Abstract: A surface flow air conveyor pressurized by a motor driven open wheel fan mounted within the plenum or in a separate pod housing attached to the plenum. The standard scroll housing is eliminated and the fan wheel draws air directly through an opening in the plenum without the use of ducts. The fan wheel is mounted between the ends of the conveyor rather than beyond the ends of the conveyor. The conveyor may be divided into mass produced modules with the option of providing a fan wheel pod in selected modules.

Abstract: A live storage system for packages is provided in which a rack has a plurality of storage rows, each row having a slot along its base. An input lane for the packages extends along one side of the storage rack and an output lane for the packages extends along another side of the storage rack. A traveler mounted beneath the storage rack moves to positions beneath each of the rows. The traveler has an air plenum with a plurality of air jets extending through the upper surface of the plenum. The traveler has a diverter at each end to divert packages from the input lane to a storage row, and to divert packages from a storage row to the output lane. An air supply pressurizes the plenum of the traveler and the pressurized air flows through the jets in the upper surface of the traveler and through the slot in the base of each of the storage rows to create an air film along which the packages are conveyed onto and off of each storage row. An accumulating conveyor gathers slugs of packages for the storage system.