Patent · US Expired

Process and apparatus for selectively gathering lightweight low density objects

US5088860A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
11References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 8, 1991
Grant dateFeb 18, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 8, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA47L5/365
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A vacuum system is provided for selectively removing lightweight low density objects such as loose polystyrene packing material referred to as "peanuts" or "popcorn" from shipping cartons using a very low pressure vacuum which withdraws only the packing material and leaves the packed items in the carton. A low pressure vacuum is created in an elongated cylindrical conduit by directing air pressure from an annular plenum chamber into streams of air flowing through a series of spaced apart holes in a wall of the conduit toward the downstream end of the condudit. The conduit has an intake hose connected to its upstream end and a collection container at its downstream end. The packing material is drawn into the intake hose and through the conduit to the collection container.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.