Patent ID: 6491156
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
In a conveyor system having a driven roller and at least one idler roller with an endless belt entrained about said driven and idler rollers, the improvement comprising a fluid plenum trough element comprising:a. a longitudinally extending trough section supporting a portion of said endless belt, said trough section having an arcuate, constant radius, transverse dimension extending symmetrically upward from each side of a vertical centerline of said trough, and first and second laterally extending flanges extending substantially horizontally from said constant radius section, said belt supported within said constant radius dimension, b. a pair of arcuate end plates including an arcuate constant radius upper flange affixed near opposite ends of said trough section, c. a housing conforming to said trough section and sealingly joined thereto, and said housing sealingly joined to said end plates, to define a plenum therein, and d. a plurality of orifices arrayed longitudinally along said vertical centerline of said trough, said orifices providing fluid communication between said plenum and an upper surface of said trough.