公开(公告)号：US11505407B2

公开(公告)日：2022-11-22

申请号：US16311368

申请日：2016-12-16

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Uffe Lykkegaard

IPC: B65G1/137

Abstract: There is disclosed agiotage and retrieval system e.g. suitable for use in an airport and for aircraft baggage. In order e.g. to provide such system which improves usage and availability in view of the prior-art, a control system controls the system in two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, a first rack region serving device (110) is only serving a first rack region 104 using a first feeding and extraction conveyor system (114), and a second rack region serving device (112) is only serving a second rack region (106) using a second feeding and extraction conveyor system (116). In a second mode of operation, only the first rack region serving device (110) is used for serving both the first and second rack regions (104, 106), and only the first feeding and extraction conveyor system (114) is used for feeding articles to the first rack region serving device (110) and for taking away articles from the first rack region serving device (110).

公开(公告)号：US20210248545A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-12

申请号：US16973212

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Søren Mikkelsen ,  Søren Nyboe Laursen ,  Jan Rasmussen ,  Niels Døssing ,  Allan Christensen ,  Lars Guldager Ardal

IPC: G06Q10/08

Abstract: The invention provides a computer implemented method for test of a control system for a logistics system. The method comprises testing (TST1, TST2) one or more low level control (LLC) software parts by simultaneously emulating a high level (HLE) response, emulating a low level emulating (LLE) response, and interfacing (INF) said HLE and low level emulation LLE. The interfacing (INF) of the HLE and LLE, comprises two-way exchanging a plurality of parameters (P) indicative of items to be handled in the logistics system between the HLE and the LLE. With such interfacing of a HLE for testing of a high level control (HLC) software of the logistics system, and the LLE for, it is possible to provide a realistic test and tuning of LLC software parts, e.g. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) code, before the physical elements of a complex logistics system is built, e.g. an airport baggage handling system. This can reduce time and costs involved in final testing and tuning of parameters in the LLC software parts on-site, when the total system has been built.

公开(公告)号：US10604349B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-31

申请号：US15781730

申请日：2016-12-14

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Uffe Lykkegaard

IPC: B65G23/44 ,  B65G21/14

Abstract: The invention relates to a line sorter for sorting items of various shapes, sizes and weights, in particular postal parcels or airport baggage. The line sorter (102) has a closed loop of coupled sorting carts or slats provided for moving along a loop track formed by an upper track section (104), a lower track section (106), one end track section connecting the upper and lower track sections at each of two ends of the line sorter, and one or more adjustment elements also forming part of the track loop. One of the end track sections 108, 109 can be longitudinally displaced relative to the upper and lower track sections to increase or decrease the resulting length of the track loop. The adjustment element(s) (210, 211) is movably mounted between said end track section and an adjacent upper or lower track section. A wedge shaped portion of the adjustment element is arranged for adjustable engagement with a correspondingly shaped portion of said end track section, or the upper or lower track section. This allows adjustment of a length of the track loop in accordance with displacement of said end track section, and still close a gap in the track by means of the adjustment element.

公开(公告)号：US10358301B2

公开(公告)日：2019-07-23

申请号：US14435562

申请日：2013-10-31

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Uffe Lykkegaard ,  Anders Bentsen ,  Allan Vang Jørgensen

IPC: B65G57/30 ,  B64F1/36 ,  B65G43/00 ,  B65G47/06 ,  B65G47/36 ,  B65G59/06

Abstract: In order, e.g., to improve distribution of baggage in an airport, a solution comprises positioning two or more empty totes above each other, so that the two or more empty totes are supported by a tote station by support members 206, determining, by a control system, when either a single empty tote should be released from the tote station or two or more empty totes should be released from the tote station together and at once, and in response to the determination releasing single empty totes from the tote station or releasing two or more empty totes on top of each other from the tote station. A lowermost 1604 of the two or more empty totes on top of each other supports one or more empty totes 1606 on top of it and the lowermost empty tote is, when released, supported by a support conveyor 204.

公开(公告)号：US20180362258A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-20

申请号：US15781730

申请日：2016-12-14

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Uffe Lykkegaard

IPC: B65G23/44 ,  B65G21/14

Abstract: The invention relates to a line sorter for sorting items of various shapes, sizes and weights, in particular postal parcels or airport baggage. The line sorter (102) has a closed loop of coupled sorting carts or slats provided for moving along a loop track formed by an upper track section (104), a lower track section (106), one end track section connecting the upper and lower track sections at each of two ends of the line sorter, and one or more adjustment elements also forming part of the track loop. One of the end track sections 108, 109 can be longitudinally displaced relative to the upper and lower track sections to increase or decrease the resulting length of the track loop. The adjustment element(s) (210, 211) is movably mounted between said end track section and an adjacent upper or lower track section. A wedge shaped portion of the adjustment element is arranged for adjustable engagement with a correspondingly shaped portion of said end track section, or the upper or lower track section. This allows adjustment of a length of the track loop in accordance with displacement of said end track section, and still close a gap in the track by means of the adjustment element.

