Airport article transportation device

Abstract

The utility model provides an airport article transportation device which comprises an industrial controller and an RFID code reading station connected with the industrial controller, and the RFID code reading station is arranged on the two sides of a transportation rotating disc in a crossing mode through a portal frame structure, fixed to the ground and used for obtaining article identification information. The plurality of station type display devices are arranged at intervals along the inner circumference of the transportation turntable, and each station type display device corresponds to one station area on the transportation turntable; the camera is arranged at the top of the portal frame and used for collecting article image information of articles passing through the RFID code reading station, and the control end of the camera is connected with the industrial controller; and the input port of the switch is connected with the output ends of the RFID code reading station and the camera, and the switch is connected with the plurality of station type display devices. The problems that information display of transported articles is single, operation fatigue is prone to occurring, mistaken picking and missing picking are caused, and the construction cost is too high are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of airport transportation, in particular to an airport article transportation device. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the widespread adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in airport sorting, small and medium-sized airports have increasingly demanded low-cost, highly reliable visual sorting systems. The current mainstream solution uses LED strip displays that operate synchronously with transport carousels, dynamically tracking item information by continuously deploying strips above the carousel. However, this technology has significant drawbacks in practical applications:

[0003] First, the LED strip screen has a relatively simple function and can only display simple text information, but cannot display pictures of the item's appearance. At the same time, the dynamic strip screen requires manual tracking of moving information, and the spatial misalignment between the sorting station and the display position exacerbates operator fatigue. Especially when handling items of similar shapes and sizes in airport sorting scenarios, confusion can easily arise when relying solely on text information, leading to problems such as mispicking and missed picking during peak hours, seriously affecting sorting efficiency and accuracy.

[0004] Secondly, the LED strip screen needs to be installed along the entire turntable. The high cost of equipment construction has put some small and medium-sized airports under huge economic pressure, making it difficult to promote its use on a large scale, which in turn limits the improvement of sorting efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, the existing traditional RFID visual assisted sorting equipment cannot meet the needs of small and medium-sized airports for efficient, accurate, and low-cost sorting equipment. There is an urgent need to design a workstation-type visual display device that can effectively improve sorting efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0006] In response to the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides an airport article transport device, which solves the problems in the prior art of single information display of transported articles, easy operator fatigue, causing mispicking, missed picking, and excessively high construction costs.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an airport article transport device includes a transport turntable and an article injection port, and further includes:

[0008] An industrial controller and an RFID reading station connected to the industrial controller, wherein the RFID reading station adopts a gantry structure and is installed on both sides of the transport turntable and fixed to the ground, and is used to read the item identification tags on the items passing through the gantry to obtain the item identification information;

[0009] A plurality of station-type display devices are arranged at intervals along the inner circumference of the transport turntable, each station-type display device corresponding to a station area on the transport turntable;

[0010] A camera is installed on the top of the gantry and is used to collect image information of items passing through the RFID reading station. The control end of the camera is connected to the industrial controller;

[0011] A switch, wherein the input port of the switch is connected to the output end of the RFID code reading station and the camera, and the output port of the switch is connected to the multiple station-type display devices through a communication cable.

[0012] Furthermore, the RFID code reading station is installed on the transport turntable near the article injection port, and includes at least two high-gain directional antennas, which are symmetrically arranged on the inner sides of the columns on both sides of the gantry.

[0013] Furthermore, the transport device also includes a photoelectric switch, which is arranged on both sides of the gantry of the RFID reading station, and its signal output end is connected to the industrial controller.

[0014] Furthermore, horizontally aligned light holes are provided on the columns on both sides of the gantry, and the light holes are perpendicular to the running direction of the transport turntable; the photoelectric switch includes a transmitting end and a receiving end respectively arranged at the light holes on both sides of the gantry, the transmitting end is installed on the outside of the light hole on one side of the gantry, and the receiving end is arranged at the corresponding position of the light hole on the other side.

