High speed baggage diverter

Abstract

A diverter assembly according to the present invention includes a generally horizontal conveying surface, a pair of flipper assemblies, and an actuator for substantially concurrently actuating the flipper assemblies to an actuated position whereby the flipper assemblies are collinear. A driven diverting surface is defined on each flipper assembly wherein an article on the conveying surface is diverted when the article contacts one of the flipper assemblies when the flipper assembly is in its actuated position.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority from provisional application entitled HIGH SPEED BAGGAGE DIVERTER, Ser. No. 60 / 224,621, filed Aug. 11, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to article diverters and, in particular, to high-speed diverters. Although the invention finds particular application to the diverting of baggage, such at airport baggage handling systems, or the like, the invention may find other applications.[0003]Diverters for irregularly shaped articles, such as baggage, share many of the same goals and challenges that diverters for regularly shaped articles, such as boxes or containers, face. One goal is to sort the articles at a high rate so that the diverting or sorting function does not significantly slow the throughput of the articles. Another goal is to minimize damage to the articles being diverted. The faster the rate of the throughput...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]In one aspect, the diverter assembly further includes a driven diverting surface defined at each of the arms; for example, the diverting surfaces may comprise driven belts. In a further aspect, the driven belts are driven at a speed equal to the conveying speed of the conveying surface divided by a cosine of an angle between the conveying direction and the diverting direction to thereby maintain the forward speed of the article being diverted generally constant.

[0024]It can be appreciated from the foregoing that the diverter assembly of the present invention can divert articles that are conveyed at a relative high-speed without significantly, if at all, reducing the rate at which the articles are handled. Furthermore, since an article is redirected without significantly reducing the articles forward motion, the impact to the article being diverted is minimal.

Problems solved by technology

The faster the rate of the throughput, the greater the challenge this becomes.

This variation in shape and malleability of these irregularly shaped articles makes sortation even more challenging than sortation of regularly shaped articles.

For example, baggage may be more susceptible to damage than articles, such as containers, because of the material forming the baggage, such as in the case of duffle bags, does not absorb any significant impact.

Furthermore, given the variation in size and shape of baggage, larger articles, such as large trunks may topple over the diverter when diverted by many conventional diverters.

Furthermore, baggage may include straps or loose handles, which can be easily snagged or caught up in a diverter assembly.

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