Patent ID: 6808358
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
An article conveyor system, comprising:substantially horizontally disposed conveyor means for conveying articles along a conveyor flow path as a result of the articles being supported upon said substantially horizontally disposed conveyor means by lower edge portions of the articles; vertically upstanding support surface means for supporting side surface portions of the articles as the articles are conveyed along said conveyor flow path by said substantially horizontally disposed conveyor means; vacuum means fluidically connected to said vertically upstanding support surface means for withdrawing ambient air from said conveyor flow path so as to effectively attract the articles toward said vertically upstanding support surface means; and air pressure means fluidically connected to said vertically upstanding support surface means for establishing air bearing means along said conveyor flow path so as to facilitate the conveyance of the articles along said conveyor flow path in a substantially frictionless manner.