Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming bulk conveyed or stored cylindrical articles, such as thin walled cans, into a single file conveyed row the apparatus being formed of two preferably mirror imaged perforated plate members spaced apart a slightly greater distance than the height of the articles being conveyed, but less than the diagonal dimension thereof the perforated plate members having plenum portions adapted to exhaust air through angled openings primarily in the direction of a peripheral guide member, but with the openings adjacent the guide member being angled in a direction substantially parallel to the guide member in order that the cans may be conveyed along the guide member in a single file fashion with articles not single filed being split away from the single file row and displaced towards the portion of the spaced plates having angled openings directed towards the guide member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transporting articles, such as cylindrical containers, between differing elevations by initially conveying articles onto a foraminous belt, conducting the belt over a first plenum having a curved supporting surface to secure the articles to the belt and the belt to the surface by means of vacuum while transitioning the articles and belt from a level to an inclined orientation, conveying the articles to a differing elevation while inclined by securing the articles between parallel, spaced belts, and again transitioning from an inclined orientation to a level orientation by passing the foraminous belt over a second plenum having a curved supporting surface and securing the articles to the belt and the belt to the surface by means of vacuum during transition from the inclined orientation to the horizontal orientation.

Abstract: An article handling system for cans and the like, wherein improved means are employed for selectively isolating individual cans from a substantially continuously recirculating mass or plurality of cans and for, therafter, transferring the isolated cans in single file fashion away from said recirculating mass of cans to a discharge station located somewhat remote from the recirculating mass of cans in such a fashion as to avoid adverse interference with the normal movements of the recirculating mass of cans. The single file movement of the isolated cans is then continued as the isolated cans are individually transferred from the discharge station to a further location.