AU615683B2

AU615683B2 - Process and plant for sorting items in an open path system

Info

Publication number: AU615683B2
Application number: AU24780/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Francesco Canziani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-21
Filing date: 1988-11-07
Publication date: 1991-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-07
Also published as: GB8824777D0; FR2638106A1; NL8802765A; GB2224147A; BE1001689A3; CH674952A5; ES2009382A6; IN169751B; NL191931B; GB2224147B; SE8803981L; DE3836193A1; FR2638106B1; SE8803981D0; NL191931C; AU2478088A; SE466100B

Description

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fr a tc r r r c y Complete Specificati .4 e n* o e* S Priority: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: 0 0 0 t l' F Address for Service: .4

A

615683 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFiCATION S F Ref: 77368

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class on Lodged: Accepted: Published: Francesco Canziani Via Contardo Ferrini 21 San Macario (Varese)

ITALY

Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Process and Plant for Sorting Items in an Open Path System The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 5845/9 2 PROCESS AND PLANT FOR SORTING ITEMS IN AN OPEN PATH SYSTEM The present invention relates to a method for sorting items from loading stations to unloading stations, where the unloading station to which a particular item is directed to may be determined after introduction of that item to the system. A further advantage is that the items may be stored in groups, and directed to their destination some time after they are introduced into the system.

The method may be used for the transfer of luggage at airports. It may also be used in post offices or wherever loading and unloading stations are part of the process being undertaken.

There are known systems for carrying out the transfer process.

These require that the destination of the item be decided before the item is introduced into the system.

The method disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,058,217 involves the application of an identification label to each item. The bulk storage system, however, has items stored randomly, and a manual search is Sftm S, necessary to locate the items for forwarding to an outward station.

C U.S. Patent 3,260,349 discloses a system which stores the items C through recirculation of the items through the system.

Cr 20 It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a method for sorting items in an open path routing system, wherein each item to be sorted is loaded on one of a plurality of moving carriages, said moving carriages being provided with internal motive means adapted to cause the carriages to move; the movement of said carriages being controlled by a general control sub system; said carriages moving along sliding paths interconnected by switches, said switches being provided with switch controllers; wherein each carriage is permanently identified by a fixed code, 'si and said fixed code is associated with data relevant to the destination g. C of the items outside of the system; said data being used by the switch controllers in order to control the switches to route the carriage towards a destination within the system, or towards the area in which the destination within the system is expected to be allocated, or towards a storage area.

There is also disclosed herein a plant adapted to perform the above _i 2a A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plant for airline baggage sorting making use of the present invention; Fig. 2 is not illustrated, and is not referenced within this specification; Sr Lt t t 4 t 1/1497 t 44 a 4 6 I I v O /1497w -:t 1 i' 3 -3- Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the electronic devices mounted on each carriage; Figs 4 and 5 show a switch which may be used in the plant illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 shows schematically the mechanical devices which operate the switch.

The plant illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of: a carriage accumulation area 1, each carriage being marked by a code that reveals whether the same is available or not; a plurality of check-in zones 2; a main circuit loop 3; storage zones 4 for carriages destined to flights that have still to go through the loading phase; 0000 unloading areas T5 loading zones 6 for the incoming and transiting baggage; pathways 8, 9 and 10 for moving the carriages e.g. from the path to I the accumulation area, then from the latter to the check-in, and again to the path.

Preferably, each carriage is provided with an independent motor which S0 transports it along the open path zones; in the fixed path zones, such as for instance the accumulation and loading zones close to the check-in, or the uphill and downhill routes (when the plant is on different levels) the handling will be prefarably obtained by means of chain, where the carriages will be transported in a synchronized manner.

Programmable logic control devices hereinafter referred to as "PLC" are located close to the road network switches and are supplied with the information relating to the outgoing flights to be loaded.

The PLCs control the actuation of the routing means such as switches S so that the carriage passing the controller reaches its destination through the optimum path, according to the code with which it is marked.

0 The system therefore acts to divert the carriages at each PLC to either: a loading point; further on; a storage area.

'187y -4 The system may also incorporate availability and breakdown information, the PLCs directing carriages to collecting areas or repair areas if appropriate.

It is also possible for the controlling computer to direct carriages along the most sufficient route, taking into account blockages and density of carriages throughout the system.

The carriages themselves may be provided with: microprocessor control and memory; obstacle sensors; motor speed controls.

It is therefore possible for the carriages to retain within their memory information (or a code) representing their flight, status, and destination within the system. This information may be used by PLCs without the need for a check with the central computer of what the carriage's status is.

SThe bus bars may be provided with a signal to inform the carriages of the presence of a storage area.

The varying sorting operations which can be performed will now be described in detail.

o 20 Loading at the check-in points A fixed receiver 11 reads from the incoming carriages the code indicating that the carriages are empty and can be loaded; transmitter 12 writes a fictitious code to the carriage's memory, and a receiver 13 checks t, that the code can be accurately reproduced by the carriage; if this is 25 verified, the carriage is directed via switch 14 to the uphill running stretch 8, wherefrom it arrives at the accumulation zone 1.

f* From zone 1 the carriages pass through the downhill stretch 10 and arrive at the check-in points where the baggage is weighted and its sizes are checked.

