Abstract: An air conveyor is provided for articles having outwardly extending flanges comprising a plenum chamber having a base portion, walls extending from said base portion to form a conveying channel, flange guides mounted to said walls for supporting articles beneath their flanges, and apertures in the walls beneath the flange guides for directing air from the plenum chamber toward the articles beneath the flanges.A reduced friction flange guide which may be used with the air conveyor is also provided and comprises flange guides angled with respect to the flanges.

Abstract: A pneumatic conveying apparatus for container bodies having neck rings. The apparatus comprises a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced neck tracks, each pair defining an elongated slot therebetween for slidably supporting container bodies by their neck rings and a plurality of inverted, U-shaped, interior channel members, each extending upwardly from one of the pairs of neck tracks spanning the slot and extending longitudinally substantially the length of the slot and having a cross sectional area sufficient to receive the portions of the container bodies above their neck rings, each interior channel member having a top wall and side walls with air directing louvers formed therein to provide a driving force for the container bodies.

Abstract: An air conveyor is provided comprising a plenum chamber including a deck plate, a plurality of first apertures in the deck plate for directing air from the plenum chamber to convey articles, and a plurality of protuberances extending from the deck plate for receiving bottoms of the articles. The protuberances preferably protrude from the deck plate far enough to support the articles above accumulated slide resistance increasing material. The air conveyor deck plate preferably also includes a plurality of second apertures for directing air from the plenum chamber to aid in lifting the articles.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, a method of transporting upright cylindrical articles is provided wherein the articles are fed from a mass at an upstream location into single file at a downstream location. The articles are fed in mass into the infeed of the deck of an air table. A lower air pressure zone is created on a first lateral portion of the deck plate between the upstream and downstream locations. A higher air pressure zone is created on a second lateral portion of the deck plate to cause the articles to move into single file in the first lateral portion. Velocity air pressure is used to move the single filed articles to a downstream location. The articles are held in single file with a directional mass volume of air. The pressure differential between the high and low pressure zones can be adjusted to vary the density of the articles at the infeed.

Abstract: An improved baffle system for use in combination with a pressurized pneumatic system for distribution of particulate solids upon the soil. The system includes a primary or aspirating baffle disposed generally proximal in the delivery tube, along with secondary baffles disposed along the length of the delivery tubes for increasing the dispersal of the solids within the moving air stream. The baffle arrangements of the present invention enhance uniformity of distribution, particularly at high application rates.

Abstract: A rotatable structure is provided which has a plurality of sets of guide rails. Each set of guide rails can be brought into alignment with objects on a first conveyor system. Each set of guide rails has a different shape or slope so that, by rotating the structure to select a desired set of guide rails, the height or level of objects can be easily selected to match the adjacent conveyor systems.

Abstract: A gas feed apparatus is described for the transport of articles between assembly line stations. A turbulent gas flow is generated which provides a balanced driving force for, in particular, lightweight, irregularly shaped articles, and thus reduces the incidence of inconsistent feeding and jamming. Incorporated into the apparatus are features for controlling both the number and the speed and stability of articles fed at any one time from the line to a station. In this way rapid and efficient transfer of articles between stations is ensured.

