Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Pusher conveyor and separate load support surface
Patent
1990-02-02
1992-04-28
Valenza, Joseph E.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Pusher conveyor and separate load support surface
198733, 406 89, B65G 1930
Patent
active
051079810
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a national phase of PCT/CH89/00109 filed 7 June 1989 and based upon Swiss national application 2203/88 filed 9 June 1988 under the International Convention.
The present invention relates to a device with flow medium stratification for the positioning and/or transport of unit loads, particularly flat unit loads, wherein a flow-medium cushion, particularly an air cushion; can be built up over a support surface for the piece goods, passages in the support surface communicating through channels with a pressure source for the flow medium.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices of the above-mentioned type are advantageously used for a gentle and noncontact positioning or moving of sensitive goods, such as paper webs or glass plates, records and CDs, but also silicon plates for semiconductors and the like.
Therefore, the passages provided in the support surface and as a rule, in flow connection with a compressed air source, are nozzles which compress the air underneath the piece good, the latter being then kept in suspension by the air.
Thereby, particularly where large surfaces are concerned, a large number of nozzles is required, leading to a high cost of the installation and a high consumption of flow medium.
Besides, if such systems are used in a so-called clean room, wherein from the ceiling a weak, downwardly directed air stream is constantly maintained in order to keep down the dust and the like, counterproductive air turbulence can occur, due to the punctiform exit of the air from the nozzle.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention to create a device of the aforementioned kind, which allows for a "gentle" air-cushion buildup.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, this object is attained in that at least one portion of the support surface consists of bodies made of a flow-medium permeable sintered material, these bodies being inserted in the passages connectable to the pressure source via channel means.
These measures taken according to the invention allow the exit of a relatively large air flow on the upper side of the support surface, without the point blasting effect, whereby a vertical surface flow is created without materially influencing the existing flow conditions, leading to a quasi-static air cushion, appropriate for any size of the article supported.
The selection of the sintered material, which may be carbon, ceramic or the like, of the size of the flow-permeable bodies, of their density per surface unit, as well as the selectable flow pressure allow an optimal adjustment of the quasi-static air cushion to any use.
For an article of a smaller area, such as CDs or trays (platforms) supporting small articles or the like, the support surface with the flow-medium permeable bodies of sintered material form channel-like guide tracks with lateral borders.
It is important to create an effective advance of the piece good.
If this advance is created in the usual manner through advance nozzles located in the lateral borders, the installation is not suitable for clean rooms, for the aforementioned reasons.
If belt conveyors with centrally arranged entrainment means are used, considerable difficulties result in connection with an accumulation of the usually highly sensitive articles.
Therefore, a suitable development of the mentioned device can be considered the arrangement wherein the support surface is a part of the guideway of an accumulation conveyor and is pentrated by at least one dragging conveyor slit, through which entrainment means extend, each of them embracing on the belt side at least three roller or cylinder bodies arranged in the direction of travel, succeeding one another at equal distances and height-staggered with respect to each other, the roller or cylinder bodies being each partially wrapped by the belt and forming with the belt a slip drive for the entrainment means.
As a result, the articles carried by the air cushion have a secure entrainment connection with the endles
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patent: 3382965 (1968-05-01), Pierce et al.
patent: 3588176 (1971-06-01), Byrne
patent: 3594149 (1972-10-01), Pickavance et al.
patent: 3731823 (1973-05-01), Goth
patent: 3827547 (1974-08-01), Nixon
patent: 4236851 (1980-12-01), Szasz
patent: 4280782 (1981-07-01), Stumpf
Dubno Herbert
Nguyen Tuan N.
Robitron AG
Valenza Joseph E.
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