Infeed boot and method of loading articles for a vacuum conveyor
AssigneeSimplimatic Engineering Company
InventorsMichael R. Overstreet, Quentin L. Wilson, George H. Dawson, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infeed boot is provided for loading articles on a vacuum conveyor comprising a vacuum conveyor belt, an article-retaining surface at least a portion of which is mounted adjacent the belt to form a loading zone, and a plurality of perforations in the article-retaining surface permitting air to be drawn into the loading zone to aid in loading articles.
Claims22
An infeed boot for loading articles on a vacuum conveyor comprising:
- a vacuum conveyor belt for holding articles thereagainst by vacuum pressure and for conveying the articles along a conveyor path;
- an article-retaining surface at least a portion of which is mounted adjacent said vacuum conveyor belt to define a loading zone therebetween, said article retaining surface spaced apart from said vacuum conveyor belt a distance sufficient to prevent articles introduced into the loading zone from tipping over as they are loaded onto said vacuum conveyor belt;
- and
- a plurality of perforations in said article retaining surface permitting air to be drawn into the loading zone in a direction substantially perpendicular to said vacuum conveyor belt to aid said vacuum conveyor belt in loading the articles.
A infeed boot for loading articles on a vacuum conveyor comprising:
- a vacuum conveyor belt for holding articles thereagainst by vacuum pressure and for conveying the articles along a conveyor path;
- an article-retaining surface at least a portion of which is mounted adjacent said vacuum conveyor belt to define a loading zone therebetween;
- a guide rail, mounted between said vacuum conveyor belt and said article retaining surface, for guiding articles into the loading zone;
- and
- a plurality of perforations in said article retaining surface, whereby the flow of air into the loading zone in a direction opposite the conveyor path may be reduced.
An infeed boot for loading articles on a vacuum conveyor comprising:
- a vacuum conveyor belt for holding articles thereagainst by vacuum pressure and for conveying the articles along a conveyor path;
- an article-retaining surface at least a portion of which is mounted adjacent said vacuum conveyor belt to define a loading zone therebetween,
- a plurality of perforations in said article retaining surface permitting air to be drawn into the loading zone;
- and
- at least one plate adjustably mounted with respect to said article-retaining surface to restrict the flow of air through at least one of said perforations, whereby the distribution of articles loaded onto said vacuum conveyor belt may be altered.
A method of loading articles on a vacuum conveyor belt comprising the steps of:
- providing an article retaining surface at least a portion of which is mounted adjacent said vacuum conveyor belt to define a loading zone therebetween;
- providing a plurality of perforations in said article-retaining surface;
- introducing articles into the loading zone;
- and
- drawing air through said plurality of perforations in a direction substantially perpendicular to said vacuum conveyor belt to draw articles in the perpendicular direction for loading.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.