MXPA98007710A - Band transportation system side by side and method of - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor system comprising a pair of side-by-side conveyors adapted to move items such as luggage or cargo in opposite directions simultaneously, preferably at the same elevation and linked by an endless belt. The endless belt is directed from the exit of one conveyor to the entrance of the other conveyor and from the exit of the other conveyor to the entrance of a conveyor via a pair of conveyor torsion assemblies which keep the luggage transporting surface in one direction. Upward orientation on both conveyors. The torsion assemblies can use vertical or horizontal rollers to obtain the direction change of the endless belt. The alternate tension rollers can be arranged under the two conveyors to support the belt and reduce the vibration caused by the belt path. The side-by-side conveyor system was particularly useful in multiple layouts stacked in tunnels for airport

Description

BAND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SIDE BY SIDE AND METHOD OF USE Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to the side-by-side conveyor system and its method of use and, in particular, to a compact side-by-side conveyor system which uses twisted band assemblies at opposite ends of the system for transporting luggage. in two different directions simultaneously.

BACKGROUND ART In the prior art, the use of conveyors for transporting cargo, bulky materials and the like are well known. A type of conveyor system specially adapted for luggage such as that found in airports in an elevated-subway conveyor system as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,363,951 to Mensh. This patent, incorporated herein in its entirety for reference, discloses a conveyor system having slides that carry load oppositely, upper and lower moving vertically apart, each having an inlet end and an outlet end. This system is specially adapted for the transport in two directions of articles under variable load conditions in the handling of luggage at an airport.

Accordingly, a number of high-subway conveyor systems or a plurality of simple conveyors are arranged in tunnels at airports that employ one or more intermediate terminals to adapt the increasing baggage handling requirements. The high-underground conveyor systems are more advantageous in terms of tunnel construction costs than a number of simple conveyors since the conveyor slides can be adapted in a given tunnel (the tunnel is not as wide as those that use simple conveyors but has a slightly increased height With the need to further reduce construction costs, particularly for tunnel construction and the drawbacks of high-ground conveyors (increased tunnel height), a need has been developed to provide improved conveyor systems that offer equivalent baggage handling capabilities while reducing space requirements and tunnel construction costs The present invention solves this need by providing a side-by-side conveyor system which provides the same capacity to carry baggage as a system. to conveyor in elevation-underground, in less space, thus reducing the costs of construction of tunnels. The present invention utilizes torsion rolling assemblies to join an endless belt between the opposingly moving luggage paths for carrying and returning conveyors while still maintaining the carrying surface of the endless luggage in the correct orientation. The use of rolling sets to rotate or twist endless bands has been proposed in volume material handling techniques. U.S. Patents Nos. 2,784,834 and 2,979,187 describe a conveyor system that gives an endless belt a 180 ° turn both at the head and tail ends to keep the bottom or the free side of the belt against the rollers of return voltage. The 180 ° turn is obtained by supporting the band at each end of the torsion with the horizontal end rolls. This rotation subjects the band to catenary deflection, to elongation of the edge of the camber of the band and the formation of a helical pattern on the edge of the band. The 180 ° turn does not subject the band to the effects of gravity that may cause a loss of control of the band during its trajectory. The use of vertical rollers to rotate an endless band is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,637,090 to Murphy et al. The belt rotation is done to provide an improved belt storage system, which allows the rapid adjustment of the length of an active conveyor portion by the removal of the belt support sections mounted on the stiles of a storage portion, the portion of the active conveyor and vice versa. With this adjustment, the length of the respective band subsystems can be adjusted accordingly as may be required in the field. The Murphy patent is adapted for use in the handling of bulky materials, for example, mining operations or land filling operations. None of these patents suggests a double-run conveyor system for baggage handling.