[0015] Furthermore, a wave-absorbing material layer is applied on the inner side of the gantry, and the wave-absorbing material layer covers the inner space of the gantry to suppress the reflection of electromagnetic waves.

[0016] Furthermore, the item identification tag includes an RFID tag.

[0017] Furthermore, the transportation device also includes an external interface communication module, which is used to connect to heterogeneous data interfaces of different airports to realize the transmission of external data.

[0018] Furthermore, the transport device further includes a background server connected to the switch, and a management transport device corresponding to the item transport device is deployed on the background server.

[0019] Furthermore, the transportation device also includes a fully redundant hot backup module, which includes an RFID reading unit running in parallel with the RFID reading station; the RFID reading unit includes an independent power supply unit, a radio frequency identification unit, a communication control unit and a photoelectric detection unit; the RFID reading station and the RFID reading unit are interconnected through the communication control unit.

[0020] Furthermore, the workstation display device includes an LCD screen or an OLED screen.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] Each workstation on the turntable is equipped with a corresponding workstation display device, which not only clearly displays text information such as item numbers, but also supports high-definition images and even thumbnails of the appearance of the four most recently passed items. This allows sorters to obtain item information from multiple angles and in a three-dimensional manner. Especially when dealing with items of similar shapes and sizes, intuitive images can quickly and accurately identify them, effectively avoiding mispicks and missed items caused by visual confusion, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of sorting operations.

[0023] In terms of cost control and applicability, compared with traditional LED strip screen solutions, the workstation display equipment of this application arranges the display equipment in the internal space of the turntable by planning and arranging the spacing according to the circumference of the sorting turntable and the number of airport flights. This can greatly reduce the number of display devices used, thereby effectively reducing the equipment construction cost of small and medium-sized airports.

[0024] In terms of operation process optimization, this technical solution can realize multi-dimensional item information collection, such as item label data, appearance images, etc. Sorting personnel only need to focus on their workstation area to obtain all the required information, without having to search for information in the entire turntable area. This greatly reduces redundant operations and ineffective movement, more reasonably and fully utilizes the turntable resources, and improves the overall operating efficiency of the airport baggage sorting and transportation equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the framework structure of an airport article transport device provided by an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0026] Figure 2 An equipment layout diagram of an airport article transport device provided by an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an airport article transport device provided by an embodiment of the present utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Before proceeding with the detailed description below, it may be helpful to set forth the definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The terms "couple," "connect," and their derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication or connection between two or more elements, regardless of whether those elements are in physical contact with each other. The terms "transmit," "receive," and "communicate," and their derivatives, encompass both direct and indirect communication. The terms "include," "comprise," and their derivatives, mean including, but not limited to. The term "or" is inclusive, meaning and / or. The phrase "associated with..." and its derivatives mean including, included within, interconnected, containing, contained within, connected or connected with, coupled or coupled with, communicate with, cooperate with, intertwine, juxtapose, approach, bound or bound with, have, have an attribute of, have a relationship with, or have a relationship with, etc. The term "controller" refers to any device, system, or portion thereof that controls at least one operation. Such a controller may be implemented using hardware, or a combination of hardware and software and / or firmware. The functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether local or remote. The phrase "at least one of," when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one of the items in the list may be needed. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A, B, and C.

[0029] In this patent document, the application combination of modules and the division level of sub-modules are only used for illustration. Without departing from the scope of this disclosure, the application combination of modules and the division level of sub-modules can have different forms.

[0030] As mentioned in the background art, the prior art lacks a visual display system that enables ground service sorting personnel to view item information in a more three-dimensional and intuitive manner and to more reasonably and fully utilize the turntable resources. The technical solution of the present utility model is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0031] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides an airport item transport device, comprising a transport carousel 700 and an item injection port 600, an industrial controller 800, and an RFID code reading station connected to the industrial controller 800. The RFID code reading station 100 adopts a gantry structure and is arranged on both sides of the transport carousel 700 and fixed to the ground. The RFID code reading station 100 is used to read item identification tags on items passing through the gantry to obtain item identification information; a plurality of workstation display devices 200 are arranged at intervals along the inner circumference of the transport carousel 700, each workstation display device 200 corresponding to a workstation area on the transport carousel 700; a camera 300, whose control end is connected to the industrial controller 800, and the camera 300 is installed on the top of the gantry and is used to collect item image information of items passing through the RFID code reading station 100; a switch 400, the input port of the switch 400 is connected to the output ends of the RFID code reading station 100 and the camera 300, and the output port of the switch 400 is connected to the plurality of workstation display devices 200 via a communication cable.

