| 摘要 |
Apparatus and method are disclosed for conveying different types of force responsive articles, such as steel and aluminum cans, and particularly for efficiently conveying different force responsive articles between first and second positions, including positions at different elevations. A conveyor, such as a chain, moves the articles along a predetermined path between the first and second positions with the articles maintained in engagement during movement along the predetermined path and with the conveyor using different applied forces for different ones of the types of articles to be conveyed, such as a magnetic force for conveying steel cans and a negative pressure (vacuum) force for conveying aluminum cans. A support face for the conveyor has magnets mounted thereat to establish the magnetic force and apertures communicating with an adjacent plenum to establish the negative pressure force. The applied force is tapered near the ends of the conveyor, preferably using shorting bars, and a bar placement pattern for applied force adjustment is utilized to facilitate article movement onto and/or from the conveyor.
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