Material handling apparatus

Claim 2

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said obturators in their substantially closed positions; and means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of the corresponding obturator to its open position and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 3

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said obturators in their substantially closed positions, each of said compartments communicating with said second portion when the corresponding obturator is in said substantially closed position; and means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of its obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 4

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said obturators in their substantially closed positions, each of said compartments communicating with said second portion when the corresponding obturator is in said substantially closed position; and means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of its obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 5

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which each of the obturators includes an aperture for maintaining communication between the corresponding compartment and the second portion of the suction enclosure when the obturator is in its substantially closed position.

Claim 6

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 2, in which each of said obturators is not completely tight when in said substantially closed position, to enable the flow of a small quantity of air from the corresponding compartment to the second portion of said suction enclosure.

Claim 7

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: conveyor means for advancing the material to be handled along a feed path; a suction enclosure disposed along the feed path and including a first portion facing the material and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure; and means automatically responsive to the advance of the material along said feed path for increasing the suction within the second portion of said suction enclosure to move said obturators from their open positions to their substantially closed positions, said conveyor means continuing the advance of the material to locate said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to move its obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 8

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: conveyor means for advancing the material to be handled along a feed path; a suction enclosure disposed along the feed path and including a first portion facing the material and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure; and means automatically responsive to the advance of the material along said feed path for increasing the suction within the second portion of said suction enclosure to move said obturators from their open positions to their substantially closed positions, said conveyor means continuing the advance of the material to locate said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to move its obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 9

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which the means for increasing the suction within the second portion of said suction enclosure comprises an additional compartment having a vent opening and an additional obturator interposed between the additional compartment and said second portion.

Claim 10

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: conveyor means for advancing the material to be handled along a feed path; a suction enclosure disposed along the feed path and including a first portion in position to contact the material and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suctioN enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means defining an additional compartment positioned along said feed path on the infeed side of said adjacent compartments, the additional compartment being in free communication with the second portion of the suction enclosure and having a vent opening facing said material, the conveyor means advancing the material into blocking relationship with said vent opening and then with the opening of at least one of said adjacent compartments; and means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure, the applied suction acting on said obturators to automatically close the same in response to the blocking of said vent opening, and said suction reducing the pressure within said one additional compartment as its opening becomes blocked to open the corresponding obturator and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 11

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: conveyor means for advancing the material to be handled along a feed path; a suction enclosure disposed along the feed path and including a first portion in position to contact the material and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suctioN enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means defining an additional compartment positioned along said feed path on the infeed side of said adjacent compartments, the additional compartment being in free communication with the second portion of the suction enclosure and having a vent opening facing said material, the conveyor means advancing the material into blocking relationship with said vent opening and then with the opening of at least one of said adjacent compartments; and means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure, the applied suction acting on said obturators to automatically close the same in response to the blocking of said vent opening, and said suction reducing the pressure within said one additional compartment as its opening becomes blocked to open the corresponding obturator and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 12

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which all of said obtuators are simultaneously moved to their substantially closed positions in response to the blocking of said vent opening, and in which said conveyor means advances the material being handled into blocking relationship with the openings of each of said adjacent compartments to successively return to said obturators to their open positions.

Claim 13

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of flaps, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said flaps being pivotally movable about a horizontal axis between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said flaps in their substantially closed positions, each of said flaps admitting a small quantity of air from the corresponding compartment to said second portion when the flap is in its substantially closed position; and means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of its flap from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 14

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of flaps, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said flaps being pivotally movable about a horizontal axis between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said flaps in their substantially closed positions, each of said flaps admitting a small quantity of air from the corresponding compartment to said second portion when the flap is in its substantially closed position; and means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of its flap from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material.

Claim 15

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 9, which further comprises a plurality of flexible skirts carried by said suction enclosure in position to engage the material.

Claim 16

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturaTors being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said obturators in their substantially closed positions; means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of the corresponding obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material; and means in engagement with the obturator for said one compartment and automatically responsive to the location of the material and the suction enclosure in contact with each other for applying an initial impetus of movement to the said obturator away from its substantially closed position.

Claim 17

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturaTors being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said obturators in their substantially closed positions; means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of the corresponding obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material; and means in engagement with the obturator for said one compartment and automatically responsive to the location of the material and the suction enclosure in contact with each other for applying an initial impetus of movement to the said obturator away from its substantially closed position.

Claim 18

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which the means for applying the initial impetus of movement comprises a feeler rod which protrudes from the first portion of the suction enclosure in position to engage the material.

Claim 19

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said obturators in their substantially closed positions, each of said compartments communicating with said second portion when the corresponding obturator is in said substantially closed position; means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of the corresponding obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material; and resilient means supported by the suction enclosure in position to engage the obturator for said one compartment when the obturator is in its substantially closed position, the resilient means applying an initial impetus of movement to the said obturator as the obturator leaves said substantially closed position.

Claim 20

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction enclosure including a first portion adjacent the material to be handled and a second portion; means for dividing the first portion of the suction enclosure into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the enclosure and having an opening facing said material; a plurality of obturators, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction enclosure, each of said obturators being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second enclosure portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction enclosure to hold said obturators in their substantially closed positions, each of said compartments communicating with said second portion when the corresponding obturator is in said substantially closed position; means for locating said material and said suction enclosure in contact with each other such that the material blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means thereupon reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of the corresponding obturator from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply suction to said material; and resilient means supported by the suction enclosure in position to engage the obturator for said one compartment when the obturator is in its substantially closed position, the resilient means applying an initial impetus of movement to the said obturator as the obturator leaves said substantially closed position.

