GB2470557A

GB2470557A - Conveyor combination with moveable offloading conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2470557A
Application number: GB0908979A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Jeffrey; Alistair Gilchrist; Andrew Wilson
Original assignee: Logan Teleflex UK Ltd
Current assignee: Daifuku Logan Ltd
Priority date: 2009-05-26
Filing date: 2009-05-26
Publication date: 2010-12-01
Also published as: EP2435347A1; WO2010136789A1; GB0908979D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a combination of two of more driven conveyors 24, 30. In particular a second conveyor 30 may be a offloading conveyor which is moveable / tiltatable / pivotable / displaceable / telescoping relative to the first conveyor 24. The first conveyor 24 may be operable incrementally to deliver discrete items one at a time to the offloading conveyor 30. The conveyor combination may be used to aid the manual offloading of baggage onto a baggage cart (12,36, 30, fig. 1). Additional conveyors, forming part of a broad baggage handling and delivery system, may further feature as part of the arrangement (figs. 1-4).

Description

DESCRPTlON

BAGGAGE HANDLING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to baggage handling apparatus and in particular, but by no means exclusively, to baggage handling apparatUs for use in airports.

In airports, it is necessary to transport baggage from a passenger check-in area to the aircraft on which the passenger is to travel. Normally, the baggage for each particular aircraft is loaded onto or into one or more baggage carts or unit load devices (ULD5) which are then towed to the correct aircraft, where the baggage is offloaded from the baggage carts or ULDs and loaded onto the aircraft.

One known baggage handling system, known as a tilt-tray sortation system, is in the form of an endless conveyor track along which a series of tiltabie trays" run, each tray being designed to carry a single item of is baggage. As each bag is checked in it is transported via a series of conveyors to the tilt-tray sortation conveyor where it is loaded onto one of the moving trays. The system is under the control of a central control system which associates each baggage-carrying tray with the specific flight or aircraft onto which the item of baggage carried by the tray is to be loaded. The baggage for each flight or aircraft is offloaded onto one or more discharge chutes and the baggage coflected by the chutes is loaded onto the baggage carts or ULDs, As the tray carrying an item of baggage for a parl.icuiar flight passes the di.scharge chute associated with that flight, thetrayistiltedtodisplacetheftemofbaggageoffthetrayandontothe discharge chute.

Currently, the items of baggage for a particular flight accumulate at thebottomofeachchute. ftisthennecessaryfortheitemsofbaggageto s betransferredfrcmthebaseofthechuteontoabaggagecartorULD,for onward transportation to the aircraft.

The process of transporting and sorting the baggage from the check in processtothe make up position' (the pointwhere the bag has to be manually lifted from the sortafion outfeed into the cart or ULD) can be achIeved in a number of other ways in addition to using tilt tray sortatlon.

Sorted baggage may be presented to the baggage handler from single lateral feed conveyors. The baggage could be transported to the make up position using a DCV (Destination Coded Vehicle) or similar cart carrying a tub containing the bag or to a make up carousel where it would be ploughed off the carousel to enable the baggage handler to lift it into the cart or ULD. Out of gauge baggage is presented to the baggage handler from the end of an oversize belt conveyor.

Traditlonally the transfer of the baggage from the base of the chute or other make up position onto the baggage cart or ULD has been achieved by manual lifting and positioning. However, concerns have been raised about the injuries which can result from such manual effort Alternative systems for transferring the baggage from the base of the discharge chute or other make up device onto the baggage chart include a fully automatic robotic system, which is very expensive, and a lifting hook mechanism and a vacuum lifting system, both of which have limitations on the types of bags which can be lifted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a baggage handling system which significantly reduces the degree of physical effort involved and yet which can be controlled manually.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a baggage handling apparatus comprising first, driven conveyor means for conveying items of baggage loaded onto the apparatus; and second, driven, conveyor means, operable independently of the first conveyor means, for offloading from the apparatus items of baggage conveyed by the first conveyor means.

Such an arrangement allows items of baggage to be received and loaded without the requirement for them to be lifted manually at any stage.

is The provision of first and second conveyor means also allows the items of baggage to be conveyed to the second, offloading, conveyor means at the correct time and minimises the likelihood of items of baggage backing up on the apparatus.

Preferably, the first conveyor means is operable intermittently.

The first conveyor means may comprise an endless conveyor belt.

In one embodiment, the first conveyor means comprises a plurality of separate, independently actuated, powered conveyor units, for example a plurality of separate, independently actuated, powered endless conveyor belts, Preferably, the second conveyor means is operable intermittently.

