High-security terminal for pneumatic-tube conveyor

• US 6,702,150 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gerhard Sumetzberger
• Original Assignee: Gerhard Sumetzberger
• Inventors: Sumetzberger, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US10/091,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20020140223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 221/265, 221/264, 221/266, 221/277, 221/119, 221/121, 221/203
• US Class Current: 221/265
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/32 for despatch, delivery, and transit

Abstract

A terminal for connection between sections of a pneumatic tube has upper and lower end walls having respective ports connected to tube sections. The lower end wall also has offset from the respective tube section an outlet port. A rotor pivotal between the end walls between a pass-through position and an intercept position has a pass-through tube aligned between the tube sections only in the pass-through position and an intercept tube aligned between the tube sections only in the intercept position and aligned with the outlet port in the pass-through position. A closing plate between the rotor and the lower wall has an axially throughgoing aperture and is displaceable between a closed position blocking the outlet port and with the aperture over and permitting movement through the lower port and an open position with the aperture over and permitting passage through both the lower and outlet ports.

Claims

1. A terminal for connection between sections of a pneumatic tube for passing and intercepting carriers passing along the tube, the terminal comprising:

upper and lower end walls spaced apart along an axis and having respective upper and lower ports respectively connected to the tube sections, the lower end wall also having angularly offset from the respective tube section an outlet port;

a rotor rotatable about the axis between the end walls between a pass-through position and an intercept position, the rotor having

a pass-through tube aligned between the tube sections only in the pass-through position, and

an intercept tube aligned between the tube sections only in the intercept position and aligned with the outlet port in the pass-through position, the intercept tube being adapted to brake and stop a carrier;

a closing plate under the rotor, having an axially throughgoing aperture, and displaceable between a closed position blocking the outlet port and with the aperture aligned with and permitting movement through the lower port and an open position with the aperture aligned with and permitting passage through both the lower and outlet ports; and

user-specific locking means for displacing the closing plate into the open position.

2. The pneumatic-tube terminal defined in claim 1, further comprising

a second rotor separate from the first-mentioned rotor and rotatable about the axis between the end walls between a loading position and a dispatch position, the second rotor having a loading tube with a lateral loading opening and aligned with the tube sections in the dispatch position and not aligned with the tube sections in the loading position.

3. The pneumatic-tube terminal defined in claim 1 wherein the closing plate is rotatable about the axis between the closed and open positions.

4. The pneumatic-tube terminal defined in claim 3 wherein the closing-plate aperture is angularly elongated.

5. The pneumatic-tube terminal defined in claim 1 wherein the closing plate is slidable generally radially of the axis between the closed and open positions.