Robot-guided baggage check-in system

Abstract

In airports, the task of baggage check-in is increasingly being transferred to the passengers. When there is a high volume of traffic, the known devices impede passenger flows. A baggage check-in system (1) is specified which, even in the case of a very high number of passengers, does not impede passengers flows and can be flexibly adapted to the conditions in an airport hall irrespective of the spatial conditions therein. This is achieved by the use of a robot (20) which removes the transport containers, loaded with an item of baggage (6) by the passengers (2), from the baggage check-in units (10) and places them on a conveyor belt (12). This conveyor belt (12) is preferably at a level which differs from the level of the passengers. In a particular embodiment, circular baggage check-in islands (23) are specified which have 360° accessibility and can be distributed as desired in an airport hall.

Description

Robot-guided baggage drop-off system

[0001] The present invention relates to a baggage drop system for passengers to independently check in their baggage and a method for operating such a baggage drop system. In English technical language, these baggage drop systems are referred to as "self-service drop systems" or "auto bag drop systems".

[0002] Such baggage drop-off systems are known, for example, from EP 2 886 466 Al for a "Check-in unit"

[0001] or from WO 2020 / 149801 A2 for an "AN AUTOMATED BAG DROP SYSTEM"

[0002] .

[0003] In most airports, passengers are differentiated upon entering the airport building according to whether they have already checked in or not. - Check-in must still be done inside the airport building. Especially for passengers who have already checked in outside the airport building, baggage drop-off infrastructure must be provided. This infrastructure can include printing labels that must be attached to the checked baggage. Often, the labels can be printed at home and attached to the baggage in advance, so that at the airport, the baggage only needs to be dropped off.

[0004] Checking in baggage labeled with a destination can be done by placing it on a conveyor belt or in a transport trolley. This check-in is uncontrolled. Therefore, so-called kiosk machines or baggage drop-off units are often provided in the airport terminals where the luggage can be placed. The destination of the baggage is determined by a code, e.g., a barcode on the flight ticket (IATA code).Baggage is securely tracked to the passenger and the intended flight route. These barcodes are either on the paper ticket or included as a file on the electronic ticket. The advantage of this baggage check-in system with a barcode lies in the verification of the relationship between the baggage and the flight ticket, as well as providing the passenger with proof (usually electronically on a smartphone) that they have indeed checked in their baggage. An example of such a baggage check-in unit 10 is shown in FIG. 1a. The checked baggage 6 is securely recorded and, after being closed with a cover or roller door 17 (not shown in FIG. 1a), is conveyed on a conveyor belt 12 behind the baggage check-in unit 10. This conveyor belt 12 can be installed on the same level as the passengers.Alternatively, the piece of luggage 6 can be conveyed on a chute or conveyor belt 12 associated with the baggage drop-off unit 10 to a level lower than the level of the passenger flows. Typically, several baggage drop-off units 10 are arranged in a (straight) line. This line can easily be 50 m to 100 m long. Such a long line obstructs the passenger flows, in particular, it causes passengers to cross paths between those going to the baggage drop-off units and those passengers who have checked in their luggage and are moving towards the gate. The obstruction of the passenger flows is independent of whether these baggage drop-off units are located in the middle of a hall or along a wall, as shown in FIG. 1b.In this configuration with the luggage arranged along a wall 5, the luggage pieces 6 are conveyed on the same level as the passenger level onto a conveyor belt 12 arranged behind it; this conveyor belt is not shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b.

[0005] When transporting luggage to a level below the passenger level, the height difference can be increased. It would be extremely difficult, so that downward movement in free fall is out of the question. However, slides or inclined conveyor belts require a relatively large amount of space.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a baggage handling system that does not impede passenger flows even with very high passenger volumes and can be flexibly adapted to the conditions in the hall of an airport, regardless of the spatial conditions.

[0007] This problem is solved by the features for a baggage handling system specified in claim 1 and by the features for a method for operating such a baggage handling system specified in claim 12. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in further claims.

[0008] The baggage handling system according to the invention is characterized by: Baggage handling system comprising several baggage handling units for the handover of baggage by passengers, wherein each baggage handling unit has: an interior with a handover area onto which a transport container for the handover of a piece of baggage (6) can be placed, characterized in that an empty transport container can be placed on the handover area by a robot with an associated robot control, the transport container can be loaded with a piece of baggage by a passenger, the transport container loaded with a piece of baggage by a passenger can be grasped by the robot and placed by the robot on a handover position.

[0009] The inventive method according to claim 12 is characterized by: Method for operating a baggage handling system comprising several baggage handling units, wherein each baggage handling unit contains: an interior space with a drop-off area onto which a transport container for dropping off a piece of baggage can be placed, characterized by the following process steps: an empty transport container is placed on the drop-off area by a robot (with an associated robot controller), a piece of baggage to be dropped off is placed on the transport container by a passenger, the transport container loaded with a piece of baggage by a passenger is detected by the robot and placed on a drop-off position for further transport.

