GB1148423A - Improvements in or relating to pneumatically-operated shuttle-conveying systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1,148,423. Pneumatic conveyers. SIEMENS A.G. 3 March, 1967 [4 March, 1966], No. 10118/67. Heading B8A. A device adapted to be selectively usable as an intermediate station, a receiving station or a transmitting station in a pneumaticallyoperated shuttle conveying system, includes a transfer tube 4 movable within a housing 1 between positions in line with conveying tube connections 2, 3 and a feeding-in tube 7, the tube 4 being sealed in an air-tight manner to the connections 2, 3 or the tube 7, by sealing sleeves 5, 6. The latter are axially slidable on the tube 4 and seal against plates 26, 27 in either position of the tube. The axial movement of the sleeves 5, 6 and the transverse movement of the tube 4 are effected by a pair of motor driven endless chains which support the sleeves 5, 6 between them via pins, and which are guided through U-shaped paths, Fig. 5 (not shown). In the Figure, the device is shown as a transmitting station in which the transfer tube 4 has received a shuttle 19 from the feeding-in tube 7, a lever 18 normally blocking the tube 7 having been displaced by the tube 4. In this position the shuttle is supported on a stop 11 formed in the plate 27. As the transfer tube 4 is moved into alignment with the connections 2, 3, after the sleeves 5, 6 have been axially retracted, wedge pieces 31, 32 on the sleeves open levers 12, 13, 14, 15 blocking the connections 2, 3 and the shuttle moves into the conveying system. The transfer tube 4 remains in this position when the device is used as an intermediate station. When the device is to be used as a receiving station, the transfer tube 4 is aligned with the feeding-in tube 7 and a shuttle received in the housing 1 from either connection 2 or 3 is restricted to the housing by the levers 12, 13, 14, 15 and is pushed through a feed-out flap 8 by projections 9, 10 on the sleeves 5, 6 as the latter move transversely.