A mechanically-controlled vacuum throttle for a continuous dense phase pneumatic conveying system and related method is provided. The system includes a pneumatic conveyance line, a particulate material insertion assembly, a positive displacement blower, a transport fluid intake assembly, and a vacuum throttling assembly. The vacuum throttling assembly is configured to control the flow of air mass density into the blower and through the conveyance line. A portion of the vacuum throttling assembly is tied in to the conveyance line pressure downstream of the blower and adjusts the air mass density flow depending on the downstream pressure. Preferably, the vacuum throttling assembly includes an obstruction element and an opening collar, where the obstruction element is moveable relative to the opening collar and the air mass density flow is adjusted depending on the amount of movement of the obstruction element relative to the opening collar.

A pressure and vacuum generating module for a carrier transport system includes a combined blower, air chamber and rotating valve module which alternately couples a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber to the carrier transport system, creating high or low pressure regions which move a transport carrier. The valve repositions a baffle which blocks one or the other of the chambers, or both chambers, the latter for breaking and landing of the carrier. With a chassis that includes the blower motor, air chamber and valve, the module is adapted for new construction as well as for retrofitting and replacing older legacy blower modules.

A pressure and vacuum generating module for a carrier transport system includes a combined blower, air chamber and rotating valve module which alternately couples a pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber to the carrier transport system, creating high or low pressure regions which move a transport carrier. The valve repositions a baffle which blocks one or the other of the chambers, or both chambers, the latter for breaking and landing of the carrier. With a chassis that includes the blower motor, air chamber and valve, the module is adapted for new construction as well as for retrofitting and replacing older legacy blower modules.

A pneumatic transport system for histological samples includes a transport tube within which a carrier containing samples is transported. A station for loading/unloading the samples into/from the carrier is arranged at one tube end. When the carrier is arriving at the station, a blower of the system is deactivated and the carrier is braked, allowing stopping within the station against a stop member. Thereafter, a motor imparts, via the stop member, rotation to said carrier until a carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of a station door. Thereafter, the carrier is stopped and the doors are opened by an actuator, this enabling activation of an operating cycle of loading/unloading of the samples. Upon completion, the doors are closed, a carrier locking device is deactivated and the blower is activated, allowing departure of the carrier from the station and its transport within the tube.

A pneumatic transport system for histological samples includes a transport tube within which a carrier containing samples is transported. A station for loading/unloading the samples into/from the carrier is arranged at one tube end. When the carrier is arriving at the station, a blower of the system is deactivated and the carrier is braked, allowing stopping within the station against a stop member. Thereafter, a motor imparts, via the stop member, rotation to said carrier until a carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of a station door. Thereafter, the carrier is stopped and the doors are opened by an actuator, this enabling activation of an operating cycle of loading/unloading of the samples. Upon completion, the doors are closed, a carrier locking device is deactivated and the blower is activated, allowing departure of the carrier from the station and its transport within the tube.

A Powder feeding system for feeding powder in a feed tank via a valve for powder downstream of the feed tank and through a powder delivery pipe, the Powder feeding system including: a powder fluidizing portion provided in the feed tank and configured to introduce fluidizing gas for fluidizing the powder; and a powder refluidizing portion provided between the powder fluidizing portion and the valve for powder and configured to introduce refluidizing gas for refluidizing the powder.

A pneumatic transport system for organic samples includes a transport tube within which a carrier containing samples is transported. A station for loading/unloading the samples into/from the carrier is arranged at one tube end. When the carrier is arriving at the station, a blower of the system is deactivated and the carrier is braked, allowing stopping within the station against a stop member. Thereafter, a motor imparts, via the stop member, rotation to said carrier until a carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of a station door. Thereafter, the carrier is stopped and the doors are opened by an actuator, this enabling activation of an operating cycle of loading/unloading of the samples. Upon completion, the doors are closed, a carrier locking device is deactivated and the blower is activated, allowing departure of the carrier from the station and its transport within the tube.

A pneumatic transport system for organic samples includes a transport tube within which a carrier containing samples is transported. A station for loading/unloading the samples into/from the carrier is arranged at one tube end. When the carrier is arriving at the station, a blower of the system is deactivated and the carrier is braked, allowing stopping within the station against a stop member. Thereafter, a motor imparts, via the stop member, rotation to said carrier until a carrier door is at an angular position substantially corresponding to an angular position of a station door. Thereafter, the carrier is stopped and the doors are opened by an actuator, this enabling activation of an operating cycle of loading/unloading of the samples. Upon completion, the doors are closed, a carrier locking device is deactivated and the blower is activated, allowing departure of the carrier from the station and its transport within the tube.

The present invention includes a configuration to move a transport body (500) in conjunction with movement of a moving body (200) due to repulsion applied between respective magnetic materials (213) and (523) when the moving body and the transport body are in a close location relation, and, when the moving body separates from a range of the close location relation due to halfway stop of the transport body, the transport body is moved in the opposite direction to stop at a predetermined end portion stop position, subsequently only the moving body is caused to travel in a direction further away from the transport body, and the moving body is returned into the range of the close location relation by causing the moving body to travel toward the transport body at a speed resistible against the repelling force.

The present invention includes a configuration to move a transport body (500) in conjunction with movement of a moving body (200) due to repulsion applied between respective magnetic materials (213) and (523) when the moving body and the transport body are in a close location relation, and, when the moving body separates from a range of the close location relation due to halfway stop of the transport body, the transport body is moved in the opposite direction to stop at a predetermined end portion stop position, subsequently only the moving body is caused to travel in a direction further away from the transport body, and the moving body is returned into the range of the close location relation by causing the moving body to travel toward the transport body at a speed resistible against the repelling force.