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US3734567A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Air conveyor for flat thin articles

Assignee: Bangor Punta Operations Inc
•
Filing: 1971-01-25
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-01-25
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Abstract

Abstract The conveyor includes an elongated channel-shaped trough for receiving circular articles. The trough includes a pair of side members extending in generally spaced parallel planes with openings through the members for transmitting air into the trough. The openings in one of the members are configured to provide air jets into the trough in a direction perpendicular to the one member to displace the articles in the trough toward the other member. The openings through the other member are configured to provide air jets having flow components predominantly parallel to the members to impart a propelling force to the articles. The articles are thus maintained in spaced relation from the one member in the course of their conveyance. Air issues outwardly from the trough along an open side thereof and imparts a force to the circular articles tending to rotate the latter in their direction of movement along the trough.

Inventors

  • 👤 L Fong

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 21:18
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G51/00; B65G51/02; B65G51/03

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for conveying circular flat, thin articles comprising a plenum chamber having a vertically oriented longitudinally extending channel-shaped recess defined by a pair of confronting side wall members and a guide member, said guide member defining the base of said recess, said guide member for supporting circular flat thin articles for rolling movement through said recess, each of said side wall members having a plurality of openings therethrough for transmitting air from said plenum into said recess, the openings through one of said walls being configured to direct air jets substantially perpendicular to the other of said walls to move said articles on the guide member toward said other wall, the openings through said other wall being configured to direct air jets into said recess having flow components predominantly parallel to said other wall for propelling the articles to roll along said guide member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for conveying circular flat, thin articles comprising a plenum chamber having a vertically oriented longitudinally extending channel-shaped recess defined by a pair of confronting side wall members and a guide member, said guide member defining the base of said recess, said guide member for supporting circular flat thin articles for rolling movement through said recess, each of said side wall members having a plurality of openings therethrough for transmitting air from said plenum into said recess, the openings through one of said walls being configured to direct air jets substantially perpendicular to the other of said walls to move said articles on the guide member toward said other wall, the openings through said other wall being configured to direct air jets into said recess having flow components predominantly parallel to said other wall for propelling the articles to roll along said guide member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said recess has a depth less than the height of articles conveyed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 which further includes a second guide member spaced outwardly from the open side of said recess for confining articles with said recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with said articles, said articles being circular, and means providing for air flow outwardly from said recess through its open side and having flow components in directions tending to rotate said articles in the direction of movement thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with said articles, said recess having a depth less than the height of said articles whereby portions of said articles project outwardly beyond said recess and are exposed to view as they are moved along said conveying apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 136 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a second channel-shaped recess spaced laterally from said first mentioned recess and substantially coextensive with said plenum for receiving the articles, said second recess being defined in part by a pair of oppositely disposed walls having a plurality of openings therethrough for transmitting air from said plenum into said second recess, the openings through one of the walls of said second recess being configured to direct air jets substantially toward the other wall of said second recess for displacing articles within said second recess toward the other wall thereof, the openings through the other wall of said second recess being configured to direct air jets into said second recess having flow components predominantly parallel to the other wall of said second recess for propelling the articles along said second recess.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2342680A Cited
US2848820A Cited
US2805898A Cited
US3105720A Cited
US3129978A Cited
US3210124A Cited
US3405977A Cited
US3437335A Cited
US3512481A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-05-21 1976-11-20 1977-05-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-05-21 1980-11-20 1981-05-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-05-21 1984-11-20 1985-05-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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