GB1341095A - Conveyor system - Google Patents

Abstract

1341095 Drying cans on conveyers; heating articles MIDLAND-ROSS CORP 13 May 1971 [9 June 1970] 14761/71 Headings F4G and F4U [Also in Division B8] Articles, such as aluminium cans 16 to be heat treated or dried in a chamber 12 and cooled in a chamber 14, are conveyed through these chambers by an endless conveyer belt 11. The latter has a load-carrying surface having open areas comprising 3 to 10% of that surface. This results in a pressure difference being developed across the belt by the passage of heating/drying or cooling air and this tends to retain the cans by suction in position on the conveyer belt. As shown, the belt is formed by bent flat wire members 55 to which slats 59 are secured. The spaces between the slats provide the 3 to 10% open areas. The heating/drying air flow is provided by fans 17, 17. The flow is controlled by annually adjustable flaps 39, 42, 43 and 44. Fresh or make-up air enters through the exit (45) (Fig. 1, not shown) of the aparatus and through an opening 40. The firing of burners (Fig. 1, not shown) is controlled by thermocouples TC so as to maintain a desired temperature. The plane of the conveyer belt may be vertical instead of horizontal. In a modified arrangement (not shown), articles are suspended upside-down from the underside of a lower run of a conveyer belt. The articles can be discharged from the belt by cutting off the air supply.