Controlled speed air conveyor for unstable articles

Abstract

The method and apparatus of this invention include first and second sets of louvers which extend through the conveying surface for creating downstream and upstream force vectors of air which serve the dual function of creating a low pressure area under unstable, lightweight, upright containers to hold them in an upright position while simultaneously enveloping the side walls of the containers in vertical columns of air which moves along a substantially vertical force vector to further assist in holding them in an upright position as they move from an upstream location to a downstream location along the surface of an air conveyor. This is accomplished by the use of lance and coined louvers arranged in a predetermined pattern to provide both upstream and downstream force vectors of air as well as substantially vertical force vectors of air. Alternatively, an array of trapezoidal louvers can be used in conjunction with an interspersed array of vertical openings in a deck plate to provide the same dual function. The first and second set of louvers provide both upstream and downstream air volumes. The downstream volume of air is greater than the upstream volume of air so that the sets of louvers create substantially a same net amount of air volume directed to the downstream location at any incremental location from the upstream location to the downstream location. This causes a plurality of containers move at a controlled uniform speed along the conveyor surface.