# US 11,078,026 B2 · Conveyor belt blower > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,026 B2 - Document ID: US11078026B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/667,721 - Filed: 2019-10-29 - Published: 2021-04-29 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-29 - Assignees: John Bean Technologies Corporation - Applicants: John Bean Technologies AB - Inventors: Bo Richard Jimmy Carlsson; Jonas Christopher Fogelqvist; Lars Johan Siljeborn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078026B2 ## CPC - B65G 45/22: comprising fluid applying means - B65G 15/28: Conveyors with a load-conveying surface formed by a single flat belt, not otherwise provided for - B65G 45/26: for gathering residue after cleaning - F25D 13/067: {with circulation of gaseous cooling fluid} - B65G 2207/24: Helical or spiral conveying path - F25D 2400/22: Cleaning means for refrigerating devices - 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) - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract A conveyor belt blower for a conveyor belt having an infeed portion and a return portion having a width includes a pressure distribution assembly located between the infeed portion and the return portion, a plenum body having first and second ends, wherein the plenum body extends across at least a portion of the width of the return portion, a nozzle assembly having at least one opening extending along a length of the plenum body that is configured to direct air onto the return portion, and an air movement device in communication with the first end of the plenum body for flowing air into the plenum body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conveyor belt blower for a conveyor belt for installation within a housing, the conveyor belt having an infeed portion and a return portion and having a length and a width, the conveyor belt blower comprising: a pressure distribution assembly located along the conveyor belt length between the infeed portion and the return portion, comprising: a plenum body having first and second ends and a bottom, the plenum body extending across at least a portion of the width of the return portion of the conveyor belt at a location within a housing; and a nozzle assembly extending along the bottom of the plenum body and having at least one opening extending along a length of the plenum body that is configured to direct air onto the return portion of the conveyor belt; and an air movement device in communication with the first end of the plenum body for flowing air into the plenum body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conveyor belt blower of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening extends across the width of the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The conveyor belt blower of claim 2, further comprising at least one of a first guide plate defined at a first end of the at least one opening that is configured to direct air flowing out of the at least one opening toward a first lateral edge of the return portion of the conveyor belt, and a second guide plate defined at a second end of the at least one opening that is configured to direct air flowing out of the at least one opening toward a second lateral edge of the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The conveyor belt blower of claim 3, wherein the conveyor belt blower is configured to blow at least one of liquid, ice, and frost off the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conveyor belt blower of claim 1, further comprising a collection bin located below the pressure distribution assembly that is configured to receive at least one of frost and ice blown off the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conveyor belt blower of claim 1, wherein the elongated opening of the nozzle assembly is substantially the same length as the plenum body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The conveyor belt blower of claim 1, wherein the plenum body tapers in cross-sectional size as it extends from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conveyor belt blower of claim 1, wherein at least one of: a cross-sectional size of the plenum body decreases as it extends from the first end to the second end; a height of the plenum body decreases as it extends from the first end to the second end; and a width of the plenum body decreases as it extends from the first end to the second end, such that substantially even air flow out of the nozzle assembly results along the length of the plenum body. ### Claim 9 A conveyor belt blower for a conveyor belt having a length and a width, the conveyor belt blower comprising: a pressure distribution assembly located along the conveyor belt length, comprising: a plenum body having first and second ends, the plenum body extending across at least a portion of the width of the conveyor belt; and a nozzle assembly having at least one opening extending along a length of the plenum body that is configured to direct air onto the conveyor belt; an air movement device in communication with the first end of the plenum body for flowing air into the plenum body; a collection bin located below the pressure distribution assembly that is configured to receive at least one of frost and ice blown off the conveyor belt; and a defrost assembly associated with the collection bin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The conveyor belt blower of claim 9, wherein the defrost assembly comprises at least one of a heater and a frost removal device. ### Claim 11 A processing machine, comprising: a housing that substantially encloses a work area for processing a workpiece; a conveyor belt having an infeed portion for moving the workpiece through the housing for processing and having a return portion having a width; and a conveyor belt blower located inside the housing, comprising: a pressure distribution assembly located between the infeed portion and the return portion to direct the air onto the conveyor belt; and an air movement device in communication with the pressure distribution assembly for flowing air into the pressure distribution assembly, the air movement device located on a side of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The processing machine of claim 11, wherein the pressure distribution assembly comprises: a plenum body having first and second ends, the plenum body extending across at least a portion of the width of the return portion of the conveyor belt; and a longitudinal nozzle assembly defining at least one opening extending along a length of the plenum body that is configured to direct air from the plenum body onto the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The processing machine of claim 12, wherein the air movement device is in communication with the first end of the plenum body and is configured to flow air into the plenum body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The processing machine of claim 12, wherein the at least one opening extends across the width of the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The conveyor belt blower of claim 14, further comprising at least one of a first guide plate defined at a first end of the at least one opening that directs air flowing out of the at least one opening toward a first lateral edge of the return portion of the conveyor belt, and a second guide plate defined at a second end of the at least one opening that directs air flowing out of the at least one opening toward a second lateral edge of the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The processing machine of claim 11, wherein the plenum body tapers in cross-sectional size as it extends from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The processing machine of claim 11, wherein at least one of: a cross-sectional size of the plenum body decreases as it extends from the first end to the second end; a height of the plenum body decreases as it extends from the first end to the second end; and a width of the plenum body decreases as it extends from the first end to the second end, such that substantially even air flow out of the at least one opening results along the length of the plenum body. ### Claim 18 A method of drying a conveyor belt inside a processing machine, the method comprising: positioning a plenum body beneath an infeed portion and above a return portion of the conveyor belt at a location within the processing machine, the plenum body having a length extending between first and second ends; flowing air into the plenum body; and directing high-pressure air out of the plenum body downwardly onto the return portion of the conveyor belt. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising creating a substantially even pressure drop along the length of plenum body when the high-pressure air flows out of the plenum body. ### Claim 20 A method of drying a conveyor belt inside a processing machine, the method comprising: positioning a plenum body between an infeed portion and a return portion of the conveyor belt within the processing machine, the plenum body having a length extending between first and second ends; flowing air into the plenum body; directing high-pressure air out of the plenum body onto the return portion of the conveyor belt; and positioning the plenum body such that an elongated opening of the plenum body is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the return portion and the elongated opening extends across a width of the return portion.