Terminal for pneumatic carrier system

A pneumatic up-receive, down-send transport terminal adapted for the upward receipt and downward dispatch of article carriers from and to a single pneumatic transport tube, said terminal including:

• a terminal housing;
• an opening in one side of said housing;
• a door means for selectively closing and opening said opening;
• a carrier supporting cradle means movably mounted within the housing, said cradle means movable along a path defining a straight line between a retracted position adjacent a side of the housing opposite the opening, and a presentment position across the housing wherein the cradle means extends at least partially through the opening, said housing adapted for receiving a carrier in an area between said door and said opposite side;
• common drive means for opening and closing the door and for simultaneously driving the cradle means respectively to said presentment position when the door is opened and to said retracted position when the door is closed, and
• said tube connected to said housing to introduce and to receive carriers along a carrier path in a central area of said housing between said door and said opposite side.

A pneumatic down-receive, up-send transport terminal adapted for the downward receipt and upward dispatch of article carriers from and to a single pneumatic transport tube, said terminal including:

• a terminal housing;
• an opening in one side of said housing;
• a door means for selectively closing and opening said opening;
• a carrier supporting cradle means movably mounted within the housing, said cradle means movable along a path defining a straight line between a retracted position adjacent a side of the housing opposite the opening, and a presentment position across the housing wherein the cradle means extends at least partially through the opening, said housing adapted for receiving a carrier in an area between said door and said opposite side;
• common drive means for opening and closing the door and for simultaneously driving the cradle means respectively to said presentment position when the door is opened and to said retracted position when the door is closed;
• said transport tube connected to said housing to introduce and to receive carriers along a carrier path in a central area of said housing between said door and said opposite side;
• and
• wherein said cradle means, in a retracted position includes a carrier stop means remaining in the path of an incoming carrier for stopping said incoming carrier thereon.

A pneumatic transport terminal adapted for the receipt and dispatch of article carriers, said terminal including:

• a terminal housing;
• an opening in one side of said housing;
• a slidable door means for selectively closing and opening said opening, said door means including a door actuating abutment extending therefrom;
• a carrier supporting cradle means movably mounted within the housing, said cradle means movable along a path between a retracted position adjacent a side of the housing opposite the opening, and a presentment position across the housing wherein the cradle means extends at least partially through the opening, said housing adapted for receiving a carrier in an area between said door and said opposite side;
• common drive means, including a flexible driving member operably connected to drive said door and said cradle means, for opening and closing the door and for simultaneously driving the cradle means respectively to said presentment position when the door is opened and to said retracted position when the door is closed;
• a track means on said housing;
• a slide member slidably mounted on said track means, and
• a door-driving abutment surface on said slide means for engaging said abutment on said door to open said door, said flexible driving means connected to move said slide member along said track means for operating said door.

A pneumatic transport terminal adapted for the receipt and dispatch of article carriers from and to a single pneumatic transport tube, said terminal including:

• a terminal housing;
• an opening in one side of said housing;
• a door means for selectively closing and opening said opening;
• a carrier supporting cradle means slidably mounted within the housing, said cradle means movable along a path between a retracted position adjacent a side of the housing opposite the opening, and a presentment position across the housing wherein the cradle means extends at least partially through the opening, said housing adapted for receiving a carrier in an area between said door and said opposite side;
• a rack on said cradle means;
• a rotatable pinion mounted to engage and drive said rack and said cradle means;
• common drive means for opening and closing the door and operably connected to said pinion for simultaneously driving the cradle means respectively to said presentment position when the door is opened and to said retracted position when the door is closed;
• and
• said transport tube connected to said housing to introduce and to receive carriers along a carrier path in a central area of said housing between said door and said opposite side.

A pneumatic up-receive, down-send transport terminal adapted for the receipt and dispatch of article carriers, said terminal including:

• a terminal housing;
• an opening in one side of said housing;
• a door means for selectively closing and opening said opening;
• a carrier supported cradle means movably mounted within the housing, said cradle means movable along a path between a retracted position adjacent a side of the housing opposite the opening and completely disposed on one side of and outwardly of a path traversed by a carrier coming into said housing, and a presentment position across the housing wherein the cradle means extends at least partially through the opening, said housing adapted for receiving a carrier along a path in an area between said door and said opposite side;
• and
• common drive means for opening and closing the door and for simultaneously driving the cradle means respectively to said presentment position when the door is opened and to said retracted position when the door is closed.

A pneumatic down-receive, up-send transport terminal adapted for the receipt and dispatch of article carriers, said terminal including:

• a terminal housing;
• an opening in one side of said housing;
• a door means for selectively closing and opening said opening;
• a carrier supporting cradle means movably mounted within the housing, said cradle means movable along a path between a retracted position adjacent a side of the housing opposite the opening, and a presentment position across the housing wherein the cradle means extends at least partially through the opening, said housing adapted for receiving a carrier along a path in an area between said door and said opposite side and said cradle means further including carrier stop means thereon and disposed in the path of an incoming carrier, when said cradle means is in a retracted position, for stopping said incoming carrier;
• and
• common drive means for opening and closing the drive and for simultaneously driving the cradle means respectively to said presentment position when the door is opened and to said retracted position when the door is closed.