Single filer blow-back apparatus

Abstract

An air single filer apparatus for receiving cylindrical articles in upright position in random bulk and discharging them serially in horizontal single file is provided. Articles are received into a bulk storage zone, from where they move to a layout zone where they are aligned in horizontal single file and discharged along a path. Alignment is achieved by gravity and also by impacting the articles with pressurized air from a plenum. The invention uses slanted slots in a top plenum wall of the layout zone to use the Coanda effect to direct blow-back air along this wall without disturbing properly aligned articles therebelow. Also an adjustable horizontal blow-back slot at the downstream end of the layout path is provided for blowing air back upstream along the top wall, thereby creating a low pressure area adjacent the top wall in accordance with the Bernoulli Principle. The result of these air flows is a lifting force on unaligned articles which moves them upward, and a horizontal force on them which moves them upstream in the layout zone toward the bulk storage zone, while at the same time leaving aligned articles in aligned position. This effect is enhanced by having the top wall of the layout path parallel to the lower extremity of the sidewalls, thereby eliminating any potential Venturi effect due to a narrowing of the vertical opening to the layout zone at its upstream end.