The receMng location of the second conveyor means is preferably located adjacent to the discharge location of the first conveyor means.

The second conveyor means may comprise an endless conveyor belt.

Preferably, the location of the discharge end of the second conveyor means is adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment, the second conveyor means is pivotally mounted with respect to the first conveyor means.

Preferably; the second conveyor means is pivotally mounted about a plurality of pivot axes, for example about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis.

The baggage handling apparatus may further comprise third conveyor means, for receMng items of baggage and transporting them to the first conveyor means, the first conveyor means being operable independently of the third conveyor means.

Preferably, the receiving location of the first conveyor means Is located adjacent to the offloading location of the third conveyor means.

In one embodiment, the third conveyor means is driven and is preferably operable intermittently.

The third conveyor means may comprise an endless conveyor belt.

In another embodiment, the third conveyor means is not driven.

The third conveyor means may comprise a plurality of rotatably mounted support members, for example a plurality of rollers.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of baggage handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the baggage handling apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of baggage handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the baggage handling apparatus of Fig, 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment of baggage handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the baggage handling apparatus of Fig. 5.

The first embodiment of baggage handling apparatus, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is adapted to transfer items of baggage from the base of a is discharge chute 10 to a baggage cart 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the discharge chute 10 is adapted to receive baggage from a tilt tray conveyor illustrated schematically at 14, or from a different baggage sortation equipment such as DCV or tub and cart systems.. As mentioned previously, the tilt tray conveyor 14 comprises a plurality of individual trays' 16 running along an endless track (not visible in the drawing).

Each individual tray 16 is designed to carry a single item of baggage and can discharge to one side in order to deposit the item of baggage which it is carrying onto the discharge chute 10 associated with a particular flight.

The items of baggage 18 discharged from the tilt-tray conveyor system 14 slide to the bottom of the chute 10, from which they are discharged onto the upper horizontal run of a powered, indexing conveyor 20. Perpendicularly upstanding side walls 21 are located along the longitudinal edges of the indexing conveyor 20. The indexing conveyor 20 is operated by an electric motor 22 and, as will be explained, is normally not operated continuously but instead is operated intermittently to index individual items of baggage to the upper run of a queueing conveyor 24, whose receiving end is arranged adjacent to the discharge end of the indexing conveyor 20. The queueing conveyor 24 is approximately one quarter of the length of indexing conveyor 20 and is operated by an electric motor 26. As for the indexing conveyor, the queueing conveyor is is also normally not operated continuously but instead is operated intermittently, as will be explained.

The queueing conveyor 24 is adapted to feed items of baggage 18 onto an offloading conveyor 30. The offloading conveyor 30 is pivotable about a vertical axis 32, shown in Fig. 2 and is also pivotable about a horizontal axis 34 as shown in Fig. I In addition, the offloading conveyor is telescopic, such that its effective length can be varied, as desired.

The offloading conveyor 30 is powered by an electric motor (not visible) which is under the control of a baggage handling operative 36. The offloading conveyor 30 receives items of baggage from the queueing conveyor 24 and transports them onwardly, on appropriate operation of the offloading conveyor 30, onto the baggage cart 12.

As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the pivotal mounting of the inner end of the offloading conveyor 30 about two mutually perpendicular axes and the telescopic nature of the conveyor allows the baggage handling operative 36 to position the discharge end of the offloading conveyor 30 at the appropriate position to permit efficient loading of the baggage cart 12.

A suitable offloading conveyor is the rear lifter manufactured by JBT Corporation of America. The offloading conveyor is a sub-component of io the Ramp Snake bulk loading system. It uses an individually powered belt which can be extended and retracted. It can also be pivoted up and down and left and right from a centre point.

The operation of the offloading conveyor 30 also controls the operation of the queueing conveyor 24 and the indexing conveyor 20. In particular, the queueing conveyor 24 will not discharge an item of baggage 18 onto the offloading conveyor 30 unless and until the offloading conveyor 30 Is able to accept it, Similarly, the indexing conveyor 20 will not discharge an item of baggage 18 onto the queueing conveyor 24 unless and until the queueing conveyor 24 is able to accept it, The interoperability of the conveyors 20, 24, 30 is achieved by providing photo electric sensors 38, 40, 42, 44 located towards the tower end of the chute 10 and on the indexing conveyor 20 and queueing conveyor 24 which determine whether each conveyor 20, 24 is carrying one or more items of baggage 18 and determines when an item of baggage 18 has been discharged. One photoelectric sensor 38 is mounted on the side walls of the chute 10, two photoelectric sensors 40, 42 are mounted on the upstanding side walls 21 of the indexing conveyor 20 and one sensor 44 is mounted towards the discharge end of the queueing conveyor 24. Each sensor comprises an infra-red emitter and detector unit 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, mounted on one side of the conveyor and a reflector 38b, 40b, 42b, 44b located on the opposite side of the conveyor. The signals from the photo sensors 40, 42, 44 are fed to a io programmable logic control (PLC) unit (not visible) which ensures that baggage does not become backed up in the conveying system as a whole.

