Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking carriers and other critical path items are provided. The systems and methods comprise structure and functionality to allow for the real-time tracking of pneumatic tube smart carriers and other devices including the use of an IoT capable device, a computer, and an IoT access point. The present disclosure also provides monitoring and analytics capabilities to allow for complex information to be tracked. Such information includes, but is not limited to carrier velocity, air flow, and latch status of the carrier's door.

Abstract: A pneumatic transport system including an up receive/down send customer terminal having a pivot assembly for vertically and pivotally displacing a pneumatic carrier between a vertical position and an angularly disposed presentation position. The customer terminal includes a movable carrier cradle assembly to absorb relatively small impact forces from a vehicle mirror or other moving object. The carrier cradle assembly also includes a break away feature for limiting damage to the customer terminal from greater impact forces. A blower in the customer terminal is operative in pressure and vacuum modes to supply pressure differentials to selectively move the carrier. An up receive/down send operator terminal includes a rotatable door for opening and closing a carrier access opening. A component panel assembly is movable to allow access to terminal components of the operator terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for the delivery and acception of articles made of a sheet-like material, particularly banknotes, documents, and the like, includes a carrier for the articles which can be conveyed in a tube by means of a flowing gas. The carrier includes two elements movable relative to each other which form a receptacle for the articles to be conveyed and at least one channel extending transversely to the direction of conveyance. In a closed position, the articles are secured in the receptacle and, when in an opened position, the articles are enabled to be transported into and out of the receptacle. A reception and transmission device includes a tube portion in which the carrier is located. The tube portion is provided with a lateral opening adapted to be closed in a largely air-tight manner, the tube portion being provided with a stop for stopping and orienting the carrier relative to the lateral opening.

Abstract: A pneumatic transfer apparatus (10) includes a service provider terminal (22) and a customer terminal (24). A carrier (32) is moved through a transfer conduit (26) between the customer and service provider terminals by a differential pressure generating mechanism (28, 30). Each of the customer and service provider terminals includes an actuator mechanism (54, 82). The actuator mechanism is operative to orient an opening in the housing of the carrier with a transfer opening in the transfer conduit. The actuator mechanism is further operative to move an inner shell (100) relative to an outer shell (96) of the carrier so as to bring openings in said inner and outer shells into alignment which enables accessing the interior area of the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying discrete parts between first and second locations. The conveying apparatus has a receptacle for at least one part. Structure is provided for guiding movement of the part receptacle between the first and second locations. Structure is also provided for conveying the part receptacle a) from the first location to the second location and b) from the second location to the first location.

Abstract: A captive carrier for a heavy payload system having end caps rigidly connected thereto. Each end cap has a sliding cover mounted in an outer most surface thereof, Restraining means on the cover restrain the cover from motion in response to the captive carrier tilting outwardly toward the user thereby opening the top of the carrier. The end caps and covers have a curved profile that corresponds to the curvature of the pivoting motion of the top of the carrier, The carrier further includes a wear strip mounted on one side which is directed vertically downward when the carrier is moving in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A pneumatic transmission system has a customer terminal, a teller terminal and a transmission tube connecting the terminals. A pair of blowers are disposed in the transmission tube. Each terminal has a slide gate which is operable to close the transmission tube, and a catch disposed below the gate which is operable to catch the pneumatic carrier. The carrier is transmitted from one terminal to the other terminal by opening the gate of the one terminal, closing the other gate of the other terminal, and energizing the blower remote from the one terminal, thereby creating a vacuum between the one blower and the carrier. The one blower is de-energized after the carrier has passed the one blower, and the carrier rides down on a cushion of air, coming to rest on the gate of the other terminal. The gate of the other terminal is then opened and the carrier drops downwardly onto the catch of the terminal. A controller and timer facilitate sequencing of the slide gates and blowers.

Abstract: A pneumatic tube system comprising: a pair of terminals; an overhead cylindrical tube connecting the terminals; a captive carrier for passage through the tube, the carrier having an internal cavity for carrying articles and removable caps at the distal ends thereof enclosing the cavity; a carrier receiver enclosed within each of the terminals for receiving the carrier, the carrier receiver being operable to reciprocally move the carrier axially along a pre-determined axis which is angularly movable relative to the tube; and a cap removing assembly in each of the terminals operable to remove a cap from one end of the carrier to permit access to the carrier cavity and to replace the cap to permit transfer of the carrier through the tube.

