Abstract: A material conveying system, comprising: a plurality of material sources for providing material to be transferred; a plurality of destination locations for receiving material from one or more of the plurality of material sources, wherein each destination location has a destination material inlet valve and a destination vacuum valve; a plurality of material conveying tubes; a plurality of vacuum pumps wherein each vacuum pump is operatively connected to one or more of the destination vacuum valves via one or more vacuum source tubes, and wherein each of the vacuum pumps is operatively connected to one or more of the material sources through the one or more vacuum source tubes and respective destination vacuum valves, the one or more destination locations and one or more of the plurality of material conveying tubes; a first sensor disposed on or near each destination vacuum valve; a second sensor disposed on or near each material inlet valve; a third sensor disposed on or near a vacuum outlet of each of the vac

Abstract: A material conveying system, comprising: one or more material sources for providing material to be transferred; one or more destination locations for receiving material from the one or more material sources, wherein each destination location has a destination material inlet valve and a destination vacuum valve; one or more material conveying tubes each configured to connect a source to one or more destination locations; a vacuum pump operatively connected to each of the destination vacuum valves via one or more vacuum source tubes, and wherein the vacuum pump is operatively connected to one or more of the material sources through the one or more vacuum source tubes and respective destination vacuum valves, the one or more destination locations and the one or more material conveyor tubes; a first sensor disposed on or near each destination vacuum valve; a second sensor disposed on or near each material inlet valve; a third sensor disposed on or near a vacuum outlet of the vacuum pump; a programmable system con

Abstract: A mechanism for pressurized delivery of material into a well without exposure to a high pressure pump. The mechanism may include material delivery equipment that is coupled to the high pressure pump or other pressure inducing equipment through a material carrier that intersects a fluid line from the pump. The material carrier may include chambers that are reciprocated or rotated between positions that are isolated from the fluid line and in communication with the fluid line. While isolated from the fluid line, the chambers may be filled with oilfield material which may then be delivered to the fluid line when positioned in communication therewith. In this manner, a supply of the oilfield material may be retained in a substantially isolated state relative to the pump and components thereof which may be susceptible to damage from exposure to the oilfield material.

Abstract: Transport system with several devices (1) for transporting powder, where each device (1) has a transfer chamber (3) into which a supply line (6) and a discharge line (8) for the powder open, and means to generate a negative pressure in the transfer chamber (3), where the means to generate a negative pressure in the device (1) has a piston (11) which is moveable in the transfer chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the flow of a process material from a higher pressure environment to a lower pressure environment is provided. Each of a first and second chamber is divided into a product region and a control region by a flexible boundary. Inlet and outlet flow control devices provide fluid communication between each product region and a material input line and a material output line, respectively. A chamber control device is arranged to provide fluid communication between the control region of each chamber, which is filled with a non-compressible fluid. As product fills the product region of one chamber, fluid is displaced from the corresponding control region and into the control region of the other chamber. As the control region of the other chamber expands, product is forced out of the corresponding product region and into the material output line. The product region of each chamber is alternately filled and emptied to produce a continuous transport of material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the flow of a process material from a higher pressure environment to a lower pressure environment is provided. Each of a first and second chamber is divided into a product region and a control region by a flexible boundary. Inlet and outlet flow control devices provide fluid communication between each product region and a material input line and a material output line, respectively. A chamber control device is arranged to provide fluid communication between the control region of each chamber, which is filled with a non-compressible fluid. As product fills the product region of one chamber, fluid is displaced from the corresponding control region and into the control region of the other chamber. As the control region of the other chamber expands, product is forced out of the corresponding product region and into the material output line. The product region of each chamber is alternately filled and emptied to produce a continuous transport of material.

Abstract: A rivet feed slider configured to sequentially receive rivets from a rivet delivery path and feed the rivets to a rivet transport tube using an air supply. The rivet feed slider includes a rivet receiving chamber which is configured to sequentially receive the rivets, and an aperture is in communication with the rivet receiving chamber. The aperture allows air to flow from the air supply through the rivet receiving chamber to the rivet transport tube such that a rivet which is disposed in the rivet receiving chamber is moved into the rivet transport tube. The rivet feed slider also includes additional apertures which allow air to flow from the air supply to the rivet transport tube when the rivet receiving chamber is not aligned with the air supply. Hence, the air flow from the air supply to the rivet transport tube is not substantially disrupted.

