EP0094151A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for and method of serially conveying discrete flexible articles
Assignee: Fort James Corp
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Filing: 1983-03-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for serially conveying discrete flexible articles includes a plurality of sequentially activated Coanda nozzles (40, 42, 44) disposed along an article flow path and article support means (74, 78) cooperable with the nozzles whereby with sequential operation of the nozzles the articles can be propelled in a stable manner along the article support means.
Inventors
- 👤 Imants Reba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H5/00; B65H5/22; B65H5/228; B31; B31B; B31B70/00; B31B70/02; B31B70/10; B31B70/74; B31B70/92; B31B70/98; B31B70/984
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for serially conveying discrete flexible articles along a flow path between a first station and a second station characterised by a plurality of C oanda nozzles (40, 42, 44) positioned along the flow path; and article support means disposed between said Coanda nozzles defining spaced generally flat support surfaces (74, 78) and a plurality of apertures (80) between said support surfaces and in communication therewith, said nozzles and said article support means being cooperable to separate air flow induced by at least one of said nozzles into a laminar fluid flow component directed along said support surfaces toward said second station to propel said articles therealong and exert a suction force thereon in a direction substantially normal to said flow path and a vented fluid flow component directed through said apertures to prevent the build-up of air disturbances that would otherwise be imparted to the articles during conveyance thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for serially conveying discrete flexible articles along a flow path between a first station and a second station characterised by a plurality of C oanda nozzles (40, 42, 44) positioned along the flow path; and article support means disposed between said Coanda nozzles defining spaced generally flat support surfaces (74, 78) and a plurality of apertures (80) between said support surfaces and in communication therewith, said nozzles and said article support means being cooperable to separate air flow induced by at least one of said nozzles into a laminar fluid flow component directed along said support surfaces toward said second station to propel said articles therealong and exert a suction force thereon in a direction substantially normal to said flow path and a vented fluid flow component directed through said apertures to prevent the build-up of air disturbances that would otherwise be imparted to the articles during conveyance thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that auxiliary fluid flow generating means (98, 100) are provided to exert pulling forces on said articles during conveyance thereof in generally opposed directions laterally disposed relative to said flow path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said auxiliary fluid flow generating means comprises a plurality of auxiliary Coanda nozzles with at least one auxiliary Coanda nozzle positioned along each outer edge of the flow path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said auxiliary Coanda nozzles are adapted to be in registry with opposed terminal portions of the flexible articles, each said auxiliary nozzle comprising a pressurized fluid outlet (90) and a flow attachment surface (102), the flow attachment surface terminating at a projecting element spaced from the pressurized fluid outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that each said pressurized fluid outlet (98) is canted at a predetermined angle (a) in the direction of the flow path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pressurized fluid outlets comprise a plurality of bores (98), the bores of one auxiliary nozzle along one edge of the flow path being canted at a different angle (a) than the bores at the other edge thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the differential angle between auxiliary nozzle bores along the two flow path edges is in the order of about 15 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that said article support means comprises a plurality of overlapping finger elements (78) extending from at least some of said Coanda nozzles and defining elongated apertures (80) therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that means (115, 116, 11 7 ) are provided for selectively moveably adjusting the distances between said nozzles in the direction of the flow path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that each Coanda nozzle (40) is comprised of a plurality of Coanda nozzle segments (40A, 40B), means (120, 122) being provided for adjusting the distance between said Coanda nozzle segments in a direction laterally disposed relative to said flow path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that at least one of said Coanda nozzles comprises a body member (46) defining a fluid flow attachment surface (48), a first elongated slit (50) partly defined by said fluid flow attachment surface, and a plenum (54) for delivering pressurized fluid to said fluid flow attachment surface through said first elongated slit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said at least one Coanda nozzle additionally comprises a cover element (62) defining a cavity (68) in communication with said first elongated slit (50) and for receiving pressurized fluid flow therefrom, said cover element (62) and said body member (46) defining a second elongated slit (70) for receiving a flow of pressurized fluid after it has passed through said first elongated slit (50) and said cavity (54).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the width of said second elongated slit (70) is greater than the width of said first elongated slit (50) so that the cover element will not interfere with pressurized fluid flow from said first elongated slit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the width of said first elongated slit is in the range of from 0.002 inches to 0.004 inches (0.005 to 0.010 cms) and the width of said second elongated slit is in the range of from 0.015 to 0.035 inches (0.038 to 0.089 cms).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that the Coanda nozzles (40, 42, 44) are close coupled to separate solenoid valves (58) to provide selective communication between said Coanda nozzles and a source of pressurized fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that at least some of said Coanda nozzles define a fluid flow attachment surface (48) having a generally curved surface portion leading to said support surface (78) and a second surface portion (42a) leading away from said support surface and directing the vented fluid flow component through said apertures (80).