Abstract: A queue of randomly oriented chips is advanced down a track. Each chip in the queue is sequentially and individually elevated into a pneumatic circuit and pressed against a mirrored surface of an upper slide member to which it adheres if the chip was oriented with upwardly disposed solder lands. A jet of compressible fluid insufficient in magnitude to dislodge the chip is injected in a direction toward the queue. If the chip, alternatively, was oriented with the solder lands down, this fluid jet propels the chip about the oval-shaped pneumatic circuit so as to reorient the chip with the lands extending in the desired upward orientation, whereupon the chip is injected into a storage magazine.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a conveyor system wherein an article being transported on the conveyor system has its orientation changed from a vertical position at its point of entry to a horizontal position at its point of discharge. The orientation occurs through the use of air power jets which are appropriately located to assist in the re-orientation of the article being transported. The re-orientation occurs without any reduction in conveyor speed and in fact, results in a thirty-three to seventy-five percent increase in overall capacity. Additionally, the system is adjustable in that it can receive different sizes cans.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting plastic bottles which have a support collar near the opening. The bottles are suspended by the support collars on a guide track. Compressed air nozzle ducts are arranged on both sides of the bottles underneath the support collars. The air nozzle ducts have a nozzle surface in which at least one row of compressed air nozzles directed in the direction of movement of the bottles are arranged. At least one additional row of nozzles is provided whose effective direction of flow is obliquely and/or perpendicularly upwardly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the floatable guiding of webs of material by air blown against the web. The apparatus comprises blowing boxes 2-6 disposed offset in relation to one another above and below the web 1 of material. Each blowing box 2-6 has two opposite rows of blowing apertures 21 whose blowing direction encloses an acute angle a2 with a deflecting surface 25, 26 which adjoins the edge of the blowing aperture 21 remote from the web 1 of material. The deflecting surface 25 also encloses an acute angle a3 with the web 1 of material. The two acute angles a2, a3 are so selected that the air blown out of the blowing apertures 21 is guided away the deflecting surfaces 25 and against the web 1 of material, where it spreads out in the form of a source flow 30. In this way both a strong air cushion supporting the web 1 of the material is obtained and also a high heat transfer at the web 1 of material and a clearly-defined flow of the blown air from the air cushion.

Abstract: A device for conveying cup-shaped objects, such as the bodies of two piece cans located between the bed of a mechanical press and a lower die shoe. A plenum is provided with a perforated upper deck surface for directionally expelling air which, together with an exhaust duct located upstream of the perforated upper deck surface, act to move the cup-shaped objects to a down-stream location for further processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for dispensing indentical pieces having a symmetry of revolution about an axis, such as rivets; this process comprises arranging the pieces one after another in a tube (2) which has a hollow center (2a) adapted to assure the guiding thereof, admitting a compressed fluid into the tube behind the last piece (1D), and distributing said fluid along the length of the tube toward the hollow center (2a) thereof, to the interior of one or several longitudinal passageways (2b), such that the fluid pressure is exerted along the hollow cetner in the spaces (E) separating the pieces, up to the first piece (1P) on which the pressure acts for assuring its transfer. The process of the invention permits dispensing a very great number of pieces without risk of jamming in the tube and with a precise guiding permitting maintaining the alignment of the axes of the pieces.

Abstract: An air conveyor system is provided for transporting a stream of articles en masse along a channel from a generally upstream position in a generally downstream direction towards a generally downstream position. A conveyor surface has opposing edges with the channel therebetween and a plurality of air propulsion slots extending through the surface, these slots being directionally oriented to propel articles pneumatically on the surface in the downstream direction. A plenum is provided for connecting to a source of air under pressure and in communication with the slots. At least one guide member defines at least one boundary for the channel, by being mounted adjacent at least one of the opposing edges of the surface in alignment with the downstream direction to generally direct flow of articles in the downstream direction by impeding article movement across the member.

Abstract: An arrangement for the transport of goods in bulk, such as cereal grain, by air flowing through a perforated base plate. The arrangements are provided in areas of the base plate (1) adjacent to the perforations (7) to impart to the air flowing through at that point a movement component running along the base plate (1), where a minimum quantity of air is required in order to transport the desired quantity of goods in bulk. The perforations (7) consist of elongated slots running across the direction of flow, that is to say the direction of feed. The slots are laterally displaced in relation to the slots in front of and behind them in an unsymmetrical manner, such that they form diagonal rows (B:C), the angles (.alpha.:.beta.) of which to the direction of transport (A) are considerably smaller in one lateral direction than in the other, when measured from one of the slots.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for facilitating formation of moving cylindrical articles, such as thin walled cans, into single file. The apparatus includes a plurality of diverting arms within a single filing area formed between two plate members having apertures formed therein so that air expelled through the apertures causes movement of conveyed articles not then in single file toward a peripheral guide member and movement of articles then in single file adjacent to the guide member in a direction through the single lining area substantially parallel to the guide member.

Abstract: Device for conveying on an air cushion with magnetic guidance having a track (12) provided with air jet pipes issuing obliquely in one longitudinal direction onto its upper face, permitting the longitudinal displacement of a disk (30) without contact with the track (12). The track supports a first magnetic guidance device (34) running on its upper face. The face facing the track (12) of disk (30) is provided with a second magnetic device facing the first magnetic guidance device (34). The device is applied to the conveying of silicon wafers in an ultra-clean environment.

