US3592334A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Differential pressure conveyors
Assignee: General Logistics Corp
•
Filing: 1969-04-09
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Granted: 1971-07-13
•
Expires: 1989-04-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention utilizes air float and vacuum support principles in general conveying or transporting of articles, without the use of high differential pressures, movable vacuum heads, and large leakage rate. The principles of the invention are adaptable to a variety of general conveying operations such as elevated or overhead conveying, elevating, diverting, unscrambling, stacking, unstacking, palletizing, accumulation and alignment. The invention also provides a foraminous conveyor with means for controlling leakage rates therethrough, and novel conveyor structures for supporting and moving the foraminous belt without extensive contact with apertured slide surfaces. In some cases the vacuum or air lift conveyor can be hooded, with the hood coupled to the blower inlet or outlet as the case may be, in order to increase the pressure differential across the foraminous belt and to reduce the volumetric load on the blower. Certain of the vacuum conveyor arrangements are shaped to engage irregular objects and/or are provided with novel release mechanisms to quickly equalize the differential pressures across the belt in order to release articles adhered thereto. Novel mechanisms are provided for cleaning the foraminous belt for either vacuum or air lift conveyors described herein. When a variety of articles are transferred by the air lift or vacuum conveyor, a discriminator and time delay circuit can be associated therewith for discharging the conveyed articles selectively to preselected discharges stackers or cross conveyors. Novel lateral seals are provided for sealing the edges of the foraminous belt to the pressure chamber in either of the air lift or vacuum conveyors. A novel depalletizer including a horizontally movable delivery plate having an inclined edge is associated with a vacuum conveyor and with an alignment conveyor. Another novel depalletizer, wherein the indexing requirement of conventional depalletizers is eliminated, is associated with a lifting feature of the vacuum conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred J Fleischauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/20; B65G21/2027; B65G21/2036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, a partition mounted in said chamber structure adjacent an end thereof and extended transversely of the open side thereof, branched conduit means coupled to said pressure differential means and respectively to said partitioned chamber end portion and to the balance of said chamber, and three-way valve means coupled in that conduit branch connected to said partitioned end portion, said valve means in addition being coupled to a vent conduit communicating with the ambient so that the pressure differential of said partitioned end chamber portion can be equalized with ambient pressure or otherwise changed independently of the remainder of said chamber structure for loading and unloading purposes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, a partition mounted in said chamber structure adjacent an end thereof and extended transversely of the open side thereof, branched conduit means coupled to said pressure differential means and respectively to said partitioned chamber end portion and to the balance of said chamber, and three-way valve means coupled in that conduit branch connected to said partitioned end portion, said valve means in addition being coupled to a vent conduit communicating with the ambient so that the pressure differential of said partitioned end chamber portion can be equalized with ambient pressure or otherwise changed independently of the remainder of said chamber structure for loading and unloading purposes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
230 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced planar slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, said slats being of foraminous construction and laterally interconnected one to another, each of said slats being flushly engageable adjacent its ends respectively and slidably with edges of said chamber structure at said one side to minimize leakage therebetween, a pair of conveyor belt pulleys rotatably and respectively mounted adjacent each end of said chamber structure at the return portions respectively of said belt, and at least one of said pulleys having a number of flat surfaces disposed flushly to engage adjacent ones respectively of said slats at the associated belt return to move said belt, the length of said flat surfaces being about equal to the width of said slats so that the lateral edges of said slats are not substantially separated as they pass around said pulleys, and means for rotating at least said one pulley.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
230 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced planar slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, said slats being of foraminous construction and laterally interconnected one to another, each of said slats being flushly engageable adjacent its ends respectively and slidably with edges of said chamber structure at said one side to minimize leakage therebetween, a pair of conveyor belt pulleys rotatably and respectively mounted adjacent each end of said chamber structure at the return portions respectively of said belt, and at least one of said pulleys having a number of flat surfaces disposed flushly to engage adjacent ones respectively of said slats at the associated belt return to move said belt, the length of said flat surfaces being about equal to the width of said slats so that the lateral edges of said slats are not substantially separated as they pass around said pulleys, and means for rotating at least said one pulley.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure diFferential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced perforated slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, and a mass of open-cell foam material secured to each of said slats and coextending at least therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure diFferential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced perforated slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, and a mass of open-cell foam material secured to each of said slats and coextending at least therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced perforated slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, and a mass of open-cell foam material secured to each of said slats and coextending longitudinally of said slats, said foam material coextending with said conveyor belt as a continuous and endless belt overlying said conveyor belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced perforated slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, and a mass of open-cell foam material secured to each of said slats and coextending longitudinally of said slats, said foam material coextending with said conveyor belt as a continuous and endless belt overlying said conveyor belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
