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System and method for carrier identification in a pneumatic tube system

  • US 7,363,106 B1
  • Filed: 07/17/2006
  • Issued: 04/22/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for storing a travel path of pneumatic carrier through a pneumatic carrier system where the pneumatic carrier system includes a plurality of user stations, pneumatic tubes and communication devices, comprising the steps of:

  • using a communication device, reading identification information from an identification device of a pneumatic carrier, wherein the pneumatic carrier is at an origination location within a pneumatic carrier system;

    receiving a destination location for the pneumatic carrier via a user interface;

    storing the identification information, the origination location and the destination location to a transaction record on a computer readable storage medium;

    launching the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic system to the destination location;

    reading the identification device at a plurality of intermediate locations in the pneumatic carrier system using communications devices having known intermediate locations between the origination location and the destination location;

    upon reading the identification device at an intermediate location, storing the known intermediate location of said communications device to the transaction record, wherein the transaction record records a travel path of the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic carrier system; and

    using the transaction record to identify a portion of the pneumatic system on which to perform maintenance.

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