Abstract: A sputter pallet loading and unloading device includes in one embodiment a spindle that rotates the pallet while an arm is engaged with the spring in the pallet to open and close the spring. In another embodiment, the spindle is located adjacent an air track that moves the disk substrate over a cushion of air to the loading area of the pallet. The air pressure under the disk substrate is increased to raise the disk substrate into the loading area. Once raised into the loading area, the spring is closed, e.g., by rotating the pallet in the opposite direction. The pallet and air-track are at a small angle to allow the substrate to slide into the correct position. The simplicity of operation leads to a reduced cost and a higher throughput for this device compared to a robotic loader.

Abstract: An electronic component feeding apparatus for conveying aligned electronic components includes a conveying tube, a cylinder for sucking air from an end of the tube, and a movable stopper plate for stopping the conveyed, aligned electronic components.

Abstract: A substrate body transfer apparatus which is capable of isolating the atmospheres of an external processing apparatus and an air conveyance apparatus and preventing the mutual contamination thereof, and which is capable of conducting the transfer of substrate bodies at a low level of particulate matter and contamination which satisfies the ultra-clean level. The substrate body transfer apparatus is provided with a vacuum container having an entrance and exit which communicate with the interior space of an air conveyance apparatus and the interior space of an external processing apparatus; a horizontal disc-shaped upper part valve and lower part valve are housed within the vacuum container and after the substrate body has been placed in a space surrounded by the upper and lower valves and this space has been sealed, the space is evacuated or the gas therein is replaced.

Abstract: A desiccant feeder system comprising, a reservoir for desiccant canisters, means for delivering the canisters through a transfer tube to at a loading station, means for presenting the open end of containers one at a time at the loading station, means for circulating air at high velocity through the tubing including an adjustable internal ring-shaped nozzle to deliver desiccant canisters from the reservoir to the loading station, and a shuttle selectively actuatable to discharge at least one desiccant cannister to the containers at the loading station.

Abstract: A powder dispersing apparatus which can disperse every given amount of sample powder in a gas even when the amount is small, thereby continuously generating dispersed powder or floating powder at a desired concentration.

Abstract: A downsend terminal for a pneumatic transport tube system has a pivoting tube section pivoting about an upper horizontal axis to move the pivoting tube section between a first vertical position and a second oblique position. When at the oblique second position, the carrier is dropped out of the pivoting tube section onto a carrier support holding the carrier in a generally vertical position for access to the user. When the user completes the transaction, the terminal pulls the carrier vertically back into the pivoting tube section. If the carrier is overloaded, there is insufficient force to lift it off of the carrier support, and therefore an overloaded carrier is prohibited from entering the transport tube system. In addition, the construction prevents debris and other material from entering the transport tube system.

Abstract: The plant, which is used in the working of fruits such as applies and similar, collects the fruits (9) from water conveyor channels (6), and inserts them below a bell (3), from which the fruit will successively be transferred, by force of gravity, inside container bins (1); the bell (3), apart from being capable of axial movement, is capable also of translation movement which allows it to be positioned over various transport channels, with which a plant is usually equipped; the bell (3) further comprises an aspiration pump (10) which creates a vacuum inside it, so as to favor the accumulation of fruit inside the bell (3).

Abstract: A rivet manifold feed device (10) including a manifold body (12) that receives a rivet feed passageway (22). The manifold body (12) includes a plurality of rivet feed members or spools (14, 16, 18, 20), a plurality of air feed ports (84), and a plurality of rivet feed ports (82). A separate air feed port (84) and a separate rivet feed port (82) is positioned adjacent each respective feed spool. Each spool reciprocates back and forth between a first and a second position, wherein each spool includes a separate passageway (70, 72) that is in registration with the rivet feed passageway in each position. A rivet placed in one of the passageways (72) is delivered into the rivet feed passageway when a spool shifts into one of the positions and the air feed port adjacent that spool blasts the rivet downstream through the rivet feed passageway.

Abstract: A pneumatic tube carrier system (10) includes a first carrier receiving and sending terminal (11) and a second carrier receiving and sending terminal (13). A carrier (20) is transported back and forth between the terminals (11,13) through a pneumatic tube (12) interconnecting the first and second terminals. Means are operatively associated with at least one of the first and second terminals for automatically removing contents from the carrier at the at least one terminal before returning the carrier to the other terminal. A cover (30) is held on the carrier by magnetic attraction and without hinges or latches.

