An improved air conveyor for conveying a plurality of articles such as cans in an upright orientation between stations in a multi-step process includes an elongate deck having a plurality of openings for directing air upwardly and in a direction in which articles are to be conveyed and guides mounted to opposite lateral sides of the deck for maintaining articles upon the deck while being conveyed thereover. A top cover assembly includes at least one perforated panel vertically spaced above the deck and extending over an area substantially similar to the area defined by the deck. A plurality of cover panels overlie the perforated panel. Retaining structures maintain the cover panels substantially in place laterally while permitting movement thereof toward and away from the perforated panel for regulating air flow through portions of the perforated panel in response to variations in air pressure beneath the perforated panel.
Apparatus for producing and conveying air pillows comprises an air pillow production machine which produces a continuous web of air filled pillows, ductwork extending away from the air pillow production machine and through which the web of air pillows is conveyed, and a blower which conveys the web of air pillows from the air pillow production machine and through the ductwork. The web of air pillows are conveyed into a hopper for storage. A sensor senses a condition of at least one of the air pillows in the web of air pillows being deflated or a stall condition of the web of air pillows in the event the web of air pillows stops moving through the ductwork. A controller controls the air pillow production machine in response to signals from the sensor. The sensor and controller are a whisker trigger connected to a micro switch. The hopper has an open top through which the web of air pillows are conveyed, and an opening near a bottom thereof through which air pillows may be pulled by an operator for insertion into a box.
In a pneumatic conveyor comprising multiple, assembled conveyor sections, a conveyor section provides a curved conveyor path with a plenum through which pressurized air is delivered. The conveyor section includes a top plate including a series of apertures extending therethrough for delivering pressurized air from the plenum to an upper surface of the top plate. The apertures are arranged and configured to direct the pressurized air to move an article along the top plate in a conveying direction. A bottom plate is located beneath the top plate. A first stack of vertically aligned, individual strips are clamped together between the top plate and the bottom plate to define a first sidewall of the plenum. A second stack of vertically aligned, individual strips are clamped together between the top plate and the bottom plate to define a second sidewall of the plenum.
The invention relates to a device for simultaneously conveying and regulating the temperature of shaped parts, comprising a conveying device, which is suited for advancing objects, and at least one blower by means of which the objects can be subjected to the action of an air flow while being advanced. The conveying device is characterized in that it is formed by a closed channel whose clearance height approximately corresponds to the height of an individual shaped part, whose clearance width at least along a portion of its length is greater by a multiple than the width of an individual shaped part, in whose base plate a multitude of air inlet openings are arranged with a blowing direction oriented in the longitudinal direction of the channel and diagonal to the surface, and in whose cover plate, which is situated opposite the base plate, a multitude of air inlet openings are placed. The air flow produced by the blower can be introduced into the channel via the air inlet openings.
An air conveyor for handling workpieces in a food grade environment has a cylindrical pipe with an elongated slot that extends along an axial length of the pipe. A track is snap fit in the elongated slot and has a base for supporting the workpieces. The base has air vents that provide directional airflow for pushing the workpieces along an axial length of the track on a cushion of air. A movable hanger assembly supports the pipe from above and captures the workpieces in the track.
