Crisplant A/s

Beumer Group A/s

Kosan Crisplant A/s

Uffe Lykkegaard

Ole Prydtz

Benny Larsen

Ralph Kofoed

Henrik Duch Simonsen

Anders Bentsen

Finn Lyng Pedersen

Per Barklin

Lasse Lund Jensen

Knud Erik Glud

Aksel Kloster

Søren Friis Autzen

Ole Gortz

Allan Vang Jørgensen

Jørgen Staun

Carl Christian Vad Knudsen

Jens Rosenberg

Dirk Vivian Hypolyt Fransen

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 () is only serving a first rack regionusing a first feeding and extraction conveyor system (), and a second rack region serving device () is only serving a second rack region () using a second feeding and extraction conveyor system (). In a second mode of operation, only the first rack region serving device () is used for serving both the first and second rack regions (), and only the first feeding and extraction conveyor system () is used for feeding articles to the first rack region serving device () and for taking away articles from the first rack region serving device ().

Storage and retrieval system

There is disclosed a method of passengers () claiming their baggage pieces () at an aircraft baggage claim area () 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 () a plurality of destinations () at the aircraft baggage claim area of the airport and along each of two lateral sides (), () of the material handling equipment, and choosing () towards which of the two lateral sides (), () the one or more pieces of aircraft baggage () should be automatically and actively discharged into at least one of the plurality of destinations (). The method further includes actively discharging () the one or more pieces of aircraft baggage () from the material handling equipment and into at least one of the destinations (), and that the one or more aircraft passengers () are claiming () the one or more pieces of aircraft baggage () 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.

Method of claiming aircraft baggage

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 () has a closed loop of coupled sorting carts or slats provided for moving along a loop track formed by an upper track section (), a lower track section (), 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 sectionscan 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) () 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.

Line sorter with adjustable track length

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 () 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 () 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 (), 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 () where the two or more pivot points are positioned a pivot point distance greater than zero apart in the moving direction of the carts.

Sorter with reduced polygon effect

The invention relates to a line sorter for sorting items of various shapes, sizes and weights, in particular postal parcels or airport baggage. The invention is particularly related to the propulsion system () for the sorter. It may be seen as an object of the invention to provide a line sorter with a reduced need for energy input at a given sorting capacity. It is disclosed that a closed loop chain including sorting carts or slats () is provided with couplings () and is provided for moving along line sorter track sections. The linear synchronous motor propulsion system is provided for moving said closed loop chain, and a gap between adjacent permanent magnets () is the same or substantially the same between each of the permanent magnets.

Line sorter

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, 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 lowermostof the two or more empty totes on top of each other supports one or more empty toteson top of it and the lowermost empty tote is, when released, supported by a support conveyor

Method of distributing airport baggage

The invention relates to a sorting system of the support structure type, which includes known sorting systems such as tray type sorting systems. They include a track along which carts and support structures are conveyed. Cover plates are arranged to close gaps between the support structures, also when the support structures are conveyed through curved sections, so that conveyed items are prevented from falling through the gaps. The invention further involves a gap closing kit for a support structure sorting system. The invention also involves a method of providing a support structure sorting system having a gap substantially closed between at least two support structures. The cover plates are connected to the support structures by leading systems as well as connected to guiding systems, which guiding systems have one part fixated to an adjacent cart. The support structures, the guiding systems and the leading systems are configured to control movement of the cover plates relative to the support structures in order to close a gap between adjacent support structures, when conveyed in sections of a track, which track may have only horizontal straight and curved sections, or include inclined or declined straight or curved sections.