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for serially conveying discrete flexible articles between a first station and a second station, characterized by at least one Coanda nozzle (40, 42, 44) disposed between said first and second stations, said Coanda nozzle defining a first elongated slit (50) and a Coanda fluid flow attachment surface (48) extending from said elongated slit, said surface comprising a generally curved surface portion (48) and a second surface portion connected to said generally curved surface portion (42a) and deviating therefrom; and a plurality of spaced finger elements (78) extending from said fluid flow attachment surface at the juncture of said surface portions, said finger elements defining support surfaces and apertures (80) therebetween, said nozzle being cooperable with said finger elements to separate air flow from said nozzle into a laminar flow component directed along said support surfaces toward said second station to propel said articles therealong and exert a suction force thereon in a direction substantially normal to the path of movement of said articles between said stations and a vented fluid flow component directed through said apertures to prevent the build-up of air disturbances that would otherwise be imparted to the articles during conveyance thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for serially conveying discrete flexible articles between a first station and a second station, characterized by at least one Coanda nozzle (40, 42, 44) disposed between said first and second stations, said Coanda nozzle defining a first elongated slit (50) and a Coanda fluid flow attachment surface (48) extending from said elongated slit, said surface comprising a generally curved surface portion (48) and a second surface portion connected to said generally curved surface portion (42a) and deviating therefrom; and a plurality of spaced finger elements (78) extending from said fluid flow attachment surface at the juncture of said surface portions, said finger elements defining support surfaces and apertures (80) therebetween, said nozzle being cooperable with said finger elements to separate air flow from said nozzle into a laminar flow component directed along said support surfaces toward said second station to propel said articles therealong and exert a suction force thereon in a direction substantially normal to the path of movement of said articles between said stations and a vented fluid flow component directed through said apertures to prevent the build-up of air disturbances that would otherwise be imparted to the articles during conveyance thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, characterized by a cover element (62) defining a cavity (68) in communication with said first elongated slit to receive pressurized air flow therefrom, said cover element defining a second elongated slit (70) with said nozzle for receiving a flow of pressurized air after it has passed through said first elongated slit (50) and said cavity, said second elongated slit having a width greater than the first elongated slit.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of serially conveying discrete flexible articles along a flow path defined by support surfaces between a first station and a second station, characterized by initiating a gaseous flow at a plurality of predetermined locations along said flow path; directing a laminar portion of each of said gaseous flows toward said second station; substantially .simultaneously venting turbulent portions of said gaseous flows in a direction substantially deviating from the direction of movement of said laminar portion; placing said articles in engagement with said gaseous flows; and utilizing said gaseous flow laminar portions to propel said articles toward said second station and exert a suction on said articles in a direction substantially normal to the direction of said flow path.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of serially conveying discrete flexible articles along a flow path defined by support surfaces between a first station and a second station, characterized by initiating a gaseous flow at a plurality of predetermined locations along said flow path; directing a laminar portion of each of said gaseous flows toward said second station; substantially .simultaneously venting turbulent portions of said gaseous flows in a direction substantially deviating from the direction of movement of said laminar portion; placing said articles in engagement with said gaseous flows; and utilizing said gaseous flow laminar portions to propel said articles toward said second station and exert a suction on said articles in a direction substantially normal to the direction of said flow path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 19, characterized by the additional. step of exerting pulling forces on said articles in generally opposed directions laterally disposed relative to said flow path during movement of said articles along said flow path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 20., characterized in that the pulling forces are exerted by gaseous flow moving laterally relative to said flow path.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 19, 20 or 21, characterized in that the gaseous flows are initiated at said plurality of predetermined locations in timed sequence.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 19, 20, 21 or 22, characterized in that said gaseous flow is initiated by flowing pressurized gas through a slit and changing the direction of said gas after it passes through said slit by attaching it to a generally smoothly curved Coanda surface leading toward said second station.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of serially conveying discrete flexible articles along a flow path between a first station and a second station characterized in that at a first location adjacent to said first station pressurized gas is caused to flow through a restricted opening and the direction of said gas flow is changed by attaching said gas to a Coanda fluid flow attachment surface leading toward said second station; a discrete flexible article is placed into close proximity to said pressurized gas flow after said gas has attached to said Coanda fluid flow attachment surface whereby said discrete flexible article is entrained thereby and propelled toward said second station; at a second location between said first location and said second station a second flow of pressurized gas is forced through a second restricted opening and the direction of said second pressurized gas flow is changed by attaching said gas to a second Coanda fluid flow attachment surface leading toward said second station; said discrete flexible article is placed into close proximity to said second pressurized gas flow after said gas has attached to said second Coanda fluid flow attachment surface whereby said discrete flexible article is entrained thereby and propelled toward said second station; and gas flow is terminated at said first location after said discrete flexible article has been entrained at said second location.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of serially conveying discrete flexible articles along a flow path between a first station and a second station characterized in that at a first location adjacent to said first station pressurized gas is caused to flow through a restricted opening and the direction of said gas flow is changed by attaching said gas to a Coanda fluid flow attachment surface leading toward said second station; a discrete flexible article is placed into close proximity to said pressurized gas flow after said gas has attached to said Coanda fluid flow attachment surface whereby said discrete flexible article is entrained thereby and propelled toward said second station; at a second location between said first location and said second station a second flow of pressurized gas is forced through a second restricted opening and the direction of said second pressurized gas flow is changed by attaching said gas to a second Coanda fluid flow attachment surface leading toward said second station; said discrete flexible article is placed into close proximity to said second pressurized gas flow after said gas has attached to said second Coanda fluid flow attachment surface whereby said discrete flexible article is entrained thereby and propelled toward said second station; and gas flow is terminated at said first location after said discrete flexible article has been entrained at said second location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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