Patent ID: 7481606

Claim:
An air-propelled conveyor system for handling workpieces in a food grade environment, the system comprising: a pipe having a longitudinal axis, an interior, a cylindrical inner surface, a slot formed in an upper portion of the pipe that defines an elongated slot that extends along an axial length and the upper portion of the pipe; an air blower coupled to the pipe for providing airflow through the interior of the pipe; a track mounted to the upper portion of the pipe in the elongated slot of the pipe, the track having a base on a lower end and sidewalls extending along the longitudinal axis, the base having a plurality of air vents for providing pneumatic access from the interior of the pipe into a pocket of the track, such that the air vents when air flows therethrough provide upward and axial directional airflow for pushing the workpieces upward and along an axial length of the track on a cushion of air; a hanger assembly for supporting the pipe from above, and capturing the workpieces in the track, the hanger assembly having a guide rail with a smooth, flat lower surface that extends along the axial length of the track to prevent excess upward movement of the workpieces as the workpieces move along the cushion of air flowing though the track, such that the workpieces are located in and move through the pocket defined between a lower surface of the guide rail and the sidewalls and base of the track; and a drain clean out positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe and located a preselected distance from an axial end of the pipe; and an axial clean out positioned on the axial end of the pipe and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis for providing internal axial access to the pipe.