equal to a width of the article being combined. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A conveyor for combining articles from a mass to a single file comprising:
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a single file lane; a vacuum chamber; a wear surface forming at least a portion of one side of said vacuum chamber; a plurality of air pervious conveying surfaces adjacent said single file lane, each said conveying surface supported by said wear surface and circulating at a speed increasing with proximity to said single file lane; a guide mounted above and traversing said plurality of conveying surfaces for urging articles toward said single file lane; and a vacuum suction region in said wear surface in a path substantially parallel to said guide to aid in preventing articles from tipping upon striking said guide. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification