The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 17, 1994
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1993
Robert F Risley, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Paul E Barkley, Sykesville, MD (US);
Gordon S Lawless, Finksburg, MD (US);
Ambec, Owings Mills, MD (US);
Abstract
The invention provides a transport apparatus, or combiner, for transporting light-weight containers at high speed rates. The combiner includes one or more conveyor belt-type surfaces that have openings thereupon, a guide rail assembly, and a vacuum source that adds a 'drag' or 'weighting' force on the light-weight containers. The conveyor belt-type surfaces may or may not be moving at the same velocity. The guide rail assembly is comprised of rods and rollers, wherein the rollers are aligned in a unique anti-jamming staggered or diamond pattern. The guide rail assembly can be positioned such that it is substantially upright, or the guide rail assembly can be positioned such that it is sloped over the conveyor surfaces. The rods within the guide rail assembly may be substantially vertical, or they may be pitched forward. One vacuum source may be used for the plurality of conveyor surfaces, or one vacuum source may be used for each individual conveyor. The vacuum force should be such that it is greatest on the discharge conveyor surface and lowest on the infeed conveyor surface. In an alternative embodiment, the guide rail assembly includes an air-jet means that also helps propel the light-weight containers downstream.