Abstract: Tubing or pipe bend or elbow for use in carrying pneumatically conveyed granular material has an axial bore with an input opening at one end and gradually diminishes to a smaller opening at the output end, such that the incoming material sees a pressure relief, or drop, at the input to the bend. As a feature, a tubing bend may be segmented, i.e., made out of a series of separate or individual bends with the output of one coupled to the input of another.

Abstract: A method of optically checking the appearances of chips and sorting the chips comprises the steps of feeding chips onto chip-passage body to cause the chips to run on the chip-passage body in a predetermined direction; during the running of the chips on the chip-passage body, individually separating the chips to stop the chips one by one at each of two predetermined checking positions; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to a chip at one of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of one of undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a first TV camera; irradiating light obliquely and straightly with respect to the chip at the other of the predetermined checking positions to pick up an optical image of the other of the undersurface and top surface sides of the chip as a video signal by means of a second TV camera; sending the video signals to image processing sections, each of which includes at least an analog-to-digital conversion un

Abstract: A device for the transferring and accumulating of packing elements in the form of a box which is open on one face, using an air conveyor on an accumulating path in a closed loop (1) to which there is connected at least one upstream machine feeding the accumulating path with packing elements and at least one downstream machine fed with packing elements from the accumulating path, characterized by the fact that said closed loop (1) is arranged substantially vertically and comprises an upper horizontal path portion (2), a lower horizontal path portion (3) located below the upper portion, and two curved end connecting portions (4, 5), certain machines being connected to the upper portion of the path and other machines being connected to the lower portion of the path.

Abstract: An improved system for directing a flow of container bodies to a plurality of base cupping machines from a plurality of blow molding machines comprising: (1) a plurality of primary conveyors, each primary conveyor adapted to feed container bodies from a blow molding machine toward a base cupping machine; (2) a plurality of cross-over conveyors for feeding container bodies from one of the primary conveyors to another of the primary conveyor; (3) diverter blades and converger blades positioned at the junction of primary and cross-over conveyors to direct container bodies between various primary conveyors; (4) a sensor upstream and two sensors downstream of each diverter blade and a sensor downstream and two sensors upstream of each converger blade to detect the flow of container bodies therepast; and (5) programmable control means responsive to the sensors to switch the blades as required for proper feeding of container bodies.

Abstract: A hopper for continuously drawing out tires through a water tank including at least one line of declining roller conveyors disposed under an opening for charging the tires. A water tank is diposed under the roller conveyors which receives the tires and arranges the tires in a predetermined direction. A plurality of spaced-apart hooks draws the tires up out of the water tank. The pulled up tires are then transported through a slide plate and a belt-conveyor to a predetermined place.

Abstract: An apparatus in which particles are moved from one end of a duct to the other end thereof. The particles in the duct are fluidized. A pressure differential is generated which moves the fluidized particles in the duct from one end of the duct to the other end thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding the movement of flowing materials, particularly in the operation of emptying grain from a silo. The apparatus of the invention is provided with a path for guiding the flow of material. The path incorporates an aperture which admits air to the path in the direction of the flowing material.

Abstract: A transport system particularly for flat articles, e.g. cards, includes guides which allow alternate articles to be conveyed in different orientations through the same duct (122) so that the risk of jamming or shingling during conveyance is eliminated. In a preferred arrangement the system includes a crossed-axes pneumatic duct (122) and driven rollers (144) for introducing cards (12) into the duct in different orientations. The system also includes intermediate air supply stations (138), a card inspection unit (134), and a receiving station (139) including a device (145) for turning cards so that they are all received in the same orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding or conveying an article to be held or conveyed by a fluid film having, in a holding surface or a delivery surface, fluid injection portions for supplying fluid at a low flow velocity to form the fluid film between the holding or conveying surface and the article to be held or conveyed.

