Abstract: A conveyor apparatus is provided which includes a pair of conveyor belts constructed from a resilient material and arranged to securely grip and release the neck ring of bottles to be conveyed. Each one of the conveyor belts is formed with a groove having coacting opposed sides. The opposed sides part to open the groove to facilitate and expedite receiving the bottle neck ring in the grooves of the conveyor belts. The opposed sides of the groove then coact to close the groove and securely grip the neck ring therebetween to transport the bottle. At the discharge area of the conveyor line, the opposed sides once again flex away from the groove to facilitate and expedite the discharge of the bottle from the groove of the conveyor belts. Also provided is an adjustable block to support the conveyor belts, which block is constructed with at least one (1) port arranged to direct the flow of gas along the conveyor belt and into the conveying path.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus is provided which includes a pair of conveyor belts constructed from a resilient material and arranged to securely grip and release the neck ring of bottles to be conveyed. Each one of the conveyor belts is formed with a groove having coacting opposed sides. The opposed sides part to open the groove to facilitate and expedite receiving the bottle neck ring in the grooves of the conveyor belts. The opposed sides of the groove then coact to close the groove and securely grip the neck ring therebetween to transport the bottle. At the discharge area of the conveyor line, the opposed sides once again flex away from the groove to facilitate and expedite the discharge of the bottle from the groove of the conveyor belts.

Abstract: A bottle conveyor has a neck guide formed from opposed lips which are sufficiently thin to be used with bottles having extremely small neck rings and/or extremely short necks and which permit air to be directed onto the bottles from plenum slots positioned directly beneath the neck ring. The lips of the neck guide are preferably formed from a relatively hard, strong, low friction resinous plastic rather than conventional UHMW plastic or metallic lips. The high plenum slots and low friction lip material combine in operation to eliminate the need for a second plenum and thus substantially reduce floor space required by the conveyor as well as the amount of air required for conveyance. The air flowing against the necks of the bottles also provides substantial lift onto the bottles, thus reducing drag and thereby reducing further the amount of air required for conveyance.