[0010] Designing a baggage handling system comprising multiple baggage handling units and incorporating a robot offers the following advantages:

[0011] (i) The use of a robot allows several To be able to operate baggage handling units. If the baggage handling units are arranged in a line, the robot can be designed to move parallel to this line. The only limitation is the capacity, which is determined by the waiting time at a baggage handling unit occupied by a piece of luggage. Waiting time here is the average time until the piece of luggage, after being deposited by a passenger, is picked up by the robot, placed on a delivery position such as a conveyor belt or an AGV, and the baggage handling unit is ready to accept another piece of luggage.

[0013] ii) The use of a robot enables further degrees of freedom in the implementation of a baggage handling system in every respect: It makes it possible to optionally transport checked baggage onto a conveyor belt that is either on the same level as the passenger level or on a different level. A mixed operation is also possible, meaning that in some baggage handling units, the baggage is transported on the same level as the passengers, while in other baggage handling units, the baggage is transported on a second level different from the passenger level. Without the use of a robot, the aforementioned degrees of freedom are not achievable in the implementation of a baggage handling system with multiple baggage handling units.

[0014] iii) The use of one or more robots allows for easy scalability in terms of both operation and design of a baggage handling system within an existing airport terminal. In terms of design, a robot enables the transport of containers loaded with a single piece of luggage without requiring valuable space in the terminal, as the robot can perform this transport virtually vertically.

[0015] iv) It is easily possible to retrofit existing baggage handling units for the onward transport of the transport containers loaded with a piece of luggage using a robot; one robot can be provided for several baggage handling units, e.g. when the baggage handling units are arranged in a line or when the baggage handling units are arranged in a circle as a so-called baggage handling island.

[0016] v) A circular arrangement of baggage drop-off units offers the advantage of 360° accessibility for passengers and free placement within an airport hall. Free placement means that the placement is only limited by building constraints such as support pillars or retaining walls. However, there are no restrictions imposed by such a baggage drop-off system itself.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0019] FIG. a Perspective view of a baggage handling system comprising several baggage handling units arranged in a line, which baggage handling system is freely arranged in a hall of an airport building;

[0020] FIG 1b Perspective view of a baggage handling system comprising several baggage handling units arranged in a line, which baggage handling system is arranged along a wall in a hall of an airport building;

[0021] FIG 2 Floor plan of a robot-guided baggage handling system in which the passenger level and baggage level are not distinguishable;

[0022] FIG 3a Initial situation before checking in a piece of luggage;

[0023] FIG 3b Situation after checking in a piece of luggage;

[0024] FIG 3c Situation when the robot detects the piece of luggage after the interior has been closed with a roller door;

[0025] FIG 4 Perspective view of a baggage drop-off island with access from all sides;

[0026] FIG 5 Top view of a matrix-like arrangement of multiple baggage drop-off islands and representation of the resulting unimpeded passenger flows;

[0027] FIG 6 Detailed representation of the different units of a baggage drop-off island.

[0028] First, the term "robot" 20 will be explained in more detail. This term "robot" 20 includes: - Sensors for detecting the environment and the axis positions of the robot , - Actuators for operating robot arms, robot fingers, etc. - a robot controller 25 , - mechanical components including gearboxes. The robots used for a baggage handling system are so-called multi-axis robots, preferably six-axis robots. However, in the following, only one "robot 20" is referred to, and the other components such as sensors, actuators, robot controller, etc., are assumed to be known, so that the aforementioned elements do not need to be specifically mentioned or explained below. Therefore, only a remote robot controller 25 with a connecting cable 27 to the robot 20 is shown in FIG. 6.

[0029] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of a baggage handling system 1, which has several baggage handling units 10 arranged in a line. Important here are a screen 16 and an input device 15 for each baggage handling unit 10 for the interaction between a passenger 2 and the respective baggage handling unit 10. This representation corresponds to the prior art. The input device shown is designed as a so-called reading gun. Alternatively, a reader can be provided inside the vehicle to capture the code affixed to the luggage by the passenger for further processing. The arrangement according to FIG. 1a can also be used for an embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1b and FIG. 2.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the operating principle of a baggage handling system 1 with a linear arrangement of several baggage handling units 10 in a top view. Two groups 7 of baggage handling units 10 are shown. In the representation according to FIG. 2, only two baggage handling units 10 are shown per group. In a concrete implementation in an airport, significantly more than two baggage handling units 10 are provided for such a group. The number of such baggage handling units 10 is limited only by the basic spatial conditions in a hall and by the capacity of a robot 20, since only one robot 20 is provided per group 7. This arrangement of groups allows a passage for the passenger flow 3 to be provided between two groups. This is possible because the plane for the conveyor belt 12 (=baggage level) is preferably arranged below the passenger level.An arrangement of the baggage level above the passenger level is also possible. The robots 20 are each capable of moving parallel to the conveyor belt 12 in direction 28 in order to serve the individual baggage handling units 10 with empty transport containers 11 and with loaded transport containers 11'. The conveyor belt 12 has a direction of movement 13. As shown in the right part of FIG. 2, the robot 20 transports an empty transport container 11 from the conveyor belt 12 to the drop-off area 19 of a baggage handling unit 10 using the robot fingers 22. At the far right of FIG. 2, a transport container 11' loaded with a piece of luggage 6 is waiting on the conveyor belt 12 for further transport. As shown in the left part of FIG. 2, the robot 20 uses its robot fingers 22 to grasp a transport container 11'' loaded with a piece of luggage 6 for placement on the conveyor belt 12. Also shown in the left part of FIG. 2 is a transport container 11'' loaded with a piece of luggage 6, waiting to be transported further on the conveyor belt 20.

