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AssigneePicker Technologies LLC
InventorVincent E. Bryan, JR.
Estimating the term…
A pneumatic tube transport system for grossly irregular shaped objects is disclosed. The system comprises a pneumatic tube and a series of one or more flexible, sealable bags adapted to contain the objects to be transported. The bags may be fenestrated, but, if desired, the bags can be designed and manufactured so that when they are filled and sealed, they can assume a generally inflated shape. The bags can be made out of a thin material such as that found in a grocery store produce section or check out area. A bag providing apparatus can be supplied either to the individual picker in the field or to the region near the entry to the pneumatic tube. If desired, an inflating device and a bag sealing device can be provided. After placement of the object(s) into the bag these devices can inflate and the seal the bag and then allow for its quick release and deposition at the entry end of the pneumatic tube. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the tube can be provided with a series of baffles to encourage rapid yet gentle travel of the bag and the enclosed fruit or other objects down the pneumatic tube.
The use, in a pneumatic tube transport system, of the combination of a sealed flexible bag containing a gas and at least one object having an irregular shape which combination presents a more flexible and smoothly shaped overall package than the contour of the uncontained object.
A pneumatic tube transport system for transporting objects of grossly irregular shape, comprising, in combination, a pneumatic tube, a device for generating a vacuum at a discharge end of the tube, and at least one flexible, sealable bag adapted to contain a gas and to enclose the object of grossly irregular shape and further adapted to engage the inner surface of the pneumatic tube with a sealing effect.
A pneumatic tube transport system for transporting at least one object having a grossly irregular shape, comprising, in combination, a pneumatic tube, a plurality of toroidal baffles mounted at spaced apart intervals within the tube, and a flexible, sealable bag adapted to contain the object and a gas and further adapted to engage the baffles within the tube in sequential order with a momentary sealing effect as the bag and the contained objects move along the pneumatic tube.
A method of moving at least one object having a grossly irregular shape along the pneumatic tube comprising the steps of
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.