Brief Description of the Invention Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a side-by-side conveyor system that carries luggage in two different directions simultaneously. Another object of the present invention is to provide a side-by-side belt conveyor system having torsion assemblies at opposite ends thereof to facilitate the transport of luggage in different directions. A further object of the present invention is a method for transporting luggage in two different directions using the side-by-side conveyor system of the invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide conveyor torsion assemblies that employ vertical or horizontal rollers to rotate the conveyor. Still another object of the invention is a conveyor system that transports luggage in two different directions at the same elevation. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent as a description thereof proceeds. To satisfy the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a side-by-side conveyor system comprising an endless belt having a luggage carrying surface and an opposing friction surface. The endless belt rests on a first conveyor support having a first inlet end and a first outlet end forming between them a first luggage path to the load conveyor. The system also includes a second conveyor support for the endless belt having a second inlet end and a second exit end forming between them a second luggage path or return conveyor. A first torsion assembly of the conveyor is positioned to direct the endless belt at the first exit end to the second entrance end and a second torsion assembly of the conveyor is positioned to direct the conveyor at the second exit end to the first entry end. Each conveyor torsion assembly includes at least two rollers positioned to rotate the endless belt so that the luggage carrying surface faces up when traveling in the direction along the first luggage path that faces up when travel in an opposite direction along the second baggage path. Other means may be employed to change the direction of the endless band of the first baggage path to the second baggage path while maintaining the surface carrying the baggage in an upward orientation on both carriers. To drive the endless belt along each luggage path, the system includes at least one conveyor drive assembly. A side-by-side conveyor can be used as an independent system or can be combined with feed and ejection conveyors as part of a more comprehensive conveyor system. The side-by-side conveyor system can also be stacked vertically in a plurality of systems for handling large volumes of baggage, for example, volumes found at airports, boarding distribution centers or the like. The torsion assemblies can use rollers aligned vertically or horizontally to change the direction of the belt path if desired and maintain the surface that carries the luggage in an upward orientation from the cargo conveyor to the return conveyor. When using vertically aligned rollers, it is preferred that the rollers be movable with respect to the axis of the rollers to help control the path of the web when its sides are arranged vertically. More preferably, the rollers can be tilted around their roller axes. The vertically disposed bending rollers can be positioned between two torsion rollers aligned vertically to assist the endless belt path during its vertical orientation. When horizontal rollers are used, the rolls are preferably tapered to achieve torsion of the band. Alternatively, hourglass-shaped rollers can be used to bend the band. In any case, the horizontal aligned rollers can be movable in a horizontal plane to adjust the tension. The conveyor support can use one. Support structure that uses a series of alternating tension rollers to support the endless belt along the trajectories of the load and return conveyors and to reduce the vibration of the belt. The invention also includes the method for transporting items such as cargo, baggage, baggage or any other transportable article employing the side-by-side conveyor of the invention by loading articles at the entrance end of the cargo conveyor and removing them from the exit end. . If desired simultaneously, the transporter for return receives luggage on its entry end and transports the articles to its exit end. The method can use feed and ejection conveyors in combination with load and return conveyors for the additional handling of articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to the drawings of the invention wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of the conveyor system of the invention; Figure 2 is an elevation view along the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation view along the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end view of the conveyor system showing tension rollers and conveyor supports; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tension roller supports of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a partial schematic view of a second embodiment of the conveyed system of the invention showing tapered rollers for flexing the web; Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of one of the tapered rollers shown in Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a plan view of a band and an hourglass-shaped roller for flexing the band.