[0031] Figure 2 shows an alternative supply of empty transport containers on the right: Instead of conveying empty transport containers 11 via the conveyor belt 12, a stack of empty transport containers 14 is provided. The robot 20 then removes the empty transport containers 11 from this stack of transport containers 14. This stack of transport containers 14 can also be provided automatically or manually within the reach of the robot 20.

[0032] FIG 3a, FIG 3b and FIG 3c show the exemplary sequence when baggage is checked in by a passenger 6 . In FIG. 3a, a passenger 2 with a piece of luggage 6 is waiting in front of a baggage drop-off unit 10 closed by a roller door 17. After this passenger 2 interacts with the input device 15 and the screen 16 (not shown in FIG. 3a to FIG. 3c), the baggage drop-off unit 10 opens. After the piece of luggage 6 has been placed on the transport container 11', the situation is shown in FIG. 3b. Either by - a detector that monitors the interior 18 or by - an interaction of passenger 2 or by - After a dead time ("time out"), the baggage handling unit 10 closes with the roller door 17. Subsequently, the robot 20 grasps the loaded transport container with its robot fingers 22. container 11 ' for further transport onto a conveyor belt 12 (not shown), which, as described above, may be arranged on the same level as the passenger level or preferably on a level below the passenger level.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a baggage drop-off island 23 with eight baggage drop-off units 10 arranged in a circle 24. A robot 20 is installed at the center of this circle 24 on a lower level than the passenger level. The robot axis 26 of the robot 20 (see FIG. 3a) is located at the center of this circle 24. The baggage drop-off units 10 are configured with the same operating characteristics as previously described for a linear arrangement. A conveyor belt 12 is located on the lower level where the robot is installed. This is not shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4. This view clearly shows 360° accessibility for the passengers 2. This 360° accessibility significantly reduces the risk of passenger congestion.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the functional units of a baggage handling island 23. A conveyor belt 13 with transport direction 13 is slightly offset from the center of the circular arrangement 24 of baggage handling units 10. The robot 20 is connected to a robot controller 25 via a connecting line 27. The robot controller 25 is typically located remotely from the robot 20. The robot 20, guided by the robot controller 25, is in the process of placing an empty transport container 11 onto a delivery surface 19 of a baggage handling unit 10 using its robot fingers 22. Figure 6 shows three transport containers 11' loaded with a piece of baggage 6, waiting to be transported further by the robot 20. Likewise, three baggage handling units 10 are shown, which are intended for the The baggage drop-off unit 10 with a drop-off area 19 is shown on the far left of FIG. 6, awaiting delivery of an empty transport container 11.

[0035] FIG 5 shows a top view of a matrix-like arrangement of multiple baggage drop-off islands 23 in a departure hall 4 of an airport. The placement of these baggage drop-off islands 23 is subject only to restrictions imposed by the building, such as retaining walls, support columns, the dimensions of passenger access and egress 2, and thus the expected passenger flows 3.

[0036] The method for operating a baggage handling system 1, which comprises several baggage handling units 10, allows for fine-tuning of such baggage handling systems 1, which contain at least one robot 20, such as: i) Different dimensions of the baggage handling units 10 depending on the different sizes of the baggage items 6. For oversized baggage items, a payment terminal can additionally be provided at the baggage handling units 10; ii) Depending on the building infrastructure, mixed operation of the conveyor belts both above and below the passenger level. Likewise, mixed operation of baggage handling units 10 arranged in a line as well as baggage handling units 10 arranged in baggage handling islands is possible without departing from the basic concept of the present invention – namely, the use of robots.