Abstract: A pneumatic cash transfer system for use in banks and building societies to link a cashier station (1) to a remote teller assist unit (3) and a cash deposit box (4) in a separate secure area (5) comprises an air tube (6) extending between a tube terminal (7) at the cashier station and a tube terminal (8) in the secure area (5), and a cash carrying canister (10) movable pneumatically in the tube (6) between the two terminals (7, 8). The canister (10) is open at its side to permit insertion and removal of bank notes, and comprises a bank note holder (22) formed by a pair of spring-biassed clamping plates (23, 24) for holding bank notes firmly in the canister during travel in the tube (6). At the terminal (8) in the secure area (5) the holder (22) can be opened automatically to release notes to be deposited into the deposit box (4), and on closure of the holder it is ready to receive notes which are fed positively into the holder from the teller assist unit (3) for transmission to the cashier.

Abstract: A single overhead pneumatic tube system employs a large rectangular tube, a pair of overhead mounted blowers and a large rectangular captive carrier having a pair of oppositely disposed sliding covers which are locked in position when the carrier is passing from one terminal to the other. The locking means for each cover includes a pair of diagonally offset bolts having heads exposed through apertures in the cover. The locking bolts of the two covers are interconnected so that withdrawal of the bolts of one cover by pressure on their bolt heads also withdraws the bolts of the other cover and so unlocks both covers at the same time.

Abstract: A single overhead pneumatic tube system employs a large rectangular tube, a pair of overhead mounted blowers and a large rectangular captive carrier having a pair of oppositely disposed sliding closures. The carrier is transported between two terminals, one terminal having a drawer-like carrier receiver which slides one of the carrier closures to one side as the receiver opens for access within the carrier by a teller. The other terminal includes a carrier receiver whose front swings open and tilts the carrier outwardly whereupon the other carrier closure is slid to one side for access within the carrier by a customer.

Abstract: A fluid substance is transferred in a shuttle (1) by means of a pressure difference in a tube, between a filling station and an emptying station, the end of the shuttle having an opening (8) covered by a closing member (9) which can be opened resiliently (11) towards the inside of the shuttle (1). The device for filling and/or emptying the shuttle has members for holding the shuttle (1) in place while it is being filled or emptied, and members for opening the closing member (9) and for filling and emptying the shuttle (1), the mutual position of the members for holding the shuttle (1) and the member for opening the closing member (9) at the filling and the emptying station being such or capable of being made such that the end of the opening member pushes through the opening (8) of the shuttle (1) into the shuttle to a distance beyond the closing member (9).

Abstract: In a transport apparatus, a plurality of flat bodies are respectively aligned uprightly and juxtaposed laterally to form a block of the flat bodies, the block is loaded in a movable capsule, and the capsule is transported under the application of air flow through a transport pipeline. A loading mechanism having a pair of openable and closable holding arms is disposed to oppose a loading opening of a loading station, and an unloading mechanism having a pair of openable and closable holding arms is disposed to oppose an unloading opening of an unloading station.

Abstract: A pneumatic tube system utilizes a carrier having at least one unlatched door which is biased to a normally open position but held closed by the conduit of the system. Access stations are associated with the conduit and permit the carrier doors to assume an open position upon reaching a station. A pneumatic system which can operate in either a pressure or a vacuum mode is activated automatically at the access station.

Abstract: A pneumatically-propelled carrier system including a pneumatic system tube of generally circular cross section interconnecting a first terminal constructed to permit the carrier to be removed, that is, a "free carrier" terminal, and a second terminal constructed to prevent removal of the carrier, while providing access to it through a terminal access opening, this latter terminal being a "captive carrier" terminal. Since the system tube interconnecting the captive and free terminals has a generally circular cross section, the carrier, regardless of its cross section, is free to assume any rotational orientation about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A conveyor system is designed for moving loads along a curved path and takes the form of a guide pipe having within it a piston-like driver which may be shuttled from one end to the other thereof by forcing driving fluid, as for example water and oil, into the one end or the other end of the pipe. A sleeve-like runner is placed on the outside of the pipe and is joined up with the driver by a magnet system which may take the form of a magnetic driving part on the driver and so placed thereon as to be radially spaced from the inner wall face of the pipe. The driver within the pipe and the runner on the pipe, together with any magnet system on them, have outer and inner forms taking into account the curved forms of the pipe.