Patent ID: 8734061

Claim:
A container decelerator apparatus for slowing containers impelled through a container transport system between at least two container processing stations, the container transport system having pneumatic conduits through which the containers are impelled by low pressure, high speed air, the containers each having a body having a diameter sized to be slidably received within said pneumatic conduits and surrounding and enclosing an interior accessible through a sealable container opening, the decelerator comprising: an input chute coupled to an exit end of said pneumatic conduit; an output chute coupled to a downstream one of said at least two container processing stations; a plurality of elongate vanes, each vane having an inner edge and an outer edge and coupled in a curvilinear path between said input chute and said output chute; and a plurality of annular yokes disposed along and transverse to said plurality of elongate vanes, said annular yokes engaging said outer edges to hold said elongate vanes in fixed, parallel relation to each other along said curvilinear path.