Description of the Preferred Modes The side-by-side conveyor system of the invention offers significant advantages over conveyor systems known to be used for the purpose of transporting luggage, cargo, articles or the like. Hereinafter, the articles considered to be transported by the system of the invention are referred to as luggage. Using the side-by-side conveyors, equivalent baggage handling capabilities can be obtained as if underground-lift-conveyors were used while, at the same time, they occupy less cross-sectional area. This more-as-act design is economically beneficial when a number of conveyor systems are used side by side in a tunnel in an airport facility or the like. One embodiment of the invention is described in Figures 1-3 and is designated as the reference number 10. The side-by-side transponder system 10 includes an endless belt 1 having a luggage carrying surface 3. The carrying surface luggage is what facilitates the loading or unloading of luggage or similar to or from the transporter. The luggage carrying surface 3 is generally a polished or sliding surface that facilitates the movement of luggage. The surface 3 can be formed integrally with the endless band, it can have the shape of a band cover or it can be of any other type normally used to carry luggage, cargo or baggage. The lower part of the band 1, designated as reference number 5 in Figure 2, is a friction type surface such as rubber or the like. The lower surface 5 is the driving side of the endless belt 1, and therefore, it is desired to have a coefficient of friction that allows the use of loose lateral tension to transfer the driving power to the belt 1. This difference in the surface contrasts with the conveyors that handle bulky material, where both the covers and band surfaces are made of rubber so that their coefficient of friction is used both to drive the transfer of power and to adhere the material to the band 1 with sliding minimum or none. The system 10 comprises a first load conveyor 7, hereinafter referred to as the load conveyor and a second conveyor 9, hereinafter referred to as the return conveyor. The load conveyor 7 has an inlet end 11 with a terminal roller 13 and an outlet end 15 with a terminal roller 17. Similarly, the return conveyor 9 has an inlet end 19 with an end roller 21 and an end of the end conveyor. outlet 23 with a terminal roller 25. The load conveyor 7 is shown disposed between a feed conveyor 27 and an ejection conveyor 29. Similarly, the return conveyor 9 is disposed between a feed conveyor 31 and an ejection conveyor 33. The feed conveyors 27 and 31 and the ejection conveyors 29 and 33 are similar to those described in the Mensch Patent referred to above, except for the lack of a need for curved sections since the conveyors of the invention are side by side instead of in elevation and underground. As described in the Mensch patent, the feed and ejection conveyors provide for the on-line transfer of items that are being transported to and from the loading and returning conveyors of the side-by-side conveyor of the invention 10. Normally, the conveyors of feeding and ejection are conveyors feeders of acceleration and deceleration using transporters of short, accelerated, individual construction. The number of acceleration and deceleration conveyors may depend on the speed of the conveyor side by side. The number of feed conveyors, the acceleration step and the conveyor length is determined by the coefficient of friction between the cover / surface of the conveyor belt and the luggage. Rubber covers are normally used on both sides of the belts used in the acceleration and deceleration feed conveyors. Of course, other means can be used to feed and remove items, cargo or baggage in the cargo conveyors and return conveyors 7 and 9, respectively. In addition, if desired, the feed and ejection can be provided for only one conveyor such as the load conveyor 7 instead of both. The endless belt 1 is connected between the load conveyor 7 and the return conveyor 9 by two belt torsion assemblies 35 and 38. The belt torsion assembly 35 is attached to the output end 15 of the load conveyor 7. with the inlet end 19 of the return conveyor 9. The assembly 35 comprises a roller arrangement that directs and bends the endless belt 1 leaving the outlet end 15 towards the inlet end 17 while maintaining the surface carrying the luggage 3 in an upward orientation.

