Method and apparatus for controlling cargo in an aircraft

Abstract

Loading apparatus for loading containers into a cargo area in an aircraft are known that comprise, in addition to undriven conveyor rollers, a plurality of roller drive units. Each of the roller drive units includes a controllable drive motor to rotate drive rollers in a predetermined direction. In such loading systems, if the operator is inattentive it can happen that the roller drive units continue to run under containers that have been latched in place, so that the surface of their drive rollers and/or the drive motors are damaged. It is proposed to provide control leads between the roller drive units with control means in the control leads and/or in the roller drive units. The control means are connected to sensors and the roller drive units in such a way that during a transport process the drive motor of a roller drive unit is only turned on if the sensor detects the presence of a container in the region of action of the drive roller and if, prior to the detection of the container in the region of action of the drive roller of this roller drive unit, no other container has been sensed in the region of action of the drive roller of the adjacent roller drive unit next to it in the direction of transport.