Abstract: In a lock for the transport of bulk material between chambers being under different pressure a lock chamber (4) is guided tightly and driven by a reciprocal movement in a preferably horizontal guide tube (2), which comprises on different sides of its wall a first opening (12) leading to the chamber with lower pressure and in an axial distance therefrom a second opening (15) leading to the chamber with higher pressure, wherein the chamber comprises openings (13, 14), which can be brought in coincidence with the first (12) and second (15) opening at the points or reversal of the reciprocal movement. Adjacent to the lock chamber (4) in axial direction is arranged a slide (3a) being tightly guided in the guide tube (2), which slide slides over the second opening (15).

Abstract: A mechanism for transferring chip components from a supply source onto a conveyor. A manifold of individual disc members receive the component from a supply and rotate to position the component onto a conveyor. A drive crank rotates the disc from the receiving to the release position and sensors tell a machine control the position of the component and the disc.

Abstract: A pneumatic tube send/receive terminal has a dispatch carrier that is movable between a load position and a send position. A sprocket chain fits on two sprockets and rotates under motor power, and a cam is mounted on the chain. A clapper valve or cover is hinged to a trolley or carriage that also rotatably holds the dispatch holder. A block or cog attached to the chain connects to the dispatch holder, and this rotates the same 180 degrees and then moves the trolley and the dispatch holder laterally to the send position. The cam rides a camway on the valve, and normally holds it shut, but when the chain is moved, the cam rotates over the camway and releases the valve so that it opens, and any received pneumatic carrier drops out. Rotation of the dispatch holder 180 degrees prevents inadvertent accessing the pneumatic tube with a second carrier in a single send operation.

Abstract: This system selects and delivers a rivet of correct size for workpiece thickness at each rivet location. Positive control of rivet orientation is provided at the crucial junction point of plural supply paths with the delivery path to the riveting machine. This is done by a simplified modular device, called a "transfer station," which hands off one rivet from the correct supply path to the delivery path, on demand by a measuring device. Positive rivet-orientation control is also provided everywhere else in the system, including the escapements and the injector--making it feasible to use a pneumatic tube for delivery to the injector. Thus only the measuring device and injector need be mounted to the installing head of the riveter. Orientation at the escapement is fixed by a dual-blade mechanism that constrains each rivet shank, keeping the rivet from toppling head-first into a pneumatic supply tube to the transfer station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing and dispersing dry, powdered lubricants and/or coloring, such that it completely coats granules of plastic to be lubricated and/or colored, by dispensing amounts of the coating material from a container to a region from where a timed blast of air transports said coating material through a tube communicating with the throat of a hopper containing said plastic granules, all being operated in a coordinated fashion which may be varied to increase or decrease rate and/or amount of delivery of the coating material.

Abstract: A gate comprising a body (1) hermetically connected to inlet and outlet branch pipes (2,3) that are arranged coaxially relative to each other and connected to the pipe-line of the pneumatic conveyer. The body (1) accommodates a branch pipe (4) having a cross-section corresponding to the cross-sections of the inlet (2) and outlet (3) branch pipe and kinematically connected to a drive (5) turning it. Rigidly secured to the outer wall of the branch pipe (4) disposed in the body (1) is a damper (6) used to overlap one of the branch pipes (2) connected to the body (1). The damper (6) mounts a ring-like member (7) made from a resilient material. The shape of the member (7) corresponds to the cross-section of the inlet branch pipe (2) to be overlapped. The branch pipe (4) is mounted in the body (1) so that it can swing to a certain extent in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the damper (6) and relative to an axis (8) passing below the longitudinal axis (9) of the inlet (2) and outlet (3) branch pipes.

Abstract: A pneumatic dispatch system having a plurality of forwarding tube paths and an arrangement for transferring a dispatch case between two paths including a pair of pneumatic post stations interconnected by a single tube line characterized by each of the pneumatic post stations having a first tube chamber connected to a second tube chamber which extends parallel thereto and forms a reception chamber. The two tube chambers move within a housing of the station between a first position with the first chamber aligned with the tube sections forming the forwarding tube path and the second reception chamber being in alignment with the connecting tube to a second position with the second chamber being in a position to catch and retain a dispatch case traveling in the path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic-tube conveying installation in which a tube section accommodating the sample carrier at the despatch and receiving stations is designed to be tilted into a filling or emptying position about an axis extending transversely of its longitudinal axis. A conveying installation such as this is distinguished by its particularly simple construction and operational reliability.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a slide selectively closes the upper end of the connecting tube. The dispatch tube and the receiving opening are offset relative to one another in such manner that, at the moment a pneumatic traveler is transferred out of the receiving opening, a mechanical restraining device of the dispatch tube is not yet actuated. The pneumatic dispatch station can be employed as a dispatch station with a dispatch ready position for an outgoing pneumatic traveler, as a receiving station and as a transit station with the use of only a single connecting tube movable to three positions therein. The three positions may be separated by less than two diameters of the tube.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a reception tube chamber closed at one end and a transit tube chamber open at both ends can be displaced in common, whereby, in the reception position of the pneumatic mail station, the reception tube chamber closed at one end is located with its open end area in front of a tube section associated with a forwarding tube path entering the pneumatic mail station from below. The disclosure is especially favorable in pneumatic mail systems with relatively large or, respectively, heavy pneumatic dispatch cases which are to be received in the pneumatic mail station pneumatically decelerated.