公开(公告)号：US20230182313A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-15

申请号：US17916600

申请日：2021-03-26

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Ejnar Nielsen ,  Henrik Frank Skyum

IPC: B25J9/16 ,  B25J9/02 ,  B25J15/06

CPC classification number: B25J9/1697 ,  B25J9/026 ,  B25J15/0616 ,  B25J9/1661

Abstract: The invention provides a controllable gripper for a robot. A plurality of gripping members, e.g. suction cups, are arranged to engage with a surface of an object to be gripped. The gripping members are arranged in a controllable gripping configuration. A base part is arranged to be moved by a robotic actuator, e.g. a gantry type of robotic actuator. Two or more arms connected to the base part are slidably arranged along their lengths relative to the base part. Each arm has a gripping member at or near its distal end. A controllable actuator system is arranged to control position of the arms in different directions, relative to the base part, thus allowing various gripping configurations to be formed with respect to at least size. Especially, four arms of fixed length, each with a suction cup, may be actuated by one or two electric motors, so a to allow the four suction cups to form various gripping quadrangle sizes. This allows the gripper to be capable of gripping small and large objects in random order, since the gripping configuration can be rapidly changed. Still, the gripper can be formed rather simple with few elements, and yet it is flexible and can be very compact in a compressed state of the arms to allow navigation into narrow spaces, e.g. to grip an object in a 3D bulk of objects. The gripper is preferably mounted to a robotic actuator by means of a controllable rotation and tilting arrangement.

公开(公告)号：US20230150777A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-18

申请号：US17916592

申请日：2021-03-26

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Henrik Frank Skyum ,  Andreas Werner

IPC: B65G47/91 ,  B07C5/36 ,  B25J9/16

CPC classification number: B65G47/917 ,  B07C5/361 ,  B65G47/918 ,  B65G47/914 ,  B25J9/163 ,  B65G2203/041 ,  B65G2203/0233

Abstract: A robot system for picking randomly shaped and sized object from a continuously moving stream of objects in bulk, e.g. a 3D bulk, and placing the object singulated and aligned on an induction or directly on a sorter. A pick and place robot has a robotic actuator for moving a gripper with a controllable gripping configuration of its gripping members, e.g. four suction cups, to adapt the gripper for various objects. A control system processes a 3D image of objects upstream of a position of the pick and place robot, identifies separate objects in the 3D image, and selects which object to grip, based on parameters of the identified separate objects determined from the 3D image. Based on e.g. size and shape of the selected object to grip, the gripping configuration of the gripper is adjusted to match the surface of the object to grip for optimal gripping. The robotic actuator, e.g. a gantry type robotic actuator, is then controlled to move the gripper to a position for gripping the object, and afterwards move the gripper with the gripped object to a target position and with a target orientation to release grip of the object and thus place the object on an induction or directly on a sorter. An image after placing the object along with properties of the object determined from the 3D image can be used as input to a machine learning for online improving pick and place performance of the robot system, e.g. for online improving the algorithm for selection of which object to pick, and also for selection of the appropriate gripping configuration to match the object.

公开(公告)号：US10745150B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-18

申请号：US16340592

申请日：2017-10-13

Applicant: BEUMER Group A/S

Inventor： Uffe Lykkegaard

IPC: B65G47/50 ,  B64F1/36

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of passengers (118) claiming their baggage pieces (115) at an aircraft baggage claim area (106) of an airport. In order e.g. to provide such method which improves usage and availability and user experience in view of reference systems, the method includes providing (706) a plurality of destinations (16) at the aircraft baggage claim area of the airport and along each of two lateral sides (112), (114) of the material handling equipment, and choosing (708) towards which of the two lateral sides (112), (114) the one or more pieces of aircraft baggage (15) should be automatically and actively discharged into at least one of the plurality of destinations (116). The method further includes actively discharging (710) the one or more pieces of aircraft baggage (115) from the material handling equipment and into at least one of the destinations (116), and that the one or more aircraft passengers (118) are claiming (712) the one or more pieces of aircraft baggage (115) paired with the one or more aircraft passengers at the at least one destination when the one or more pieces of aircraft baggage is at rest and has stopped moving.

公开(公告)号：US20180354730A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-13

申请号：US15778648

申请日：2016-11-29

Applicant: BEUMER GROUP A/S

Inventor： Uffe LYKKEGAARD

IPC: B65G47/96 ,  B65G21/22 ,  B65G54/02

CPC classification number: B65G47/96 ,  B07C1/02 ,  B07C5/38 ,  B65G17/22 ,  B65G21/22 ,  B65G47/965 ,  B65G54/02 ,  B65G2201/0264 ,  B65G2201/0285

Abstract: In order, e.g., to provide a line sorter in which acoustic noise resulting from the polygon effect is reduced, there is disclosed a sorter (102) for sorting items of various shapes, sizes and weights, such as postal parcels or airport baggage. The sorter includes a closed loop comprising a plurality of sorting carts (302) for moving along an upper track section, a lower track section and end track sections in a moving direction. The plurality of carts are coupled at couplings (312), which enable the carts to pivot relatively to each other in at least one plane when in operation. Each cart is able to pivot relatively to an adjacent cart at two or more pivot points (404, 414, 1002) where the two or more pivot points are positioned a pivot point distance greater than zero apart in the moving direction of the carts.

公开(公告)号：US09878852B2

公开(公告)日：2018-01-30

申请号：US14357999

申请日：2011-11-21

Applicant: Brian Lynge Sørensen ,  Jan Christensen

Inventor： Brian Lynge Sørensen ,  Jan Christensen

IPC: G06F7/00 ,  B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/94

CPC classification number: B65G43/08 ,  B65G47/945 ,  B65G2201/0264

Abstract: The invention provides a sorting mechanism arranged to empty or discharge a container for carrying a load, e.g. totes in a luggage handling system. The sorting mechanism has a plurality of tilting elements T1-T11 for receiving and transporting the container in a transport direction. The tilting elements T1-T11 are arranged neighboring each other, and they are individually tiltable by controllable tilting actuators, e.g. servo motors. The tilting elements T1-T11 are controlled in response to at least one position signal such that a group of at least two tilting elements T1-T11 perform a coordinated tilting motion, when the container passes the sorting mechanism. Each tilting element T1-T11 has a length of 30-50% of the container. The tilting elements T1-T11 are stationary, and the container is driven forward by belts on each of the tilting elements T1-T11.