.r At this point the operator attaches to the baggage an air S company-flight-destination code, the same code being stored in the local PLC. The PLC that controls the check-in zone reserves one of the free incoming carriages and directs the transfer of the baggage from the loading station to the carriage, by means of an induction belt 16.

After traversing the path 9, the carriage passes a transmitter 17 which records information relating to the task to be performed in the carriage's internal memory.

-a L3/.l.1 7y IT 0- -1 X r 5 The storage of this information is verified by the following receiver 18. Upon verification, the association between the fixed code of the carriage (checked by the bar code reader 19) and the data representing the origin and destination (in the sense of a flight, not the outlet of the system where the bag is to be unloaded this may still be undecided) in the data-base of the main computer system.

The carriage enters then the main sorting loop and begins to move autonomously, via the motor on board, while continuing to transmit its code identifying the baggage, the carrier, the destination etc.

Each time a carriage comes near a switch, suitable devices detect the code thereof and act upon the switch in accordance with the instructions provided by the main computer: if the flight is to undergo the loading phase, the switches will be activated to send the carriage to the S respective area, whilst if the flight is not yet ready the carriages bearing such code are routed toward the storage areas.

The empty carriages are intercepted and recirculated to the zone opposite the stretch 8.

Storage areas The carriages destined to the storage areas are directed along circuit 20: when a fixed receiver 21 senses the code of a carriage that is to be stored to an area within its province, e.g. area 22, it activates switch 23. If an area is intended for storing the carriages marked by a determined code, there is set in interception position a mechanical S blocking device 24, that constitutes the stop for the first of the stored 6, carriages; if an area is not prepared to store the carriages marked by a certain code, the mechanical blocking device is kept in a non-interception position, converting thus that area in an ordinary pathway that can be Sexploited when alternative routes are required.

As soon as an unloading area is declared to be available to the carriages marked by a certain code, the mechanical blocking device in the storing areas containing the carriages identified by that code are brought to a non-interception position; at the same time, the logic control devices mounted on the carriages distinguished by that code are informed of this new state, making the carriages move forward and enter the pathway leading to the unloading areas.

W~ i -6- Conveyance of the baggage to the unloading zones The carriages coming from the main sorting loop 3 and from the accumulation areas are identified by a receiver 25 and by a bar code reader 26.

As the carriages arrive at the unloading areas 27 they unload the baggage automatically, via devices such as for instance a revolving belt mounted on the carriage or the like.

Once the carriages have gone past the unloading area, further control devices check that the baggage has actually been unloaded, and record on the carriage's memory an 'availability' code by the already mentioned methods.

The carriage then recirculating over the plant or, according to the requirements, can be driven to a storage area specifically meant for empty carriages.

Sorting of the incoming baggage S* The baggage discharged by an incoming airplane is loaded on the f, carriages in zone 6, and each carriage is earmarked, according to circumstances, either by a destination code relating to one of the delivery S carrousels, or by a code indicating that the carriage is to be transferred to other flights.

If receiver 27 receives a code indicating that the destination for the incoming carriage is e.g. carrousel 7, it would act on switch 28.

The bar code reader associated with receiver 27 verifies the carriage code in order to check that said carriage was actually loaded with a baggage item having such destination, after which the carriage performs unloading to a conveyor 29 that carries the baggage to the delivery S carrousel After unloading, the carriage is marked by transmitter 30 with an 4 'availability' code, and receiver 31 checks that this code be correct ,,0.30 before the carriage is released to the main path.

Selective pick-up of baggage already in system Should an unloading area be decided on after the carriages are in the system, the following procedure is followed: If the carriages are in storage, the stored group of carriages are first put in motion, and as a required carriage is located through its passage through a receiver, the information contained in its memory is updated, and the carriage is then diverted to the unloading area.

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7 If the carriage is not in storage, It can be detected at an appropriate point and directed to the unloading area.

Carriages We now consider construction of the carriages. Each carriage is provided with an unloading unit that can be handled both via independent motors mounted on board of the carriage, and via outside means such as chains, elevators etc.

The carriage is equipped with a microcomputer, a transmitter-receiver some sensing devices such as a proximity sensor, an anti-collision sensor and a mechanical block sensor.

Fig. 3 shows the connection diagram wherein: 31 is ie microcomputer that processes the received information and controls the carriage functions; 32 is a zone decoding device which identifies the tone present on the AT5 bus bar, sending a corresponding signal to the microcomputer; 33 is a mechanical block sensor, e.g. a magnetic sensor that detects any mechanical blocks engaged by the control system, e.g. the block of the storage areas; 34 is a sensor that detects the motion of one wheel of the carriage 2p and sends a signal to the microprocessor to inform it that motion is actually in progress; is a proximity and contact sensor which detects the presence of obstacles along the path, sending a signal to the microcomputer so that the latter can reduce the forward speed in order to avoid collisions; 25 36 is the carriage motore unit controlled by microcomputer 1 and fed through bus bars 37 that, besides providing the power supply, are traversed by electric signals that, opportunely decoded, inform the microcomputer of the position of the carriage; 38 is the input line allowing information concerning the destination (within the system) to be transferred to the carriage; 39 is the output line of the signal that identifies the carriage, which is continuously given out, to be received by the PLC devices that will take the proper steps for the correct destination of tha carriage itself.

