Air Spring Pneumatic Product Rejection System

A pneumatic product rejection system comprising a double-acting cylinder and piston mechanism including:

• a cylinder (1) substantially closed at both ends by front (5) and rear (7) end walls,
• a piston (8) axially displaceable within the cylinder (1),
• a first region (6) defined between the piston (8) and the rear end wall (7) of the cylinder (1) and a second region (4) defined between the piston (8) and the front end wall (5) of the cylinder (1),
• a piston rod (2) extending from the piston (8) through the front end wall (5) of the cylinder (1),
• an air inlet port (19) for communication with said first region (6) of the cylinder (1), and
• at least one exhaust vent (14) which is exposed during axial displacement of the piston (8) for release of air delivered to the cylinder (1) through the air inlet port (19).

A pneumatic product rejection system comprising:

• a paddle (18) mounted for displacement between a first product rejecting position and a clear position for the uninhibited passage of product;
• means for displacing the paddle (18) from the clear position towards the first rejecting position;
• and
• means for selectively curtailing drive movement of the displacing means on completion of a predetermined increment of travel, less than the travel required to displace the paddle (18) from the clear position to the first rejecting position.