Patent ID: 7398735
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: B65G,H01L

Abstract:
1. A non-contact, air-activated lifting and tamping device, which comprises: (a) a mounting plate having planar parallel sides and having a first opening cut vertically through said plate, said first opening being sized to allow insertion of a high pressure air hose connector; (b) means for attaching said mounting plate to an automated operating machine; (c) an elongate metal housing shell which has a cylindrical axial cavity throughout with a smooth surfaced wall, said housing shell including a threaded second opening in said wall that is sized to engage a high pressure air hose connector, and to provide air hose access to said axial cavity; (d) means for fastening said housing shell to said mounting plate; (e) a nozzle insert assembly that is sized and shaped to fit axially inside said housing shell and create an annular air chamber between said shell and said assembly; said assembly comprising: (f) a Bernoulli type lift generator unit which has a diameter and length, sized and shaped to fit axially inside said central cavity in said nozzle insert assembly, said lift generator unit having an axial threaded opening in a top end for engaging the connector of a regulated, high pressure air hose; (g) a plastic spacing disk for placing on said top end of said lift generator unit as a spacer during assembly, said disk having a diameter that approximates the diameter of said lift generator unit, and including a center axial through hole that is sized for insertion therein of a high pressure air hose connector; and, (h) means for fastening said lift generator unit, through said spacing disk and to said mounting plate; said nozzle insert assembly being disposed tightly in said axial cavity of said housing shell with an end edge of said shell abutting a stepped portion of said second flange, and forming a closed annular chamber with lower exit air passages for high velocity air; said lift generator unit and said spacing disk being disposed axially in said central cavity of said nozzle insert assembly and fastened to said mounting plate; said lifting and tamping device, when a regulated high pressure air hose is connected input to said lift generator unit and activated, and a second high pressure air hose is connected input to said housing shell, being able to produce a lifting force on an adjacent light weight item, sufficient to hold the item without the item contacting the device, said device also producing an air-tamping force caused by multiple jets of air exiting said device when said second high pressure air hose is activated.