ELECTROMAGNETIC CONVEYOR

An electromagnetic propulsion system for electrically conductive articles, such as aluminum beverage cans. Currents in coils disposed along a passageway induce currents in aluminum cans in the passageway. The electromagnetic fields produced by the coil currents and the eddy currents in the cans interact to produce forces that propel the cans along the passageway. A coil drive supplies the coils with a low-frequency current to propel the cans and a high-frequency current to heat the cans. The coils are arranged as solenoids encircling the passageway or as planar arrays bracketing the passageway. Besides being used to propel aluminum cans, the coils can be used to spin cans. The electromagnetic propulsion systems are shown in can washers and dryers.