[0037] The various embodiments described above feature a conveyor belt 12 as the delivery point 12. The basic concept of this invention, namely the onward transport of a piece of luggage 6 immediately after its delivery by a passenger 2 using a robot 20, remains unchanged if an automated guided vehicle (AGV) or a rack 12 is provided instead of a conveyor belt 12. Further possibilities are subsumed under the general term "filing position 12" for the purposes of this document. List of reference symbols, Glossary 1 baggage drop-off system 2 passenger, passenger 3 Pass agier ström Hall 4, Departure Hall 5 wall; line 6 pieces of luggage 7 Group of several baggage handling units 10, operated by a robot 20 10 baggage check-in units 11 empty transport containers; tray; 11 ' with one piece of luggage 6 loaded transport container 11 ' ' loaded transport container 11 detected by robot finger 22 for placement on a delivery position such as conveyor belt 12 12 Delivery positions such as conveyor belt, belt conveyor, tray conveyor, AGV or shelf 13 Direction of movement of transport container 11 on a conveyor belt 12 14 Transport container supply, transport container stacking 15 Input device 16-inch screen 17 Roller door, cover 18 Interior 19 Drop-off area, drop-off area in a baggage drop-off unit 20 multi-axis robots; or simply "robots" 21 Robot arm; robot forearm, robot upper arm 22 Robot er finger 23 Baggage Check-in Island 24 circle, circular shape 25 Robot control 26 Rotary axis of the robot 27 Connecting cable robot 20 with robot control 25 28 to a conveyor belt 12 or to a wall 5 parallel movement of a robot 29 Acronyms IATA International Air Transport Association AGV Automated Guided Vehicle List of cited documents

[0001] EP 2 886 466 Al «Check-in unit» Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft; DE - 80333 Munich

[0002] WO 2020 / 149801 A2 «AN AUTOMATED BAG DROP SYSTEM» Applicant: SARI , Selim, TR - Maltepe / I stanbul

Claims

Claims 1. Baggage drop-off system (1) comprising several baggage drop-off units (10) for dropping off baggage items (6) by passengers (2) , wherein each baggage drop-off unit (10) has: - an interior space (18) with a drop-off area (19) on which a transport container (11) for checking in a piece of luggage (6) can be placed, characterized in that - an empty transport container (11) onto the delivery area (19) can be placed by a robot (20) with an associated robot controller (25), - the transport container (11) can be loaded by a passenger (2) with a piece of luggage (6), - the transport container (11') loaded by a passenger (2) with a piece of luggage (6) is being handled by the robot (20) tangible and can be placed by the robot (20) onto a delivery position (12).

2. Baggage drop-off system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that for the operation of a baggage drop-off unit (10) each baggage drop-off unit (10) is provided with a screen (16).

3. Baggage handling system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several baggage handling units (2) are arranged in a line (5).

4. Baggage handling system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that several baggage handling units (2) are configured as a group (7) and at least one robot (20) is provided per group (7).

5. Baggage handling system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the robot (20) is movable parallel to the line (5).

6. Baggage drop-off system (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a conveyor belt (12) provided as a drop-off position (12) is installed on a different level than on the level of the passengers (2) and the baggage drop-off units (10).

7. Baggage drop-off system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several baggage drop-off units (2) are arranged in a circular (24) and thus form a baggage drop-off island (23) with 360° accessibility, wherein the robot (20) is installed in the center of the circular arrangement.

8. Baggage handling system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the robot (20) is installed on a lower level than the level of the passengers (2) and the baggage handling units (2).

9. Baggage drop-off system (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that several baggage drop-off islands (23) are installed in a matrix-like arrangement in an airport building.

10. Baggage handling system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that empty transport containers (11) are placed on the conveyor belt used for the removal of the loaded transport containers (11'). (12) are brought forward and can be placed on the storage surface by the robot (20).

11. Baggage handling system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the empty transport containers (11) can be removed by the robot (20) from a stack of transport containers (14) and placed on the storage surface (19).

12. Method for operating a baggage handling system (1) comprising several baggage handling units (10) and wherein each baggage handling unit (10) contains: an interior space (18) with a drop-off area (19) onto which a transport container (11) for the deposit of a piece of baggage (6) can be placed, characterized by the following process steps: an empty transport container (11) is placed on the drop-off area (19) by a robot (20) with an associated robot controller (25), a piece of baggage (6) to be deposited is placed on the transport container (11) by a passenger (2), the transport container (11'') loaded with a piece of baggage (6) by a passenger (2) is detected by the robot (20) and placed on a conveyor belt (12) for further transport.

13. Method according to claim 12 characterized in that passengers (6) and conveyor belt (12) are on the same level.

14. Method according to claim 12 characterized in that passengers (6) and conveyor belt (12) are located on different levels.

15. Method according to one of claims 12 to 14 characterized in that the empty transport containers (11) are either brought forward by the conveyor belt (12) and removed from the conveyor belt (12) by the robot (20) or - or are taken from a stack of transport containers (14) by the robot (20).

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