# US 11,027,936 B2 · Conveying device for conveying goods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,936 B2 - Document ID: US11027936B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/411,505 - Filed: 2019-05-14 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-17 - Assignees: Fagor Arrasate, S. Coop. - Applicants: Fagor Arrasate, S. Coop. - Inventors: Jose Manuel Piquer Pérez; Adolfo Lopez Sanchez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027936B2 ## CPC - B65H 29/32: from pneumatic, e.g. suction, carriers - B65G 47/91: incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers - B65H 5/224: {by suction belts (B65H11/005 takes precedence)} - B65H 29/242: {Suction bands or belts} - B21D 43/18: by means in pneumatic or magnetic engagement with the work - B21D 43/22: Devices for piling sheets - B65G 21/2036: {for retaining the load on the load-carrying surface (individual suction grippers B65G17/323)} - B65H 2406/3124: Belts - B65H 2406/3223: details of the openings in the belt, e.g. shape, distribution - B65H 2406/323: Overhead suction belt, i.e. holding material against gravity - B65H 2406/351: facing the surface of the handled material - B65H 2701/173: Metal - B65H 2701/175: Plastic - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract According to some embodiments a conveying device for conveying goods includes at least one conveyor belt with an outer contact face against which the goods to be conveyed are held during conveyance. A main negative pressure holding area is provided adjacent to the conveyor belt, the main negative pressure holding area being configured to hold or release the goods to or from the conveyor belt by negative pressure. The conveyor belt includes at least one suction chamber on the outer contact face forming an additional negative pressure holding area, the suction chamber being in fluid communication with negative pressure holding means through at least one opening transversely going through the conveyor belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveying device for conveying a good, the conveying device comprising: a negative pressure chamber including a wall that includes a first negative pressure conduit and a second negative pressure conduit, the first negative pressure conduit being larger than the second negative pressure conduit; a first conveyor belt having a suction chamber in fluid communication with the second negative pressure conduit via a through opening in the first conveyor belt, the first conveyor belt including an outer contact face to which the good is held against when a negative pressure is produced in the second negative pressure conduit, the suction chamber being a longitudinal channel with no closed ends; and a holding area to which the good is held against when a negative pressure is produced in the first negative pressure conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the first negative pressure conduit is longer than the second negative pressure conduit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the first conveyor belt includes first and second longitudinal walls that respectfully have facing first and second side surfaces that at least partially define the suction chamber, the first longitudinal wall having a first lower contact surface and the second longitudinal wall having a second lower contact surface, the first and second lower contact surfaces collectively forming the outer contact face of the first conveyor belt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second side surfaces of the respective first and second longitudinal walls are planar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second lower contact surfaces are respectively arranged orthogonal to the first and second side surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The conveying device according to claim 3, further comprising a drive wheel having a plurality of transversely arranged teeth, the first conveyor belt including a contact plate that includes the first and second longitudinal walls and the suction chamber, the first conveyor belt further including a base plate attached to the contact plate, the base plate including a plurality of transversely arranged teeth configured to engage with the plurality of transversely arranged teeth of the drive wheel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The conveying device according to claim 6, wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of longitudinally arranged embedded filaments. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conveying device according claim 1, wherein the suction chamber is in fluid communication with a plurality of through openings in the first conveyor belt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The conveying device according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of through openings is an elongated longitudinal slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the through opening is an elongated longitudinal slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a negative pressure source coupled to the negative pressure chamber and configured to produce in the negative pressure chamber a negative pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The conveying device according to claim 11, further comprising a movable blocking device housed in the negative pressure chamber and configured for being arranged in an open position in which it allows the negative pressure inside the negative pressure chamber to be applied through both the first and second negative pressure conduits, and in a closed position in which it does not allow the negative pressure inside the negative pressure chamber to be applied through the first and second negative pressure conduits. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The conveying device according to claim 12, wherein the movable blocking device is configured to move linearly in a direction perpendicular to the outer contact face of the first conveyor belt, when in the closed position the movable blocking device is supported on a seating surface located on the wall of the negative pressure chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The conveying device according to claim 13, wherein the seating surface is arranged parallel to the outer contact face of the first conveyor belt. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a second conveyor belt, the first conveyor belt being located on a first side of the holding area and the second conveyor belt being located on a second side of the holding area opposite the first side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The conveying device according to claim 15, wherein the wall of the negative pressure chamber includes a third negative pressure conduit, the first negative pressure conduit being larger than the third negative pressure conduit, the second conveyor belt having a suction chamber in fluid communication with the third negative pressure conduit via a through opening in the second conveyor belt, the second conveyor belt including an outer contact face to which the good is held against when a negative pressure is produced in the third negative pressure conduit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The conveying device according to claim 16, wherein the first conveyor belt includes first and second longitudinal walls that respectfully have facing first and second side surfaces that at least partially define the suction chamber of the first conveyor belt, the first longitudinal wall of the first conveyor belt having a first lower contact surface and the second longitudinal wall of the first conveyor belt having a second lower contact surface, the first and second lower contact surfaces of the first conveyor belt collectively forming the outer contact face of the first conveyor belt, and wherein the second conveyor belt includes first and second longitudinal walls that respectfully have facing first and second side surfaces that at least partially define the suction chamber of the second conveyor belt, the first longitudinal wall of the second conveyor belt having a first lower contact surface and the second longitudinal wall of the second conveyor belt having a second lower contact surface, the first and second lower contact surfaces of the second conveyor belt collectively forming the outer contact face of the second conveyor belt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The conveying device according to claim 17, wherein the first and second conveyor belts are arranged symmetrical with respect to the holding area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The conveying device according to claim 16, further comprising a negative pressure source coupled to the negative pressure chamber and configured to produce in the negative pressure chamber a negative pressure, the conveying device further comprising a movable blocking device housed in the negative pressure chamber and configured for being arranged in an open position in which it allows the negative pressure inside the negative pressure chamber to be applied through each of the first, second and third negative pressure conduits, and in a closed position in which it does not allow the negative pressure inside the negative pressure chamber to be applied through the first, second and third negative pressure conduits.