In use, items of baggage 18 are discharged from the tilt tray sorter conveyor 14 or other make up device, whereupon the items of baggage are deposited on the upper run of the indexing conveyor 20 one by one.

is As each item of baggage 18 is loaded onto the indexing conveyor 20, the indexing conveyor is indexed forward to allow the next item of baggage to be deposited from the discharge chute 10 onto the indexing conveyor 20.

This is repeated as further items of baggage are discharged from the tilt tray sorting conveyor onto the discharge chute 10.

When the operative 36 wishes to load the baggage cart 12, the offloading conveyor 30 is manoeuvred to the correct offload position and is then actuated, which in turn actuates the queueing conveyor 24. In addition, the indexing conveyor 20 is actuated until the first item of baggage 18 is discharged onto the queueing conveyor 24. The queueing conveyor 24 then discharges the item of baggage 18 onto the offloading conveyor 30, whereupon the operative 36 is able to offload the items of baggage 18 onto the appropriate position on the baggage cart 12. As each item of baggage is discharged from the queueing conveyor 24 onto S the offloading conveyor 30, the indexing conveyor 20 is indexed forward to discharge a further item of baggage 18 onto the queueing conveyor 24.

However, the queueing conveyor 24 is not actuated until the offloading conveyor 30 is able to receive and offload a further item of baggage 18.

In this way, the baggage cart 12 can be loaded without the need for itemsofbaggagetobelirtedfromthebaseofthechuteloontothe baggage cart 12.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In the drawings, the chute 10 and the tilt tray sorter conveyor 14 have been omitted.

is The second embodiment comprises a first, unpowered, gravity roller conveyor 50, onto which items of baggage 18 are discharged from the lower end of the chute. At the discharge end of the gravity roller conveyor 50, three powered endless conveyors 52, 54, 56 powered by electric motors 58,60, 62, each adapted to cany a single item of baggage 18, are arranged sequentially. Perpendicularly upstanding side walls 63 are located along the longitudinal edges of the conveyors 52, 54, 56. An offloading conveyor 64, identical to the offloading conveyor 30 of the first embodiment, is arranged at the discharge end of the third powered conveyor 56.

The operation of the powered conveyors 52, 54, 56, is linked to the operation of the offloading conveyor 64, in a similar manner to the first embodiment, whereby an item of baggage to be discharged onto a baggage cart 12 is only loaded onto the offloading conveyor 64 if the offloading conveyor 64 is capable of receiving and offloading it. As in the first embodiment, this is achieved using a series of photo sensors, 68, 70, 72, one photo sensor being mounted on the side walls 63 towards the discharge end of each of the conveyors 52, 54, 56. As for the first embodiment, each photoelectric sensor comprises an infr-red emitter and detector unit 68a, 70a, 72a mounted on one side of the conveyor and a reflector 68b, 70b, 72b, located on the opposite side of the conveyor.

In use, the items of baggage 18 are received from the bottom of a chute onto the gravity roller conveyor 50. As the first item of baggage 18 is received onto the gravity roller conveyor, either its momentum will carry it to the opposite end of the gravity roller conveyor or it is pushed along manually if necessary, until it is in engagement with the first powered conveyor 52. Further items of baggage 18 may back up onto the gravity roller conveyor 50.

When an operative 36 wishes to load the baggage cart 12, the offloading conveyor 36 is actuated. This causes the final conveyor 56 to be actuated, which in turn causes the intermediate and first powered conveyors 54, 52 to be actuated. The first item of baggage 1815 thereby transferred onto the final powered conveyor 56, and from there onto the offloading conveyor 64, by means of which the operative can offload the item of baggage 18 onto the baggage cart 12.