In the embodiment described in Figures 1-3, the band 1 exiting the outlet end 15 is subjected to a first horizontal to vertical torsion. The horizontal to vertical band twist uses a horizontal roller 37 at the entrance to the torsion area, see Figure 2. Based on the modulus of elasticity, weight, catenary tension and helical elongation of the belt edges, there must be tension at both edges of the band 1. Tension is provided by an automatic gravity absorption device such as that described in the Mensch Patent. Since these devices are conventional, an additional description thereof is not considered necessary to understand the invention. If the tension should approach or be zero in the center of the band 1 in the catenary extension 35, the upper edge of the band 1 could be compressed and bent. This could cause band 1 to desalinate and fall, thus causing a loss of band control. After the catenary torsion 36 of 90 ° downstream of the roller 37, a roller 39 vertically displaced is located. The roller 39 is essentially vertical but provisions are made to allow a small degree of displacement on the vertical axis to control the capacity represented by the displacement means 42, see Figure 3. Vertical roller displacement may be required to provide a force vector in the vertical "up" direction to compensate for the force of gravity to the band. The weight of the band and the friction between the vertical band 1 and the roller 39 are all the elements that keep the band 1 so that it does not come off the roller 39. The roller 39 can be made of insulated rubber to help maintain the band 1 in its vertical direction. The inclination of the vertically aligned rollers to achieve the necessary force vector in the "up" direction can vary from 0 to 20 ° measured from the vertical. As the web 1 flexes 90 ° around the entire vertical roller 39, it travels to the vertical exit roller 41. The roller 41 is also preferably insulated rubber for increased friction between web 1 and roller 41 for the purpose to compensate the weight of the band and force of gravity. The adjustment of the vertical axis, as described for the input roller, is also used for the output roller 41. Between the vertical input and output rollers 39 and 41, a group of vertical rollers is placed on each side of the vertical band 1, each group designated by the reference number 43. The rollers 43 lie on or are in contact with the web 1 and can be adjusted to bend the web 1 from its vertical plane in the center between the inlet and outlet rollers 39 and 41. The light torque introduced at this point gives a small increase involving the vertical roller 41 and an increase in the moment of inertia of the band to the vertical axis. In other words, the rollers 43 reinforce the band 1. Although a group of two pairs of rollers 43 is shown, a single pair or more than two pairs may be employed. As the web 1 passes through the stabilizer rollers 43 and enters the vertical exit roller, the web 1 is folded back to its correct horizontal configuration with the different web surfaces at the correct altitude to carry the luggage. The band 1, now at its horizontal altitude, is fed into the second luggage return runway via the roller 45 and the input terminal roller 21. At the other end of the conveyor system 10 is located the torque assembly 38 and a drive assembly 50. The drive assembly 50 includes a traction roller 51, drive roller 53, tension roller 55, intake rollers 57 and tension roller 59. The drive roller 53 is connected to an impeller represented by the reference number 63, see Figure 1. It should be understood that the drive assembly 50 is illustrative and other drive assemblies may be used for the conveyor system of the invention. further, the impellers described in the Mensch patent can also be adapted for the invention, as is the use of multiple impellers, multiple dynamic admission rollers and belt storage admissions also described in the Mensch patent. The torsion assembly 38 with the vertically aligned rollers 65 and 67 is similar to the torsion assembly 35 except that a pair of tension rollers 61 are disposed between the torsion roller 67 and the drive assembly 50. Also, the torque of tension rollers 69 is disposed between the torsion roller 65 and the traction roller 71 adjacent to the inlet end 11 of the load conveyor 7. As with the torsion assembly 35, a group of pairs of stabilizing rollers 43 between the vertically aligned rollers 65 and 67 for the purposes described above. It should be understood that the configurations of the vertically aligned rollers 39, 41, 65 and 67 are illustrative of Figures 1 and 3. Other configurations of the torsion assemblies such as those employing different sites and / or orientations with with respect to the load and return conveyors 7 and 9. For example, the torque assembly 38 and the drive assembly 50 can be arranged so that the drive assembly can be interposed between the two torsion assemblies instead of having to the torsion assembly 38 disposed between the torsion assembly 35 and the drive assembly 50. Other configurations will be within the skill of the art, also within the scope of the invention. Other means to change the direction of the endless belt from the first path of the luggage to the second path of the luggage, while keeping the surface carrying the luggage in an upward orientation on both carriers can also be employed. Preferably, the conveyors 7 and 9 are at the same elevation. This arrangement facilitates the feeding and ejection of cargo or baggage from both cargo and return transporters. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, an illustrative support arrangement for the load conveyor 7 and the return conveyor 9 is described. The conveyors 7 and 9 are supported by external support columns 71 and internal support columns 73. A cross beam 75 extends between the columns 71, the beam further supported by the internal support columns 73. On the cross beam 75 the external pinion roller supports 77 and 78 are arranged with a central support designated by the reference number 79. These supports carry two series arranged longitudinally of tension rollers 81 and 83, for each load conveyor 7 and the return conveyor 9, respectively. The tension rollers 81 are separated from the adjacent rollers 81 and are alternated with respect to the tension rollers 83.

Figure 5 shows more clearly the alternating arrangement of the tension rollers. The central support 79 has a groove 85 for each tension roller with the external support 78 having grooves 87 for the tension rollers 83, the other external support 77 having the grooves 89 for supporting the tension rollers 81. An illustrative spacing between rollers 81 can be approximately 106.6 centimeters (42 inches) with the alternation between the rollers being from about 3.81 centimeters (one and one-half inches) to 53.3 centimeters (21 inches). The tension roll arrangement described in Figures 4 and 5 provides both baggage support and a reduction in the deviation of tension band / roll combinations, particularly at belt speeds in excess of 530 m / hour (2,100 feet). per minute). Having two series of alternate tension rollers, the rollers are shorter than the rollers used to support the entire sphere of the belt. In addition, the alternating separation of the rollers breaks the outer harmony of the round rollers and decreases or eliminates the sag of the belt between the rollers. It should also be understood that the support arrangement shown in Figure 4 is illustrative and other configurations and / or numbers of support columns or the like can be used to achieve the separate and alternate tension roll arrangement. Similarly, the supports for the other aspects of the invention, for example, the drive assembly 50, the torsion assemblies 35 and 38, etc. They can be of any type. A further description of the various supports is not thought to be necessary to understand the invention. An alternative torsion assembly arrangement is described in Figures 6 and 7 with reference number 35 '. In this embodiment, the tapered rollers 91 and 93 are used to rotate the endless belt 1 from the outlet end 15 so that it can be directed to the inlet end 19 of the return conveyor 9. When the tapered rollers 91 and 93, the tensile force of the resultant web exerts a force along the center line of the tapered roller in the "Y" direction. The edge 92 of the band 1 which engages the tapered roller 91 is subjected to two influences. The first influence lies flat, thus causing band 1 to rotate or bend laterally. As a result, band 1 is thrown on the upper side of the roller or in the "X" direction. Since the amount of taper or "roll coping" is based on the resulting force vector diagram and its angular location is relative to the center of rotation, band 1 is pulled in the "X" direction by its reaction to the taper and in the direction of "Y" by the resulting component that is parallel with the center of rotation.To compensate for the actual conditions, the bearings supporting the roller must be made adjustable in the "Z" directions to obtain the center line of rotation in the most favorable altitude consistent with the actual stresses in and out of the roller. Referring again to Figure 6, the band 1 forms a wrapping in the clockwise direction around the tapered roller 91 and continues with a wrapping in a clockwise direction around the tapered roller 93 so that the surface carrying the baggage 3 is held in the direction upwards for the return conveyor 9. These tapered rollers also reverse the vector force tension of the roller entry surface to the exit surface of the roller since it is present in the vertically aligned rollers. In yet another embodiment, Figure 8 describes an hourglass-shaped roller that can be used to replace the tapered rollers 91. With the hourglass shape having a taper from each end to the center, the roller 95 can be bidirectional since it is opposite to the unidirectional use of any of the tapered rollers 91 and 93. The means or devices for adjusting the vertical displacement of the vertically aligned torsion rollers and the horizontal displacement of the rollers in horizontally aligned tapered or hourglass shape. it can be any known device capable of tilting or moving the rollers in one or more directions. The appropriate controls can also be used to allow setting the default parameters or adjust the roller orientations during the operation of the conveyor. The tension roller arrangement described in Figure 4 and 5 as a support for the conveyors 7 and 9 is a preferred arrangement and other arrangements for the rollers that include its support structure are within the scope of the invention. further, the determinations for the tapered roll dimensions, hourglass-shaped roller dimensions or the parameters for bending the endless band 1 are considered within the skill of the art. An example of a catenary torsion length can be 0.3 meters (one foot) in length for each 2.54 centimeters (one inch) of bandwidth. As such, an invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiment thereof that meet each and every object of the present invention as set forth above and provides an improved side-by-side conveyor system and its method of use. . Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations of the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intended scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims (24)

1. A side-by-side conveyor system, characterized in that it comprises: a) an endless belt having a baggage carrying surface and an opposing friction surface; b) a first conveyor support for the endless belt having a first entry end and a first exit end forming a first luggage path between them; c) a second conveyor support for the endless belt having a second inlet end and a second exit end forming a second baggage path between them; d) a first conveyor torsion assembly directing the endless belt at the first exit end to the second entry end and a second conveyor torsion assembly directing the endless belt at a second exit end to the first entry end, each conveyor torsion assembly including at least two torsion rollers positioned to rotate the endless belt so that the luggage carrying surface faces upward as it travels in a direction along the first luggage path that faces towards up when traveling in an opposite direction along the second baggage path; and e) at least one conveyor drive assembly for driving the endless belt along each luggage path.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that each torsion roller is generally aligned vertically.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that each vertically aligned torsion roller moves about its vertical axis.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that each torsion roller is generally aligned horizontally.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that each horizontally inclined torsion roller is of tapered shape.

6. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that each horizontally aligned torsion roller longitudinally has an hourglass shape.

7. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that each horizontally aligned torsion roller moves in a horizontal plane that coincides with an axis thereof.

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertically aligned torsion rollers are separated and the luggage carrying surface of the endless belt is vertically aligned as it travels between the vertically aligned torsion rollers, and at least a pair of vertically aligned stabilizing rollers is placed between the vertically aligned rollers, the endless belt wound between each roller of the pair of stabilizing rollers.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that each pair of stabilizing rollers moves along the axes thereof to flex the vertically aligned web so that it travels between the torsion rollers.

10. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the mobility of each of the vertically aligned torsion rollers allows the roller inclination with respect to a torsion roller axis to be taken into account in at least the gravitational forces on the torsion roller. Endless band when they line up vertically.

