Vacuum conveyor apparatus for stabilizing multiple lanes of objects conveyed on a conveying surface of the apparatus

摘要

A vacuum conveyor apparatus stabilizes multiple single file lanes of objects conveyed on a conveying surface of the apparatus by directing vacuum pressure through multiple slots beneath the conveying surface where the multiple slots are aligned with the multiple lanes of objects on the conveying surface.

主权项

1. An apparatus that provides vacuum suction pressure to a conveying surface to stabilize objects conveyed on the conveying surface, the apparatus comprising:
a conveyor having a top conveying surface and an opposite bottom surface, the top conveying surface having a longitudinal length that extends from an upstream end of the conveying surface to an opposite downstream end of the conveying surface, the conveying surface having a lateral width dimensioned for supporting multiple longitudinally extending lines of objects arranged laterally side-by-side on the conveying surface and conveying the multiple lines of objects in a downstream direction from the upstream end of the conveying surface to the downstream end of the conveying surface, the conveyor having a plurality of longitudinally spaced and laterally spaced holes through the conveyor from the top conveying surface to the bottom surface; a source of vacuum pressure; a chamber communicating with the source of vacuum pressure and extending beneath the conveyor bottom surface, the chamber having an opening positioned beneath the conveyor bottom surface, the opening communicating vacuum pressure communicated through the chamber from the source of vacuum pressure with the conveyor bottom surface whereby the vacuum pressure is communicated through the plurality of holes through the conveyor to the conveyor top conveying surface; and, a panel positioned over the chamber opening and between the chamber opening and the conveyor bottom surface, the panel having at lease one longitudinally extending slot through the panel where the slot directs vacuum pressure communicated through the chamber opening to holes of the plurality of holes through the conveyor that are positioned above the panel slots whereby the vacuum pressure is communicated to the holes on the top conveying surface of the conveyor that are positioned above the panel slots.