[0032] In this embodiment, a single airport or terminal is equipped with at least one backend server 500, each turntable is equipped with at least one RFID reading station 100 and one switch 400, and each transport turntable 700 is equipped with 1-8 sets of workstation display devices 200 as needed, and the display devices include LCD screens or OLED screens.

[0033] In the sorting area of ​​the airport's item transport carousel 700, an RFID reader station 100 is constructed as a gantry structure, spanning both sides of the transport carousel 700 and securely fixed to the ground with expansion screws. For on-site safety, anti-collision warning posts have been added to the exterior of the gantry to prevent accidental collisions with items such as the item trailer. Guide posts have also been installed outside the gantry entrance to guide luggage away from the gantry and avoid scratches. The input port of the switch 400 is connected to the output ports of the RFID reader station 100 and the camera 300, collecting item identification information read by the RFID reader station 100 and item image information captured by the camera 300. The output port of the switch 400 transmits the processed data stably via communication cables to the multiple workstation display devices 200 for display. Among them, the multiple workstation display devices 200 are reasonably arranged along the inner circumference of the turntable based on the comprehensive considerations such as the circumference of the sorting turntable and the number of airport flights. A workstation display device 200 is installed in front of each sorting station on the transport turntable 700. The staff can intuitively see whether there are items for the flight they are responsible for sorting in the workstation area, reducing the work of bending over to look at the item information labels.

[0034] Furthermore, the RFID reading station 100 is installed on the article transport turntable 700 near the injection port 600, and includes at least two high-gain directional antennas, which are symmetrically arranged on the inner sides of the columns on both sides of the gantry.

[0035] In this embodiment, an RFID reading station 100 is installed on the transport carousel 700 near the inlet 600. When a batch of luggage arrives on the transport carousel 700 after being checked in from an airliner, information is collected from the initial stage of the journey. RFID reading station 100 is equipped with at least two high-gain directional antennas, symmetrically positioned on the inside of the columns on either side of the gantry. Even if the items move during transport or the tags are misaligned, as long as they are within the effective range of the antennas, they can be accurately read.

[0036] In order to detect whether an object passes under the gantry, in this embodiment, the transport device 700 further includes a photoelectric switch, which is arranged on both sides of the gantry of the RFID reading station 100, and its signal output end is connected to the industrial controller 800.

[0037] Furthermore, horizontally aligned light holes are provided on the columns on both sides of the gantry, and the light holes are perpendicular to the running direction of the transport turntable 700; the photoelectric switch includes a transmitting end and a receiving end respectively arranged at the light holes on both sides of the gantry, the transmitting end is installed on the outside of the light hole on one side of the gantry, and the receiving end is arranged at the corresponding position of the light hole on the other side.

[0038] In this embodiment, photoelectric switches are symmetrically mounted on the columns on either side of the gantry structure of the RFID reading station 100. These switches are used to detect whether an object passes beneath the gantry. The photoelectric switches' transmitter and receiver are mounted on opposite inner sides of the columns on either side of the gantry. Their optical axes are aligned horizontally and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the transport turntable 700. Light beams pass through the passageway beneath the gantry, forming an invisible detection light curtain. When an object with an identification tag moves along the transport turntable 700 and enters and passes beneath the gantry of the RFID reading station 100, the object blocks the light beam from the transmitter to the receiver. This blocked light prevents the receiver from receiving the light signal, causing the photoelectric switch to change state—for example, from "on" to "off" or output a high / low pulse signal. This state change signal serves as the output signal of the photoelectric switch, which is transmitted in real time to the industrial controller 800 via its signal output terminal and the connected signal cable.

