Patent ID: 6053667
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: B65G,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for carrying spherical objects comprising:a carrying passage in which spherical objects are made to pass through; anda whirling current generator that generates a spiral current of fluid in the carrying passage,wherein the spiral current generator includes:a rotary shaft in which a carrying passage is formed in a direction of the central axis thereof and a spiral groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface;a jet pipe formed in the rotary shaft, the jet pipe connecting the carrying passage with the spiral groove, andan outer pipe surrounding at least a part of said rotary shaft and extending to the lower current side than an end of the rotary shaft so as to form a spiral passage between said outer pipe and the spiral groove,wherein by supplying spherical objects accompanied with carrier gas from upper current side of the carrying passage, a part of the carrier gas is passed through the jet pipe, the spiral passage to form a whirling current and the spherical objects are transferred out of the end of the outer pipe with the whirling current.