Ping Pong Ball Blower Mech

[Rohit Mehta]

Hello. I'm trying to solve a design related problem for a Ping Pong Ball Blower Mech.
See link for image below.

https://ibb.co/YpJkq1W

Ping Pong Balls (1.57" dia, 2.7gms) fall from a funnel due to gravity from side 'A'.
The PVC pipe on side 'A' is titled at an angle to allow the ping pong ball to move freely towards the blower.
The blower would then blow the balls to side B which will lift it up to a Ball Shooter Mechanism.
The blower we have currently used is a 130 CFM marine blower.
PVC pipes used are approx 2.05" ID.
The air is supposed to flow in the blue arrow direction ideally, but there is some backflow towards the direction shown by the red arrow which is causing the ping pong ball to go against gravity and move back upwards towards the side A.
This system needs to run continuously by accepting balls from side 'A' and dispensing from side 'B'. How can this be done ?

 

[LittleInch]

Easy options to try include increasing the angle of the inlet tube or decreasing the height of the tube after elbow B.

If that doesn't work I think you will need to re-design your attachment point of the blower.

It might need a larger OD at this point with the air being directed by a few nozzles pointing along the pipe to create a kind of eductor creating a low pressure at the junction.

A larger inlet pipe would probably allow the air leaking past to escape past the balls which move under gravity

BTW it isn't "back flow", it's flow of air because the pressure at the connection point of blower to pipe is more than atmospheric pressure by enough to push your lightweight balls along pipe A

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[gerhardl]

Good suggestions from LittleInch! By the way: have you tired to vary/minimize/throttle or pulse air input and pressure? Is the 'ball shooting mechanism' independent of the ball feeding air pressure?