207 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said chamber structure additionally being open at at least one end thereof, a pair of conveyor belt pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent each end of said chamber structure, at least one of said pulleys closely engaging adjacent wall portions respectively of said chamber structure and adjacent portions of said foraminous conveyor belt when passed thereover so that pressure differentials are applied to said adjacent belt portions, a partition member positioned within said chamber structure adjacent said one end thereof so that the end portion of said chamber structure including the compartment defined by said one pulley can be subjected to pressure differentials independently of the remainder of said chamber structure, and valved conduit means coupled between said compartment and said pressure differential means for establishing a pressure differential in said compartment independently of the remainder of said chamber structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
207 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said chamber structure additionally being open at at least one end thereof, a pair of conveyor belt pulleys rotatably mounted adjacent each end of said chamber structure, at least one of said pulleys closely engaging adjacent wall portions respectively of said chamber structure and adjacent portions of said foraminous conveyor belt when passed thereover so that pressure differentials are applied to said adjacent belt portions, a partition member positioned within said chamber structure adjacent said one end thereof so that the end portion of said chamber structure including the compartment defined by said one pulley can be subjected to pressure differentials independently of the remainder of said chamber structure, and valved conduit means coupled between said compartment and said pressure differential means for establishing a pressure differential in said compartment independently of the remainder of said chamber structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 5 characterized further in that said valved conduit means includes a tubular shaft upon which the associated conveyor belt pulleys are spacedly and rotatably mounted, an intervening portion of said shaft being perforated to permit the flow of air therethrough relative to said compartment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
The combination according to claim 5 characterized further in that said valved conduit means includes a tubular shaft rotatably mounted on the adjacent end of said chamber structure and secured to the remainder of said conduit means through a rotary seal, the associated conveyor belt pulleys being spacedly secured to said tubular shaft for rotation therewith, an intervening portion of said shaft being perforated to permit the flow of air therethrough relative to said compartment, and the other end of said tubular shaft protruding beyond the adjacent pulley for engagement with rotating means secured thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from an endless flexiBle member having a number of flow apertures extending therethrough, and a layer of resilient open-celled foam material secured to said flexible member and coextending therewith, the open cells of said foam material being in communication with said flow apertures and with one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from an endless flexiBle member having a number of flow apertures extending therethrough, and a layer of resilient open-celled foam material secured to said flexible member and coextending therewith, the open cells of said foam material being in communication with said flow apertures and with one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said pressure differential means are capable of establishing a negative pressure differential with said chamber, and said pressure differential means and the resiliency of said foam material being correlated so that shearing and sealing forces are developed about the edges of an article adhered to said belt means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
An endless foraminous belt for a differential pressure conveyor, said belt comprising an endless flexible member having a number of flow apertures extending therethrough, and a layer of resilient open-celled foam material secured to said flexible member and coextending therewith, the open cells of said foam material being in communication with said flow apertures and with one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
An endless foraminous belt for a differential pressure conveyor, said belt comprising an endless flexible member having a number of flow apertures extending therethrough, and a layer of resilient open-celled foam material secured to said flexible member and coextending therewith, the open cells of said foam material being in communication with said flow apertures and with one another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination according to claim 10 wherein said endless belt is provided with a plurality of transversely extending stiffening members secured to said flexible member to prevent outward transverse bowing of said belt when employed with an air lift conveyor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination according to claim 10 wherein the securance of said foam material to said flexible member is provided by means of an apertured backing layer secured to said foam material and having an adhesive thereon for adherence to said flexible member, the apertures of said backing member being registrable with the apertures of said flexible member respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein said backing layer is fabricated from an elastic material having at least the same elastic characteristics as that of said foam layer in order to permit minor elastic displacement of both said foam layer and said backing layer to facilitate registry of said apertures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
141 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential with said chamber, pressure equalizing means including at least one plate having generally the same shape as that of said belt release area, means for mounting said plate for movement within said chamber toward and away from said belt release area, biasing means coupled to said plate for urging said plate away from said belt area, and means for periodically moving said plate into a position adjacent said belt to close the juxtaposed apertures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
141 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential with said chamber, pressure equalizing means including at least one plate having generally the same shape as that of said belt release area, means for mounting said plate for movement within said chamber toward and away from said belt release area, biasing means coupled to said plate for urging said plate away from said belt area, and means for periodically moving said plate into a position adjacent said belt to close the juxtaposed apertures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein said moving means are operated by a limit switch mounted adjacent said release area for engagement with an article carried by said conveyor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
