Pneumatic tube distribution system and method

A pneumatic system for transporting a carrier between a first transport station and a second transport station, the system comprising:

• a first transport tube coupled to the first transport station;
• a second transport tube coupled to the second transport station;
• a rotary distributor coupled to the first transport tube and the second transport tube;
• a storage chamber included in the distributor and moveable between the first transport tube and the second transport tube;
• and
• a source of airflow coupled to the distributor to facilitate movement of the carrier through the first transport tube and into the storage chamber of the distributor, and to facilitate expulsion of the carrier from the storage chamber of the distributor and into the second transport tube.

A method for pneumatically transporting a carrier between a first transport station and a second transport station, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a distributor coupled through a first transport tube to the first transport station and coupled through a second transport tube to the second transport station;
• providing the distributor with a table rotatable between the first transport tube and the second transport tube;
• fixing a storage chamber relative to the table;
• advancing the carrier from the first transport station through the first transport tube;
• receiving the carrier from the first transport tube in a first direction into the storage chamber of the distributor;
• rotating the table with the carrier disposed in the storage chamber between the first transport tube and the second transport tube;
• expelling the carrier from the storage chamber of the distributor in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and into the second transport tube;
• and
• advancing the carrier through the second transport tube to the second transport station.

A method for pneumatically transporting a carrier between a first transport station and a second transport station, including the steps of:

• providing a first transport tube coupled to the first transport station;
• providing the second transport tube coupled to the second transport station;
• receiving the carrier from the first transport tube into a storage chamber at a first distribution station;
• expelling the carrier from the storage chamber into the second transport tube at a second distribution station;
• and
• after the receiving step moving the storage chamber between the first distribution station and the second distribution station wherein the moving step includes the step of rotating the storage chamber between the first distribution station and the second distribution station.