Patent ID: 6012876
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A pneumatic tube forwarding system comprising:a first tube having a first end and a first central longitudinal axis;a second tube having a second end and a second central longitudinal axis, said second longitudinal axis being in a same plane as said first longitudinal axis and at an angle to said first longitudinal axis where the angle has an inside of less than 180.degree. and an outside of more than 180.degree.;an elongate capsule which is moved through said first tube and said second tube, said capsule havingan outside diameter portion which closely matches an inside diameter of said first and second tubes, andan end cap at a forward longitudinal end; anda pitch changing member held interposed between said first and second ends of said first and second tubes, said pitch changing member forming a chamber through which said capsule is conducted and includingan inside semicylindrical chamber-forming member portion extending between an angularly inside semicylindrical portion of said first end and an angularly inside semicylindrical portion of said second end,an outside semicylindrical chamber-forming member portion extending between an angularly outside semicylindrical portion of said first end and an angularly outside semicylindrical portion of said second end, said outside member portion including(a) a first elongate section having a proximal end abutting said first end of said first tube and a distal end, said first section being generally parallel to said first longitudinal axis,(b) a second elongate section having a proximal end abutting said second end of said second tube and a distal end, said second section being generally parallel to said second longitudinal axis, and(c) a connecting section connecting said distal ends of said first and second sections, said connecting section including (i) an inside impact surface in the chamber at an angle to both said first and second sections, and (ii) an adjusting means for varying an angle of orientation of said impact surface relative to said first and second longitudinal axes, andside walls which connect said inside and outside member portions integrally together;whereby during transport of said capsule from said first tube to said second tube, said capsule enters said first section of said pitch changing member generally parallel to said first longitudinal axis, said end cap then impacts against said impact surface of said connecting section and is angularly deflected thereby in the chamber, and further movement of said capsule through said pitch changing member causes said capsule to enter said second tube with a pitch generally parallel to said second longitudinal axis.