Divergent single filer

A method of transporting upright, cylindrical articles, wherein each article has an exterior surface with a high coefficient of friction with respect to an adjacent article that substantially inhibits relative sliding motion of one article with respect to an adjacent contiguous article, in a wide mass at an upstream location along an air table and into a pair of spaced single file rows at a downstream location, said method comprising:

• providing a pair of side guide rails along opposite sides of the table which extend from the upstream location to the downstream location and are spaced apart a distance in excess of three article diameters at the upstream location and an imperforate cover above the table a distance just greater than the height of the articles and extending over the guide rails;
• providing a central barrier at the downstream location which forms a single file lane along each guide rail for the articles and provides a plenum for the introduction of air pressure into the central area between separate rows of articles along each guide rail;
• introducing air at high volume and a low flow rate at the barrier to direct articles in the central area toward the upstream location;
• urging the articles along the side rails in a downstream direction to form a continuous row along each guide rail;
• and
• reducing the pressure in the central area at the upstream location.

Apparatus for converging a mass of upright cylindrical articles from a wide mass at an upstream location into single file at a downstream location, wherein each article has an exterior surface with a high coefficient of friction with respect to an adjacent article, said apparatus comprising:

• a table having a centerline and a plurality of zones extending from said upstream location to said downstream location, said table having a surface, first and second opposite side edges and an underside with a prearranged pattern of flotation air jets communicating said surface and said underside;
• a lower plenum means connectable to a source of air under pressure and attached to said underside of said table surface;
• means for separating the articles into two separate spaced rows of loosely arranged articles at a first zone;
• means for conveying the spaced rows through a second zone and bringing the articles in each row into tight contiguous contacting relationship;
• means for arranging the spaced rows in a third zone;
• means for converging the spaced rows into nested relationship and moving them as a unit in a fourth zone;
• and
• means for subsequently accelerating the articles to separate them and converging them into single file in said fourth zone.