Abstract: A double bank cleaner for granular material includes two spaced banks of cleaning decks mounted in a frame with a drive motor and rotatable eccentric positioned between the two banks so that the banks of decks can be gyrated in a flat, horizontal plane. An aspirator for the double bank cleaner is also disclosed, and which comprises a plurality of feeders each of which creates a curtain of granular material through which air is passed to remove dust and the like.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing bottles including pneumatic conveying apparatus for container bodies and pneumatic conveying apparatus for base cups and a base cupping assembly and for joining the conveyed container bodies and base cups to form bottles. The conveying apparatus for the container bodies has an interior channel member with louvers in the top and side walls and an exterior channel member thereover to form a plenum chamber therebetween for functioning with the interior channel member and its louvers in effecting the conveying of container bodies.

Abstract: A patient bed for use with an NMR scanner utilizes a surface extending into the RF coil having a plurality of valves projecting therefrom which vent pressurized air when depressed. A patient bed, disposed over the surface, depresses the valves therebelow, engendering a cushion of air under the bed. The bed is selectively positioned in and out of the examination region via a sprocket-driven perforated belt which engages a sprocket on the bed. In a second embodiment, the bed is supported by a cushion of air on a vertically adjustable pedestal which is placed adjacent an NMR scanner which also provides a cushion of air for supporting the bed which is moved from the pedestal to the scanner and thereafter returned to the pedestal. Methods in accordance with the apparatus of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus in which particles are moved from one end of a duct to the other end thereof. The particles in the duct are fluidized. A pressure differential is generated which moves the fluidized particles in the duct from one end of the duct to the other end thereof. When the particles pack and cake together, the apparatus automatically moves the toner particles away from the region of the packed and caked toner particles to relieve this condition.

Abstract: The multiple rows of containers are brought into an alignment zone, arranged in nested relationship, merged into an equilateral triangular configuration with mutually touching side edges in a nesting section within the alignment zone and accelerated into a high pressure buffer section of the alignment zone where they are separated from each other and converged into single file. The buffer section eliminates the possibility of transmission of upstream forces through the single file apparatus due to engagement of the single file containers by downstream equipment. In one embodiment, the imperforate sidewalls in the buffer section slope downwardly away from an imperforate top cover to provide gradual relief of air pressure within the buffer section. In another embodiment, the imperforate sidewalls have an upper edge which is contiguous with a top cover which is in the form of a plenum having rows of jet openings positioned above the jet openings in the air table.

Abstract: A single file apparatus is provided for highly etched containers wherein a mass of containers is separated into two single file rows, the single file rows are merged into nesting relationship and the nested rows of containers separated and further merged into single file. The mass of containers are separated into separate rows along each side of an air conveyor having an imperforate cover forming a high pressure area between the rows. The differential pressure in this high pressure area is lower at the upstream end than at the downstream end so that containers which move into this central area will recirculate upstream. The separated rows of containers are brought into an alignment zone and arranged in nested relationship and are merged into an equilateral triangular configuration with mutually touching side edges in a nesting section within the alignment zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling base cups onto bottles includes an assembly wheel that has a plurality of pockets on the periphery thereof and a plurality of fluid cylinders supported on an upper support plate and aligned with the pockets. The assembly wheel is positively driven by a drive motor, which also drives a bottle-infeed mechanism and a cup-infeed mechanism, as well as an ejector mechanism. The cup-infeed mechanism includes as indexable carrier that indexes each cup at a glue-applying station, where the cup is raised and simultaneously rotated while glue is being applied in an annular pattern to the inner surface of the cup. The cup and bottle have movement along paths which merge where the bottle is then forced into the cup through a pressurized source and held in that position while the glue sets.

Abstract: A device for positioning and proving movement to a semiconductor wafer. A pair of elongated members are attached to either side of a plate which is used during the processing of semiconductor wafers. The members are angled away from the center of the plate at the end which receives the wafer. Angled openings in the members are connected to a gas source which shoots a gas, such as air, from the openings to a assist in propelling the wafer and to prevent the wafer from contacting the member itself. The openings may also be used to introduce different atmospheres to the environment of the wafers during processing.