[0039] When the industrial controller 800 receives a signal from the photoelectric switch, it sends a read command to the RFID reader station 100, instructing it to scan and read the item identification tag on an item passing through the light curtain. It also sends a trigger signal to the camera 300, instructing it to capture image information of the item when it is within the optimal field of view below the gantry (i.e., the moment it is detected by the photoelectric switch). This signal also serves as a timestamp when the item arrives at a specific detection point. The photoelectric switch enables dynamic power switching of the RFID reader station 100. When no item passes through the gantry, the RFID reader station 100 enters a dormant state, maintaining only basic circuit power, reducing power consumption to 10%-20% of normal operating mode. When an item actually blocks the light path, the photoelectric switch sends a trigger signal to the RFID reader station 100, initiating full-power operation and completing the tag reading. This low-power design extends the life of the RFID reader station 100. Furthermore, the camera 300 only captures images when an item passes through the gantry, avoiding unnecessary capture operations, saving storage resources, and improving the effectiveness and relevance of capture. The output end of the camera 300 is connected to the switch 400, and the captured image data can be transmitted to the switch 400 in a timely and stable manner. After receiving the data, the switch 400 distributes it to the workstation display device 200 and the background server 500.

[0040] In the workstation display device 200, this image data is combined with item identification information obtained by the code reading station, such as the item's text information, and presented to ground service sorting personnel. While viewing text content such as the item number and flight information, the sorting personnel can also intuitively see the item's appearance image. This greatly facilitates the distinction and identification of items of similar shape and size, effectively reducing the probability of mispickup and missed pickup, and significantly improving sorting efficiency and accuracy. Furthermore, in the event of abnormalities such as lost or damaged luggage, this image data can serve as an important basis for tracing back, allowing staff to quickly identify the problem. In actual application scenarios, when a piece of luggage with a unique shape passes through the gantry, the camera 300 captures its appearance image and quickly transmits it to relevant equipment. After viewing the image and related text information on the workstation display device 200, the sorting personnel can quickly determine the ownership of the luggage and accurately complete the sorting task, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of airport item transportation.

[0041] Furthermore, a wave-absorbing material layer is applied on the inner side of the gantry, and the wave-absorbing material layer covers the inner space of the gantry to suppress the reflection of electromagnetic waves.

[0042] This embodiment effectively reduces the random refraction of electromagnetic waves and the possibility of cross-checking of items by laying absorbing material within the gantry. The inner baffle of the turntable where the code reading station is located is made of non-metallic, wave-transparent material, which facilitates the transmission of electromagnetic waves. Compared with other complex detection methods, this optical detection method is less susceptible to electromagnetic interference and can operate stably in the complex electromagnetic environment of airports, thereby ensuring the stable and efficient operation of the entire airport's item transport system.

[0043] Furthermore, the item identification tag includes an RFID tag. The RFID reading station 100 deployed in this embodiment is a UHF RFID reading station that complies with ISO18000-6C and IATA1740c. When an item carrying an RFID tag that complies with the IATA1740c specification passes through the reading station, the key information stored in the tag chip will be quickly and accurately identified.

[0044] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transport device also includes an external interface communication module, which features robust compatibility and adaptability. This module is used to connect to heterogeneous data interfaces at different airports, enabling external data transmission. In the complex environment of airport item transportation, information transport device architectures and data interfaces often differ across airports. Connecting to these heterogeneous data interfaces ensures that the transport device, regardless of its deployment at any airport, can smoothly interact with various external data sources, providing more comprehensive and accurate information support for ground service sorting personnel.

[0045] Furthermore, the transport device further includes a background server 500 connected to the switch 400 , and a management transport device corresponding to the item transport device is deployed on the background server.