169 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, pressure equalizing means including damper means mounted within said chamber adjacent an opening adjacent said belt release area but removed from the surface of said belt, means for pivotally mounting said damper means adjacent said chamber opening and said belt release area, said damper in one pivoted position thereof closing said chamber opening so that said belt area communicates only with said chamber and in another pivoted position thereof closing a passage between said chamber and said belt release area so that said area communicates only with said chamber opening, and means for pivoting said damper means between said positions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
169 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, pressure equalizing means including damper means mounted within said chamber adjacent an opening adjacent said belt release area but removed from the surface of said belt, means for pivotally mounting said damper means adjacent said chamber opening and said belt release area, said damper in one pivoted position thereof closing said chamber opening so that said belt area communicates only with said chamber and in another pivoted position thereof closing a passage between said chamber and said belt release area so that said area communicates only with said chamber opening, and means for pivoting said damper means between said positions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein said pivoting means are actuated by a limit switch mounted adjacent said belt release area for engagement with an article carried by said conveyor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
148 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said chamber one side being substantially covered with valve means, said valve means including a plurality of valve structures operable by a predetermined leakage rate through said belt so that those valve structures juxtaposed to an article carried by said conveyor remain open to apply said pressure differential to said article and those valve structures juxtaposed to uncovered areas of said belt are closed by initial leakage through said belt, whereby leakage through said belt open areas is minimized.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
148 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said chamber one side being substantially covered with valve means, said valve means including a plurality of valve structures operable by a predetermined leakage rate through said belt so that those valve structures juxtaposed to an article carried by said conveyor remain open to apply said pressure differential to said article and those valve structures juxtaposed to uncovered areas of said belt are closed by initial leakage through said belt, whereby leakage through said belt open areas is minimized.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
102 words
The combination according to claim 18 wherein each of said valve structures includes a funnel-shaped section having its more constricted opening communicating with said vacuum chamber structure and a ball member larger than said constricted opening and retained in said section by said conveyor belt means, each of said balls having means coupled thereto for biasing said balls away from its associated opening so that a normally small initial leakage of air through uncovered portions of said belt means close those juxtaposed ones of said valve structures by moving the associated ball members into the constricted openings of said juxtaposed valve members.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
159 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said chamber structure being closed at both ends, a perforated roller for said belt rotatably mounted adjacent at least one of said chamber ends for establishing a pressure differential through said belt at an associated belt return, means for mounting said roller outside of said chamber structure but in general alignment with said one side in at least partial formation of said belt return, and branched conduit means coupled to said perforated roller and to said chamber structure for communicating said roller and said structure with said pressure differential means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
159 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said chamber structure being closed at both ends, a perforated roller for said belt rotatably mounted adjacent at least one of said chamber ends for establishing a pressure differential through said belt at an associated belt return, means for mounting said roller outside of said chamber structure but in general alignment with said one side in at least partial formation of said belt return, and branched conduit means coupled to said perforated roller and to said chamber structure for communicating said roller and said structure with said pressure differential means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
90 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt including a foraminous base member and a coextensive layer of open-cell foam material adhered to said base member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
90 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough communicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt including a foraminous base member and a coextensive layer of open-cell foam material adhered to said base member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
165 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough commUnicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced planar slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, said slats being of foraminous construction and laterally interconnected one to another, each of said slats being flushly engageable adjacent its ends respectively and slidably with edges of said chamber structure at said one side to minimize leakage therebetween, and a pair of flexible sealing means secured adjacent the sides respectively of said chamber structure and adjacent said chamber edges further to minimize or prevent leakage between said slats and said chamber structure.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
165 words
A conveyor arrangement comprising an elongated chamber structure having flow means along at least one side, an endless foraminous conveyor belt means having a run thereof supported generally against said one side, said belt means having a relatively large number of flow-impeding openings therethrough commUnicating with said one side, means for moving said conveyor belt relative to said chamber structure, means for establishing a pressure differential within said chamber, said conveyor belt being formed from a number of closely spaced planar slats supported transversely of the direction of movement of said belt, said slats being of foraminous construction and laterally interconnected one to another, each of said slats being flushly engageable adjacent its ends respectively and slidably with edges of said chamber structure at said one side to minimize leakage therebetween, and a pair of flexible sealing means secured adjacent the sides respectively of said chamber structure and adjacent said chamber edges further to minimize or prevent leakage between said slats and said chamber structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |