FR2518512A1 - Pneumatic cartridge container conveyor - has central distribution point which both receives and despatches using actuator operated tilting tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The pneumatic network has tubes connected to despatch/receiver stations. Each station is connected to a central distribution point (1) with a mobile exchanger tube (4). This can connect to each pipe and is sealed, toceive a cartridge. The exchanger tube has open and closed ends. It can tilt at its closed end and is connected by its open end. A power driven fan (16) is connected to the exchanger tube to cause an increased or decreased air pressure in it. The tilting occurs on the centre of a plate (5) and is via actuators (12,13).

Description

Pneumatic intercommunication network for
transport of objects, fitted with a central distribution device
The invention relates to a pneumatic intercommunication network for cartridges for transporting objects, provided with a central distribution device and comprising a plurality of transfer tubes intended to connect together several sending and / or receiving stations.

 Known pneumatic intercommunication networks include a certain number of generally receiver-shipper stations which are, at least for some, connected to each other by transfer tubes and switches, while a control device controls said switches according to of the occupation of the tubes and of the addresses displayed at the various dispatching stations. There are different types of known stations, simple dispatch and reception stations, automatic stations with suppression of waiting, crossing or end of line station, etc.

 I1 is indeed necessary to have a large number of different means to achieve such a network which quickly becomes complex if one wishes to connect a large number of positions between them.

 Such a conventional network therefore has various delicate devices scattered in the premises of use and often hidden in places that are not easily accessible such as false ceilings, trusses, attics, etc., which complicates maintenance and installation.

 In certain particularly complex installations, certain stations are connected by means of a switching device with several lines, in the form for example of a rotary barrel.

 The object of the invention is in particular to propose a network with which it is easy to interconnect all the stations with each other and in which all the "living" technical equipment is concentrated in a central location, of easy access, unlike the known art, so that maintenance is facilitated and installation on site is simplified.

To achieve this aim, the network according to the invention is remarkable in that each station is connected by at least one transfer tube to a central distribution device provided with a mobile exchanger tube mounted so as to be able to be connected on command and substantially sealed on each of said tubes to receive each cartridge from each station operating in shipping and return said cartridge by the transfer tube corresponding to the station operating in reception and which is determined by the address displayed at the start on a control box of said sending station or on the cartridge itself,
In this case it is clear that the switches can be completely removed or their number reduced, while it is possible to interconnect all the stations together.

 Adjustments and tests of the central distribution device can be carried out in the workshop, this device also being particularly simple.

If one wishes to increase the number of stations to be interconnected without complicating the distribution device, the invention provides an embodiment of a network which is remarkable in that it comprises at least two distribution devices which are interconnected by a communication tdbe, each sending and / or receiving station being connected to one of said distribution devices so that at least certain stations communicate with each other via at least two distribution devices and their communication tube,
To make such a network, the invention proposes that the exchanger tube of the distribution device has an open end and a closed end and that it be mounted and arranged so as to be able to switch on command by its closed end between as many
c positions that there are transfer and communication tubes connected to said device and able to be connected in a substantially sealed manner by its open end with each of said tubes, while a motor-driven fan unit is connected to the exchanger tube to create an air circulation in the latter in depression or respectively in pressure and thus ensure the reception of each cartridge in the exchanger tube and respectively the shipment thereof from said tube.

 Advantageously, the exchanger tube is mounted tilting around a rest position, preferably. vertical, to which it is permanently recalled.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the exchanger tube is articulated by its closed end substantially in the center of a plate which is moved by controlled tilting jacks while an elastic means biases said tube towards a position. rest and that guide and support means ensure the different positions of said tube, so that the actuation of certain jacks causes the exchanger tube to tilt and the latter to rise towards the transfer tube to be connected, the elastic means recalling the exchanger tube towards its rest position in which it is maintained as long as the jacks are inactive.

 Preferably, the motor-fan unit is connected to the exchanger tube by two flexible pipes connected respectively to its upper part and to its lower part by means of two inverted valves so that the upper and lower pipes respectively do not allow air to pass through. respectively in the transport-fan line and in the fan-transport line direction.

 Known Llart offers particularly complex electronic devices for transporting a cartridge from one station to another according to an address indicated on. a control panel.

 I1 was however imagined cartridges called "anti-steering" with reading "on the fly" or not which generally use electrical or magnetic means arranged on said cartridges.

 It is another object of the invention to provide a network provided with particularly simple self-directing cartridges without any fragile electrical means being carried by said cartridges.

 These cartridges are made possible thanks to the dispensing device mentioned above.

 This is why the invention provides a network provided with self-directing cartridges which is remarkable in that each self-directing cartridge is provided with mechanical address coding means and that each distribution device is provided with reading means.

Advantageously, the coding means of a self-directing cartridge comprise a fixed position marker arranged on a fixed part of the cartridge, a fixed series of station markers the number of which is equal to that of the stations to be served and a marker d address movable relative to the position and position marks, so that it can take at least as many positions relative to said fixed marks as there are positions while combined means of the cartridge and the device distribution are provided to drive said cartridge in rotation during its passage through the exchanger tube in order to ensure the address reading by detection of said marks,
Preferably, the combined means for driving the cartridge in rotation consist of fins arranged at at least one of the ends of the cartridge and by the motor-fan unit which is connected to the exchanger tube by two flexible hoses connected respectively at its upper part and its innate part :: upper means of two electromedanic valves controlled so as to ensure on the one hand the air circulation necessary for shipping and receiving, and on the other hand the creation of '' a current of air in the tube to drive the rotating cartridge
According to a preferred embodiment, the two ends of the cartridge carry fins inclined in opposite directions so that the cartridge rotates in one direction or the other depending on its position of arrival in the exchanger tube, the coding and address reading being arranged to ensure decoding whatever this position.

 The invention also recommends that the reading means of the dispensing device comprise three detectors associated with a counter and which are arranged on the exchanger tube or in the vicinity of the latter in the rest position, to cooperate respectively with the position mark which makes start the counter, with the fixed position markers which rotate the counter each time by one step and with the address mark which determines the station chosen according to the number of steps taken by the counter until the said detection is detected address marker.

According to one embodiment, the cartridge comprises two respectively fixed and removable plugs each provided with a sliding and sealing gasket and at least one of which is provided with air drive fins while the position marks respectively , of post and of address are constituted by metal rivets with large heads arranged respectively on the body of the cartridge, on the fixed stopper and on the removable stopper, the reading detectors being proximity detectors arranged one above the other, with the counter start detector placed between the other two,
The invention will be clearly understood on reading the description which follows and which refers to the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 schematically shows a network according to the invention provided with a distribution device,
FIG. 2 shows another network provided with two interconnected distribution devices,
FIG. 3 schematically shows a dispensing device according to the invention,
FIGS. 4 and 5 show respectively in elevation and in section along VV of FIG. 4 a self-directing cartridge according to the invention, and
FIG. 6 partially shows a dispensing device provided with address reading means for self-directing cartridges according to FIGS. 4 and 5,
FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, a network provided with six shipper-receiver stations P1 to P6,
Each station is connected by a transfer tube T1 to T6 respectively to a central distribution device 1.

From each station, it is possible to send a cartridge to another station, said cartridge passing through the transfer tube of the sending station, through the distribution device and through the transfer tube of the receiving station,
It is clear however that it is possible to imagine stations which are only sender or receiver. In addition, it is of course possible to provide switching devices between different transfer tubes in order to reduce the number of these. However, in this case, each cartridge sent from a post must pass through the distribution device.

 Figure 2 shows a network with two distribution devices 1 and 2.

 The device 1 receives, as previously, the transfer tubes T1 to T6 from the stations P1 to P6 while the device 2 receives tubes> T7 to T12 connected to stations P7 to P12. The two devices 1 and 2 are interconnected by a communication tube TC.

 In this case, to move from any position P1 to P6 to any other position P1 to P6, the transfer will be made as previously by the device 1. Similarly from a position P7 to P12 to another position P7 to P12 , the transfer will be made by device 2.

 On the other hand, to go from any position P1 to P6 to any position P7 to P12 or vice versa, the cartridge. shipped will first arrive in device 1 or respectively 2 and will transit through the other device 2 or respectively 1 via the TC tube.

 The numbers of stations, tubes and distribution devices are obviously not limited to those shown.

 FIG. 3 shows a distribution device 1 similar to that shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2.

 This device receives a certain number of transfer tubes such as T1 and T2 fixed for example in an upper plate 3 of the device.

An exchanger tube 4 has a closed end which is articulated on a movable plate 5. Said closed end of the tube 4 is also connected by a rod 6 to a small plate 7 intended to wedge a compression spring 8 between said plate 7 and a fixed plate 9 which rests on the ground by feet 10,
The spring 8 ensures a substantially vertical rest position of the tube 4.

 The movable plate 5 can be moved by jacks such as 12 and 13 so as to tilt and rise, while guide rollers such as 14 provide as many positions for the tube 4 as there are tubes of transfer (T1, T2) linked to the device.

The free open end of the tube 4 is provided with a connecting piece 15 in the form for example of a collar provided with an O-ring,
A motor-driven fan group 16 which operates alternately under pressure or under vacuum is connected to the upper and lower ends of the tube 4 by flexible hoses 17 and 18 respectively. The hoses 17 and 18 are connected to the tube 4 by means of two valves respectively 19 and 20 reversed so that the valve 19 lets the air pass only in the direction of the transport line towards the fan, that is to say under vacuum, - while the valve 20 does not let the air pass that in the fan direction towards the transmission line, that is to say in pressure,
The assembly described above is for example protected by four preferably transparent panels 21, while an electrical cabinet 22 for control and servo-control is fixed on one of said panels.

