Integrated air bearing slip sheet material handling system and slip sheet employed therein
US4832562A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 1985 |
| Grant date | May 23, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65D19/00
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An air bearing slip sheet tight material handling system utilizes a forklift truck with a horizontal platen a pantagraph mechanism supporting a vertical faceplate which has a gripper jaw pocket casing at the bottom. A vertically reciprocating clamping bar is depressable within the gripper jaw pocket casing to clamp the lip of a slip sheet. The slip sheet is of the air bearing type formed of thin flexible sheets sealed together about the edges to define a plenum chamber and forming a load support portion over a major surface outside of the lip area. A plurality of pinhole perforations are provided within the central portion of the bottom thin flexible sheet conforming to the footprint of the load carried by the slip sheet. An air source supplies pressurized air which is directed from a hose air outlet aligned with the air inlet of the slip sheet lip during depression of the clamping bar such that compressed air is directed into the chamber interior of the slip sheet lip for flow about the clamping area and from the air chamber of the lip to the plenum chamber for jacking of the load and creation of the air bearing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.