Pneumatic conveying pipe system for collection and intermittent

Abstract

A system for pneumatically transferring different types of goods through common piping. The system operates automatically to direct one type of goods to one container, for example goods such as trash which is to be held for destruction, and the other type of goods to another container, for example goods such as laundry which is to be held for recycling. The automatic routing of the goods is preferably controlled by separate inlets for the two types of goods, such that the goods inserted into one inlet are automatically routed to one container and goods inserted into the other inlet are automatically routed to the other container. The system provides an intermediate collector for each type of goods adjacent the inlets so that the goods deposited in the respective inlets may be separately accumulated prior to being transferred to the containers. Three systems are illustrated: in the first, the common piping is confined between the dual inlets and the collectors; in the second, the common piping is confined to between the collectors and the containers; and in the third system, the common piping is provided between the inlets and the collectors, and also between the collectors and the containers. In all systems, a common suction is provided to transport the goods from the inlets through the collectors to the containers.