 The cabinet 22 is in particular intended to control the motor-fan group under pressure or under vacuum as well as the tilting cylinders 12 and 13 according to certain data.

 Each receiving and / or sender station is furthermore connected to the cabinet 22 by at least one signaling line intended in particular on the one hand to indicate to said station the possible occupation of the line and on the other hand by a means presence detection, to control the cylinders (12 13) to position the tube 4 according to the transfer tube corresponding to said sender station.

 The address of the receiving station can be displayed from the sending station to order the tube 4 accordingly or else on the cartridge itself as will be explained below.

 The operation is simple to understand.

 Depending on the data sent to the cabinet 22, the tube 4 receives a cartridge from one of the transfer tubes by actuation of the control cylinders of the plate 5. The tilting of the exchanger tube 4 is by. example obtained by the action of the actuator diametrically opposite to the desired connection so that said tube comes to bear on the corresponding guide roller 14. The connection of the end 15 of the tube 4 with the transfer tube takes place naturally by the action of the jack which continues its stroke.

The tube 4 is therefore positioned by a single movement of the jack (s). I1 is also clear that the motor-fan unit 16 acts in depression through the pipe 17 for the reception of the cartridge in the tube 4. The pipe 17 being connected to the upper part of the tube 4, said cartridge advantageously undergoes on arrival air cushion braking,
After reception in the tube 4, it returns to its initial position by the action of the spring 8 and / or reverse effect of the cylinders and is positioned as described above on the transfer tube corresponding to the receiving station. , the cartridge being sent to said station by the action of group 16 which then acts under pressure through pipe 18.

 Figures 4 and 5 show a self-directing cartridge which comprises a tubular body 23 whose two ends are closed respectively by a fixed plug 24 and a removable plug 25 by which it is possible to introduce and remove any document or object.

 As shown in FIG. 4, the plugs 24 and 25 are provided with inclined fins 26 and 27 respectively originating, for example, from molding. The fins 26 and 27 are inclined in opposite directions.

 The plugs 24 and 25 also include sliding and sealing packings 28, 29.

 The body 23 is provided with a metal rivet 30 with a head, the plug 25 with a wide head metal rivet 31 and the plug 24 with a series of wide head metal rivets 32.

 The number of rivets 32 is equal to the number of stations to be served and the rivet can take up by rotation at least as many positions relative to the body 23 as there are stations to be served, these positions being for example numbered and aligned with the rivets 32.

 A network according to the invention for self-directing cartridges as mentioned above is obviously provided with a distribution device equipped with appropriate reading means shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6.

 In FIG. 6, the exchanger tube 4 is connected to the motor-fan unit 16 as previously by the flexible pipes 17 and 18 but here the valves 19 and 20 of FIG. 3 are replaced by electromechanical valves 33 and 34.

 In addition, at the lower part of the tube 4 is arranged a reading device 35 constituted by three proximity detectors respectively 36, 37 and 38.

 The detectors 36, 37 and 38 are arranged one above the other and are intended to detect the rivet 30, the rivets 32 or the rivet 31 and the rivet 31 and the rivet 31 or the rivets 32 respectively. These detectors are associated with an electronic counter arranged for example in the cabinet 22.

 As soon as the object or the document is introduced into the cartridge by the removable plug 25, it suffices to position said plug so as to make the rivet 31 coincide with the number of the desired receiver station.

 The cartridge is easily read as soon as it arrives in the tube 4. In fact, when the cartridge arrives in the tube 4, the group 16 works under vacuum with the valve 33 open and the valve 34 closed and it then suffices, the tube 4 returning to the rest position, to close the valve 33 and open the valve 34 so that the cartridge is rotated on itself, by its fins.

 During the rotation of the cartridge, as soon as the position rivet 30 is detected by the detector 36, the latter starts the aforementioned counter while the detector 37, in the position of the cartridge shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, advances said counter by one step each time it detects a rivet 32 and this until detection by the detector 38 of the rivet 31.

It is clear that the electronic counter thus determines an offset which corresponds to an address code,
It is important to note that the inverted inclinations of the fins 27, 28 makes it possible to obtain a rotation of the cartridge in one direction or the other depending on its position of arrival in the tube 4, removable plug at the top or bottom, so that the reading is carried out whatever this position, Indeed, the functions of the detectors 37 and 38 of the "or" type are interchangeable the detector 37 or the detector 38 advancing the counter whose stop is controlled by coincidence detection.

Claims (12)

 1) - Pneumatic intercommunication network for cartridges for transporting objects, comprising a plurality of transfer tubes (T1 to T12), intended to connect together several sending and / or receiving stations (P1 to P12), characterized in that that each station (Pl to P12) is connected by at least one transfer tube (T1 to T12) to a central distribution device (1) provided with a mobile exchanger tube (4) mounted so as to be able to be connected on command and in a substantially leaktight manner on each of said tubes to receive each cartridge coming from each station operating in dispatch and returning said cartridge by the transfer tube corresponding to the station operating in reception and which is determined by the address displayed at the start on a box of order from said sending station or on the cartridge itself.  2) Network according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two distribution devices (l, -2) which are connected together by a communication tube (Tc), each sender and / or receiver station being connected to one of said distribution devices, so that at least certain stations communicate with each other via at least two distribution devices and their communication tube  3) Network according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the exchanger tube (4) of the dispensing device has an open end and a closed end and in that it is mounted and arranged so as to be able to tilt on command by its closed end between as many positions as there are transfer and communication tubes connected to said device and to be able to be connected in a substantially sealed manner by its open end with each of said tubes while a motor group enslaved fan (16) is connected to the exchanger tube to create an air circulation in the latter in depression or respectively in pressure and thus ensure the reception each cartridge in the exchanger tube and respectively the shipment of the latter from said tube,  4) Network according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the exchanger tube (4) is pivotally mounted around a rest position, preferably vertical, towards which it is permanently recalled.  5) Network according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the exchanger tube (4) is articulated by its closed end substantially in the center of a plate (5) which is moved by jacks (12, 13) controlled tilting while an elastic means (8) biases said tube towards a rest position and that guide and support means (14) ensure the different positions of said tube, so that the actuation of certain cylinders causes the exchanger tube to tilt and rise thereof towards the transfer tube (T1, T2) to be connected, the elastic means recalling the exchanger tube towards its rest position in which it is maintained as long as the jacks are inactive.  6) Network according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the motor-fan unit (16) is connected to the exchanger tube (4) by two flexible pipes (17, 18) connected respectively to its upper part and to its lower part by means of two flaps (19, 20) inverted so that the respectively upper (17) and lower (18) pipes allow air to pass only in the transport line-fan direction and in the direction ventila-. transport line.  7) Network according to one of claims 1 to 6 provided with self-directing cartridges, characterized in that each self-directing cartridge is provided with mechanical address coding means and that each distribution device is provided with reading means.  8) Network according to claim 7, characterized in that the coding means of a self-directing cartridge comprise a fixed mark (30) of position arranged on a fixed part (23) of the cartridge, a fixed series of markers ( 32) of stations the number of which is equal to that of the stations to be served and an address marker (31) arranged so as to be movable relative to the position markers and of positions so as to be able to take at least as many positions relative to said markers stationary that there are stations, while con jugued means of the cartridge and the dispensing device are provided to drive said cartridge in rotation during its passage in the exchanger tube (4) to ensure the reading of address by detection of said landmarks,  9) Network according to claim 8, characterized in that the combined means for driving the cartridge in rotation sor.t constituted by fins (27, 28) arranged at at least one of the ends of the cartridge and by the motor-fan unit (16) which is connected to the exchanger tube (4) by two flexible pipes (17, 18) connected respectively to its upper part and to its lower part with the trojan of two electromechanical valves (33, 34) so controlled to ensure on the one hand the air circulation necessary for dispatch and reception, and on the other hand the creation of a current of air in the tube to drive the cartridge in rotation.  10) Network according to claim 9, characterized in that the two ends of the cartridge carry fins inclined in opposite directions (27, 28) so that the cartridge rotates in one direction or the other according to the position 'that' it occupies on arrival in the exchanger tube, the address coding and reading means being arranged to ensure decoding whatever this position.  11) Network according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the reading means of the distribution device comprises three detectors ~ (36, 37, 38) associated with a counter and which are arranged on the exchanger tube ( 4) or in the vicinity of the latter in the rest position, to cooperate respectively with the position mark (30) which starts the counter, with the fixed post marks (32) which make the counter turn each time by one step and with the address marker (31) which determines the station chosen as a function of the number of steps taken by the counter until said address marker is detected.  12) Network according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the cartridge comprises two respectively fixed (24) and removable (25) plugs each provided with a packing (28, 29) for sliding and sealing and at least one of which is provided with air drive fins (27, 28) while the position, position and address marks respectively are constituted by metal rivets with large heads (30, 32, 31 ) fitted respectively on the body (23) of the cartridge, on the fixed plug (24) and on. the removable plug (25), the reading detectors (36, 37, 38) being proximity detectors arranged one above the other, with the counter start detector (36) placed between the other two (37, 38).