11. The system in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a group of alternating tension rollers disposed below the endless belt and along each of the first and second luggage paths, each group of alternating tension rollers comprising a first row of longitudinally separated rollers and under a portion of the endless belt and a second row of rollers separated longitudinally and below a remaining portion of the endless belt, the first group of rollers alternate laterally with respect to the second group of rollers.

12. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first feed conveyor with an output end of the conveyor adjacent to the first input end and a first ejection conveyor with an input end of the conveyor adjacent to the first output end and a second feed conveyor with a second output end of the conveyor adjacent the second input end and a second ejection conveyor with a second input end of the conveyor adjacent the second output end.

13. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of endless belts, first conveyor supports, second conveyor carriers, first conveyor torsion assemblies, second conveyor torsion assemblies and conveyor drive assemblies, wherein the plurality of the first carriers of the conveyor are vertically arranged and the plurality of second conveyors of the conveyor are vertically arranged to form a stacked side-by-side conveyor system, comprising a plurality of vertically disposed side-by-side conveyor systems.

14. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises a first feed conveyor with an output end of the conveyor adjacent to each of the first input ends of the plurality of conveyor systems side by side and a first conveyor of ejection with one input end of the conveyor adjacent each of the first output ends and a second feed conveyor with a second output end of the conveyor adjacent to each of the second input ends and a second ejection conveyor with a second entrance end of the conveyor adjacent to each of the second exit ends.

15. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first luggage path and the second luggage path are substantially at the same elevation.

16. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the first luggage path and the second luggage path are at substantially the same elevation.

17. A method for transporting luggage on at least two different opposing moving luggage paths, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) providing a side-by-side conveyor system having an endless belt with a surface carrying luggage and a surface of opposite friction, a first conveyor support for the endless belt having a first inlet end and a first outlet end that forms between them a first luggage path, a second conveyor carrier for the endless belt having a second end inlet and a second outlet end forming between them a second luggage path, a first conveyor torsion assembly for directing the endless belt at the first outlet end to the second inlet end and a second conveyor torsion assembly to direct the endless band at the second exit end to the first entrance end, each set of torsion of the conveyor including at least two rollers placed to rotate the endless band so that the surface carrying the luggage that faces upwards when traveling in a direction along the first path of the luggage remains up when traveling in an opposite direction along the second trajectory of the luggage; and at least one conveyor drive assembly for driving the endless belt along each luggage path; and b) loading the luggage onto the surface carrying the luggage at least at one of the first and second entry ends by driving the endless belt to transport the loaded luggage at least at one of the first and second exit ends for the removal of them.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the luggage is loaded both in the first and in the second inlet end.

19. The method according to claim 18, further characterized in that the luggage is transported by a conveyor to each of the first and second entry ends and is removed by another conveyor at each of the first and second exit ends.

20. The method according to claim 17, further characterized in that a plurality of side-by-side conveyor systems are provided in a vertically separate arrangement.

21. A side-by-side conveyor system characterized in that it comprises: a) an endless belt having a surface that carries luggage and an opposing friction surface; b) a first conveyor support for the endless belt having a first inlet end and a first exit end forming a first baggage path therebetween; c) a second conveyor support for the endless belt having a second inlet end and a second exit end forming a second baggage path between them; d) a first conveyor twist assembly means for directing the endless belt to the exit end of the first luggage path to the entry end of the second luggage path and directing the endless belt to the exit end of the bag. second baggage path to the entrance end of the first baggage path so that the surface carrying the baggage faces up when traveling in one direction along the first baggage path and stays up when traveling in an opposite direction along the second luggage path; and e) at least one conveyor drive assembly for driving the endless belt along each luggage path.

22. The system according to claim 21, further characterized in that the first luggage path and the second luggage path are substantially at the same elevation.

23. The system according to claim 21, further characterized by comprising a first feed conveyor with an output end of the conveyor adjacent the first input end and a first conveyor with an input end of the conveyor adjacent the first output end and a second feed conveyor with a second output end of the conveyor adjacent the second input end and a second ejection conveyor with a second input end of the conveyor adjacent the second output end.

24. The system according to claim 21, characterized in that the steering means comprises a plurality of rollers positioned to rotate the endless belt between the exit end of the first luggage path and the entry end of the second luggage path and between the exit end of the second luggage path and the entry end of the first luggage path so that the luggage carrying surface facing upward as it travels in a direction along the first luggage path remains toward up when traveling in an opposite direction along the second baggage path.