Abstract:
A container transport system for transport of an article, in particular a baggage item, includes a container for receiving an article, with the container made of flame-resistant, wear-resistant and translucent plastic material which is stable in shape. The container has an underside which is formed with touch surfaces extending in a transport direction by which the container is advanced by a conveyor between a receiving end and a discharge end. The conveyor is provided with a guiding and/or driving engagement assembly for cooperation with the touch surfaces of the container.
Abstract:
A conveyor system for transport of containers, in particular an airport baggage handling system, includes a conveyor having a curved transport path with one end defining an entry zone and another end defining an exit zone. The containers are moved by a container propulsion mechanism along the curved transport path between the entry and exit zones, wherein the curved transport path is constructed for movement of the containers in an inwardly inclined disposition for reducing centrifugal forces.
Abstract:
A transport system for transport of containers has a switch with an entry zone, an exit zone with at least two different transport paths for conveying a container, and a switch mechanism for selectively controlling the transport of the container to the transport paths. During their travel, the containers are supported by a support assembly, and aligned and advanced in a controlled manner in the entry zone by an alignment and propulsion mechanism. A propulsion and guide assembly in the exit zone is rendered operative in response to a transport of the container along the transport paths and includes at least two modules which respectively cooperate with the transport paths and are disposed in the exit zone below the plane of the support assembly. The modules are hereby so controlled that only the one of the modules is raised into a plane above the plane of the support assembly, when the container is transported along the associated transport path.
Abstract:
This disclosure sets forth a robotic end effector for acquiring and managing an article, such as an item of luggage. The robotic end effector can include an extendable arm comprising a first support member, a capture device comprising a guide member having a plurality of apertures formed therein with a rod slideably supported in each aperture of the guide member. The capture device can further include a biasing member associated with one or more rods and being configured to bias the one or more rods in a first direction relative to the guide member. The article interface system can include an actuatable article engagement device. The actuatable article engagement device can itself include an article interface surface. The actuatable article engagement device can be operated to interface with an article to facilitate movement of the article toward the capture device.
Abstract:
An example luggage processing station comprises: an injector adapted to receive a piece of luggage, the injector comprising an injector conveyor belt integrated into a floor of the injector; a group of sensors positioned around the injector directed towards the injector conveyor belt; a controller adapted to assess the piece of luggage compared to an acceptance parameter whilst the piece of luggage is stationary on the injector conveyor belt; and the controller is configured to actuate the injector conveyor belt when the controller assesses the piece of luggage as meeting the acceptance parameter.
Abstract:
A method for the optimized operation of a transport container conveyor system for items of cargo, in particular of an airport luggage conveyor system, includes: a) introducing an item of cargo into the conveyor system at an introduction point; b) providing larger transport containers of a first category and smaller transport containers of a second category for receiving a respective item of cargo; c) automatically recording a dimension of the item of cargo; d) depending on the recorded dimension, automatically assigning the item of cargo to a transport container of a first or second category; e) automatically loading the assigned transport container with the item of cargo; f) transporting the transport container loaded with the item of cargo on active conveyor sections; g) repeating the above steps for further items of cargo. There is also described a novel conveyor system.
Abstract:
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided method of preparing a plurality of items for air transport, in which method a plurality of items is consolidated into a bundle which has a shape corresponding to the contour or part of the contour of a unit load device. The bundle is loaded into the unit load device so as to populate the volume or part of the volume of the unit load device.
Abstract:
A sorting system has a sorting area and a controller system that receives luggage-related sorting information for each piece of luggage. A transport mechanism transports the luggage into a sorting area which includes a sorting area with at least one make-up-place connected to the transport mechanism. The make-up-place sorts the luggage according to at least one item of luggage-related sorting information. Movable load devices receive the pieces of luggage sorted by the at least one make-up-place. The controller system assigns each piece of luggage according to at least one luggage-related information to a particular movable load device and the controller system is also adapted to select a make-up-place for each piece of luggage and to send the piece of luggage to the selected make-up-place to be loaded into the assigned movable load device.
Abstract:
Extendible fences for extendible conveyors are disclosed. An example conveyor includes a fence assembly having a plurality of channel segments including at least a base channel segment, an intermediate channel segment, and a distal channel segment. The fence assembly is adjustable in a lengthwise direction such that the fence assembly is longer in the lengthwise direction when a main conveyor assembly is in a fully extended configuration than when the main conveyor assembly is in a fully retracted configuration. The intermediate channel segment is interposed between the base channel segment and the distal channel segment with respect to the lengthwise direction. Each channel segment of the plurality of channel segments includes sidewalls extending upward from a bottom panel. The intermediate channel segment to move in translation in the lengthwise direction relative to an intermediate conveyor section. The bottom panel of the intermediate channel segment is positioned between an upper portion of a conveyor belt of the main conveyor assembly and an upper load bearing surface of the intermediate conveyor section. The upper portion of the conveyor belt being interposed between the sidewalls with reference to a lateral direction, where the lateral direction is horizontal and perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.
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.