Gridlock detection and alleviation for pneumatic carrier systems
First Claim
1. A method for alleviating gridlock in a pneumatic carrier transport system having a plurality of paths along which a plurality of carriers are movable in accordance with transaction information wherein a first of said plurality of carriers is associated with first transaction information including information relating to a first predetermined route using at least a first of said plurality of paths and a second of said plurality of carriers is associated with second transaction information including information relating to a second predetermined route using at least one of said first path and a second of said plurality of paths, said method comprising the steps of:
- moving at least said first of said plurality of carriers along at least said first of said plurality of paths in a first direction using said first transaction information;
moving at least said second of said plurality of carriers along at least said one of said first and said second of said plurality of paths in a second direction using said second transaction information wherein at least a portion of said moving at least said second of said plurality of carriers step occurs during said moving of at least said first of said plurality of carriers step;
determining a gridlock condition involving at least said first and said second of said plurality of carriers exists, whereby said first and said second of said plurality of carriers using at least said first of said plurality of paths and at least said one of said first and said second of said plurality of paths, respectively, are inhibited from proceeding in accordance with said first and said second transaction information, respectively; and
controlling movement of at least said first of said plurality of carriers based on said gridlock condition to resolve said gridlock condition by moving said first of said plurality of carriers in a direction opposite said first direction using said first of said plurality of paths, said first of said plurality of paths adapted for bi-directional movement of at least said first of said plurality of carriers.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pneumatic carrier system is provided for distribution and transport of materials between different locations. The system includes a plurality of carriers for conveyance of materials and a control system for controlling the movement of the carriers in the system. The control system uses information associated with the carriers and the status of areas of the system to detect gridlock conditions which inhibit the movement of carriers. The system also includes bypass locations which are used to resolve detected gridlock conditions.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for alleviating gridlock in a pneumatic carrier transport system having a plurality of paths along which a plurality of carriers are movable in accordance with transaction information wherein a first of said plurality of carriers is associated with first transaction information including information relating to a first predetermined route using at least a first of said plurality of paths and a second of said plurality of carriers is associated with second transaction information including information relating to a second predetermined route using at least one of said first path and a second of said plurality of paths, said method comprising the steps of:
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moving at least said first of said plurality of carriers along at least said first of said plurality of paths in a first direction using said first transaction information; moving at least said second of said plurality of carriers along at least said one of said first and said second of said plurality of paths in a second direction using said second transaction information wherein at least a portion of said moving at least said second of said plurality of carriers step occurs during said moving of at least said first of said plurality of carriers step; determining a gridlock condition involving at least said first and said second of said plurality of carriers exists, whereby said first and said second of said plurality of carriers using at least said first of said plurality of paths and at least said one of said first and said second of said plurality of paths, respectively, are inhibited from proceeding in accordance with said first and said second transaction information, respectively; and controlling movement of at least said first of said plurality of carriers based on said gridlock condition to resolve said gridlock condition by moving said first of said plurality of carriers in a direction opposite said first direction using said first of said plurality of paths, said first of said plurality of paths adapted for bi-directional movement of at least said first of said plurality of carriers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A pneumatic apparatus for conveying material from source locations to destination locations in a plurality of carriers, wherein at least a first, a second, and a third of said plurality of carriers for transportation of materials is associated with a first, a second, and a third transaction information including information related to first, second, and third predetermined routes, respectively, wherein at least said first of said plurality of carriers is movable in at least a first direction, comprising:
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path means including bi-directional main path means along which said first, said second, and said third of said plurality of carriers are moveable toward first, second, and third ultimate destinations, respectively, in at least one of said first direction and a second direction along said bi-direction main path means; and system means including system controller means for controlling movement of at least said first, said second and said third of said plurality of carriers through said path means; wherein said system means uses said first, second and third transaction information associated with said first, said second and said third of said plurality of carriers, respectively, to determine a first gridlock condition in which at least two of said first, said second and said third of said plurality of carriers are prevented from proceeding along at least two of said first, said second and said third predetermined routes, respectively, wherein said system controller means controls at least said first of said plurality of carriers to cause movement of said first of said plurality of carriers in said path means differently from said predetermined route of said first of said plurality of carriers, in a direction opposite said first direction to resolve said first gridlock condition. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification