CA1055001A - Transmit and receive terminal for single tube pneumatic carrier system - Google Patents
Transmit and receive terminal for single tube pneumatic carrier systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1055001A CA1055001A CA314,535A CA314535A CA1055001A CA 1055001 A CA1055001 A CA 1055001A CA 314535 A CA314535 A CA 314535A CA 1055001 A CA1055001 A CA 1055001A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- carrier
- hopper
- tube
- send
- carriers
- Prior art date
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Abstract
TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE TERMINAL FOR
SINGLE TUBE PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure A terminal for a single-tube pneumatic tube system adaptable for use in either an up-send/down-receive, or an up-receive/down-send, configuration. The terminal includes a send hopper into which a plurality of carriers can be inserted and stored prior to transmission on a sequential basis, an empty carrier hopper and a full carrier hopper which respec-tively store empty and full carriers transmitted to the terminal, and a transfer tube which reciprocates between positions aligned with the system tube, send hopper and empty and full carrier hoppers for transporting carriers therebetween.
SINGLE TUBE PNEUMATIC CARRIER SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure A terminal for a single-tube pneumatic tube system adaptable for use in either an up-send/down-receive, or an up-receive/down-send, configuration. The terminal includes a send hopper into which a plurality of carriers can be inserted and stored prior to transmission on a sequential basis, an empty carrier hopper and a full carrier hopper which respec-tively store empty and full carriers transmitted to the terminal, and a transfer tube which reciprocates between positions aligned with the system tube, send hopper and empty and full carrier hoppers for transporting carriers therebetween.
Description
~ ossoo~
This invention relates to s;ncJle tube pneumatic tube systems, and more particularly to a terminal for a single tube pnc~umatic tube systcm which can be used in either an up-send/down-xeceive or a clown-sen{l/up-receive configuration.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent ~ppli-cation Serial No. 2~5,~36, filed August 25, 1977.
In a pneumatic tube system of the single tube type~
with which the terminal of this invention is particularly advan-tageous, a single carrier-conveying pneumatic tube interconnects each pair of stations in the system. Carriers move through the single system tube in opposite directions depending upon whether the carrier is being transmitted to a particular station or from such station. To facilitate bidirectional carrier motion in the single system tube which interconnects each pair of stations, a dual mode air supply is connected to the system tube operable in either a sub-atmospheric mode or a super-atmospheric mode. In the sub-atmospheric mode, e.g., when transmitting, a carrier is pulled from a particular station, while in the super-atmospheric mode, e.g., when receiving, the carrier is pushed to the station.
In one type of terminal configuration useful at stations of a single tube system, termed the "up-send/down-receive"
type, the single system tube connects to the upper end of the terminal such that incoming carriers move downwardly through the open lower end of the systern tube into the terminal, while outgoing carriers move upwardly. In another type of terminal suitable for use ~ith stations in single tube systems, termed the "up-receive/clown-send" type, the system tube is connected to the bottom of the terminal such that incoming carriers move upwardly into the terminal through the open upper end of the system tube, whereas outc~oing carriers ]eavincJ the terminal move downwardly.
The particular type of ins-tallation at a station, i.e., up-send/down-receive or down-send/up-receive, depends upon the nature and location of the station relative to the building in which the system is installed. For example, if the single carrier-conveying system tube which interconnects the various stations is designed to run along the ceiling, and the system tube in question interconnects two stations on the same floor, the terminals are typically of the up-send/down-receive type.
Specifically, since the terminals are located at some convenient level above the floor, such as three feet, and since the system tube extends down from the ceiling the typical up-send/down-receive terminal is connected to the system tube at some point along the top of the terminal. Alternatively, if the system tube runs along the floor and two stations on the same floor are to be connected, the system tube typically connects to the terminal at the bottom thereof, providing an up-receive/down-send configuration.
According to the present invention there is provided a send hopper for temporarily storing and sequentially releasing carriers to an underlying vertically disposed tube, each carrier having outwardly projecting shoulders proximate one end thereof, the hopper includes a pair of elongated downwardly and rearwardly inclined spaced parallel carrier guide surfaces for supporting therebetween in vertical disposition a plurality of carriers having diametrically opposite portions of the shoulders thereof seated on the inclined guide surfaces to facilitate gravity-induced sliding movement of the carriers in a downward and rearward direction from a carrier-entrance and to a carrier-exit end with the exit end being lower than the entrance end. A pair of elongated vertical guide surfaces have their upper ends disposed proximate the exit end of the inclined guide surfaces and their lower end disposed below 105i5001 the upper ends. A vertically disposed guide member is parallel to the vertical guide surfaces, the vertical guide member and pair of vertical guide surfaces cooperate to form a guide chute to guide downwardly a vertically disposed carrier as the shoulders thereof slide off the inclined guide surfaces at the exit end thereof. A carrier release member is mounted below the lower ends of the vertical guid~ surfaces for selectively engaging the bottom of a carrier whose shoulders are positioned in the chute, the release member being movable to a release position disengaged from the carrier to release the carrier whereupon the release carrier moves downwardly under the force of gravity to exit the send hopper and enter the underlying tube. A carrier hold member is mounted to selectively engage the lowermost carrier supported on the inclined guide surfaces, and when so engaged to prevent the l~wermost carrier from sliding of the inclined guide surfaces into the chute, the hold member is movable to a release position to permit the lowermost carrier to slide off the inclined guide surfaces into the chute. An actuator controls the release and hold members for causing the hold member to hold the lowermost carrier on the inclined guide surfaces when the release member moves to the release position so that only the one carrier in the guide chute exits the send hopper upon movement of the release member to the release position.
These and other features of the invention will become more readily apparent from a detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partially in cross-section, showing a first preferred embodiment of the pneumatic carrier terminal of this invention which is adapted to connect at the top thereof to a single system carrier-conveying pneumatic tube for receiving incoming carriers in lOSSOOl a downwardly direction and transmitting outgoing carriers in an upwardly direction;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure l;
Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3A-3A of Figure 3;
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the carrier send hopper depicted in Figure 3, showing a carrier ~ OSSOVl ~in the process of leaving the hoppcr;
I;i.gure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along linc 5-5 ¦of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
¦ Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 jof Figure 5;.
¦¦. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 `
¦of Figure l;
lo 1I Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 1! f Figure l;
¦ Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 9;
. Figures 11-16 are schematic elevational views of the ~preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in Figures 1-10, ¦showing the varying positions of the transfer tube and carriers during typical carrier send, receive and store operations; and il Fiyures 17-19 are s~hematic elevational views of a ~,second preferred embodiment of the invention, which is designed to " . I
,~receive incoming carriers moving in an upward direction and out-~! going carriers moviny in a downward direction.
i 1 j With reference to Figure 1, one preferred form of the ',¦pneumatic carrier terminal of this invention is depicted, namely, a terminal designed to cooperate with a single pneumatic carrier system tube 1~ which connects to the upper surface of the terminal ;housing 10 and through which incoming carriers move in a vertically l! downward direction and outgoing carriers move in a vertically up~Jard direction ~ terminal of the type shown in Figure 1, and l in Figures 2-lG, wl~i.cll connects to the ]ower end of a system tube, is termed an "up-send/do~n-receive" terminal. With very slight i .
l! 10 5500 1 ¦l modifica~ions to be discussed in detail herea~ter the terminal ¦I depic~ed in Figure 1, as well as in Figures 2-16, can be adapted il to cooperate with a system tube open at its top through which !~ incoming carriers enter the terminal 10 moving in a vertically ¦¦ upward direction and outgoing carriers leave the terminal moving in a vertically downward direction. This latter type of terminal ¦¦is termed a "down-send/up-receive" terminal, and is depicted in ¦¦Figures 17-19.
ii As shown in Figure 1, the up-send/down-receive terminal ¦¦includes a housing 10 which is generally box-like in form, having horizontally spaced apart vertical parallel left and right side walls 11 and 12, vertically spaced horizontally disposed ceiling and floor 14 and 15, and horizontally spaced vertically disposed ¦front and rear walls 16 and 17 (Figure 8). A single pneumatic carrier transporting tube 18 is mounted such that its lower lopen end 18A communicates with an aperture 19 in the housing ¦ceiling 14. Incoming carriers moving vertically downwardly in ¦¦the system tube 18, as well as outgoing carriers moving upwardly ¦lin a vertical direction in the system tube 18, move between the 20 I!interior lOA of the housing and the system tube 18 via the opening ¦¦19 in the housing ceiling 14 and open end 18A in the tube 18.
I Also associated with housing 10 are three carrier hopperc ¦120, 22 and 24. Hopper 20 is designed to receive and store multiple carriers manually inserted therein through an opening 21 for subsequent serial transmission from the terminal 10 through the system tube 18 to a distant station. Tlle scnd ilopper 20 h~s ¦an opening in the bottom thereof which overlies an opening 23 ¦lin the housing ceiling 14 for facilitating downward movement of ;la carrier from the interior of the hopper 20 into the housing 30 ¦linterior lOA for subSequent transfer to the system tube 18 in a 1, - 6 -li 1055001 ¦manner to be described. The hopper 22 is desiyned to storc active carriers received at tcrminal 10 via s~s~em tube 18 from a ¦
¦!distant station until such tirne as the tern-inal attendant manually¦
removes them via an opening 25. By the term "~ctive carricr" is ~¦meant a carrier which contains a payload such as documents, money ¦or the like. The carrier hopper 24 is designed to store inactive l carriers which have been transmitted to the terminal 10 via system Il tube 18 until such time as the terminal attendant manually removes ¦I them via an opening 27. By the term "inactive carrier" is meant o !¦ a carrier which does not contain any payload, that is, an empty carrier. Both hoppers 22 and 24 communicate with the terminal ~1 housing interior lOA via suitably disposed openings 28 and 29 ! provided in the floor 15 of the term;nal housing 10.
To facilitate transfer of carriers between the system ~¦tube 18 and various hoppers 20, 22 and 24, a horizontally movable I
,I shuttle assemhly 30 is provided. The shuttle assembly includes, among other thinys, a vertically disposed carrier transfer tube ¦ 32 open at its upper and lower ends 32A and 32B To facilitate ~I transmission, receipt and storage of carriers, the transfer tube ll 32 is selectively driven by a shuttle drive assembly 35 between positions underlying the system tube 18 (Figure 12) and the send Ij hopper 20 (Fiyure 14), overlying the active carrier hopper 22 ¦l (Figure 13) and inactive hopper 24 (Figure 16), and an intermediat position (Figure 11) in which a closurer 33 associated with the transfer tube 32 seals the end 18A of the system tuhe 18.
The shuttle ~ssembly 30 also includes a selectively releasable Il carrier deten~ assembly 34 for lloldin~ carriers in the transfer - !i tube 32`until such time as release to one or the other of the li underlying hoppers 22 or 24 is desired.
30 ', Tlle send hopper 20, considered in greater detail, includes ~ a housing having a rear vertical wall 40, spaced apart parallel , , I
'i - 7 -10550~)1 vertically disposed side walls 41~ 42, an ancJulated ceiling ~3~, 43B, and a front wall 44. ~n opening 21 throu(3h which carriers are inserted for storage in the send hopper 20 is provided. ~n openincJ 39 in the bottom o~ the send hopper 20 overlies the ¦ opening 23 in the ceiling 14 of the terminal housing 10. Carriers ¦
I inserted into the send hopper 20 via the opening 21 are stored therein unt11 selectively released, in a manner to be described, ! whereupon the carrier drops vertically through the hopper bottom ¦opening 39 and the terminal housiny ceiling opening 23 into the ~transfer tube 32 which has previously been positioned to underlie jlthe openings 23 and 39.
!I Carrier supports 45 46 are secured to the inside ilsurfaces of send hopper side walls 41 and 42, respectively. The I carrier suppoxts are in the form of plates havir.g upper edges -¦ 45A an~ 46~, respectively, which are inclined at an angle of approximately 45 in a downwardly and rearwardly direction.
The spaciny between the upper edges 45A and 46A of carrier support I
! plates 45 and 46 is selected such that they underlie diametrically ¦
l opposed edges of the uPper radially extending shoulder 47 formed l~on the carriers 48. The spacing between walls 41 and 42 is greater than the diameter of carrier shoulder 47. With the spacing of the edges 45A and 46A and walls 41 and 42 so se]ected relative to the Idiameter of the carrier shoulder 47, carriers inserted into the ¦~send hopper 20 via the opening 21 are supported in a generally vertical disposition with the carrier body located between the plates 45 and 46 and with diametrically opposed portions of carrier shoulder 47 overlyin~J and supI)ortecl l~y ul~per pla~e e(l~e.s 45~ a~d ~6~.
,1 ~1 1 . I!
l()S5001 ~ s noted, edges 45A and 4~ oE carri~r support plates 45 , an~ 46 are downwardly and rearwardly inclined. ~s a consequence, carriers supported thereby will slide downwardly and rearwardly under the force of gravity.
I The carrier support plates 45 and 45 also each have ¦i vertically disposed rear edges 45B and 46B. Edges 45B and 46B
i! in com~ination wit:~ vertically disposed rear wall 40 and side I¦ walls 41 and 42 of the send hopper 20 serve to guide the upper ¦i circular shoulder 47, and hence the carrier 48, in a generally o ¦! downward vertical direction after the carrier shoulder 47 has slid !¦ downwardly and rearwardly along edges 45A and 46A beyond the corners 45C and 46C of the carrier support plates 45 and 46.
j A leaf spring 49 secured to the interior of the front ;
j wall 43B releasably restricts the opening between the upper forwarl ¦ corners 45D, 46D of the carrier support plates 45 and 46 and the ¦-i front wall 43B. Carriers inserted into the hopper 20 via the ii opening 21 have their upper end biased in a downwardly and rear-ii wardly direction by spring 49. This insures that the-upper 'j circular shoulder 47 of an inserted carrier engages the 20 ll upper edges 45A, 46A of tlle carrier support plates 45 and 46 upon I
i insertion of the carrier into the hopper. Thus,as a carriex, such¦
as carrier 48', is inserted into the opening 21 of the send hopperl 20 it slides agains~ corners 45D and 46D, pushing the leaf spring ¦
1149 upwardly. Once the shoulder 47 has passed above the corners j' 45D and 46D the leaf spring 49 returns to its normal-position, !Ipushing the carrier leftwardly (Figure 3) beyond the corners 45D
¦l and 46D, causing tlle carrier shoulder toslide down along ! edges 4~A and 46A until the carrier is stopped by a previously I, inserted carrier, if any.
il, 1, _ 9 .i , i ~OSSOOl Associated with the send hopper 20 is a selectively operable carrier release assembly 50 and a selectively operable carrier holder assembly 52. These assemblies will be described in greater detail hereafter. However, at this time it is noted that the carrier release assembly 50 has a detent 51 which normally underlies the lowermost end of the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20, preventing the innermost carrier 48 r from moving downwardly through the hopper bottom opening 39 , into the housing interior 10A via opening 23 in the housing ceiling. Associated with the detent 51 of the carrier release assembly 50 is a cam follower 51A, which engages the upper end 32A of the transfer tube 32 when the latter moves to a position underlying the send ho~per opening 39, to laterally displace the detent 51 to a position 51' (Figure 2) wherein the detent no longer underlies the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20. When the detent 51 is in posi,tion 51', the inner-most carrier 48' is free to drop through the openings 39 and 23 into the underlying transfer tube 32. The carrier hold assembly 52 includes a flap 53 mounted for pivotal movement about pivot mount 53A. Flap 53, through a suitable cord, pulley and linkage assembly 54, pivots from a downward position (Figure 3) to an upward position tFigure 4) when the transfer tube 32 cams the detent 51 of the carrier release assembly 50 to its laterally displaced position 51' (Figure 2). With the carrier hold flap 53 in its upward position (Figure 4), the second innermost carrier 48" in the send hopper 20 is engaged at its lower end by the flap and prevented from moving down-wardly under the force of gravity when the innermost carrier 48' moves through openings 39 and 23 under the force of gravity into the underlying transfer tube 32.
The above described send hopper is also disclosed and is claimed in applicant's copending divisional application serial no. , filed on October 27, 1978.
ii 1055001 struc~ure an~l opcrat;.orl of ~he acti.ve carricr llol~pcr Il 22 ~nd the inactive carri.er hopper 2~ are ide~ntical. ~ccordingly i!only the structure and operatioJl o~ thc .illa~tiV~ carrier 24 is i described in de-tail. The inactive hopper 2~ includes a rear ¦Iwall 60, an upper wall or ceiling 61, a downwardly and for~7ardly ¦,angulated bottom 62, an upwardly and outwardly angulated front ¦!wall 63 having opening 27 therein for convenient removal of ¦Icarriers 65, 65', . . . stored in the'hopper, and vertically dis-,posed horizonta.~ly spaced apart side ~alls 64, 6~ The rear,porti~ In ¦of the interior of the inactive hopper 24 underlies the opening ~-91 iin the floor of the terminal housing 15 such that when the transfer ,tube 32 having a carrier therein is laterally positioned overlyi,ny¦
the opening 29 the carrier withi~l the transfer tube 32 will fall ¦vertically downwardly under the force of gravity into the rear portion of the interior of the inactive hopper 24.
¦¦ To facilitate orderly placement for storage of inactiv~
¦! carriers delivered to the hopper 24 by the transfer tube 32 when it overlies the opening 29, a bumper or,cushion 66 is provided along with a pair of carrier support plates 67 and 68. The ,Icarrier support plates 67 and 68 are secured to the ir.terior llsurfaces of hopper side walls 64, and are provided with down~ardly !, and rearwardly disposed carrier guiding edges 67A and 68A, respec-¦Itively, and downwardly and forwardly disposed carrier guiding ¦ledges 67B and 68B, respectively. The downwardly and rearwardly ~;disposed edges 67A and 68A of the carrier support plate 67 and 68 ¦
¦lengage the circular shoulder ~7' on the lower leadi.ng end of a dowll-'wardly moving carrier en-teri.ng the interior of the hopper 24 via the opening 29 (l;'ic~ure 7) and guide tlle ],ower leadincJ end f 1!1 the carrier in a sliyhtly rearwardl,y di,rectiorl such that the 'bottom leadin~J end thereof strikes the cushioll G6 located at ~he !
., .
~' 11 , Il. 1055001 junction of thc ~ear hopper wa].l 60 and the hopper bottom 62.
~t the poi.nt in time ~/hcn the bottcmmost leading end of the do~n~
ardly moving carrier strikes the cushion 66 the carrier is an~]cd slightly forwardly such that under the ~orce of gravity the upper end of the carrier pivotsforwardly (rightwardly as viewed in ¦Figure 5). As the upper end of the carrier whose bo.ttom end is seated on the bumper ~6 pivots rightwardly as viewed in Figure Sr ¦'the body of the carrier located ~etween the upper and lower l¦circular should~?rs 47 and 47', which is of lesser diameter than ¦¦the shoulders, guides between the guide plates 67 and 68. Further '¦ipivotal movement of the carri.er whose bottom end seats on the .jcushion 66 eventually results.in the upper ci.rcular shoulder 47 !~ of the carrier seating dn the guiding ed.ges 67B and 68B of the ¦1plate 67 and 68~ Once the upper circular shoulder 47 of the ¦¦carrier seats on the gùide. edges 6.7B and 68s o~ the plates 67 and 68, the carrier moves under the force of gravi.ty in a forwardly !and downwardly direct~.on as the upper shoulder of the carrier slides ¦!along the downwardly and forwardly inclinea guiding edges 67B and ¦
!l68B. ~ carrier sli.ding down guide ed~es 67B and 6~B will move to j !' the position of carrier 65 adjacent the hopper front wall 63 is the hopper is empty. If the hopper has already stored therein a ~single carrier, such as carrier 65, a carrier sliding down guide 1!edges 67B and 68B will assume the position of carrier 65'. With 1ia hopper sized as shown in Figure 5, up to a maximum of four carri,ers ¦1can be stored in the hopper. The number o~ carriers stored in the jlhopper~ of course, can be varied dependinq upon ~1-e si:ze of thc 1!1lopp~r ' i! As noted, tl1e active carrier hopper 22 i.s constructed ¦lidentially to the inactive carri~?r hopper 2~. ~n incoming carrier ¦
'~entering the t~?rminal housi.ng l0 via the system tube ].8 can be ,, .
,1 - 12 -1055~
selectively delivered by the transfer tube 32 to either the active carrier hopper 22 or the inactive carrier hopper 24 depending upon whether the carrier contains a payload or is empty.
The above descrihed active carrier hopper and inactive carrier hopper is also disclosed and is claimed in copending Canadian Application Serial No. 314~536, filed on October 27, 1978.
The shuttle assembly 30, as discussed briefly hereinbefore, includes a transfer tube 32 which is selectively laterally pos-itionable via shuttle drive assembly 35 to different positions.
These positions include positions overlying the active carrier hopper 22 (Figure 13) and inactive carrier hoppers 24 (Figure 16 for delivery of active and inactive carriers to these hoppers.
The transfer tube 32 is also selectively positionable to a posi-tion underlying system tube 18 (Figure 12) for receiving an in-coming carrier for transfer to one or the other of the hoppers 22 or 24. The transfer tube 32 is positionable to a position underlying the send hopper 20 (Figure 14) for receiving therefrom an outgoing carrier which has been inserted into the hopper and which, when the transfer tube containing the outgoing carrier is positioned to underlie the system tube 18 (Figure 15~, will facilitate transmission of the carrier from the terminal via the system tube. Finally, the transfer tube 32 is selectively posi-tionable to an intermediate position (Figure 11~ in which the laterally extending closure 33 seals the lower end of the system tube 18 to facilitate air-cushion braking or deceleration of an incoming carrier moving vertically downwardly in the system tube 18. When the transfer tube 32 is in the intermediate position of Figure 11 the cam follower 51A is not engaged by the upper end of the transfer tube and hence the detent 51 of the carrier re-lease assembly remains in its normal position underlying the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper, prevent release of the carrier.
1, iOSS~)Vl The shuttle assem~ly 30 includes a hori7,0ntally disposcd I upper frame member 70 h~ving downwardly dcpending flanges 71 and li 72, The frame member 70 is disposed below and horizontal to -! the housing ceiling 14 spanning the front and rear housing ¦¦ wall 16 and 17 With the flanges 71 and 72 spaced slightly from the ¦! front and rear housing walls, Guide rollers 74 and 76 are mounted at opposite ends of the downwardly dpeending flange 71 via suit-able fasteners for rotation about a horizontal axis. Mounted at opposlte ends of the flange 72 for rotation about horizontal lo !l axes are guide rollers 75 and 77. Guide bars 78 and 79 disposed - i! horizontally are secured to the inside surfaces of the rear wall ¦l17 and fro~t wall 16, respectively. Guide rollers 74 and 76 ,mounted to the flange 71 roll on guide bar 78, while guide rolls ¦ 75 and 77 mounted to the front flange 72 roll on guide bar 79~
The frame member 70 is provided with a suitable aperture which is , ¦ aligned and coextensive with the interior of the transfer tube 32~ The upper end of the transfer tube 32 is spaced close to the bottom surface of the housing ceiling 14 SUC]I that when the tube 32 underlies the system tube 18 and the send hopper 20, , downwardly moving carriers will smoothly enter the transfer i tube 32.
The shuttle drive assembly 35, which bidirectionally shifts the transfer tube 32 between the various positions hereto- ¦
¦fore described, includes a motor 80 mounted to the housing ceiling¦
ll14 having a horizontally disposed drive shaft 81 to which a pulleyl !~ 82 is fixedly secured. A cable 83 is wrauped .~round thc pullcy to¦
li facilitate ~riction drive o~ tlle cable in ouposite directions ;Iwhen tllc motor 80 is bidircctionally ariven. The c~ble 83 also~
¦,trains around a pair of idler pulleys 84 and 85 rotatably secured I, to the terminal housing side walls 12 and 11 by brackets 86,and 87 1, - 14 -1.
.i lO5SOO~
pair of idler pulleys 88 and 89 secured to the terminal ceiling ~ by telescopi.n~J tellsioll mounts 90 and 91 engage thc cable 83 ¦lon either side of the motor dri.ven pulley 82 to maintain proper tension on the cable. The horizontal run of the cable 83 is secured to the frame 70 at 73. When the motor is bidirectionally ¦
driven the frame 70, and hence the trans~er tube 32, is .i bidirectionally driven via the drive connection 73 between the ¦ cable 83 and the frame 70.
~I The carrier detent assembly 34, which functions to 10 ~¦ hold a carrier in the transfer tube 32 until such time as it is ¦desired to release it for downward movement to the active hopper 1' 22 or inactive hopper 24, or into the system tube 18' i.n the !:
i! up-receive/down-send embodiment depicted in Figures 17-19! include7 Il a horizontally reciprocable detent 36 which at its inner end is ¦'pivotally connected with a pin 96 to the plungër 92 o a solenoid ..
¦1 93. When the solenoid 93 is de-energized, which is its normal ¦¦condition, the detent 36 projects through an opening 94 in the ¦trans~er tube 32 into the interior of the transfer tube, !i preventing release of a carrier stored therein. When the solenoidj 20 1¦ 93 is energized and its plunger 92 retracted leftwardly as viewed i ! in Figure 10, the detent 36 moves horizontally to the left to a position with its outer end flush with the interior of the trans~
¦l fer tube wall, releasing a carrier stored therein for downward ! travel under the force of gravity into either the active hopper 22i the inactive hopper 24, or in the up-receive/down-send embodiment ¦
¦1 of Figure~s 17-19 into the system tube 18' for transmission to il a remote sta~i.on. The detent 36 has a generally arcuate con~iyurat i~ tion as shown in ~igure 9, and when in its retracted position . ..l assumes tlle phantom line position 36'.
I lOS500~ I
ll A compression spring 95 encircling the solenoid plunger ¦
¦! 92 between the solenoid 93 and the pivot pin 96 normally maintains the detent 36 in its extended position projecting into the interior of the transer tube 32. ~ bracket 97 having a hori-zontally disposed bottom 98 and a pair of vertically disposed sidec ¦. 9'i and 100 is secured at its inner end to the exterior wall of ¦,~he transfer tube 32 for guiding the detent 36 between its retracted and extended positions. A horizonta].ly extending plate 101 secured to the bottom of the bracket plate 98 via a spacer 102 ' lo l¦mounts the solenoid 93.
Il In the up-send/down-receive embodi-ment depicted in - , Figures 1-16 the detent 36 moves only in a horizontal direction i,between its retracted and extended position 36' and 36, respec-¦~tively. When the transfer tube 32 underlies the send hopper 20 a ¦
¦I,released carrier descending into the tube 32 has its downward j -move~ent stopped by the detent 36 which is in its extended posi-i¦tion. When the transfer tube containing a carrier is positioned !i to underlie the system tube 18 the carrier moves upwardly into . tlthe system tube 18 for transmission. In the up-send~down-receive ¦
20 ii embodiment depicted in Figures 1-16, movement of the outgoing ¦'carrier from the transfer tube 32 into the system tube 18 does not 'require that the detent 36 be moved to its retracted position 36'.
.I~However, in the up-receive/down-send embodiment depicted in jlFigures 17-19, a carrier which has entered the transfer tube 32 ! from the send hopper 20 can only be transferred to the syste~
tube 18' for trans~ission to a remote station by retractioll o~
the detent 3~ to its phan~om lin~ position 3G'.
Wh~n ~n inCominCJ carricr is arri.vin~ in the sys~em tube Il 18 in the up-sencl/down-receive emhodiment of Fi~urcs 1-16, the j carrier descends into the transfer tube 32 until its bottom end 1il . . I
~j - 16 -abuts the detent 36 which is in its extended position. ~1hen the I, transfer tube 32 i.s then moved to overlie tl~c active carri.er hopper jl 22 or the inactive carrier hopper 24, the detent is then moved to Il its retracted position 36' by energization of the solenoid 93 whereupon the carrier falls downwardly into either the active ¦¦ carrier or the inaGtiVe carrier hopper, as the case may ~e.
!! In the up-receive/down-send embodiment of ~igures 17-13 ¦I when an incoming carrier is received the carrier is moving upwardl! r in the system tube 18' and enters the overlying transfer tube 32. ¦
o ¦! A~ the i~coming carrier moves upwardly in the transfer tube 32 !I the detent 36 momentarily pivots to the phantom line position 36l' 1 .' shown in Figure 10. The incoming carrier conti.nues moving upwardly until its lower end is positioned above the detent, whereupon the !
i' detent moves from its upward pivoted position 36" to its normal extended position 36. The received carrier then settles back ~ .., down under the force of gravity, with.its lower end seating on ¦ the detent 36. l'he received carrier in the transfer tube 32 is released to an underlying active carrier 22 or inactive carrier . hopper 24, as the case may be, by laterally shifti,ng the 1. transfer tube to overlie the appropriate hopper and energizing the solenoid 93 to move the detent to the retracted position 36' I
~; whereupon the carrier falls under the force of gravity downwardly j il into the appropriate underlying hopper.
To facilitate positioning of the' transfer tube 32 in ! the variQus positions heretofore described for receiving incoming ¦I carriers, sendi.ng outgoing carriers, and/or depositing incoming " carricrs into Olle or thc other of thc active carr,i.or or inactivc jl carrier-llop~ers 22 or 2~, a plurality of phototransducer assem~lie~
!i 105, 106, 107 and 108 are provided. ~ach of the phototransducer ' ass~mblies includes a licJht source LS and photocell PC which are .; .
- 17 - !
., . I
'' 10550~ .
! spaced slightly apart and mounted on a suitable bracket B secured Il to the front wall 16 o~ the terminal housing 10~ A flag 109 ¦, depending downwardly from an L-shaped bracket 110 secured at i.t.s ¦ upper end to frame flange 72 moves with the transfer tube 32 ; along a horizontal path parallel to the terminal front wall 16 ¦I between the light sources LS and photocells PC of the vari.ous j, phototransder assemblies 105, 106, 107 and 108 The phototrans-¦l ducer assemblies 105-108 are positioned such that their respective light beams are interrupted by the flag 109 when the 1I transfer tube 32 overlies or underlies the various hoppers 20, 22,¦
,124 and system tubes 18 or 18', as the case may be, or i.s placed i'in the intermediate position o~ Figure 11 in wbich the closure 33 1 seals the bottom of system tube 18 to facilitate carrier receipt !' in the up-send/down-receive embodiment of Figures 1-16. In this ¦Iway, electrical signals are produced by different ones of the photo-- ¦¦transducer assemblies 105-108 reflecting the position of the trans ¦!fer tube throughout the various phases of transfer tube movement.
!! These electrical signals can be used in a well-known manner to llcontrol the motor 80 and hence the position of the transfer tube 20!,32. I
The carrier release assembly 50 associated wi.th the I send hopper 20, as noted previously, includes a detent 51.
¦¦Detent 51 is selectively positionable, by engagement of cam follower 51-A with the upper end of the laterally shiftable transfer tube 32, between a) a position underlying the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20, restraining downward movemen~ ¦
of the carrier and ~ a position 51' displaced laterally of the send hopper opening 39, permitting the innermost carrier 48' in ,,the send hopper to move downwardly under the force of gravity The carrier hold assembly 52, via a cord, pulley and linkage ,, I
.1 i I 10550~1 ¦~ asse~ ly 5~, moves in coorclil~a~ed faslliol) witll rcs~)ect: to thc l! movemellt of the cletent 5]. of the carricr relcase assembly 50 SUCIl ¦ that ~hen the detent 51 is in the release position 51" (Figure 2) ¦
j allowing the innermost carrier 48' i.n the send hopper 20 to drop ¦ into the trans~el^ tube 32,.the carrier~holding flap 53 is pivoted to its upward position 53', restraining downward movement o~ the second innermost carrier 48".
! The carrier release assembly 50 includes a horizontally ¦
¦' disposed link 55. Link 55 is pivotally mounted at .its one end b~
j 10 !i a vertical pin 55A to a bracket 115 secured to the terminal housiny side wall 12. The other end of the lever 55 constitutes , the detent 51 wllich selectively unaerlies the innermost carrier .48'. ~s noted previously, a cam follower 51~ is secured to the Il . .
!i lever 55 proximate the detent such that as the transfer tube 32 ~moves rightwardly (as viewecl in ~igure 2) to underlie the send hopper it will engage the cam follower 51A and shift the detent !! 51 of the lever 55 to the release position 51 t .
¦~ Th~ cord, pulley and linkage assembl~ 54, which !~ coordinates the motion of the carriex ho].d ~lap 53 and the detent ¦-51, includes a link 116 connected at one end to the link 55 and j'at the other end to a second link 117. Link 117 is mounted to a ;stationary pivot 118 at one end and at its otller end is connec~ed ¦
ito one end 119 of a cable 120. Cable 120 trains under a pulley !121 mounted for rotation on a bracket 122 secured to the housing j~ceiling 14. The other end 123 of the cable 120 i.5 connected to a ! t~b 124 secured to the undcrsurface of tl-e ~l~p 53. When tlle ~tr~llsEer tube 32 movQS ~o a l)osi.tion un(]e).].y;.n(3 t:lle s~d llo~l?er 20, the cam follo~er 51~ cncJa~3CS t~-e uL~l~c~r end o~ ~llc tr~ns~er ~u~
i! 32 ancl ~ositiOl-s the detent 51 to l:l~e ]a~er~lly ~li.splaced positi.on¦
..51l, ena~lin-3 the innermost carricr 48' in tl-e hoL~I?er 20 to drop !
,~nder tllc force of ~ravity illto tl~e tr~rls~er tul~e 3~. wll;cl~ u]lderlies 1. . I
~! - 19 -II, lOS50~)~
ll it. In aclclition ~ ell the dc~cllt 51 Inovcs to thc position 51', ¦! the lever 55 pi.vots clockwise about its mount 55~ (Fiyure 23~ .
jl Clockwisc pivotin~ of lever 55 moves ].ink 1].6 i.n the direction i of arrow 125 wllicll in turn pivots link 117 clockwise about its I mountiJ~g pin 118. Clockwi.se nlovement o~ the link 117 repositions ¦
the cable end 119 to the phantom line position 119l in turn tensio _ ! ing the cable 120. As ~he cable 120 is tensioned, flap 53 pivots ¦I clockwise a~out its mounting end 53A from the position shown in Il Pigure 3 ~o the position shown in Fi~ure 4. With the ~lap posi-10 ¦I tioned as shotm in Figure ~, the second innermost carrier 48" is I! restrained from moving downwardly under the force of gravity when ~; the innermost carrier 48~ is relea.sed by the J10~ laterally dis- I
!~ placed detent 51 and moves downwardly into the transfer tube 32 .
l whicll underlies it. When the transfer tube 32, which now contains l! a carrier~ mo~Jes leftwàrdly (Figure 2) to either the carrier recei~ e position nderlying or overlying the system tube 18 or 18', as the case may beJ or to a position o~Jerlying the inactive dischar.ge, jl hopper 24, the detent 51 returns to a position underlying the !I send hopper thereby preventing the next carrier 48 from fallinq ~.
20 ¦¦ downwardly into the terminal. At the same time, the carrier flap ¦
~-53 returns to its no~mal position depicted in Figure 3.
1 With reference to ~igures 11-16, the operation of the il up-send/down-receive embodiment will be described. In the ¦Inormal or standby position depicted in ~igure 11, the transfer ! tube 32 is in a position intermediate the send hopper 20 and syste~
i tul~e 18 such that the closure 33 which movcs with the transfer Ij tu~e 32 underlies and seals the lo~Jer open end of tl-e system tu~e jjAn incoming carrier moving downwardly in ~le syste1n tube 1~ ~ill be . ~raked due to tlle air cushion w}lich exists bet~ecn the closure 33 and tlle arrivi.n~ carricr. Wllen thc carricr has come to rest atop jtlle c]osurc 33 the t-ransfeL- tuhe 3~ lioves to a ~osit;.on underlyillg I
,i -I
. - 20 - . I
i i ' ,' 1055001 .j ~
¦I thc sys~cm tu~e 18 (Fic~u~ ). i5le inconli.ng carr.ier tllcn drops under thc force of gravi-ty into th~ carrier transfer tube until ¦¦its lower clld a~uts tl~ detent 36 whicll is in its norlnal extended poSition. Tl~ carrier wllich has arrived is now stored in tllc Itransfer tube 32 with its lo~Jer end seated on the extended ¦detent 36. . .
When the transfer tube 32 is in the position shown i.n .
I! Figure 11 awaiting receipt of a carrier in the system tube 18, ¦I.the cam follower 51A att~ched to thc detent 51 of the carrier 10 !~release assembly 50 is not engac3ed with the upper end of the trans lifer tube 32. ~s a consequence the detent 51 of the carrier jjrelease assembly 50 underlies the innermost carri~r 48l in the ~,send hopper. ~hen the transfer tube 32 moves from the carriex ja~7aiting position (Figu~re 11) to the carrier pick-up position _ I ~Fiyure 12), the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20 does ¦
not fall into t~ terminal interior lOA under the force of jlgravity.
I With the incoming carrier located in the transfer tube i i2 (Eigure 12) the carrier can b~ delivered to either the active 20 ~! carrier hopper 22 or the inactive carrier hopper 24 as d~sired.
IjIE th~ incoming carrier temporarily stored in transfer tube 32 is ¦
i~to be transferr~d to the inactive carrier hopper 24 the transEer tu~e is moved leftwardly from the position shown in Figure lZ to i! the position shown in Figure 16. When the carrier trans~er tube Ji 32 has reached a posi.tion overlying the opening 29 of the inact.i.ve !
hopper 24 tl~e sol~lloid '33 is encr~ize(l to re~rac~ tl)c detell~ 36 tq .the posi~ion 3~' ~llereuuon tl~e calri.er in tlle trallsf:er tubc ~alls ¦
vertical].y do~n-Jardly wlder tl-e ~orce of cJravi.ty i.nto a suita~le s~orac~e pos;.tion ;.n tlle m~ er de.;cril~ed prev.io-1;1y in connectioll ¦
~J.ith Figures 5--7.
1 !
;
i 10550~1 l ¦1 If a rcccived ca3-ricr telnpor.lrily stor.e~ i.n thc trans- ¦
¦~ fcr tul~e 32 is ~o ~ placed in the activc hor)l?er 22, thc tran.s~cx j I tu~e is moved ]:om thc positi.on sl~o~Jn i tl l~'icJur~ 12 to tll~ position of Figure 13 ovcrlyin~ tl~ opening 28 in the 100r o the tcrminal¦
. IhousincJ above the active carrier hopper 22. With the carrier ¦ transfer tube 32 in the position shown in Figure 13, the solenoid ¦ 93 is energized and ti~e detcnt moved from its normal extended jposition 36 to its retracted position 36' whereupon the carrier Imoves downwardly from the transfer tube 32 into the active carrier¦
¦hopper 22 to assume a storage position in much the same manner as ¦described in connection with ~he inactive carrier hopper of Figures 5-7. When the transfer tube 32 overlies the active carr;e~
~ihopper 22, the detent 51 underlies the send hopper opening 39 to ¦jprevent release of the inncrmost carrier 48' in the send hoppcx, si.nce the upper end of the transfer tu~e 32 has not yet traveled ¦su~ficiently in a rightwardly direction to engac3e cam 51A and mov~ !
the detent to the 5i' position.
! When it is desired to send a carri.er to a remote station, ! the transfer tube 32 moves to the position sl-own in Figure 14 !' wherein the uppcr end of the transfer tu~e is aligned with the opening 39 in th~ bottom of the send hopper 20. As described prev;ously, wl~en the transfer tube 32 is moved to a position ¦underlying the opening 39 of the send hopper 20, the carrier rele~se detent Sl is ca~led to.the lat~rally displaced position .51' (Figurc 2) and the flap 53 is placed in its uppe~ position i(Fi~ure ~), enabliny thc inncrmost carr;er ~' in the s~nd hopper jl .
20 to ~all vcrtical3.y downwardly under thc ~orcc of yrclvity i11tO .
!~ tl~@ c~rr-ier transfcr tubc to a position atop thc extended detent 36 .
~ 'he tr~l-sfer tul~c, witll tlle carrier stor~d i~- it, is then positio~l~d ,'to underli.c tllc system t~lbe 18. Th~ syst~m t-l.>e i~ then placed in j 1l - 22 -lOSS~O~
a vacuum mode and the outgoing carrier drawn into the system tube for transmission to the remote station.
In the up-receiving/down-send embodiment depicted in Figures 17-19, a received carrier temporarily stored in the transfer tube 32 atop the extended detent 36 is delivered to the active carrier hopper 22 or the inactive hopper 24 in a manner identical to that described in connection with the up-send/down-receive embodiment described in Figures 1-16.
That is, the carrier transfer tube 32, with the received carrier stored therein atop the extended detent 36, is moved to a position overlying one or the other of the hoppers 22 or 24 and the solenoid 93 energized to retract the detent to the position 36' whereupon the carrier falls under the force of gravity into the underlying hopper. Similarly, delivery of a carrier from the send hopper 20 to the car-rier transfer tube 32 in the up-receive/down-send embodiment is identical to that in the up-send/down-receive embodiment.
Specifically the transfer tube 32 is moved to a position underlying the send hopper 20 whereupon the carrier release assembly allows the innermost carrier 48' therein to move downwardly into the underlying carrier transfer tube while the flap 53 in its upper position 53' prevents the second innermost carrier 48" from fallingdownwardly under the force of gravity.
Receipt of incoming carriers and transmission of out-going carriers in the up-receive/down-send embodiment of Figures 17-19 is different from that described in connec-tion with the up-send/down-receive embodiment of Figures 1-16. Specifically, to receive an incoming carrier moving up-wardly in the system tube 18' the transfer tube 32 is moved to a position to directly overlie the system tube 18' (Figure 17). The incoming carrier moves upwardly into the carrier transfer tube 32 in the course of which the detent 36 associated with the carrier transfer tube momentarily pivots upwardly to the position 36" (Figures 10 and 18).
When the lower end of the incoming carrier advances to a position above the detent 36, the detent returns to its normal extended position supporting the receive carrier in the transfer tube 32 (Figure 19). The receive carrier can be delivered to either of the hoppers 20 or 24 by aligning the transfer tube in overlying relationship with respect to the desired hopper and energizing the solenoid 93 to retract the detent 36 and release the received carrier for downward movement into the underlying hopper. To send a carrier to a remote station, which has been delivered to the carrier transfer tube from thestorage hopper 20 in the manner described previously, the transfer tube is moved to the position overlying the system tube 18' (Figure 19) When this has been done the solenoid 93 is energized to move the carrier detent to its retracted position 36' (Figure 9), whereupon the carrier falls downwardly under the force of gravity into the system tube 18' which, of course, has been placed under vacuum to transport the carrier to a distant station.
Significantly, and with very little modification, the terminal of this invention can be used in either the up-receive/down-send mode in which the system tube 18' connects to the floor of` the terminal housing, or in an up-send/down-receive configuration in which the system tube 18 connects to the ceiling of the carrier. This enhances the versatil-ity of the terminal with very little additional cost.
To energize the motor 80 and the solenoid 93 at the appropriate times as is necessary to shift the transfer tube between its various positions to send, receive and transfer carriers between various hoppers, suitable control circuitry responsive to lO5SOOl the phototransducers 104-108 is provided in accordance with techniques well-knwon in the art and hence not described in detail herein.
This invention relates to s;ncJle tube pneumatic tube systems, and more particularly to a terminal for a single tube pnc~umatic tube systcm which can be used in either an up-send/down-xeceive or a clown-sen{l/up-receive configuration.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent ~ppli-cation Serial No. 2~5,~36, filed August 25, 1977.
In a pneumatic tube system of the single tube type~
with which the terminal of this invention is particularly advan-tageous, a single carrier-conveying pneumatic tube interconnects each pair of stations in the system. Carriers move through the single system tube in opposite directions depending upon whether the carrier is being transmitted to a particular station or from such station. To facilitate bidirectional carrier motion in the single system tube which interconnects each pair of stations, a dual mode air supply is connected to the system tube operable in either a sub-atmospheric mode or a super-atmospheric mode. In the sub-atmospheric mode, e.g., when transmitting, a carrier is pulled from a particular station, while in the super-atmospheric mode, e.g., when receiving, the carrier is pushed to the station.
In one type of terminal configuration useful at stations of a single tube system, termed the "up-send/down-receive"
type, the single system tube connects to the upper end of the terminal such that incoming carriers move downwardly through the open lower end of the systern tube into the terminal, while outgoing carriers move upwardly. In another type of terminal suitable for use ~ith stations in single tube systems, termed the "up-receive/clown-send" type, the system tube is connected to the bottom of the terminal such that incoming carriers move upwardly into the terminal through the open upper end of the system tube, whereas outc~oing carriers ]eavincJ the terminal move downwardly.
The particular type of ins-tallation at a station, i.e., up-send/down-receive or down-send/up-receive, depends upon the nature and location of the station relative to the building in which the system is installed. For example, if the single carrier-conveying system tube which interconnects the various stations is designed to run along the ceiling, and the system tube in question interconnects two stations on the same floor, the terminals are typically of the up-send/down-receive type.
Specifically, since the terminals are located at some convenient level above the floor, such as three feet, and since the system tube extends down from the ceiling the typical up-send/down-receive terminal is connected to the system tube at some point along the top of the terminal. Alternatively, if the system tube runs along the floor and two stations on the same floor are to be connected, the system tube typically connects to the terminal at the bottom thereof, providing an up-receive/down-send configuration.
According to the present invention there is provided a send hopper for temporarily storing and sequentially releasing carriers to an underlying vertically disposed tube, each carrier having outwardly projecting shoulders proximate one end thereof, the hopper includes a pair of elongated downwardly and rearwardly inclined spaced parallel carrier guide surfaces for supporting therebetween in vertical disposition a plurality of carriers having diametrically opposite portions of the shoulders thereof seated on the inclined guide surfaces to facilitate gravity-induced sliding movement of the carriers in a downward and rearward direction from a carrier-entrance and to a carrier-exit end with the exit end being lower than the entrance end. A pair of elongated vertical guide surfaces have their upper ends disposed proximate the exit end of the inclined guide surfaces and their lower end disposed below 105i5001 the upper ends. A vertically disposed guide member is parallel to the vertical guide surfaces, the vertical guide member and pair of vertical guide surfaces cooperate to form a guide chute to guide downwardly a vertically disposed carrier as the shoulders thereof slide off the inclined guide surfaces at the exit end thereof. A carrier release member is mounted below the lower ends of the vertical guid~ surfaces for selectively engaging the bottom of a carrier whose shoulders are positioned in the chute, the release member being movable to a release position disengaged from the carrier to release the carrier whereupon the release carrier moves downwardly under the force of gravity to exit the send hopper and enter the underlying tube. A carrier hold member is mounted to selectively engage the lowermost carrier supported on the inclined guide surfaces, and when so engaged to prevent the l~wermost carrier from sliding of the inclined guide surfaces into the chute, the hold member is movable to a release position to permit the lowermost carrier to slide off the inclined guide surfaces into the chute. An actuator controls the release and hold members for causing the hold member to hold the lowermost carrier on the inclined guide surfaces when the release member moves to the release position so that only the one carrier in the guide chute exits the send hopper upon movement of the release member to the release position.
These and other features of the invention will become more readily apparent from a detailed description thereof taken in conjunction with drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partially in cross-section, showing a first preferred embodiment of the pneumatic carrier terminal of this invention which is adapted to connect at the top thereof to a single system carrier-conveying pneumatic tube for receiving incoming carriers in lOSSOOl a downwardly direction and transmitting outgoing carriers in an upwardly direction;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure l;
Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3A-3A of Figure 3;
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the carrier send hopper depicted in Figure 3, showing a carrier ~ OSSOVl ~in the process of leaving the hoppcr;
I;i.gure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along linc 5-5 ¦of Figure l;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
¦ Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 jof Figure 5;.
¦¦. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 `
¦of Figure l;
lo 1I Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 1! f Figure l;
¦ Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Figure 9;
. Figures 11-16 are schematic elevational views of the ~preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in Figures 1-10, ¦showing the varying positions of the transfer tube and carriers during typical carrier send, receive and store operations; and il Fiyures 17-19 are s~hematic elevational views of a ~,second preferred embodiment of the invention, which is designed to " . I
,~receive incoming carriers moving in an upward direction and out-~! going carriers moviny in a downward direction.
i 1 j With reference to Figure 1, one preferred form of the ',¦pneumatic carrier terminal of this invention is depicted, namely, a terminal designed to cooperate with a single pneumatic carrier system tube 1~ which connects to the upper surface of the terminal ;housing 10 and through which incoming carriers move in a vertically l! downward direction and outgoing carriers move in a vertically up~Jard direction ~ terminal of the type shown in Figure 1, and l in Figures 2-lG, wl~i.cll connects to the ]ower end of a system tube, is termed an "up-send/do~n-receive" terminal. With very slight i .
l! 10 5500 1 ¦l modifica~ions to be discussed in detail herea~ter the terminal ¦I depic~ed in Figure 1, as well as in Figures 2-16, can be adapted il to cooperate with a system tube open at its top through which !~ incoming carriers enter the terminal 10 moving in a vertically ¦¦ upward direction and outgoing carriers leave the terminal moving in a vertically downward direction. This latter type of terminal ¦¦is termed a "down-send/up-receive" terminal, and is depicted in ¦¦Figures 17-19.
ii As shown in Figure 1, the up-send/down-receive terminal ¦¦includes a housing 10 which is generally box-like in form, having horizontally spaced apart vertical parallel left and right side walls 11 and 12, vertically spaced horizontally disposed ceiling and floor 14 and 15, and horizontally spaced vertically disposed ¦front and rear walls 16 and 17 (Figure 8). A single pneumatic carrier transporting tube 18 is mounted such that its lower lopen end 18A communicates with an aperture 19 in the housing ¦ceiling 14. Incoming carriers moving vertically downwardly in ¦¦the system tube 18, as well as outgoing carriers moving upwardly ¦lin a vertical direction in the system tube 18, move between the 20 I!interior lOA of the housing and the system tube 18 via the opening ¦¦19 in the housing ceiling 14 and open end 18A in the tube 18.
I Also associated with housing 10 are three carrier hopperc ¦120, 22 and 24. Hopper 20 is designed to receive and store multiple carriers manually inserted therein through an opening 21 for subsequent serial transmission from the terminal 10 through the system tube 18 to a distant station. Tlle scnd ilopper 20 h~s ¦an opening in the bottom thereof which overlies an opening 23 ¦lin the housing ceiling 14 for facilitating downward movement of ;la carrier from the interior of the hopper 20 into the housing 30 ¦linterior lOA for subSequent transfer to the system tube 18 in a 1, - 6 -li 1055001 ¦manner to be described. The hopper 22 is desiyned to storc active carriers received at tcrminal 10 via s~s~em tube 18 from a ¦
¦!distant station until such tirne as the tern-inal attendant manually¦
removes them via an opening 25. By the term "~ctive carricr" is ~¦meant a carrier which contains a payload such as documents, money ¦or the like. The carrier hopper 24 is designed to store inactive l carriers which have been transmitted to the terminal 10 via system Il tube 18 until such time as the terminal attendant manually removes ¦I them via an opening 27. By the term "inactive carrier" is meant o !¦ a carrier which does not contain any payload, that is, an empty carrier. Both hoppers 22 and 24 communicate with the terminal ~1 housing interior lOA via suitably disposed openings 28 and 29 ! provided in the floor 15 of the term;nal housing 10.
To facilitate transfer of carriers between the system ~¦tube 18 and various hoppers 20, 22 and 24, a horizontally movable I
,I shuttle assemhly 30 is provided. The shuttle assembly includes, among other thinys, a vertically disposed carrier transfer tube ¦ 32 open at its upper and lower ends 32A and 32B To facilitate ~I transmission, receipt and storage of carriers, the transfer tube ll 32 is selectively driven by a shuttle drive assembly 35 between positions underlying the system tube 18 (Figure 12) and the send Ij hopper 20 (Fiyure 14), overlying the active carrier hopper 22 ¦l (Figure 13) and inactive hopper 24 (Figure 16), and an intermediat position (Figure 11) in which a closurer 33 associated with the transfer tube 32 seals the end 18A of the system tuhe 18.
The shuttle ~ssembly 30 also includes a selectively releasable Il carrier deten~ assembly 34 for lloldin~ carriers in the transfer - !i tube 32`until such time as release to one or the other of the li underlying hoppers 22 or 24 is desired.
30 ', Tlle send hopper 20, considered in greater detail, includes ~ a housing having a rear vertical wall 40, spaced apart parallel , , I
'i - 7 -10550~)1 vertically disposed side walls 41~ 42, an ancJulated ceiling ~3~, 43B, and a front wall 44. ~n opening 21 throu(3h which carriers are inserted for storage in the send hopper 20 is provided. ~n openincJ 39 in the bottom o~ the send hopper 20 overlies the ¦ opening 23 in the ceiling 14 of the terminal housing 10. Carriers ¦
I inserted into the send hopper 20 via the opening 21 are stored therein unt11 selectively released, in a manner to be described, ! whereupon the carrier drops vertically through the hopper bottom ¦opening 39 and the terminal housiny ceiling opening 23 into the ~transfer tube 32 which has previously been positioned to underlie jlthe openings 23 and 39.
!I Carrier supports 45 46 are secured to the inside ilsurfaces of send hopper side walls 41 and 42, respectively. The I carrier suppoxts are in the form of plates havir.g upper edges -¦ 45A an~ 46~, respectively, which are inclined at an angle of approximately 45 in a downwardly and rearwardly direction.
The spaciny between the upper edges 45A and 46A of carrier support I
! plates 45 and 46 is selected such that they underlie diametrically ¦
l opposed edges of the uPper radially extending shoulder 47 formed l~on the carriers 48. The spacing between walls 41 and 42 is greater than the diameter of carrier shoulder 47. With the spacing of the edges 45A and 46A and walls 41 and 42 so se]ected relative to the Idiameter of the carrier shoulder 47, carriers inserted into the ¦~send hopper 20 via the opening 21 are supported in a generally vertical disposition with the carrier body located between the plates 45 and 46 and with diametrically opposed portions of carrier shoulder 47 overlyin~J and supI)ortecl l~y ul~per pla~e e(l~e.s 45~ a~d ~6~.
,1 ~1 1 . I!
l()S5001 ~ s noted, edges 45A and 4~ oE carri~r support plates 45 , an~ 46 are downwardly and rearwardly inclined. ~s a consequence, carriers supported thereby will slide downwardly and rearwardly under the force of gravity.
I The carrier support plates 45 and 45 also each have ¦i vertically disposed rear edges 45B and 46B. Edges 45B and 46B
i! in com~ination wit:~ vertically disposed rear wall 40 and side I¦ walls 41 and 42 of the send hopper 20 serve to guide the upper ¦i circular shoulder 47, and hence the carrier 48, in a generally o ¦! downward vertical direction after the carrier shoulder 47 has slid !¦ downwardly and rearwardly along edges 45A and 46A beyond the corners 45C and 46C of the carrier support plates 45 and 46.
j A leaf spring 49 secured to the interior of the front ;
j wall 43B releasably restricts the opening between the upper forwarl ¦ corners 45D, 46D of the carrier support plates 45 and 46 and the ¦-i front wall 43B. Carriers inserted into the hopper 20 via the ii opening 21 have their upper end biased in a downwardly and rear-ii wardly direction by spring 49. This insures that the-upper 'j circular shoulder 47 of an inserted carrier engages the 20 ll upper edges 45A, 46A of tlle carrier support plates 45 and 46 upon I
i insertion of the carrier into the hopper. Thus,as a carriex, such¦
as carrier 48', is inserted into the opening 21 of the send hopperl 20 it slides agains~ corners 45D and 46D, pushing the leaf spring ¦
1149 upwardly. Once the shoulder 47 has passed above the corners j' 45D and 46D the leaf spring 49 returns to its normal-position, !Ipushing the carrier leftwardly (Figure 3) beyond the corners 45D
¦l and 46D, causing tlle carrier shoulder toslide down along ! edges 4~A and 46A until the carrier is stopped by a previously I, inserted carrier, if any.
il, 1, _ 9 .i , i ~OSSOOl Associated with the send hopper 20 is a selectively operable carrier release assembly 50 and a selectively operable carrier holder assembly 52. These assemblies will be described in greater detail hereafter. However, at this time it is noted that the carrier release assembly 50 has a detent 51 which normally underlies the lowermost end of the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20, preventing the innermost carrier 48 r from moving downwardly through the hopper bottom opening 39 , into the housing interior 10A via opening 23 in the housing ceiling. Associated with the detent 51 of the carrier release assembly 50 is a cam follower 51A, which engages the upper end 32A of the transfer tube 32 when the latter moves to a position underlying the send ho~per opening 39, to laterally displace the detent 51 to a position 51' (Figure 2) wherein the detent no longer underlies the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20. When the detent 51 is in posi,tion 51', the inner-most carrier 48' is free to drop through the openings 39 and 23 into the underlying transfer tube 32. The carrier hold assembly 52 includes a flap 53 mounted for pivotal movement about pivot mount 53A. Flap 53, through a suitable cord, pulley and linkage assembly 54, pivots from a downward position (Figure 3) to an upward position tFigure 4) when the transfer tube 32 cams the detent 51 of the carrier release assembly 50 to its laterally displaced position 51' (Figure 2). With the carrier hold flap 53 in its upward position (Figure 4), the second innermost carrier 48" in the send hopper 20 is engaged at its lower end by the flap and prevented from moving down-wardly under the force of gravity when the innermost carrier 48' moves through openings 39 and 23 under the force of gravity into the underlying transfer tube 32.
The above described send hopper is also disclosed and is claimed in applicant's copending divisional application serial no. , filed on October 27, 1978.
ii 1055001 struc~ure an~l opcrat;.orl of ~he acti.ve carricr llol~pcr Il 22 ~nd the inactive carri.er hopper 2~ are ide~ntical. ~ccordingly i!only the structure and operatioJl o~ thc .illa~tiV~ carrier 24 is i described in de-tail. The inactive hopper 2~ includes a rear ¦Iwall 60, an upper wall or ceiling 61, a downwardly and for~7ardly ¦,angulated bottom 62, an upwardly and outwardly angulated front ¦!wall 63 having opening 27 therein for convenient removal of ¦Icarriers 65, 65', . . . stored in the'hopper, and vertically dis-,posed horizonta.~ly spaced apart side ~alls 64, 6~ The rear,porti~ In ¦of the interior of the inactive hopper 24 underlies the opening ~-91 iin the floor of the terminal housing 15 such that when the transfer ,tube 32 having a carrier therein is laterally positioned overlyi,ny¦
the opening 29 the carrier withi~l the transfer tube 32 will fall ¦vertically downwardly under the force of gravity into the rear portion of the interior of the inactive hopper 24.
¦¦ To facilitate orderly placement for storage of inactiv~
¦! carriers delivered to the hopper 24 by the transfer tube 32 when it overlies the opening 29, a bumper or,cushion 66 is provided along with a pair of carrier support plates 67 and 68. The ,Icarrier support plates 67 and 68 are secured to the ir.terior llsurfaces of hopper side walls 64, and are provided with down~ardly !, and rearwardly disposed carrier guiding edges 67A and 68A, respec-¦Itively, and downwardly and forwardly disposed carrier guiding ¦ledges 67B and 68B, respectively. The downwardly and rearwardly ~;disposed edges 67A and 68A of the carrier support plate 67 and 68 ¦
¦lengage the circular shoulder ~7' on the lower leadi.ng end of a dowll-'wardly moving carrier en-teri.ng the interior of the hopper 24 via the opening 29 (l;'ic~ure 7) and guide tlle ],ower leadincJ end f 1!1 the carrier in a sliyhtly rearwardl,y di,rectiorl such that the 'bottom leadin~J end thereof strikes the cushioll G6 located at ~he !
., .
~' 11 , Il. 1055001 junction of thc ~ear hopper wa].l 60 and the hopper bottom 62.
~t the poi.nt in time ~/hcn the bottcmmost leading end of the do~n~
ardly moving carrier strikes the cushion 66 the carrier is an~]cd slightly forwardly such that under the ~orce of gravity the upper end of the carrier pivotsforwardly (rightwardly as viewed in ¦Figure 5). As the upper end of the carrier whose bo.ttom end is seated on the bumper ~6 pivots rightwardly as viewed in Figure Sr ¦'the body of the carrier located ~etween the upper and lower l¦circular should~?rs 47 and 47', which is of lesser diameter than ¦¦the shoulders, guides between the guide plates 67 and 68. Further '¦ipivotal movement of the carri.er whose bottom end seats on the .jcushion 66 eventually results.in the upper ci.rcular shoulder 47 !~ of the carrier seating dn the guiding ed.ges 67B and 68B of the ¦1plate 67 and 68~ Once the upper circular shoulder 47 of the ¦¦carrier seats on the gùide. edges 6.7B and 68s o~ the plates 67 and 68, the carrier moves under the force of gravi.ty in a forwardly !and downwardly direct~.on as the upper shoulder of the carrier slides ¦!along the downwardly and forwardly inclinea guiding edges 67B and ¦
!l68B. ~ carrier sli.ding down guide ed~es 67B and 6~B will move to j !' the position of carrier 65 adjacent the hopper front wall 63 is the hopper is empty. If the hopper has already stored therein a ~single carrier, such as carrier 65, a carrier sliding down guide 1!edges 67B and 68B will assume the position of carrier 65'. With 1ia hopper sized as shown in Figure 5, up to a maximum of four carri,ers ¦1can be stored in the hopper. The number o~ carriers stored in the jlhopper~ of course, can be varied dependinq upon ~1-e si:ze of thc 1!1lopp~r ' i! As noted, tl1e active carrier hopper 22 i.s constructed ¦lidentially to the inactive carri~?r hopper 2~. ~n incoming carrier ¦
'~entering the t~?rminal housi.ng l0 via the system tube ].8 can be ,, .
,1 - 12 -1055~
selectively delivered by the transfer tube 32 to either the active carrier hopper 22 or the inactive carrier hopper 24 depending upon whether the carrier contains a payload or is empty.
The above descrihed active carrier hopper and inactive carrier hopper is also disclosed and is claimed in copending Canadian Application Serial No. 314~536, filed on October 27, 1978.
The shuttle assembly 30, as discussed briefly hereinbefore, includes a transfer tube 32 which is selectively laterally pos-itionable via shuttle drive assembly 35 to different positions.
These positions include positions overlying the active carrier hopper 22 (Figure 13) and inactive carrier hoppers 24 (Figure 16 for delivery of active and inactive carriers to these hoppers.
The transfer tube 32 is also selectively positionable to a posi-tion underlying system tube 18 (Figure 12) for receiving an in-coming carrier for transfer to one or the other of the hoppers 22 or 24. The transfer tube 32 is positionable to a position underlying the send hopper 20 (Figure 14) for receiving therefrom an outgoing carrier which has been inserted into the hopper and which, when the transfer tube containing the outgoing carrier is positioned to underlie the system tube 18 (Figure 15~, will facilitate transmission of the carrier from the terminal via the system tube. Finally, the transfer tube 32 is selectively posi-tionable to an intermediate position (Figure 11~ in which the laterally extending closure 33 seals the lower end of the system tube 18 to facilitate air-cushion braking or deceleration of an incoming carrier moving vertically downwardly in the system tube 18. When the transfer tube 32 is in the intermediate position of Figure 11 the cam follower 51A is not engaged by the upper end of the transfer tube and hence the detent 51 of the carrier re-lease assembly remains in its normal position underlying the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper, prevent release of the carrier.
1, iOSS~)Vl The shuttle assem~ly 30 includes a hori7,0ntally disposcd I upper frame member 70 h~ving downwardly dcpending flanges 71 and li 72, The frame member 70 is disposed below and horizontal to -! the housing ceiling 14 spanning the front and rear housing ¦¦ wall 16 and 17 With the flanges 71 and 72 spaced slightly from the ¦! front and rear housing walls, Guide rollers 74 and 76 are mounted at opposite ends of the downwardly dpeending flange 71 via suit-able fasteners for rotation about a horizontal axis. Mounted at opposlte ends of the flange 72 for rotation about horizontal lo !l axes are guide rollers 75 and 77. Guide bars 78 and 79 disposed - i! horizontally are secured to the inside surfaces of the rear wall ¦l17 and fro~t wall 16, respectively. Guide rollers 74 and 76 ,mounted to the flange 71 roll on guide bar 78, while guide rolls ¦ 75 and 77 mounted to the front flange 72 roll on guide bar 79~
The frame member 70 is provided with a suitable aperture which is , ¦ aligned and coextensive with the interior of the transfer tube 32~ The upper end of the transfer tube 32 is spaced close to the bottom surface of the housing ceiling 14 SUC]I that when the tube 32 underlies the system tube 18 and the send hopper 20, , downwardly moving carriers will smoothly enter the transfer i tube 32.
The shuttle drive assembly 35, which bidirectionally shifts the transfer tube 32 between the various positions hereto- ¦
¦fore described, includes a motor 80 mounted to the housing ceiling¦
ll14 having a horizontally disposed drive shaft 81 to which a pulleyl !~ 82 is fixedly secured. A cable 83 is wrauped .~round thc pullcy to¦
li facilitate ~riction drive o~ tlle cable in ouposite directions ;Iwhen tllc motor 80 is bidircctionally ariven. The c~ble 83 also~
¦,trains around a pair of idler pulleys 84 and 85 rotatably secured I, to the terminal housing side walls 12 and 11 by brackets 86,and 87 1, - 14 -1.
.i lO5SOO~
pair of idler pulleys 88 and 89 secured to the terminal ceiling ~ by telescopi.n~J tellsioll mounts 90 and 91 engage thc cable 83 ¦lon either side of the motor dri.ven pulley 82 to maintain proper tension on the cable. The horizontal run of the cable 83 is secured to the frame 70 at 73. When the motor is bidirectionally ¦
driven the frame 70, and hence the trans~er tube 32, is .i bidirectionally driven via the drive connection 73 between the ¦ cable 83 and the frame 70.
~I The carrier detent assembly 34, which functions to 10 ~¦ hold a carrier in the transfer tube 32 until such time as it is ¦desired to release it for downward movement to the active hopper 1' 22 or inactive hopper 24, or into the system tube 18' i.n the !:
i! up-receive/down-send embodiment depicted in Figures 17-19! include7 Il a horizontally reciprocable detent 36 which at its inner end is ¦'pivotally connected with a pin 96 to the plungër 92 o a solenoid ..
¦1 93. When the solenoid 93 is de-energized, which is its normal ¦¦condition, the detent 36 projects through an opening 94 in the ¦trans~er tube 32 into the interior of the transfer tube, !i preventing release of a carrier stored therein. When the solenoidj 20 1¦ 93 is energized and its plunger 92 retracted leftwardly as viewed i ! in Figure 10, the detent 36 moves horizontally to the left to a position with its outer end flush with the interior of the trans~
¦l fer tube wall, releasing a carrier stored therein for downward ! travel under the force of gravity into either the active hopper 22i the inactive hopper 24, or in the up-receive/down-send embodiment ¦
¦1 of Figure~s 17-19 into the system tube 18' for transmission to il a remote sta~i.on. The detent 36 has a generally arcuate con~iyurat i~ tion as shown in ~igure 9, and when in its retracted position . ..l assumes tlle phantom line position 36'.
I lOS500~ I
ll A compression spring 95 encircling the solenoid plunger ¦
¦! 92 between the solenoid 93 and the pivot pin 96 normally maintains the detent 36 in its extended position projecting into the interior of the transer tube 32. ~ bracket 97 having a hori-zontally disposed bottom 98 and a pair of vertically disposed sidec ¦. 9'i and 100 is secured at its inner end to the exterior wall of ¦,~he transfer tube 32 for guiding the detent 36 between its retracted and extended positions. A horizonta].ly extending plate 101 secured to the bottom of the bracket plate 98 via a spacer 102 ' lo l¦mounts the solenoid 93.
Il In the up-send/down-receive embodi-ment depicted in - , Figures 1-16 the detent 36 moves only in a horizontal direction i,between its retracted and extended position 36' and 36, respec-¦~tively. When the transfer tube 32 underlies the send hopper 20 a ¦
¦I,released carrier descending into the tube 32 has its downward j -move~ent stopped by the detent 36 which is in its extended posi-i¦tion. When the transfer tube containing a carrier is positioned !i to underlie the system tube 18 the carrier moves upwardly into . tlthe system tube 18 for transmission. In the up-send~down-receive ¦
20 ii embodiment depicted in Figures 1-16, movement of the outgoing ¦'carrier from the transfer tube 32 into the system tube 18 does not 'require that the detent 36 be moved to its retracted position 36'.
.I~However, in the up-receive/down-send embodiment depicted in jlFigures 17-19, a carrier which has entered the transfer tube 32 ! from the send hopper 20 can only be transferred to the syste~
tube 18' for trans~ission to a remote station by retractioll o~
the detent 3~ to its phan~om lin~ position 3G'.
Wh~n ~n inCominCJ carricr is arri.vin~ in the sys~em tube Il 18 in the up-sencl/down-receive emhodiment of Fi~urcs 1-16, the j carrier descends into the transfer tube 32 until its bottom end 1il . . I
~j - 16 -abuts the detent 36 which is in its extended position. ~1hen the I, transfer tube 32 i.s then moved to overlie tl~c active carri.er hopper jl 22 or the inactive carrier hopper 24, the detent is then moved to Il its retracted position 36' by energization of the solenoid 93 whereupon the carrier falls downwardly into either the active ¦¦ carrier or the inaGtiVe carrier hopper, as the case may ~e.
!! In the up-receive/down-send embodiment of ~igures 17-13 ¦I when an incoming carrier is received the carrier is moving upwardl! r in the system tube 18' and enters the overlying transfer tube 32. ¦
o ¦! A~ the i~coming carrier moves upwardly in the transfer tube 32 !I the detent 36 momentarily pivots to the phantom line position 36l' 1 .' shown in Figure 10. The incoming carrier conti.nues moving upwardly until its lower end is positioned above the detent, whereupon the !
i' detent moves from its upward pivoted position 36" to its normal extended position 36. The received carrier then settles back ~ .., down under the force of gravity, with.its lower end seating on ¦ the detent 36. l'he received carrier in the transfer tube 32 is released to an underlying active carrier 22 or inactive carrier . hopper 24, as the case may be, by laterally shifti,ng the 1. transfer tube to overlie the appropriate hopper and energizing the solenoid 93 to move the detent to the retracted position 36' I
~; whereupon the carrier falls under the force of gravity downwardly j il into the appropriate underlying hopper.
To facilitate positioning of the' transfer tube 32 in ! the variQus positions heretofore described for receiving incoming ¦I carriers, sendi.ng outgoing carriers, and/or depositing incoming " carricrs into Olle or thc other of thc active carr,i.or or inactivc jl carrier-llop~ers 22 or 2~, a plurality of phototransducer assem~lie~
!i 105, 106, 107 and 108 are provided. ~ach of the phototransducer ' ass~mblies includes a licJht source LS and photocell PC which are .; .
- 17 - !
., . I
'' 10550~ .
! spaced slightly apart and mounted on a suitable bracket B secured Il to the front wall 16 o~ the terminal housing 10~ A flag 109 ¦, depending downwardly from an L-shaped bracket 110 secured at i.t.s ¦ upper end to frame flange 72 moves with the transfer tube 32 ; along a horizontal path parallel to the terminal front wall 16 ¦I between the light sources LS and photocells PC of the vari.ous j, phototransder assemblies 105, 106, 107 and 108 The phototrans-¦l ducer assemblies 105-108 are positioned such that their respective light beams are interrupted by the flag 109 when the 1I transfer tube 32 overlies or underlies the various hoppers 20, 22,¦
,124 and system tubes 18 or 18', as the case may be, or i.s placed i'in the intermediate position o~ Figure 11 in wbich the closure 33 1 seals the bottom of system tube 18 to facilitate carrier receipt !' in the up-send/down-receive embodiment of Figures 1-16. In this ¦Iway, electrical signals are produced by different ones of the photo-- ¦¦transducer assemblies 105-108 reflecting the position of the trans ¦!fer tube throughout the various phases of transfer tube movement.
!! These electrical signals can be used in a well-known manner to llcontrol the motor 80 and hence the position of the transfer tube 20!,32. I
The carrier release assembly 50 associated wi.th the I send hopper 20, as noted previously, includes a detent 51.
¦¦Detent 51 is selectively positionable, by engagement of cam follower 51-A with the upper end of the laterally shiftable transfer tube 32, between a) a position underlying the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20, restraining downward movemen~ ¦
of the carrier and ~ a position 51' displaced laterally of the send hopper opening 39, permitting the innermost carrier 48' in ,,the send hopper to move downwardly under the force of gravity The carrier hold assembly 52, via a cord, pulley and linkage ,, I
.1 i I 10550~1 ¦~ asse~ ly 5~, moves in coorclil~a~ed faslliol) witll rcs~)ect: to thc l! movemellt of the cletent 5]. of the carricr relcase assembly 50 SUCIl ¦ that ~hen the detent 51 is in the release position 51" (Figure 2) ¦
j allowing the innermost carrier 48' i.n the send hopper 20 to drop ¦ into the trans~el^ tube 32,.the carrier~holding flap 53 is pivoted to its upward position 53', restraining downward movement o~ the second innermost carrier 48".
! The carrier release assembly 50 includes a horizontally ¦
¦' disposed link 55. Link 55 is pivotally mounted at .its one end b~
j 10 !i a vertical pin 55A to a bracket 115 secured to the terminal housiny side wall 12. The other end of the lever 55 constitutes , the detent 51 wllich selectively unaerlies the innermost carrier .48'. ~s noted previously, a cam follower 51~ is secured to the Il . .
!i lever 55 proximate the detent such that as the transfer tube 32 ~moves rightwardly (as viewecl in ~igure 2) to underlie the send hopper it will engage the cam follower 51A and shift the detent !! 51 of the lever 55 to the release position 51 t .
¦~ Th~ cord, pulley and linkage assembl~ 54, which !~ coordinates the motion of the carriex ho].d ~lap 53 and the detent ¦-51, includes a link 116 connected at one end to the link 55 and j'at the other end to a second link 117. Link 117 is mounted to a ;stationary pivot 118 at one end and at its otller end is connec~ed ¦
ito one end 119 of a cable 120. Cable 120 trains under a pulley !121 mounted for rotation on a bracket 122 secured to the housing j~ceiling 14. The other end 123 of the cable 120 i.5 connected to a ! t~b 124 secured to the undcrsurface of tl-e ~l~p 53. When tlle ~tr~llsEer tube 32 movQS ~o a l)osi.tion un(]e).].y;.n(3 t:lle s~d llo~l?er 20, the cam follo~er 51~ cncJa~3CS t~-e uL~l~c~r end o~ ~llc tr~ns~er ~u~
i! 32 ancl ~ositiOl-s the detent 51 to l:l~e ]a~er~lly ~li.splaced positi.on¦
..51l, ena~lin-3 the innermost carricr 48' in tl-e hoL~I?er 20 to drop !
,~nder tllc force of ~ravity illto tl~e tr~rls~er tul~e 3~. wll;cl~ u]lderlies 1. . I
~! - 19 -II, lOS50~)~
ll it. In aclclition ~ ell the dc~cllt 51 Inovcs to thc position 51', ¦! the lever 55 pi.vots clockwise about its mount 55~ (Fiyure 23~ .
jl Clockwisc pivotin~ of lever 55 moves ].ink 1].6 i.n the direction i of arrow 125 wllicll in turn pivots link 117 clockwise about its I mountiJ~g pin 118. Clockwi.se nlovement o~ the link 117 repositions ¦
the cable end 119 to the phantom line position 119l in turn tensio _ ! ing the cable 120. As ~he cable 120 is tensioned, flap 53 pivots ¦I clockwise a~out its mounting end 53A from the position shown in Il Pigure 3 ~o the position shown in Fi~ure 4. With the ~lap posi-10 ¦I tioned as shotm in Figure ~, the second innermost carrier 48" is I! restrained from moving downwardly under the force of gravity when ~; the innermost carrier 48~ is relea.sed by the J10~ laterally dis- I
!~ placed detent 51 and moves downwardly into the transfer tube 32 .
l whicll underlies it. When the transfer tube 32, which now contains l! a carrier~ mo~Jes leftwàrdly (Figure 2) to either the carrier recei~ e position nderlying or overlying the system tube 18 or 18', as the case may beJ or to a position o~Jerlying the inactive dischar.ge, jl hopper 24, the detent 51 returns to a position underlying the !I send hopper thereby preventing the next carrier 48 from fallinq ~.
20 ¦¦ downwardly into the terminal. At the same time, the carrier flap ¦
~-53 returns to its no~mal position depicted in Figure 3.
1 With reference to ~igures 11-16, the operation of the il up-send/down-receive embodiment will be described. In the ¦Inormal or standby position depicted in ~igure 11, the transfer ! tube 32 is in a position intermediate the send hopper 20 and syste~
i tul~e 18 such that the closure 33 which movcs with the transfer Ij tu~e 32 underlies and seals the lo~Jer open end of tl-e system tu~e jjAn incoming carrier moving downwardly in ~le syste1n tube 1~ ~ill be . ~raked due to tlle air cushion w}lich exists bet~ecn the closure 33 and tlle arrivi.n~ carricr. Wllen thc carricr has come to rest atop jtlle c]osurc 33 the t-ransfeL- tuhe 3~ lioves to a ~osit;.on underlyillg I
,i -I
. - 20 - . I
i i ' ,' 1055001 .j ~
¦I thc sys~cm tu~e 18 (Fic~u~ ). i5le inconli.ng carr.ier tllcn drops under thc force of gravi-ty into th~ carrier transfer tube until ¦¦its lower clld a~uts tl~ detent 36 whicll is in its norlnal extended poSition. Tl~ carrier wllich has arrived is now stored in tllc Itransfer tube 32 with its lo~Jer end seated on the extended ¦detent 36. . .
When the transfer tube 32 is in the position shown i.n .
I! Figure 11 awaiting receipt of a carrier in the system tube 18, ¦I.the cam follower 51A att~ched to thc detent 51 of the carrier 10 !~release assembly 50 is not engac3ed with the upper end of the trans lifer tube 32. ~s a consequence the detent 51 of the carrier jjrelease assembly 50 underlies the innermost carri~r 48l in the ~,send hopper. ~hen the transfer tube 32 moves from the carriex ja~7aiting position (Figu~re 11) to the carrier pick-up position _ I ~Fiyure 12), the innermost carrier 48' in the send hopper 20 does ¦
not fall into t~ terminal interior lOA under the force of jlgravity.
I With the incoming carrier located in the transfer tube i i2 (Eigure 12) the carrier can b~ delivered to either the active 20 ~! carrier hopper 22 or the inactive carrier hopper 24 as d~sired.
IjIE th~ incoming carrier temporarily stored in transfer tube 32 is ¦
i~to be transferr~d to the inactive carrier hopper 24 the transEer tu~e is moved leftwardly from the position shown in Figure lZ to i! the position shown in Figure 16. When the carrier trans~er tube Ji 32 has reached a posi.tion overlying the opening 29 of the inact.i.ve !
hopper 24 tl~e sol~lloid '33 is encr~ize(l to re~rac~ tl)c detell~ 36 tq .the posi~ion 3~' ~llereuuon tl~e calri.er in tlle trallsf:er tubc ~alls ¦
vertical].y do~n-Jardly wlder tl-e ~orce of cJravi.ty i.nto a suita~le s~orac~e pos;.tion ;.n tlle m~ er de.;cril~ed prev.io-1;1y in connectioll ¦
~J.ith Figures 5--7.
1 !
;
i 10550~1 l ¦1 If a rcccived ca3-ricr telnpor.lrily stor.e~ i.n thc trans- ¦
¦~ fcr tul~e 32 is ~o ~ placed in the activc hor)l?er 22, thc tran.s~cx j I tu~e is moved ]:om thc positi.on sl~o~Jn i tl l~'icJur~ 12 to tll~ position of Figure 13 ovcrlyin~ tl~ opening 28 in the 100r o the tcrminal¦
. IhousincJ above the active carrier hopper 22. With the carrier ¦ transfer tube 32 in the position shown in Figure 13, the solenoid ¦ 93 is energized and ti~e detcnt moved from its normal extended jposition 36 to its retracted position 36' whereupon the carrier Imoves downwardly from the transfer tube 32 into the active carrier¦
¦hopper 22 to assume a storage position in much the same manner as ¦described in connection with ~he inactive carrier hopper of Figures 5-7. When the transfer tube 32 overlies the active carr;e~
~ihopper 22, the detent 51 underlies the send hopper opening 39 to ¦jprevent release of the inncrmost carrier 48' in the send hoppcx, si.nce the upper end of the transfer tu~e 32 has not yet traveled ¦su~ficiently in a rightwardly direction to engac3e cam 51A and mov~ !
the detent to the 5i' position.
! When it is desired to send a carri.er to a remote station, ! the transfer tube 32 moves to the position sl-own in Figure 14 !' wherein the uppcr end of the transfer tu~e is aligned with the opening 39 in th~ bottom of the send hopper 20. As described prev;ously, wl~en the transfer tube 32 is moved to a position ¦underlying the opening 39 of the send hopper 20, the carrier rele~se detent Sl is ca~led to.the lat~rally displaced position .51' (Figurc 2) and the flap 53 is placed in its uppe~ position i(Fi~ure ~), enabliny thc inncrmost carr;er ~' in the s~nd hopper jl .
20 to ~all vcrtical3.y downwardly under thc ~orcc of yrclvity i11tO .
!~ tl~@ c~rr-ier transfcr tubc to a position atop thc extended detent 36 .
~ 'he tr~l-sfer tul~c, witll tlle carrier stor~d i~- it, is then positio~l~d ,'to underli.c tllc system t~lbe 18. Th~ syst~m t-l.>e i~ then placed in j 1l - 22 -lOSS~O~
a vacuum mode and the outgoing carrier drawn into the system tube for transmission to the remote station.
In the up-receiving/down-send embodiment depicted in Figures 17-19, a received carrier temporarily stored in the transfer tube 32 atop the extended detent 36 is delivered to the active carrier hopper 22 or the inactive hopper 24 in a manner identical to that described in connection with the up-send/down-receive embodiment described in Figures 1-16.
That is, the carrier transfer tube 32, with the received carrier stored therein atop the extended detent 36, is moved to a position overlying one or the other of the hoppers 22 or 24 and the solenoid 93 energized to retract the detent to the position 36' whereupon the carrier falls under the force of gravity into the underlying hopper. Similarly, delivery of a carrier from the send hopper 20 to the car-rier transfer tube 32 in the up-receive/down-send embodiment is identical to that in the up-send/down-receive embodiment.
Specifically the transfer tube 32 is moved to a position underlying the send hopper 20 whereupon the carrier release assembly allows the innermost carrier 48' therein to move downwardly into the underlying carrier transfer tube while the flap 53 in its upper position 53' prevents the second innermost carrier 48" from fallingdownwardly under the force of gravity.
Receipt of incoming carriers and transmission of out-going carriers in the up-receive/down-send embodiment of Figures 17-19 is different from that described in connec-tion with the up-send/down-receive embodiment of Figures 1-16. Specifically, to receive an incoming carrier moving up-wardly in the system tube 18' the transfer tube 32 is moved to a position to directly overlie the system tube 18' (Figure 17). The incoming carrier moves upwardly into the carrier transfer tube 32 in the course of which the detent 36 associated with the carrier transfer tube momentarily pivots upwardly to the position 36" (Figures 10 and 18).
When the lower end of the incoming carrier advances to a position above the detent 36, the detent returns to its normal extended position supporting the receive carrier in the transfer tube 32 (Figure 19). The receive carrier can be delivered to either of the hoppers 20 or 24 by aligning the transfer tube in overlying relationship with respect to the desired hopper and energizing the solenoid 93 to retract the detent 36 and release the received carrier for downward movement into the underlying hopper. To send a carrier to a remote station, which has been delivered to the carrier transfer tube from thestorage hopper 20 in the manner described previously, the transfer tube is moved to the position overlying the system tube 18' (Figure 19) When this has been done the solenoid 93 is energized to move the carrier detent to its retracted position 36' (Figure 9), whereupon the carrier falls downwardly under the force of gravity into the system tube 18' which, of course, has been placed under vacuum to transport the carrier to a distant station.
Significantly, and with very little modification, the terminal of this invention can be used in either the up-receive/down-send mode in which the system tube 18' connects to the floor of` the terminal housing, or in an up-send/down-receive configuration in which the system tube 18 connects to the ceiling of the carrier. This enhances the versatil-ity of the terminal with very little additional cost.
To energize the motor 80 and the solenoid 93 at the appropriate times as is necessary to shift the transfer tube between its various positions to send, receive and transfer carriers between various hoppers, suitable control circuitry responsive to lO5SOOl the phototransducers 104-108 is provided in accordance with techniques well-knwon in the art and hence not described in detail herein.
Claims (2)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A send hopper for temporarily storing and sequentially releasing carriers to an underlying vertically disposed tube, each said carrier having outwardly projecting shoulders proximate one end thereof, comprising:
a pair of elongated downwardly and rearwardly inclined spaced parallel carrier guide surfaces for supporting there-between in vertical disposition a plurality of carriers having diametrically opposite portions of the shoulders thereof seated on said inclined guide surfaces to facilitate gravity-induced sliding movement of said carriers in a downward and rearward direction from a carrier-entrance end to a carrier-exit end, with said exit end being lower than said entrance end, a pair of elongated vertical guide surfaces having their upper ends disposed proximate said exit end of said inclined guide surfaces and their lower ends disposed below said upper ends, a vertically disposed guide member parallel to said vertical guide surfaces, said vertical guide member and pair of vertical guide surfaces cooperating to form a guide chute to guide downwardly a vertically disposed carrier as the shoulders thereof slide off said inclined guide surfaces at said exit end thereof, a carrier release member mounted below said lower ends of said vertical guide surfaces for selectively engaging the bottom of a carrier whose shoulders are positioned in said chute, said release member being movable to a release position dis-engaged from said carrier to release said carrier whereupon said released carrier moves downwardly under the force of gravity to exit said send hopper and enter said underlying tube, a carrier hold member mounted to selectively engage the lowermost carrier supported on said inclined guide surfaces, and when so engaged to prevent said lowermost carrier from sliding off said inclined guide surfaces into said chute, said hold member being movable to a release position to permit said lowermost carrier to slide off said inclined guide surfaces into said chute, an acutator controlling said release and hold members for causing said hold member to hold said lowermost carrier on said inclined guide surfaces when said release member moves to said release position, whereby only the one carrier in said chute exits said send hopper upon movement of said release member to said release position.
a pair of elongated downwardly and rearwardly inclined spaced parallel carrier guide surfaces for supporting there-between in vertical disposition a plurality of carriers having diametrically opposite portions of the shoulders thereof seated on said inclined guide surfaces to facilitate gravity-induced sliding movement of said carriers in a downward and rearward direction from a carrier-entrance end to a carrier-exit end, with said exit end being lower than said entrance end, a pair of elongated vertical guide surfaces having their upper ends disposed proximate said exit end of said inclined guide surfaces and their lower ends disposed below said upper ends, a vertically disposed guide member parallel to said vertical guide surfaces, said vertical guide member and pair of vertical guide surfaces cooperating to form a guide chute to guide downwardly a vertically disposed carrier as the shoulders thereof slide off said inclined guide surfaces at said exit end thereof, a carrier release member mounted below said lower ends of said vertical guide surfaces for selectively engaging the bottom of a carrier whose shoulders are positioned in said chute, said release member being movable to a release position dis-engaged from said carrier to release said carrier whereupon said released carrier moves downwardly under the force of gravity to exit said send hopper and enter said underlying tube, a carrier hold member mounted to selectively engage the lowermost carrier supported on said inclined guide surfaces, and when so engaged to prevent said lowermost carrier from sliding off said inclined guide surfaces into said chute, said hold member being movable to a release position to permit said lowermost carrier to slide off said inclined guide surfaces into said chute, an acutator controlling said release and hold members for causing said hold member to hold said lowermost carrier on said inclined guide surfaces when said release member moves to said release position, whereby only the one carrier in said chute exits said send hopper upon movement of said release member to said release position.
2. A send hopper for temporarily storing and sequentially releasing carriers to an underlying vertically disposed tube, each said carrier having outwardly projecting shoulders proximate one end thereof, comprising:
front, rear and opposite side walls defining a hopper housing, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate insertion of a carrier into the interior of said hopper-housing, a pair of elongated downwardly and rearwardly inclined spaced parallel carrier guide elements each secured to the interior surface of a different one of said walls for supporting therebetween in vertical disposition a plurality of carriers having diametrically opposite portions of the shoulders thereof seated on said inclined guide elements to facilitate gravity-induced sliding movement of said carriers in a downward and rearward direction from a carrier-entrance end spaced from said front wall opening to a carrier-exit end spaced from said rear wall, with said exit end being lower than said entrance end, a pair of spaced parallel elongated vertical guide elements each secured to the interior surface of a different one of said side walls, with an upper end of said vertical guide elements proximate said exit end of one of said inclined guide elements, said vertical guide elements being spaced from said rear wall to form therewith a guide chute to guide down-wardly a vertically disposed carrier as the shoulders thereof slide off said inclined guide elements at said exit end, a carrier release member mounted below a lower end of said vertical guide elements for selectively engaging the bottom of a carrier whose shoulders are positioned in said chute, said release member being movable to a release position disengaged from said carrier to release said carrier whereupon said released carrier moves downwardly under the force of gravity to exit said send hopper and enter said underlying tube, a carrier hold member mounted to selectively engage the lowermost carrier supported on said inclined guide elements, and when so engaged to prevent said lowermost carrier from sliding off said inclined guide elements into said chute, said hold member being movable to a release position to permit said lowermost carrier to slide off said inclined guide elements into said chute, and a leaf spring mounted inside said hopper housing having a portion thereof located to releasably restrict the region between said front wall and said entrance end of said inclined guide elements whereby, upon insertion of a carrier through said opening into said hopper housing for engagement of said carrier shoulders on said inclined guide elements, said leaf spring positively biases said carrier shoulders into seating engagement with said inclined guide elements.
front, rear and opposite side walls defining a hopper housing, said front wall having an opening therein to facilitate insertion of a carrier into the interior of said hopper-housing, a pair of elongated downwardly and rearwardly inclined spaced parallel carrier guide elements each secured to the interior surface of a different one of said walls for supporting therebetween in vertical disposition a plurality of carriers having diametrically opposite portions of the shoulders thereof seated on said inclined guide elements to facilitate gravity-induced sliding movement of said carriers in a downward and rearward direction from a carrier-entrance end spaced from said front wall opening to a carrier-exit end spaced from said rear wall, with said exit end being lower than said entrance end, a pair of spaced parallel elongated vertical guide elements each secured to the interior surface of a different one of said side walls, with an upper end of said vertical guide elements proximate said exit end of one of said inclined guide elements, said vertical guide elements being spaced from said rear wall to form therewith a guide chute to guide down-wardly a vertically disposed carrier as the shoulders thereof slide off said inclined guide elements at said exit end, a carrier release member mounted below a lower end of said vertical guide elements for selectively engaging the bottom of a carrier whose shoulders are positioned in said chute, said release member being movable to a release position disengaged from said carrier to release said carrier whereupon said released carrier moves downwardly under the force of gravity to exit said send hopper and enter said underlying tube, a carrier hold member mounted to selectively engage the lowermost carrier supported on said inclined guide elements, and when so engaged to prevent said lowermost carrier from sliding off said inclined guide elements into said chute, said hold member being movable to a release position to permit said lowermost carrier to slide off said inclined guide elements into said chute, and a leaf spring mounted inside said hopper housing having a portion thereof located to releasably restrict the region between said front wall and said entrance end of said inclined guide elements whereby, upon insertion of a carrier through said opening into said hopper housing for engagement of said carrier shoulders on said inclined guide elements, said leaf spring positively biases said carrier shoulders into seating engagement with said inclined guide elements.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/722,497 US4047677A (en) | 1976-09-13 | 1976-09-13 | Transmit and receive terminal for single tube pneumatic carrier system |
| CA285,436A CA1049994A (en) | 1976-09-13 | 1977-08-25 | Transmit and receive terminal for single tube pneumatic carrier system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1055001A true CA1055001A (en) | 1979-05-22 |
Family
ID=25668556
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA314,536A Expired CA1055002A (en) | 1976-09-13 | 1978-10-27 | Transmit and receive terminal for single tube pneumatic carrier system |
| CA314,535A Expired CA1055001A (en) | 1976-09-13 | 1978-10-27 | Transmit and receive terminal for single tube pneumatic carrier system |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA314,536A Expired CA1055002A (en) | 1976-09-13 | 1978-10-27 | Transmit and receive terminal for single tube pneumatic carrier system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA1055002A (en) |
-
1978
- 1978-10-27 CA CA314,536A patent/CA1055002A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-27 CA CA314,535A patent/CA1055001A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1055002A (en) | 1979-05-22 |
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