Patent ID: 6942133

Claim:
A system for conveying flexible fabric items comprising: a main conduit having an input end for receiving said items and a discharge end for discharging said items, said main conduit providing a substantially enclosed path for conveying said items from the input end to the discharge end; a selected portion of said main conduit having a substantially straight conduit section presenting a longitudinal axis; an angled pipe connecting with said conduit section and having an axis arranged at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis; a blower having a suction side and a discharge side for forcing air from said discharge side through said angled pipe and into said conduit section; a restriction in said selected portion of said main conduit in proximity to the connection of said angle pipe with said conduit section to effect a low pressure area adjacent said restriction when air is forced through said angled pipe into said conduit section, thereby drawing air through said main conduit to convey said items from said input end to said discharge end; a vent in said main conduit at a location downstream from said restriction and upstream from said discharge end of the main conduit for allowing escape of air from the main conduit between said restriction and said discharge end; and a return conduit extending from said vent to said suction side of the blower.