Pneumatic article conveying system

Claim 1

In a pneumatic conveying apparatus, the combination comprising: a main tube inclined relative to the horizontal and having leading and trailing portions along which an article is conveyed; a cubiform valve housing interconnecting adjacent ends of said leading and trailing tube portIons; a branch tube pneumatically connected to said valve housing; a valve seat arranged within said valve housing adjacent said end of said trailing tube portion; a mounting wall surface provided within said housing on said end of said leading tube portion; valve means within said valve housing comprising a rectangular flap movable from a normal first position in which it permits unobstructed passage of an article past said branch tube, to a second position in which it prevents passage of air into said leading portion and entry of a succeeding article into said trailing portion, said flap having one end hingedly secured to said wall surface and its free end adapted under the influence of gravity to engage said valve seat and bridge said branch tube in said normal first position of said flap; means on said trailing portion for sensing a leading article transported past said valve flap in said normal position; and means responsive to said sensing means comprising air pulse generating means for generating pulses of air of a predetermined time duration and pressure for sequentially moving said valve flap to said second position, and for transporting said leading article along said trailing portion of said main tube.