FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an air jet nozzle and more particular to the air jet nozzle that can reduce noise level produced in production lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION High noise level in manufacturing glove industry is highly contributed by robotic arm stripping machine through open pipe tube in which the compressed air is used to shoot the glove. When the fast moving air stream from an open pipe comes into contact with the surrounding static air, turbulent air flow is generated. The by-product of this phenomenon is excessive noise. Due to this fast moving air stream the gloves may tear while stripping. Thereby, reduces the quality of the gloves manufactured. Typical sound pressure levels at 1 m from a blow-off tube can reach 105 dB. Reservoir compressed air pressure is usually in the range of 45 to 105 psi (300 to 700kPa). The air acceleration varies from near zero velocity in the reservoir to peak velocity at the exit of the tube. The flow velocity through the tube can become sonic, i.e. reaches the speed of sound. This results in a high generation of broad-band noise with the highest values at a frequency band between 2 to 4 kHz.

The high velocity air interacts with the surrounding medium creating the fluctuating pressures which is resulted from the turbulence and shearing stress. This causes the noise generation from air jets. The high and low frequency bands of noise are formed, due to the complex radiation sources; the high frequency noise is generated near the exit tube in the mixing region while the low frequency noise is generated downstream at the large scale turbulence. Therefore, the spectral character of gas-jet noise is generally broadband. Exposure to high levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss. Neither surgery nor a hearing aid can help to correct this type of hearing loss. Short term exposure to the loud noise can also cause temporary change in hearing e.g. ears may feel stuffed up or tinnitus. These short-term problems may go away within a few minutes or hours after leaving the noisy area. However, repeated exposures to loud noise can lead to permanent tinnitus and/or hearing loss. Loud noise can also create physical and psychological stress, reduction in productivity, communication and concentration interference, and may cause workplace accidents or injuries if a person having the difficulty in hearing the warning signals from the working environment.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recommended that the noise level should be controlled below 85 dB if the noise exposure of eight hours in order to minimize the occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Hearing protection devices (HPDs), such as earmuffs and plugs, can help to reduce the noise level in certain extent but they are less desirable options to control the noise exposures. Therefore, the present invention provides an air jet nozzle that can reduce the noise level during stripping of flexible film article from a former.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus which can reduce noise level during stripping a flexible film article from a former, comprises: a cylindrical body, having at least one inlet; a plurality of apertures, formed on the cylindrical body; a plurality of tubes, attached on the cylindrical body through the apertures; and, a means to introduce compressed air into the article, wherein the compressed air is introduced through the inlet is diverted via the tubes to form a laminar air flow such that noise level is reduced.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a connector to lock the position of the tubes on the cylindrical body.

Preferably, the apertures formed on the cylindrical body are linear and equally spaced. Preferably, angle of the introduced air is adjustable by the connector.

Preferably, the tubes are made of plastics, polyurethane, rubber or any other suitable materials.

Preferably, the flexible film article is a glove or a condom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood, when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: Figure 1, illustrates side view of the finger jet nozzle according to the present invention.

Figure 2, illustrates top view of the finger jet nozzle, according to the present invention.

Figures 3a and 3b, illustrates the finger jet nozzle positioned near the former according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A flexible film article can be a glove or a condom or any other flexible film material formed on a former. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention is explained in accordance to the glove manufacturing. The present invention is not limited to the glove manufacturing process.

The process of manufacturing of gloves, has a plurality of formers mounted at equal intervals on an endless chain, and the endless chain move along the guide rails at a constant speed. These formers are dipped in a first dipping tank filled with a coagulant material. Then, the formers travel to second dipping tank filled with latex material. The formers are immersed in the second dipping tank and then the latex adheres to the surface of the each former after they are withdrawn from the second dipping tank. The latex on the surface of each former is dried and solidified. As a result, flexible film articles such as gloves are produced on the surfaces of the respective former. The gloves are produced in a state of being adhered to the surfaces of the respective former, in a process after solidifying the liquid adhering to the surface of the each former, the glove is exfoliated/stripped off from the respective former.

