Simplimatic Engineering Company

David W Leonard, Sr

Brian K Hilbish

Arnold C Burgess

David R Burns

An air conveyor system is provided for transporting a stream of articles en masse along a channel from a generally upstream position in a generally downstream direction towards a generally downstream position. A conveyor surface has opposing edges with the channel therebetween and a plurality of air propulsion slots extending through the surface, these slots being directionally oriented to propel articles pneumatically on the surface in the downstream direction. A plenum is provided for connecting to a source of air under pressure and in communication with the slots. At least one guide member defines at least one boundary for the channel, by being mounted adjacent at least one of the opposing edges of the surface in alignment with the downstream direction to generally direct flow of articles in the downstream direction by impeding article movement across the member. The member has a guide member height above the surface that is substantially less than a height of the articles above the surface, the member height being chosen to cause the articles to either flow in the downstream direction or be propelled over the guide member to a region outside of the channel.

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Lynchburg, VA, United States of America

David W Leonard, Sr