Non-contact conveying device

A pick-up head for a non-contact conveying device, said pick-up head comprising:

• an upper wall;
• a side wall surrounding said upper wall;
• an operating surface formed at a lower annular edge of said side wall, said operating surface being positionable adjacent an article to be lifted;
• mans for providing a reduced pressure in an area formed within said upper wall and said side wall;
• and
• means for introducing a positive pressure gas supply into said pick-up head, said means for introducing including an opening disposed approximately at the center of said upper wall and said means for providing a reduced pressure including a cushion-vacuum room fully opened at the bottom of said pick-up head and of a sufficient depth to achieve a reduced pressure therein when said pick-up head is positioned adjacent an article to be lifted and said opening being positioned transverse with respect to a plane in which said annular edge exists for introducing a positive pressure gas supply into said cushion-vacuum room and over said operating surface, the diameter of said opening being smaller than that of said cushion-vacuum room, such that positioning of said pick-up head adjacent an article to be lifted produces a combined effect including an increased rate of gas flow over said operating surface and a reduced pressure within said cushion-vacuum room, thereby enabling non-contact pick-up of an article whose diameter is greater than that of said operating surface.