System and Method for Pneumatic Transport

Abstract

A pneumatic transport system has a plurality of interconnected stations for transporting a carrier containing a material. Pneumatic travel tubes interconnect the stations. Each station has a rotatable cartridge assembly with a first tube for pass-through of the carrier, a second tube for loading the carrier, and a third tube for receiving the carrier. Each tube is configurable to be aligned with the travel tubes. A wear plate assembly is in slidable communication with the rotatable cartridge assembly. The wear plate assembly has a center plate with a solid portion, an opening for passing the carrier, and an air-pass opening. A computer system controls the configuration of the interconnected stations to provide transport of the carrier between stations while passing through intermediate stations without stopping movement of the carrier. A user interface provides for entering commands to the pneumatic transport system.

1 . A pneumatic transport system, comprising:
 a carrier containing a material;   first and second chains of interconnected stations for transporting the carrier, the first and second chains of interconnected stations each defining interconnected transportation zones, each station including,
 (a) first and second pneumatic travel tubes for interconnecting the stations, and 
 (b) a rotatable cartridge assembly having a plurality of tubes, each tube configurable to be aligned with the first and second pneumatic travel tubes; 
   a diverter connecting the first and second chains of interconnected stations to transfer the carrier between the interconnected transportation zones; and   a computer system controlling the configuration of each of the plurality of interconnected stations to provide transport of the carrier between first and second stations.   
   
   
       2 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 1 , further including a wear plate assembly in slidable communication with the rotatable cartridge assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 2 , wherein the wear plate assembly includes a center plate having a solid portion, an opening for passing the carrier, and an air-pass opening. 
   
   
       4 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 2 , including an electric motor for rotating the wear plate assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 1 , further including an electric motor for rotating the cartridge assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge assembly has a first tube for pass-through of the carrier and a second tube for loading the carrier. 
   
   
       7 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 1 , further including a user interface for entering commands to the pneumatic transport system. 
   
   
       8 . A pneumatic transport system, comprising:
 a carrier containing a material;   first and second chains of interconnected stations for transporting the carrier, each station including,
 (a) first and second pneumatic travel tubes for interconnecting the stations, and 
 (b) a rotatable cartridge assembly having a plurality of tubes, each tube configurable to be aligned with the first and second pneumatic travel tubes; 
   a diverter connecting the first and second chains of interconnected stations; and   a computer system controlling the configuration of each of the plurality of interconnected stations to provide transport of the carrier between first and second stations.   
   
   
       9 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 8 , further including a wear plate assembly in slidable communication with the rotatable cartridge assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 9 , wherein the wear plate assembly includes a center plate having a solid portion, an opening for passing the carrier, and an air-pass opening. 
   
   
       11 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 9 , including an electric motor for rotating the wear plate assembly. 
   
   
       12 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 8 , further including an electric motor for rotating the cartridge assembly. 
   
   
       13 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge assembly has a first tube for pass-through of the carrier and a second tube for loading the carrier. 
   
   
       14 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 8 , further including a user interface for entering commands to the pneumatic transport system. 
   
   
       15 . A pneumatic transport system, comprising:
 a carrier containing a material;   first and second chains of interconnected stations for transporting the carrier, each station including,
 (a) first and second pneumatic travel tubes for interconnecting the stations, and 
 (b) a rotatable cartridge assembly having a plurality of tubes, each tube configurable to be aligned with the first and second pneumatic travel tubes; and 
   a diverter for transporting the carrier between the first and second chains of interconnected stations.   
   
   
       16 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 15 , wherein the diverter is connected to the first and second chains of interconnected stations. 
   
   
       17 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 15 , further including a wear plate assembly in slidable communication with the rotatable cartridge assembly. 
   
   
       18 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 17 , wherein the wear plate assembly includes a center plate having a solid portion, an opening for passing the carrier, and an air-pass opening. 
   
   
       19 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 17 , including an electric motor for rotating the wear plate assembly. 
   
   
       20 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 15 , further including an electric motor for rotating the cartridge assembly. 
   
   
       21 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge assembly has a first tube for pass-through of the carrier and a second tube for loading the carrier. 
   
   
       22 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 15 , further including a user interface for entering commands to the pneumatic transport system. 
   
   
       23 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 15 , wherein the carrier contains medicines, supplies, or hazardous materials. 
   
   
       24 . The pneumatic transport system of  claim 15 , including a computer system controlling the configuration of each of the plurality of interconnected stations to provide transport of the carrier between first and second stations. 
   
   
       25 . A method of transporting a carrier, comprising:
 providing a carrier containing a material;   providing first and second chains of interconnected stations for transporting the carrier, each station including,
 (a) first and second pneumatic travel tubes for interconnecting the stations, and 
 (b) a rotatable cartridge assembly having a plurality of tubes, each tube configurable to be aligned with the first and second pneumatic travel tubes; 
   providing a diverter for transporting the carrier between the first and second chains of interconnected stations; and   controlling the configuration of each of the plurality of interconnected stations to provide transport of the carrier between first and second stations using a computer system.