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Claims

1. A method for sorting items in an open path routing system, wherein each item to be sorted is loaded on one of a plurality of moving carriages, said moving carriages being provided with internal motive means adapted to cause the carriages to move; the movement of said carriages being controlled by a general control sub system; said carriages moving along sliding paths interconnected by switches, said switches being provided with switch controllers; wherein each carriage is permanently identified by a fixed code, and said fixed code is associated with data relevant to the destination of the items outside of the system; said data being used by the switch controllers in order to control the switches to route the carriage towards a destination within the system, or towards the area in which the destination within the system is *expected to be allocated, or towards a storage area.

2. A method for sorting items as claimed in claim 1, where said a method is adapted to allow a change in the destination within the system after the carriage has entered the system.

3. Method for sorting items in an open path system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein: to the fixed code associated with each one of the plurality of carriages there is associated a temporary code, being the data relevant to the destination of baggage outside the system, said carriages being o o adapted to carry one or more of said items; o'o said code association being stored, till unloading has taken place, in the general control sub system; p. a specific path is allotted to said carriage; the information relevant to the specific path is transmitted, in function of the fixed code associated with the carriage itself, to the Splurality of switch controllers, said switch controllers controlling one or more switches associated with each switch control device; as each carriage advances, its associated fixed code is detected by devices set in the proximity to the switches; the switches are controlled on the basis of the information received by the general control system, in function of the detected fixed codes and the information relevant to the specific path. _.jii r;l- r= a- i1--, a sa so a #0@ 406 a, a 1 #5 I S Ig S I t I IS S S It -9-

4. Method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 said general control sub system comprises a main computer connected to said switch controllers and means to allow the monitoring of the state of the system. Method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each carriage starts its travel only after the proper association between the permanent code and the temporary code given to the carriage itself has been verified.

6. Method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the internal motive means comprises a motor provided in the carriage, and logic devices provided onboard of each carriage are informed of the exact position of the carriage itself along the path by means of a modulated carrier along the feed lines of the carriage motor.

7. A plant adapted to sort items in an open path routing system, comprising: a plurality of moving carriages, adapted to allow the loading of said item thereon, and being provided with an internal motive means adapted to cause the carriage to move; a general control system adapted to control the movement of said carriges; two or more paths connected by switches and being provided with switch controllers; said plant being adapted to permanently identify each carriage with a fixed code, and also associate each said fixed code with data relevant to the destination of the items outside the system; said plant also being adapted so that said data may e used by the switch controllers in order to control the switchestltr=ed the carriage towards a destination within the system, or towards the area in which the destination within the system is expected to be allocated, or towards a storage area.

8. The plant claimed in claim 7, being further adapted to facilitate a change in the destination of a carriage after it has entered the system.

9. The plant claimed in claims 7 or 8, being provided with: detection means at predetermined points along the path, said detection means being adapted to detect each carriage's fixed code; and means to direct unloading of one or more items from the carriages as they pass the storage areas. /1497w II Plant as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, where the internal motive means comprises a motor, said motor being provided with current through bus bars set along the path.

11. Plant according to claim 10, wherein a modulated carrier is introduced into predetermined bus bar sections, there being provided on each carriage electronic means adapted to detect said carrier and to control accordingly the various functions of the carriage, according to the position along the path where the carrier is located.

12. Plant as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, comprising path sections along which the carriages move asynchronously, and pre-established path sections along which the carriages move synchronously, driven by an outer means, said outer means comprising a transport system whereby the carriages are moved by external means such that the carriages do not have to use their internal motive means.

13. Plant as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the o, path comprises: 0 storage track areas for the empty carriages, forming said storage areas; te track areas for coding and loading carriages with baggage; cz recirculating track areas for the empty carriages, where the same are sent back to storing; p Pt accumulation track areas of the loaded carriages; baggage unloading track areas; track areas for routing the empty carriages to the storage areas.

14. Plant as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein each carriage is provided with means for storing the information sent by sensors located onboard of the carriage in order to make it stop or move Oh forwards, at convenient speed. Plant as claimed in claim 14 wherein said sensors are proximity sensors and contact sensors.

16. Plant according to any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the control means comprises a main computer, said computer using different language levels according to the complexity of the functions it controls.

17. A method for sorting items substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. two or more paths connected by switches and being provided with switch controllers;, .12

18. A plant for sorting items substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this SEVENTH day of JUNE 1991 Francesco Canziani Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON jiG. a C t~ C C ~t C C C CC 'C C CC-Ct C CC C C Ct C C C ICC C C C C CC C iCC I C C d/1497w