Patent ID: 8033762

Claim:
A pneumatic conveyor having upstream ( 1 ) and downstream ( 2 ) transport cases connected together by a switching device ( 3 ) and by a support infrastructure ( 4 ), the switching device ( 3 ) being in the form of a transport and guide means that is flexible relative to its longitudinal axis and includes a blade ( 33 ) of flexible material supporting a means ( 10 ) for pneumatically propelling the products ( 6 ) to be transported which is provided with means of guidance ( 8 ) for guiding and holding in place the products ( 6 ) to be transported, and with devices ( 11 ) for mounting additional means of guidance ( 9 ) for the lower part of the products ( 6 ) to be transported attached to one end ( 3 ′) of the support infrastructure ( 4 ) or to an upstream ( 1 ) or downstream ( 2 ) transport case, with the means of guidance for guiding and the additional means of guidance ( 8 , 9 ) corresponding to that of a downstream ( 2 ) or upstream ( 1 ) transport case, the other end ( 3 ″) of this flexible transport and guide means is guided with a possible angular movement on the support infrastructure ( 4 ) or on an upstream ( 1 ) or downstream ( 2 ) transport case, and is connected to a reciprocating movement means ( 5 ), the means ( 8 ) for guiding and holding in place the upper ends of the products ( 6 ) to be transported are each provided, on the side of the other end ( 3 ″) of the switching device ( 3 ), with an extension ( 17 ) cooperating with the corresponding end of the means ( 8 ) for guiding and holding in place the upper ends of the product ( 6 ) to be transported of the upstream ( 1 ) or downstream ( 2 ) cases, to ensure that the products ( 6 ) to be transported pass through without bumping, by resting a lower face thereof on the corresponding end of the means for guiding and holding in place the upper ends of the products ( 6 ) to be transported of the upstream ( 1 ) or downstream ( 2 ) cases, wherein the extension ( 17 ) is in the form of an attached plate attached to the free end of the means ( 8 ) of guidance and holding in place the upper ends of the products ( 6 ) to be transported , whereby the attached plate has a slanted lower face designed to overlap, when the means for guidance are aligned, the corresponding end of the means ( 8 ) for guidance and holding in place the upper ends of the products or bottles ( 6 ) to be transported or conveyed of the upstream ( 1 ) or downstream ( 2 ) cases, and the corresponding end extends slightly under the level of a remaining portion of the means of guidance ( 8 ).