Conveyor belt apparatus for bottles

A conveying system for bottles, comprising:

• an endless belt formed from a resilient material and movable along the guide path, the endless belt comprising:
• an external surface,
• a grove formed in the external surface;
• and
• a support member for supporting the endless belt along the guide path, the support member comprising:
• a channel formed in the support member along the guide path, the channel constructed and arranged to capture the endless belt in the channel as the endless belt moves along the channel;
• means for introducing an air stream into the guide path to impact the bottles and support the bottles off the endless belt.

A method of conveying an object along a conveying line, the method comprising the steps of:

• supporting an endless belt along a horizontal path adjacent to a conveying path;
• capturing the endless belt in the horizontal path;
• retaining the captured endless belt within the horizontal path to keep it from entering the conveying path;
• increasing atmospheric pressure in the conveying path to support the object off the endless belt;
• and
• restricting movement of the endless belt at opposed lateral directions perpendicular to the path of travel of the endless belt.