[0046] In this embodiment, the backend server 500 establishes a connection with the switch 400 via a communication cable, thereby receiving item identification information (including item EPC codes, item numbers, date codes, etc.) acquired by the RFID reader station 100, as well as item image information captured by the gantry-top camera 300. By deploying at least one of the aforementioned transport devices on the backend server 500, the backend server 500 can perform in-depth processing and application of the RFID and image data aggregated by the switch 400, transforming basic identification and collection information into valuable operational instructions, status tracking, management records, or security verification evidence. This not only significantly improves the visualization, automation, and processing efficiency of the item transportation process, but also provides airport ground service personnel with more accurate and comprehensive information support, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the overall sorting operation.

[0047] In order to achieve continuous operation of the equipment as much as possible, this device supports a fully redundant hot backup function. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transport device also includes a fully redundant hot backup module, which includes an RFID reading unit running in parallel with the RFID reading station 100, and the RFID reading unit includes an independent power supply unit, a radio frequency identification unit, a communication control unit, and a photoelectric detection unit; the RFID reading station 100 and the RFID reading unit are interconnected via the communication control unit. After the equipment is powered on, the two sets of equipment are powered on at the same time. The master device can initiate a switch to the backup device through the communication link. After the fully redundant hot backup module receives a switch request or fails to receive heartbeat information from the master device for three consecutive times, it switches and enters the backup device state.

[0048] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the utility model and are not limiting. Although the utility model is described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, ordinary technicians in this field should understand that the technical solution of the utility model can be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the purpose and scope of the technical solution of the utility model, which should be included in the scope of the claims of the utility model.

Claims

1. An airport article transport device, comprising a transport turntable and an article injection port, characterized in that: Also includes: An industrial controller and an RFID reading station connected to the industrial controller, wherein the RFID reading station adopts a gantry structure and is installed on both sides of the transport turntable and fixed to the ground, and is used to read the item identification tags on the items passing through the gantry to obtain the item identification information; A plurality of station-type display devices are arranged at intervals along the inner circumference of the transport turntable, each station-type display device corresponding to a station area on the transport turntable; A camera is installed on the top of the gantry and is used to collect image information of items passing through the RFID reading station. The control end of the camera is connected to the industrial controller; A switch, wherein the input port of the switch is connected to the output end of the RFID code reading station and the camera, and the output port of the switch is connected to the multiple station-type display devices through a communication cable.

2. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The RFID code reading station is installed on the transport turntable near the article injection port, and includes at least two high-gain directional antennas, which are symmetrically arranged on the inner sides of the columns on both sides of the gantry.

3. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transport device further comprises a photoelectric switch, which is arranged on both sides of the gantry of the RFID code reading station, and the signal output end of the photoelectric switch is connected to the industrial controller.

4. The airport article transport device according to claim 3, characterized in that: Horizontally aligned light holes are provided on the columns on both sides of the gantry, and the light holes are perpendicular to the running direction of the transport turntable; the photoelectric switch includes a transmitting end and a receiving end respectively arranged at the light holes on both sides of the gantry, the transmitting end is installed on the outside of the light hole on one side of the gantry, and the receiving end is arranged at the corresponding position of the light hole on the other side.

5. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A wave-absorbing material layer is provided on the inner side of the gantry, and the wave-absorbing material layer covers the inner space of the gantry to suppress the reflection of electromagnetic waves.

6. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The item identification tag includes an RFID tag.

7. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transportation device further comprises an external interface communication module, which is used to connect to heterogeneous data interfaces of different airports to realize the transmission of external data.

8. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transport device further includes a background server connected to the switch, and a management transport device corresponding to the item transport device is deployed on the background server.

9. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transport device also includes a fully redundant hot backup module, which includes an RFID reading unit running in parallel with the RFID reading station; the RFID reading unit includes an independent power supply unit, a radio frequency identification unit, a communication control unit and a photoelectric detection unit; the RFID reading station and the RFID reading unit are interconnected through the communication control unit.

10. The airport article transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The workstation display device includes an LCD screen or an OLED screen.

Images