Multiple carrier handling in a pneumatic transport system
First Claim
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1. A method for use in operating a pneumatic tube system, comprising:
- operating an air source of a pneumatic tube system (PTS) to provide a vacuum airflow;
sequentially applying the vacuum airflow to;
a first pneumatic path established between a first carrier station and the air source to move a first carrier out of the first station and into the first pneumatic path; and
a second pneumatic path established between a second carrier station and the air source to move a second carrier out of the second station and into the second pneumatic path, wherein the first and second pneumatic paths at least partially overlap and where the vacuum airflow is continuous during the sequential application;
moving the first and second carriers via the vacuum airflow to a carrier handling device disposed within the PTS between the air source and the carrier stations;
receiving the first and second carriers at the carrier handling device;
while said first and second carrier are disposed within the carrier handling device, realigning at least one transfer device of the PTS to establish a third pneumatic path between the carrier handling device and a destination station;
operating the air source to provide a pressurized airflow to move the carriers out of the carrier handling device and into the third pneumatic path.
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Abstract
A system, apparatus and method (i.e., utility) is provided for increasing the resource utilization of a pneumatic tube system (PTS). This utility allows for moving two or more carriers during a single air source cycle. That is, air pressure or vacuum during a single cycle of an air source may be utilized to move multiple carriers and thereby reduce the total number of cycles required to complete two or more transactions. Accordingly, the throughput of the PTS may be increased.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for use in operating a pneumatic tube system, comprising:
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operating an air source of a pneumatic tube system (PTS) to provide a vacuum airflow; sequentially applying the vacuum airflow to; a first pneumatic path established between a first carrier station and the air source to move a first carrier out of the first station and into the first pneumatic path; and a second pneumatic path established between a second carrier station and the air source to move a second carrier out of the second station and into the second pneumatic path, wherein the first and second pneumatic paths at least partially overlap and where the vacuum airflow is continuous during the sequential application; moving the first and second carriers via the vacuum airflow to a carrier handling device disposed within the PTS between the air source and the carrier stations; receiving the first and second carriers at the carrier handling device; while said first and second carrier are disposed within the carrier handling device, realigning at least one transfer device of the PTS to establish a third pneumatic path between the carrier handling device and a destination station; operating the air source to provide a pressurized airflow to move the carriers out of the carrier handling device and into the third pneumatic path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification