Transfer station for pneumatic tube conveyor system

Claim 2

In a conveyor system having a carrier-conveying tube provided with a terminal region through which a carrier passes when conveyed between a point within said tube remote from said terminal region and a point without said tube adjacent said terminal region, the improvement comprising: first and second substantially semicylindrical members axially displaced from said tube terminal region with their axes parallel to the tube terminal region axis, means mounting at least one of said semicylindrical members for movement between a closed position wherein said members cooperate to form a tubular extension of said tubular terminal region for containing a carrier without said tube and axially displaced from said terminal region, and an open position wherein said members are at least partially separated with said first member transversely displaced from said tubular terminal region with the axis of said first member substantially parallel to said tube terminal region axis when so displaced for containing a carrier without said tube in a position displaced transversely of, but substantially parallel to, said terminal region axis.

Claim 3

In a conveyor system having a carrier-conveying tube provided with a terminal region through which a carrier passes when conveyed between a point within said tube remote from said terminal region and a point withoUt said tube adjacent said terminal region, the improvement comprising: first and second substantially semicylindrical members axially displaced from said tube terminal region with their axes parallel to the tube terminal region axis, said semicylindrical members each having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, means mounting at least one of said semicylindrical members for movement between a closed position wherein said members cooperate to form a tubular extension of said tubular terminal region for containing a carrier without said tube and axially displaced from said terminal region, and an open position wherein said members are at least partially separated with said first member transversely displaced from said tubular terminal region for containing a carrier without said tube and transversely displaced from said terminal region, said mounting means including a. hinge means interconnecting each of said semicylindrical members along one of their respective longitudinal edges, and b. means for pivoting said second semicylindrical member along the other longitudinal edge thereof between first and second positions wherein said semicylindrical members are positioned in said closed and open positions, respectively.

Claim 4

In a conveyor system having a carrier-conveying tube provided with a terminal region through which a carrier passes when conveyed between a point within said tube remote from said terminal region and a point withoUt said tube adjacent said terminal region, the improvement comprising: first and second substantially semicylindrical members axially displaced from said tube terminal region with their axes parallel to the tube terminal region axis, said semicylindrical members each having a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, means mounting at least one of said semicylindrical members for movement between a closed position wherein said members cooperate to form a tubular extension of said tubular terminal region for containing a carrier without said tube and axially displaced from said terminal region, and an open position wherein said members are at least partially separated with said first member transversely displaced from said tubular terminal region for containing a carrier without said tube and transversely displaced from said terminal region, said mounting means including a. hinge means interconnecting each of said semicylindrical members along one of their respective longitudinal edges, and b. means for pivoting said second semicylindrical member along the other longitudinal edge thereof between first and second positions wherein said semicylindrical members are positioned in said closed and open positions, respectively.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 2, wherein the axes of said semicylindrical members are horizontal and wherein said mounting means further includes guide means for maintaining said first semicylindrical member in a generally concave upward disposition as said first member moves between said open and closed positions.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 3 further including a. a housing enclosing said terminal region and semicylindrical members, said housing having a door mounted for movement between an open position providing access to said first semicylindrical member when said members are open and a closed position preventing access to said first member, and b. a cam member mounted for movement with said first member for opening said door when said second semicylindrical member pivots to said second position to place said members in said open position.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 4 further including a lock element mounted for movement with said second member for unlocking said door as said second member pivots to said second position, thereby enabling said cam member to open said door when said semicylindrical members move to their open positions.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 3 further including abutment plates pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis for movement between abutting and nonabutting positions adjacent opposite ends of said first semicylindrical member when the latter is in its open and closed positions, respectively.

Claim 9

In a conveyor system having a carrier-conveying tube provided with a terminal region through which a carrier can pass, the improvement comprising: first and second spaced apart coaxial tubular sections each having a. an exterior semicircular sealing section extending in an axial direction beyond one end of said section toward the other section and located at a radius greater than the radius of the exterior surface of a carrier, and b. an interior semicircular sealing section located intermediate the ends of said tubular section adjacent said one end, said interior and exterior sealing sections of each tubular section being located relative to each other to collectively comprise a substantially circular seal, first and second substantially semicylindrical members disposed between said tubular sections, means mounting at least one of said semicylindrical members for movement between a closed position wherein sad members cooperate to carry a tube with the opposite ends of said members in sealed relation with said interior and exterior sealing sections of said tubular sections, and an open position wherein said members are at least partially separated with at least one of said members transversely displaced relative to the axes of said tubular sections.

Claim 10

In a conveyor system having a carrier-conveying tube provided with a terminal region through which a carrier can pass, the improvement comprising: first and second spaced apart coaxial tubular sections each having a. an exterior semicircular sealing section extending in an axial direction beyond one end of said section toward the other section and located at a radius greater than the radius of the exterior surface of a carrier, and b. an interior semicircular sealing section located intermediate the ends of said tubular section adjacent said one end, said interior and exterior sealing sections of each tubular section being located relative to each other to collectively comprise a substantially circular seal, first and second substantially semicylindrical members disposed between said tubular sections, means mounting at least one of said semicylindrical members for movement between a closed position wherein sad members cooperate to carry a tube with the opposite ends of said members in sealed relation with said interior and exterior sealing sections of said tubular sections, and an open position wherein said members are at least partially separated with at least one of said members transversely displaced relative to the axes of said tubular sections.

Claim 11

ThE improvement of claim 7 wherein each of said exterior sealing sections includes a flange formed integral with said one end of its respective tubular section, and wherein said interior sealing section includes a frustoconical surface formed on said one end of its respective tubular section.

Claim 12

A conveyor system comprising a carrier conveying tube having a terminal region through which a carrier passes when conveyed between points within and without said tube, tubular means dimensioned and configured to contain a carrier therein, at least a section of said tubular means being movable, and positioning means mounting said section for positioning said section between a closed position wherein said tubular means is positioned along a first axis and forms a tubular extension of said terminal region for containing a carrier without said tube, and an open position wherein said movable section is displaced from said terminal region to a position displaced transversely of, but substantially parallel to, said first axis for supporting a carrier without said tube in a position displaced transversely of, but substantially parallel to, said first axis.

Claim 13

A conveyor system comprising a carrier conveying tube having a terminal region through which a carrier passes when conveyed between points within and without said tube, tubular means dimensioned and configured to contain a carrier therein, at least a section of said tubular means being movable, and positioning means mounting said section for positioning said section between a closed position wherein said tubular means is positioned along a first axis and forms a tubular extension of said terminal region for containing a carrier without said tube, and an open position wherein said movable section is displaced from said terminal region to a position displaced transversely of, but substantially parallel to, said first axis for supporting a carrier without said tube in a position displaced transversely of, but substantially parallel to, said first axis.