Air powered storage device for pneumatic transport system

• US 7,326,005 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Podracky, Jim, Trenconsky, Robert, Castro, Raymond Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US11/334,154
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 406/83, 406/192, 406/19
• US Class Current: 406/192
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/22 Arrangements for stopping the carriers en route in order to control carrier sequence; Blocking or separating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/44 without mechanical contact between carriers and controllers

Abstract

An air powered storage device is provided that is operative to temporarily store pneumatic carriers within a pneumatic carrier system. Generally, the device includes a pneumatic tube that is sized to permit the passage of pneumatic carriers. A gate member is selectively positionable into and out of an internal bore of the pneumatic tube to impede movement of pneumatic carriers there through. The device further includes a blower having a first fluid inlet disposed on a first side of the gate member and a fluid outlet disposed on a second side of the gate member. The fluid inlet and outlet are fluidly interconnected to the internal bore of the pneumatic tube such that the blower is selectively operable to generate a fluid flow through the internal bore between the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet. Such fluid flow may be utilized to reinitiate movement of a stopped carrier.

Claims

1. A device for temporarily storing carriers within a pneumatic transport system, comprising:

a pneumatic tube having an internal bore sized to permit passage of a pneumatic carrier;

a first gate member, said first gate member being selectively positionable into and out of said internal bore of said pneumatic tube for stopping movement of a pneumatic carrier through said internal bore, wherein said first gate member permits fluid flow through said internal bore of said pneumatic tube when said first gate member is positioned into said internal bore of said pneumatic tube; and

a blower, said blower having a first fluid inlet fluidly interconnected to said internal bore of said pneumatic tube on a first side of said first gate member and a first fluid outlet fluidly interconnected to said internal bore of said pneumatic tube on a second side of said first gate member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said blower is selectively operable to generate a fluid flow through said internal bore of said pneumatic tube between said first outlet and said first inlet.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said blower is operable to selectively adjust a volume of said fluid flow.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second gate member spaced from said first gate member, said second gate member being selectively positionable into and out of said internal bore of said pneumatic tube.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein a spacing between said first gate and said second gate is sized to accommodate one pneumatic carrier therebetween.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said blower further comprises at least one of:

a second fluid inlet fluidly interconnected to said internal bore of said pneumatic tube on a first side of said second gate member and between said first and second gate members; and

a second fluid outlet fluidly connected to said pneumatic tube on a second side of said second gate member.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein said second gate member prevents fluid flow through said internal bore of said pneumatic tube when said second gate member is positioned into said internal bore.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a spacing between said first fluid outlet and said first gate is sized to receive at least two pneumatic carriers therebetween.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said first fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet each further comprise:

a selectively operable valve for opening and closing a fluid flow path to said blower.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said fluid flow path between said blower and each said valve comprises ducting.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said ducting utilizes slip fit joints to interconnect adjacent ducts, wherein said adjacent ducts are free of direct mechanical interconnection.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein a first end of said pneumatic tube is interconnectable to a transport tube in said pneumatic transport system, wherein said internal bore of said pneumatic tube and an internal bore of said transport tube are aligned.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said blower is operable to increase a pressure differential across a carrier disposed between said first fluid outlet and said first fluid inlet.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said blower is operative to increase said pressure differential between about 0.5 psi and about 4 psi.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said first fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet extend through a sidewall of said pneumatic tube.

16. A device for temporarily storing carriers within a pneumatic transport system, comprising:

a pneumatic tube having an internal bore sized to permit passage of a pneumatic carrier, an inlet for receiving a carrier from a pneumatic transport system and an outlet for discharging a carrier to the pneumatic transport system;

a stopper selectively positionable into and out of said internal bore via linear movement of said pneumatic tube for engaging a pneumatic carrier to stop movement of a pneumatic carrier through said internal bore; and

a blower having a fluid outlet extending through a sidewall of said pneumatic tube at a location upstream of said stopper, wherein said blower is selectively operable to inject a fluid flow into said internal bore at a location upstream of a stopped carrier to reinitiate movement of the stopped carrier.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said blower further comprises:

a fluid inlet extending through said sidewall of said pneumatic tube at a location downstream of said stopper, wherein said blower is operative to establish a fluid flow through said internal bore between said fluid outlet and said fluid inlet.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein a first end of said pneumatic tube is interconnected to a first component within the pneumatic transport system, wherein an internal bore of said first component is aligned with said internal bore of said pneumatic tube.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein a second end of said pneumatic tube is interconnected to a second component within the pneumatic transport system, wherein an internal bore of said second component is aligned with said internal bore of said pneumatic tube.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said first component comprise one of:

a pneumatic tube;

a user station; and

a transfer unit operative to move a pneumatic carrier between non-aligned pneumatic tubes.

21. A device for temporarily storing carriers within a pneumatic transport system, comprising:

a pneumatic tube having an internal bore sized to permit passage of a pneumatic carrier;

a first gate member, said first gate member being selectively positionable into and out of said internal bore of said pneumatic tube for stopping movement of a pneumatic carrier through said internal bore;

a second gate member spaced from said first gate member, said second gate member being selectively positionable into and out of said internal bore of said pneumatic tube, wherein a spacing between said first gate and said second gate is sized to accommodate a pneumatic carrier therebetween; and

a blower, said blower having a first fluid inlet fluidly interconnected to said internal bore of said pneumatic tube on a first side of said first gate member, a first fluid outlet fluidly interconnected to said internal bore of said pneumatic tube on a second side of said first gate member, and a second fluid outlet fluidly interconnected to said internal bore of said pneumatic tube between said first and second gate members.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said blower is selectively operable to generate a fluid flow through said internal bore of said pneumatic tube between said first outlet and said first inlet.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said blower is operable to selectively adjust a volume of said fluid flow.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein said second gate member prevents fluid flow through said internal bore of said pneumatic tube when said second gate member is positioned into said internal bore.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein said first fluid inlet and said fluid outlets each further comprise:

a selectively operable valve for opening and closing a fluid flow path to said blower.