System and method for carrier identification in a pneumatic tube system

• US 8,447,427 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Hoganson, Kenneth Michael, Chany, Gregory Richard, Hinnen, Bennett Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Ramya
• Application Number:
  US13/087,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20110186630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 406/1, 406/2, 406/3, 406/4, 406/5, 406/6, 406/7, 406/110, 406/11, 406/155, 406/156, 700/225, 700/226, 700/228, 700/229, 700/230, 700/241, 700/243, 700/213
• US Class Current: 700/225
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/046 RFID
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/42 according to indications on carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 51/44 without mechanical contact between carriers and controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/44 pneumatic only

Abstract

A system and method provides for the identification and monitoring of carriers within a pneumatic carrier system. Each carrier which is to be employed within the system includes an identification device such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip which has stored thereon identification information for the carrier. Positioned throughout the system are communications devices such as antennas and readers which are employed to read and/or write identification information on the chip. When a carrier is put in the system, a destination location can be associated with the particular carrier ID. This associated information is then employed to, among many things, monitor and confirm identity of the carrier as it moves to its destination.

Claims

1. A method for use in the operation of a pneumatic carrier system comprising the steps of:

using a first communications device, reading identification info nation from an identification device attached to a pneumatic carrier at an origination user station in a pneumatic carrier system;

receiving destination location information for the pneumatic carrier via a user interface associated with the origination user station, wherein the identification information and the destination location information are stored to a transaction record in a computer readable storage medium;

generating a first set of control signals to route the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic carrier system toward a destination station associated with the destination location information;

using a second communications device, reading the identification information from the identification device while the pneumatic carrier is located proximate to an intermediate location between the origination station and the destination station;

accessing the transaction record of the pneumatic carrier;

based on the destination location information of the transaction record and the carrier being located proximate to the intermediate location, generating a routing decision to effect continued advancement of the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic tube system toward the destination location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a routing decision comprises:

generating a second set of control signals to advance the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic tube system toward the destination station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reading comprises reading a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reading while the carrier located proximate to intermediate location is performed at one of:

a transfer unit operative to transfer a pneumatic carrier between at least first and second pneumatic tubes;

a pneumatic tube; and

a user station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the routing decision comprises at least one of:

determining the pneumatic carrier is at a correct location in the pneumatic system; and

determining the pneumatic carrier is at an incorrect location in the pneumatic system.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein upon determining the pneumatic carrier is at the correct location, further comprising:

continuing implementation of the first set of control signals to route the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic carrier system toward the destination station.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein upon determining the pneumatic carrier is at the incorrect location, further comprising

generating a second set of control signals to re-route the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic tube system toward the destination station.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate location comprises a slide plate above a user station within the pneumatic carrier system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein generating a routing decision comprises at least one of:

confirming the user station is the destination station; and

determining the user station is not the destination station.

10. The method of claim 8, upon determining the user station is the destination station further comprising at least one of:

releasing the pneumatic carrier into the destination station;

generating an output indication the pneumatic carrier has arrived.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating an output requesting a security input; and

upon receiving the security input, releasing the carrier for delivery to the destination station.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating, at the user interface associated with the origination user station, identification information of a user who provided the security input.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recoding to the transaction record, an entry identifying that the carrier was located proximate to the intermediate location.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

recording to the transaction record, a plurality of entries identifying that the carrier was located proximate to a plurality of different intermediate locations, wherein the plurality of intermediate locations identify a travel path of the carrier through the pneumatic carrier system.

15. The method of claim 13, upon delivery of the pneumatic carrier to the destination station further comprising:

recording to the transaction record, an indication that the carrier was delivered to the destination station.

16. The method of claim 1, upon delivery of the pneumatic carrier to the destination station further comprising:

sending a delivery confirmation message to the user interface associated with the origination station.

17. A method for use in the operation of a pneumatic carrier system comprising the steps of

using a first communications device, reading identification information from an identification device attached to a pneumatic carrier at a first user station in a pneumatic carrier system;

receiving destination station information for the pneumatic carrier from a user interface associated with the first user station, wherein the identification information and the destination location information are stored to a transaction record in a computer readable storage medium;

routing the pneumatic carrier through the pneumatic carrier system toward a second user station associated with the destination location information;

stopping the pneumatic carrier within the pneumatic carrier system prior to the second user station, wherein the pneumatic carrier is inaccessible to system users;

using a second communications device, reading the identification information from the identification device while the pneumatic carrier is stopped at a user inaccessible location within the pneumatic carrier system;

accessing the transaction record to at least one of

confirm the identity of the pneumatic carrier; and

identify security information associated with the transaction record; and

delivering the pneumatic carrier to the second user station upon at least one of;

confirming the identity of the pneumatic carrier; and

satisfying a security requirement for the carrier.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of reading comprises reading a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of reading while the carrier is stopped at a user inaccessible location is performed at one of:

at a slide plate above the second user station; and

at an intermediate location between the first user station and the second user station.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

upon reading the identification information, accessing the transaction record to identify the first user station; and

sending a signal to the first user station to generate an output at the first user station.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

upon identifying at least one security requirement for the carrier, receiving a security input from a user interface associated with the second user station; and

releasing the carrier for delivery to the second station.