Thrust slot air conveyor

摘要

An air conveyor which includes guides for stabilizing articles during conveyance and a plenum with apertures for providing pressurized air is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the air conveyor also includes opposed spacers defining passages having a closed end and an open end. The passages are in fluid communication with the apertures of the plenum for directing streams of pressurized air through the open ends at the articles in a downstream direction to propel the articles. In another embodiment, channels defined in support structure for the guides form part of passageways for directing streams of pressurized air at an inclined and downstream angle to propel the articles. The guides are removable to allow the conveyor to be adapted to different sized and shaped articles. The air conveyor may also include an additional plenum and additional opposed spacers associated with the plenum for propelling the articles downstream.