During the stripping of the gloves, the upper end portion of the glove formed on the former can be folded by a roller brush. In an embodiment, the upper end portion of the glove formed on the former can be also folded by an apparatus (10) which is a finger jet nozzle. The air blown out or shoots at the glove from the finger jet nozzle (10) folds the upper end portion of the glove formed on the former. The finger jet nozzle (10), may be positioned near to the path of the former conveying means. The air is blown out from the finger jet nozzle (10), and the upper end portion of the glove is folded in form of a skirt shape. Next, a chuck claw of robotic stripping machine is closed, and is brought into contact with the glove attached to the surface of the former. Next, the air is blown out from the finger jet nozzle (10), the upper end folded portion of the glove is pushed up from the folded state and covers the chuck claw. The chuck claw pulls the glove away from the former, the air from the finger jet nozzle (10) is blown into glove adhering to the former is stripped off completely without any tearing.

Referring to figures 1 & 2, the finger jet nozzle (10), comprises of a cylindrical body (5) with a pre-determined diameter, a plurality of tubes (2) defined with a hollow passage (1) and a connector (3). The cylindrical body (5), has an inlet (7) for compressed air supply, preferably the inlet (7) is connected to the compressed air cylinder via a pipe hose. Further, a plurality of apertures (6) are drilled on the cylindrical body (5), preferably five apertures drilled through and spaced apart at equal distance gap between them. The apertures (6) formed on the cylindrical body (5) can be in a row or in a column wise with equal spacing between them. The tubes (2) are inserted into the apertures (6) and the connector (3) locks the tube (2) in position as to prevent the movement and dislocation of the tube (2) such that the shift in the angle of the air shooting is prevented.

The tubes (2) of the finger jet nozzle (10) preferably can be made of a polyurethane material which combines the best properties of both plastic and rubber. It offers abrasion and tear resistance, high tensile and elongation values, and low compression set. The polyurethane is naturally flexible and exhibits virtually unlimited flexural abilities. The tube (2) can also be made of plastics, rubber and other suitable material. The cylindrical body (5) can be made of stainless steel, titanium, tantalum, hastelloy, plastics or any other suitable materials.

When the compressed air is supplied through the inlet (7) to the cylindrical body (5), diverges/diverts the air into five directions through the tubes (2). The tubes (2) inserted into the apertures (6) on the cylindrical body (5) provides a strong laminar airflow hence manages to control the turbulence air flow when compressed air comes in contact with surrounding static air and the sound level produced is reduced. The tubes (2) are in small diameter and directly inserted into the apertures (6) on the cylindrical body (5) via the connector (3). In addition, the connector (3) has a nipple (4) that supports the tube (2) to be locked in the position. The position of the inlet (7) is at an angle parallel to the air shooting region through the tubes (2) while the angle enlarges for the bottom part of inlet tube body. The compressed air diverged through the tubes (2) at the same speed and in the same direction. Therefore, the noise level produced is less when it comes in contact with static surrounding air outside. The diameter of the tubes (2) can be in range of 3 mm to 5 mm that can help in noise reduction as the amount of air blown out from each tube (2) is much less. The air is blown out from the tubes (2) form the laminar air flow on the glove which enables the glove to be stripped off completely and easily without any tearing on the glove.

The apertures (6) drilled, on the cylindrical body (5) arc surface are linear and equally spaced. The diameter of these drilled apertures (6) is smaller in comparison to the diameter of the inlet (7). These apertures (6) are designed to insert the tubes (2) into the cylindrical body (5) and are locked in the position by using the connector (3), thus preventing the tubes (2) from movement, dislocation or shifting the angle of air shooting.

Referring to figures 3a & 3b, the finger jet nozzle (10) resembling as a finger-like pattern to shoot air at the gloves can be installed horizontally or vertically or at with an angle of inclination near or vicinity to the former. The cylindrical body (5) is preferably equipped with at least five or more number of tubes (2) arranged preferably in one or two rows on the cylindrical body (5). The angle of air shooting from the tubes (2) can be adjusted by adjusting the connector (3). This arrangement can reduce the tearing of the glove and also noise level during the stripping.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced within their scope.