Claim 21

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 13, in which the resilient means comprises a membrane having a first surface in position to engage the obturator for said one compartment and a second surface exposed to atmospheric pressure.

Claim 22

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 13, in which the resilient means comprises a flexible spring mounted within the suction enclosure in position to engage the obturator for said one compartment.

Claim 23

Material handling apparatus as defined in claim 15, in which the position of said spring relative to the obturator for said one compartment is adjustable to vary the spring force acting on the said obturator.

Claim 24

Material conveying apparatus for handling panels of sheet material, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction box including a first portion adjacent a panel to be handled and a second portion; partition means for dividing the first portion of the suction bOx into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the box and having an opening facing said panel; a plurality of flaps, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction box, each of said flaps being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second box portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction box to hold said flaps in their substantially closed positions, each of said flaps admitting a small quantity of air from the corresponding compartment to said second portion when the flap is in its substantially closed position; and conveyor means for moving said panel into contact with said box such that the panel blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of its flap from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply full suction to said panel.

Claim 25

Material conveying apparatus for handling panels of sheet material, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a suction box including a first portion adjacent a panel to be handled and a second portion; partition means for dividing the first portion of the suction bOx into a series of adjacent compartments, each of said compartments communicating with the second portion of the box and having an opening facing said panel; a plurality of flaps, one for each of the compartments, interposed between the compartments and the second portion of the suction box, each of said flaps being movable between an open position and a substantially closed position in response to changes in the pressure differential between its compartment and said second box portion; means for applying suction to the second portion of the suction box to hold said flaps in their substantially closed positions, each of said flaps admitting a small quantity of air from the corresponding compartment to said second portion when the flap is in its substantially closed position; and conveyor means for moving said panel into contact with said box such that the panel blocks the opening of at least one of said compartments, the suction applying means reducing the pressure within the blocked compartment to enable movement of its flap from said substantially closed position to said open position and thereby apply full suction to said panel.

Claim 26

A material conveyor as defined by claim 17, which further comprises a plurality of flexible sealing skirts affixed to the partition means in position to engage said panel.

Claim 27

A pneumatic conveyor for substantially flat or longitudinally corrugated rectangular panels comprising in combination a suction source, means for advancing the panel which is to be transported in sealing contact with an opening of a suction box in communication with the suction source, and means comprising at least one flat movable device to enable the suction to be applied usefully to the panel only in the portion of said suction box facing which the panel is situated at a given moment, the suction box being divided into a number of parallel compartments by rigid vertical partitions which extend over only part of the height of the suction box, leaving above them a single chamber in communication with the suction source, while the compartment which is the first in the direction of movement of a panel is in free communication with said chamber, at least before arrival of said panel, while the others are separated from said chamber by movable flaps, which constitute the means permitting the suction to be applied to the panel and which are open when no panel is present and closed when the panel closes the first compartment, thereupon being progressively opened, driving rollers which constitute the means for advancing the panel being disposed substantially in the plane of the opening and mounted in the side walls of the suction box, the partitions and also the walls of the suction box which are parallel to the rollers terminating at their lower edges in flexible sealing skirts, the lower edges of which are situated, when at rest, in a plane parallel to that of the opening and substantially tangential to said rollers, the suction box having dimensions sufficient to ensure that when a panel is in contact with the opening over a sufficient surface for the suction to enable it to be raised, the trailing edge of the panel, that is to say the opposite edge to that by which the panel came into contact with the opening of the suction box, leaves the opening of the first compartment entirely unobstructed.

Claim 28

A pneumatic conveyor for substantially flat or longitudinally corrugated rectangular panels comprising in combination a suction source, means for advancing the panel which is to be transported in sealing contact with an opening of a suction box in communication with the suction source, and means comprising at least one flat movable device to enable the suction to be applied usefully to the panel only in the portion of said suction box facing which the panel is situated at a given moment, the suction box being divided into a number of parallel compartments by rigid vertical partitions which extend over only part of the height of the suction box, leaving above them a single chamber in communication with the suction source, while the compartment which is the first in the direction of movement of a panel is in free communication with said chamber, at least before arrival of said panel, while the others are separated from said chamber by movable flaps, which constitute the means permitting the suction to be applied to the panel and which are open when no panel is present and closed when the panel closes the first compartment, thereupon being progressively opened, driving rollers which constitute the means for advancing the panel being disposed substantially in the plane of the opening and mounted in the side walls of the suction box, the partitions and also the walls of the suction box which are parallel to the rollers terminating at their lower edges in flexible sealing skirts, the lower edges of which are situated, when at rest, in a plane parallel to that of the opening and substantially tangential to said rollers, the suction box having dimensions sufficient to ensure that when a panel is in contact with the opening over a sufficient surface for the suction to enable it to be raised, the trailing edge of the panel, that is to say the opposite edge to that by which the panel came into contact with the opening of the suction box, leaves the opening of the first compartment entirely unobstructed.

Claim 29

A conveyor according to claim 19, wherein the first compartment is also provided with a flap and with means for opening said flap at the moment when the leading edge of the panel arrives level with the wall of the suction box.

Claim 30

A conveyor according to claim 20, wherein means are provided for maintaining at least the flap of the first compartment closed when the leading edge of the panel has cleared the opposite end wall of the suction box to the entry wall, in order that the panel may continue its travel instead of being released under the box.

Claim 31

A conveyor according to claim 19, wherein the first compartment is in free communication with the common Suction chamber.

Claim 32

A conveyor according to claim 19, wherein the flap of each compartment, other than the first in the direction of transport, is provided with a control rod operated by the leading edge of the panel and operative to reduce the inertia of the flap.