Sorting system having cover plates closing gaps between support structures

The invention provides a method and a system for inducting items to a sorter (SRT) from a stream of items (IT, IT), e.g. mail or parcels, arriving at a feeding conveyor (FC). A processor (PCR) executes a control algorithm (C_A) with at least information (I_) regarding the stream of items arriving at the feeding conveyor (FC) as input. In response, the control algorithm (C_A) generates an output (O) indicating where to place an item picked up by a robot (R) from the feeding conveyor (FC). The control algorithm (C_A) selects between two or more of: 1) a first induction (I) arranged for transporting items to the sorter (SRT), 2) an empty space (E_S) on the sorter(SRT), 3) the feeding conveyor (FC), e.g. singulating bulk items on the feeding conveyor (FC), and 4) a weighing unit (W) arranged for weighing items. By controlling the robot (R) accordingly, it is possible to provide effective use of existing pick-and-place robots as part of a sorter induction system, where a high capacity can be obtained with a small requirement for space. E.g. it may be possible to save space for inductions, compared to what is required for manual handling with the same sorting capacity, especially this may be advantageous for items with a maximum weight of 2-3 kg.

Method for inducting and singulating items to a sorter

The invention provides a chute system (C,C,C) for a sorting system arranged for transporting objects, e.g. for use for discharging luggage from a conveyor system. The chute system has one or more chute sections with an inlet (IL) in one end and an outlet (OL) in the opposite end. Displacement means, e.g. a pneumatic actuator, is arranged to adjust an angle of inclination of the one or more chute sections (C,C,C) by displacing the chute section (C,C,C) in a motion comprising pivoting around a pivot point positioned downstream of the inlet (IL). E.G. the pivot point can be positioned at the outlet, e.g. by means of a hinge. The adjustment of the angle of inclination may be controlled by a processor in response to various position and/or speed sensors and/or information about incoming objects from a vision based system or from the associated sorting system, e.g. identification of poly wrapped objects. The angle of inclination can be increased in case an object stops on the chute section, or the angle of inclination can be decreased in case an object moves too fast, even if a simple gravity chute is used. A cascade of two or more chute sections (C,C,C) with adjustable angles of inclination can be used to control batches of objects and to control back pressure of objects on the chute.

Chute system with adjustable angle of inclination

In order e.g. to provide a more efficient cross-belt sorting system there is among others disclosed a cross-belt sorting systemfor side by side itemsin which system items are loaded onto their side by side position on a cross-belt by one or more top-load loading stationsin response to an identification of the items.

Cross-belt sorting system

A devicefor servicing and/or inspection of a material handling systemis disclosed, which device provides safer, less time consuming and less difficult service and/or inspection of the material handling systemthan other devices. The deviceis adapted to be moved along a trackof the material handling system and adapted for servicing and/or inspection of the material handling system or components thereof positioned on or adjacent to the track. The device includes at least one section, such as a hatch and/or a sliding bearing surface, displaceable between a first and a second position, where the section positioned in the second position is enabling a person of accessing parts of the material handling system which are moving relatively to the device during movement of the device or during operation of the material handling system.

Service cart

The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise an even or an uneven number of permanent magnets arranged on a plate-like carrier. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form arrow of magnets with alternating polarity, said row having two neighboring magnets. At least one of the two neighboring magnets has a reduced dimension in the transport direction, and the two neighboring magnets are situated at a transition between adjacent carts.

Sorting system with linear synchronous motor drive

The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Accordingly, embodiments include an improved sorting system that provides an improved energy utilization and efficiency. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise a number of permanent magnets arranged on a carrier plate. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form a row of magnets with constant pitch and alternating polarity, said row having an interruption situated at a transition between adjacent carts. A maximum number of coils in the stator may thereby be active at the same time, when driving the conveyor.

The invention is a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts and comprise an uneven number of permanent magnets arranged on a carrier plate. The magnets on the reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form a row of magnets with constant pitch and alternating polarity. The row of magnets has an interruption situated at a transition between adjacent carts.

The invention relates to automated handling of baggage objects of variable sizes, shapes and consistencies, including baggage in an airport. The invention involves measuring at least length in two directions of the objects while supported on a conveyor means, turning selected objects in an angle according to a selection in response to the measured lengths in relation to a predetermined value, and transferring objects to a storage device to collect a plurality of objects, and preferably while the objects are supported on a conveyor means. The selection in response to at least one predetermined value provides one basis for deciding whether to turn the objects before the objects are transferred to the storage device. This facilitates automatic transfer of baggage objects without manual intervention.

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Aarhus C, Denmark

Uffe Lykkegaard