As the first item of baggage 18 is discharged off the first powered conveyor 52, a further operative 36' rolls the next item of baggage onto the first conveyor 52. This item of baggage 18 will be indexed along the intermediate conveyor 54 and the final conveyor 56 and the second operatIve 36' continues to roll items of baggage 18 along the gravity roller conveyor 50 onto the first powered conveyor 52 as the first powered conveyor 52 becomes vacant As the items of baggage 18 are discharged from the offloading conveyor 64 onto the baggage cart 12, an item of baggage 18 on the final conveyor 56 is transferred from the final conveyor onto the offloading conveyor 64, whereupon in turn an item of baggage is transferred from the intermediate conveyor 54 onto the end conveyor 56 and an itemofbaggageistransferredfromthefirstconveyor52ontothe intermediate conveyor 54, which allows the second operative 36' to load a further item of baggage onto the first conveyor 52, and so on, until all of the items of baggage have been loaded.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

The third embodiment is a simplified version of the first embodiment shown in Figs. I and 2, and the same reference numerals have been used to identify corresponding features. In the third embodiment, the indedng conveyor of the first embodiment has been omitted, such that the baggage handling apparatus comprises a queueing conveyor 24 adapted to receive items of baggage and to feed them onto an offloading conveyor 30.

The queueing conveyor 24 is identical to that of the first embodiment and is operated intermittently by means of an electric motor 26. The offloading conveyor 30 s identical to that of the first embodiment and is therefore pivotable about a vertical axis 32 and also pivotable about a horizontal axis 34. In addition, the offloading conveyor 30 is telescopic, such that its effective length can be varied, as desired. The offloading conveyor 30 is powered by an electric motor (not visible) which is under the control of a baggage handling operative. The offloading conveyor 30 receives items of baggage from the queueing conveyor 24 and transports them onwardly, on appropriate operation of the offloading conveyor 30, onto a baggage cart, a unit load device or other baggage container.

As can be seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the pivotal mounting of the inner end of the offloading conveyor 30 about two mutually perpendicular axes and the telescopic nature of the conveyor allows a baggage handling operative to position the discharge end of the offloading conveyor 30 at the appropriate position to permit efficient loading of a baggage cart, unit load device or other container.

As for the first embodiment, the operation of the offloading conveyor also controls the operation of the queueing conveyor 24. In particular, the queueing conveyor 24 will not discharge an item of baggage onto the offloading conveyor 30 unless and until the offloading conveyor is able to accept it.

The interoperability of the conveyors is 24, 30 is achieved by providing a photo sensor 44 on the queuing conveyor 24, identical to the S sensor 44 of the first embodiment, which determines whether the conveyor 24 is carrying one or more items of baggage and determines when an item of baggage has been discharged from it. The signals from the photo sensor are fed to the programmable logic control (PLC) unit (not visible) which ensures that baggage does not become backed up in the conveying system.

The invention is not restricted to the details of foregoing embodiments. For example, although the invention has been described with consideration to the loading of baggage carts, the invention is equally applicable to the loading of baggage containers, which are used in wide-bodied aircraft.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A baggage handling apparatus comprising first, driven, conveyor means for conveying items of baggage loaded onto the apparatus; and second, driven conveyor means, operable independently of the first and second conveyor means, for offloading from the apparatus items of baggage conveyed by the first and second conveyor means.
2. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conveyor means is operable intermittently.
3. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor belt.
4. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first conveyor means comprises a plurality of separate, independently actuated, powered conveyor units.
5. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first conveyor means comprises a plurality of separate, independently actuated, powered endless conveyor belts,
6. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the second conveyor mean:s is operable intermittenfly.
7. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving location of the second conveyor means is located adjacent to the discharge location of the first conveyor means.
8. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the second conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor belt,
9. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the location of the discharge end of the second conveyormeans is adjustable.
10. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second conveyor means is pivotally mounted with respect to the first conveyor means.
11. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second conveyor means is pivotally mounted about a plurality of pivot axes.
12. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second conveyor means s pivotable about a substantially vertica' axis and about a substantially horizontal axis.
13. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising third conveyor means, for receiving items of baggage and transporting them to the first conveyor means, the first conveyor means being operable independently of the third conveyor S means,
14. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the receiving location of the first conveyor means is located adjacent to the offtoading location of the third conveyor means.
15. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the third conveyor means is driven,
16. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the is third conveyor means is operable intermittently.
17. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the first conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor belt,
18. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the third conveyor means is not driven,
19. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the third conveyor means comprises a plurality of rotatably mounted support members. b..
20. A baggage handling apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the third conveyor means comprises a plurality of rollers.
21. A baggage handling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.