Abstract: An air single filer apparatus for receiving cylindrical articles in upright position in random bulk and discharging them serially in horizontal single file is provided. Articles are received into a bulk storage zone, from where they move to a layout zone where they are aligned in horizontal single file and discharged along a path. Alignment is achieved by gravity and also by impacting the articles with pressurized air from a plenum. The invention uses slanted slots in a top plenum wall of the layout zone to use the Coanda effect to direct blow-back air along this wall without disturbing properly aligned articles therebelow. Also an adjustable horizontal blow-back slot at the downstream end of the layout path is provided for blowing air back upstream along the top wall, thereby creating a low pressure area adjacent the top wall in accordance with the Bernoulli Principle.

Abstract: Improved installation (10), whereby in a first section (22) coating (24) is applied on substrate (14), moving through a passage (16) under double floating condition, in a following section (26) a layer fluid (28) is applied on said layer coating (24) and in the following sections (30) and (32) the removal takes place of said fluid layer with thereafter a drying of the remaining coating layer.

Abstract: Air pressure means for maintaining rivets in axial alignment as they pass through a feed tube to a riveting machine. The air pressure means comprises a circumferentially spaced series of air discharge passages directed obliquely toward the axis of the feed tube and in the direction of travel of the rivets whereby a conical pattern of air pressure is directed against the shanks of the rivets to urge them into axial alignment in the feed tube.

Abstract: Improved apparatus (10), including passage (22) for inter-cushion processing and transport of substrates (12) towards and from process modules (14) and (16) for main processing of said substrates (12) at non-atmospheric pressure in a series of successive process chambers (64), located in between successive processors/transporters (66), in which secondary processing and transport of said substrates (12) take place.

Abstract: An improved transportation system is provided by which vehicles may be propelled along the top of a duct on a cushion of pressurized air. The duct is provided with a grating on its upper surface through which the pressurized air is emitted from the interior of the duct, and a longitudinal slot extends along the grating. The lower surface of the grating is normally closed by a flexible belt which extends along the interior of the duct. The belt is depressed down from the grating as the vehicle moves along the top of the duct to permit air pressure in the duct to escape through the grating and thus support the vehicle on a cushion of air. At least one vane is attached to a carriage, the vane being supported on the lower end of an arm which depends from the vehicle and extends down through the slot into the interior of the duct. The vane extends across the interior of the duct. A pressure differential created within the duct on opposite sides of the vane serve to propel the vehicle along the top of the duct.

Abstract: A pneumatic elevator for containers is provided wherein a vertical duct has end portions with nozzles in the form of holes extending through the ends and entering the duct in a downstream direction. The sides of the duct are provided with guide rails and at least one side is provided with a plurality of apertures along the length thereof through which air, introduced into the duct through the end nozzles, is exhausted. The size and angle of the nozzles are correlated with the static pressure differences across the jets to provide the requisite duct static pressure with respect to the size and number of apertures in the inner side which determines the volume of air exhausting from the can duct. Differential static air pressure separates each can from the other to minimize scratching and denting.

Abstract: An emptying apparatus for removing the last contents of a silo includes an elevated floor supported by at least two support members above the bottom of the silo. The support members form at least one ventilating channel under the elevated floor. The elevated floor has a flat section for supporting at least two upper sheets, and at least one rib member disposed above the elevated floor and defining at least one emptying channel for emptying the contents of the silo. The flat section of the elevated floor has at least one transverse slit which connects the ventilating channel with the emptying channel. One of the upper sheets is disposed above the transverse slit and the flat section and overlaps another upper sheet to form a slit between them.

Abstract: Individual ones of articles such as (LED) devices 10 are fed and positioned at one or more stations along a path traversed by the devices. A track 30 guidably advances the devices 10 in single file to and beyond stations 63 and 64 successively located along the path represented by a channel 35 in the track 30. An assembly 50 shuttles, transversely of the channel 35, a plurality of fingers 66-70 simultaneously from a working state to and from a transitory state with respect to devices 10 in channel 35. The fingers may be in the form of thin, upright blades 66-70 which are engaged to assembly 50 and extend substantially normally of and into channel 35 in response to the shuttling. An indexing blade 68 extends from the front of and into channel 35 when shuttling assembly 50 is in the working state to block a waiting file of devices 10.

Abstract: Substrates, particularly a method of transporting and coating substrates within a confined longitudinal passageway. The method is characterized by the transport and coating of the substrate without human or mechanical contact. The method includes supplying a fluid medium into the confined passageway and discharging the fluid medium from the passageway, such that the moving fluid medium cushions while longitudinally transporting the substrate within the passageway.

