Article conveyor having fluid containment
US5762794A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G21/2036
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Article conveyor apparatus and method are disclosed having fluid containment, and particularly for conveying of articles such as cans having an oily liquid thereon when transported from a processing or forming station. The articles are mass transported along a predetermined path that is closed to the atmosphere except for infeed and discharge of articles, with the articles being transported by engagement with a moving belt having openings therein. The inlet of a chamber, otherwise closed to the atmosphere and having negative fluid pressure maintained therein during normal operation, is positioned adjacent to the belt so that the negative pressure maintains articles in contact with the belt during transport along the predetermined path regardless of path orientation and also draws fluid from the transported articles and belt into the chamber through the openings in the belt and the chamber inlet. The fluid, such as an air-liquid mixture that includes liquid not then gravity separated in the chamber from the air, is discharged from the chamber to a pressure source that also provides positive pressure through a conduit to a perforated top plate positioned at the predetermined path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.