Gas film conveyor for elongated strips of web material
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsMichael Long, Thomas W. Palone, Paul Kemp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Non-contact air film conveyors are suited for conveying elongated strips (46) of web material such as photographic film and include a track plate (12) having gas flow apertures (20,24; 72,74) extending through its thickness at angles to the surface of the track plate (.alpha.,.alpha.') and to the direction of movement of the strips (.beta.,.beta.', .gamma.). By directing air flow through some apertures (72,74) counter to the direction of movement, speed and acceleration control is achieved independent of the support given to the strips by air flow through other apertures (20,24). Baffles (28-36) and curved side walls (70,96) direct air back onto the film to flatten it during movement.
Claims20
A gas film conveyor for moving elongated strips of web material, said conveyor comprising:
- an elongated track plate having side edges and an upper surface;
- a pneumatic pressure chamber positioned beneath and bounded on its upper side by said track plate;
- means for directing pressurized gas into said pressure chamber;
- at least one first row of gas flow apertures arranged along said track plate substantially at the center thereof, each of said apertures being defined by a bore extended at a compound angle through said track plate from said pressure chamber in the direction of movement of such strips along said conveyor, each of said apertures having said bore thereof at a first acute angle to said upper surface, said apertures also having said bores thereof at a second acute angle from said direction of movement, said second acute angle being alternately toward one and then the other of said side edges, said first and second acute angles being such that gas flowing through said apertures will support such strips above said upper surface while propelling such strips in said direction of movement;
- and
- means for directing gas escaping from beneath the side edges of such strips back onto the upper surface of such strips to flatten such strips as they are propelled through said conveyor.
A gas film conveyor for moving elongated strips of web material, said conveyor comprising:
- an elongated track plate having side edges and an upper surface;
- a pneumatic pressure chamber positioned beneath and bounded on its upper side by said track plate;
- means for directing pressurized gas into said pressure chamber;
- and
- at least one first row of gas flow apertures arranged along said track plate substantially at the center thereof, each of said apertures being defined by a bore extended at a compound angle through said track plate from said pressure chamber in the direction of movement of such strips along said conveyor, each of said apertures having said bore thereof at a first acute angle to said upper surface, said apertures also having said bores thereof at a second acute angle from said direction of movement, said second acute angle being alternately toward one and then the other of said side edges, said first and second acute angles being such that gas flowing through said apertures will support such strips above said upper surface while propelling such strips in said direction of movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.