Abstract: A pneumatic elevator for containers is provided wherein a vertical duct has end portions with nozzles in the form of holes extending through the ends and entering the duct in a downstream direction. The sides of the duct are provided with guide rails and at least one side is provided with a plurality of apertures along the length thereof through which air, introduced into the duct through the end nozzles, is exhausted. The size and angle of the nozzles are correlated with the static pressure differences across the jets to provide the requisite duct static pressure with respect to the size and number of apertures in the inner side which determines the volume of air exhausting from the can duct. Differential static air pressure separates each can from the other to minimize scratching and denting.

Abstract: An air conveyor for bottles and bottle preforms wherein bottles are preferably conveyed while supported from a neck ring intermediate neck and body portions of the bottle by air jets directed at the neck portion of the bottle from a plenum chamber defining a conveying path. The conveyor includes depending side curtains in close proximity to the sides of the bottles as an aid to conveyance. As a further aid to conveyance through inclined portions of the conveying path, the conveyor is provided with bottom plate joining the bottom edges of the side curtains.

Abstract: Air operated material handling equipment for use with similar articles which may be received separately, or en masse from intermediate bulk storage with apparatus for dispensing the articles for movement along one or more guided paths in an organized series of individual pieces disposed closely adjacent one to the other but with additional capability for providing narrow space intervals therebetween whereby the pieces are moved essentially on a single piece basis. Containers having elongated longitudinal axes are moved from an orientation wherein the longitudinal axes are disposed vertically and in side by side relationship through a confined channel having cooperatively curved inner and outer radiuses to a zone of reception and storage wherein the longitudinal axes are disposed in side by side and stacked relationship.

Abstract: An arrangement for drying and preheating coking gas has a transport tube for transporting coal in a stream of a carrier gas, and a feed conduit for feeding hot gas into the transport tube. The feed conduit is movable relative to the tube so as to vary the conditions of feeding the hot gas into the transport tube. For this purpose, feed conduit may be connected with the transport tube by a ball-and-socket joint, so that it can be movable relative to the transport tube in circumferential and axial directions of the latter. The feed conduit may be composed by a plurality of conduit members located in the transport tube and one in the other, and movable relative to transport tube in the axial direction of the latter.

Abstract: Systems for handling discs, such as semiconductor wafers and the like, using both stationary and movable air track assemblies include an elongate track member, a flat surface formed to extend along the underside of the track member, ports disposed along the flat undersurface for the discharge of air at an angle to the vertical, and provision for discharging a sufficient flow of air from the ports to create a differential in the air pressure above and below the discs so as to lift the discs toward the flat undersurface as a result of the air flow. The angle has a sufficient horizontal vectorial component to urge the discs along the flat undersurface of the track member in the direction of such component. In one embodiment, the air track member extends between a pair of holders which respectively supply and receive discs carried by the track member. The discs may be carried to a predetermined fixed point, released, and subsequently retrieved from the same position.

Abstract: Apparatus for assisting the pneumatic conveying of generally dry particulate matter through a closed conduit is disclosed. The apparatus is for use where vacuum pressure applied at one end of the conduit creates a suction force which moves the dry particulate matter through the conduit, and involves the use of a small tube or the like for injecting a gaseous fluid under positive pressure into the particulate matter to loosen it and enable it to be conveyed through the conduit.

Abstract: Improved material treatment apparatus includes an array of nozzles extending downwardly towards pan structure arranged for the substantially horizontal conveyance of solid particulate material. Gas is flowed through the nozzles at high velocity in an array of directed downwardly gas jets. The pan structure is gas impervious and impinging gas is deflected outwardly and upwardly through the bed of particles in fluidizing action and then exhausted at low velocity such that there is no significant particle entrainment in the exhaust gas stream. The angle of gas jets to the pan structure is at a small offset from the normal to the pan structure (less than ten degrees) and the small but effective resultant horizontal component of gas velocity is effective to modify the rate of movement of the particulate material through the treatment zone while maintaining the gas jet particle fluidization and treatment action in the treatment zone.