GB689963A - A device and a method of supporting and conveying articles - Google Patents

Abstract

689,963. Conveyance of articles by air jets. AKTIEBOLAGET SVENSKA FLAKTFABRIKEN. Dec. 17, 1948. [Dec. 31, 1947] No. 32716/48. Class 78 (ii). A device (Fig. 2) for conveying articles 8 over a conveying path 4 is provided with perforations 5 and with means for pressing out a pressure medium (e.g. air or liquid) towards the articles through the perforations from below, the pressure medium being evacuated from the spaces between the path and the articles through channels 9 arranged through the conveying path. Compressed air in boxes 20 and 21, Fig. 4, flows through casings 22 and out through perforations 25 in casing surfaces 24 (4, Fig. 2) so that the jets support and convey articles 26 (8), which are prevented from moving sideways by the bevelled edges of the boxes. the air escaping downwards through channels 23 (9). The conveying path may incline slightly to assist the movement of the article. Fig. 3. The path 10 is perforated with holes 11, provided with sideguides 13, and fed with air from fan 16, the air passing up through the holes 11 to convey the articles and going away down channels 17. Air is supplied through the holes from chamber 14 which is divided into compartments by transverse walls 18. each compartment being supplied by a separate fan and the direction of the air jets issuing from the holes being varied slightly by withdrawing the wall 18 from its slideways 19 and inserting it in similar slideways 19 on the other side of the fan. Fig. 5. The holes 28 may be arranged in pressure casings 27 transverse to the conveying path, each case being supplied by two fans 32 and being formed with guides 29 for guiding the articles as they pass transversely across the casings. The casings may each be provided with one fan only and alternate fans may be arranged on different sides of the conveying path. Conveying force. The air holes described above merely support the articles. A conveying component of force is supplied in one of several ways. The path may be inclined or (Fig. 9) the direction of air jets may be inclined forwards (or backwards) by means of adjustable pivoted plates 38 or by means of 'inclined' perforations. Guides. To prevent the article moving sideways from the conveying path, guides may be supplied as in Figs. 3, 4, 5 or the conveying path may be U-shaped or the pressure of air at the sides may be greater than at the centre e.g. there may be more holes at the side than at the centre.