Abstract: A pneumatic-tube installation for posting samples of fine material comprises at least one sample despatch station for filling, sealing and despatching sample carriers, a sample receiving station for receiving, emptying and returning the sample carriers to the sample despatch station and a pneumatic tube system connecting the sample despatch and receiving stations. When a carrier arrives at the receiving station it automatically is opened, emptied, reclosed, and readied for return to the despatch station at which it automatically is conditioned to receive a fresh sample.

Abstract: A planter is moved through a field to place two rows of four plants on the top of a planting bed between adjacent irrigation furrows. Plants ready for transplant are disposed in trays within polymerized cast soil plugs. Each plug is disposed within the tray in a hole. Each tray has rows and columns of plant receiving holes extending through each tray. The planter carrying the plugs moves in increments and sets the planter mechanism in a stationary position over the top of the planting bed prior to plug planting. The tray carrying the transplants is registered horizontally and vertically to a plug receiving cylinder by respective cams and a supporting chain. Upon registry, polymer plugs containing sprouted plants therein are ejected, typically eight at a time, by ejecting fingers penetrating the plant receiving holes. Ejection occurs with the plants horizontally disposed into receiving concavities defined within a rotating cylinder.

Abstract: Rod-like articles such as cigarettes are conveyed in a pneumatic carrier tube in a capsule in order to prevent degradation during conveyance. The capsule may include a support portion having an opening through which the cigarette is received, and a guide portion in the form of a flange. The carrier tube may lead to remote test equipment for the cigarettes. The capsule is preferably pneumatically shuttled between a delivery station and the test equipment in order to convey successive cigarettes randomly selected from a stream of cigarettes passing, for example, from a filter cigarette making machine.

Abstract: Fine grained fuel such as coal dust is gasified at an elevated pressure by passing the fuel from a supply tank which is at atmospheric pressure by pump means into a pressurized lock basin and therefrom into the gasifier, the fuel during such movement retaining its loose consistency. This can be accomplished for instance by a solid piston pump which is only partially filled with the fuel. Thus, agglomerations are avoided and the fuel is directly conveyed into the gasifier in flowable and fluidizable form without the necessity of being reconverted into a finely divided form.

Abstract: Fine grained fuel such as coal dust is gasified at an elevated pressure by passing the fuel from a supply tank which is at atmospheric pressure by a pump into a pressurized lock basin and therefrom into the gasifier, the fuel during such movement retaining its loose consistency.

Abstract: A pneumatic stowing apparatus for use in underground mine galleries for pneumatically transporting mine waste resulting from blasting operations, mainly comprises a housing in which an element forming at least one chamber is movable between a material receiving position in which such mine waste is filled through an inlet opening in the housing into the chamber and a material-discharging position in which opposite open ends of the chamber are respectively aligned with openings in opposite end walls of the housing, through one of which compressed air is blown over a valve into the chamber so that the mine waste in the latter is transported to a point of use through a discharge conduit connected to the opening in the opposite end wall of the housing, a motor to move the chamber forming element between the positions thereof, and a member for opening and closing the valve in timed sequence with the movement of the chamber forming element.

Abstract: In a water treatment plant which extracts water from a large open main body of water, the improvement of; a settling enclosure submerged in said main body of water and having a settling chamber therein which is isolated from the main body of water by an enclosure wall, a substantially quiescent body of water located within said settling chamber, input passage means communicating between said settling chamber and said main body of water for admitting water to said settling chamber, output passage means communicating between said settling chamber and said water treatment plant for conveying water from said quiescent body of water to said water treatment plant, said quiescent body of water having a volume which is substantially greater than the instantaneous requirements of said water treatment plant whereby water entering said settling chamber is held in a substantially quiescent state within said settling chamber for a period of time sufficient to ensure that the turbidity of water drawn from the quiescent bod