Method for implementing a security screening installation and to a security screening installation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for implementing a security screening installation (100) The security screening installation (100) comprise divest lane (110), a screening device (120) feed by the divest lane (110A), a delivery ( and a first and a second sensor (117A, 117B) installed on the divest lane (110A) and the delivery lane and configured to determine a state of packing of a tray (115A, 115B, 155C). The method comprises the following step: associate a tray with the user that at put his belongings on it; after a tray (115A, 115B, 115C) has been screened through the screening device; detect if the user (20) that discharges the tray is the one associated with it.

Description

[0001] Method for implementing a security screening installation and to a security screening installation

[0002] Technical field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to security screening access points for sensible buildings such as airports or public buildings.

[0004]

[0002] The invention more specifically concerns a method for implementing a security screening installation and a security screening installation.

[0005] Previous art

[0006]

[0003] Security screening installations are usually used to control access of sensible buildings such as airport, seaport, railway station, public and government buildings in order to prevent ill-intentioned person to introduce forbidden items, such as weapons, explosive devices and biohazard products.

[0007]

[0004] Actual security screening installations include at least one divest lane for users to put their belongings into trays, at least on screening device feed by the at least one divest lane with the trays. Figures 1A to IE show schematically usual conformations of security screening installations 10 and in particular of their divest lanes 11. Please note that in these figures, DI relates to the divest direction of the divest lane 11 for feeding the packed trays 15 to the screening device 12, D2 relates to the return direction of the trays 15 for bringing back the trays 15 to the divest lane after the user's belonging have been screened and retrieved. Has shown, more specifically:

[0008] - figure 1A shows a divest lane 11 of a security screening installation 10 which used a parallel divest configuration for said divest lane 11, the divest lane 11 comprising a forward conveyor 11A feeding the screening device 12 and a return conveyor 11B for the return of trays 15 after the belongings have been retrieved by the users. With such security screening installation 10, each user occupies one of the divest positions and removes a tray 15 from the lower section, i.e. from the return end of the return conveyor 11B, placing it on the topside where they can start divesting into the tray 15. When the tray 15 is fully packed,the user has to wait fora gap between the other trays 15 to place the tray 15 on the forward conveyor 11A to be feed to the screening device 12;

[0009] - figure IB, shows a divest lane 11 of a security screening installation 10 which used a serial divest conformation for said divest lane 11. In such a configuration, the trays 15 are automatically delivered to the users. The divest lane 11 includes a pivotting conveyor 11C that lowers to collect a tray 15 from the return conveyor 11B and then drives up to the horizontal position. When there is space to drive the tray out, the pivotting conveyor 11C repeats the process. Such configuration has a smaller foot print and so allows save space which is critical in some areas.

[0010] - figure 1C shows a divest lane 11 of a security screening installation 10 which used a multi-serial divest system for said divest lane. This conformation is similar to the one shown on figure 1. In this conformation more than one user is allowed to divest their belongings into trays 15, the users being encouraged to move forward with their tray along the divest zone.

[0011] - figure ID shows, in a side and a front view a divest lane 11 of a security screening installation 10 which used a letter box conformation for said divest lane 11, the trays being delivered to the userthrough a "letter box". This conformation is similarto the one of figure 1C at the difference that there is no pivoting conveyor, the tray 15 stays on the incline which protrudes from the end of the lane delivered through a "letter box" hole 16.

[0012] - figure IE shows, In a top view, a security screening installation 10 with a twin lane conformation. This conformation is currently considered as lower cost way of processing higher users numbers. The process is very similar to the parallel divest (the one according to figure 1A) but the two sides feed into one section to enable the trays 15 to be screened. After screening, the trays 15 are split into their relevant sides of the delivery lane 30. Furthermore, in figure IE, it has been shown, as illustration, two search lanes 40 it is also possible to have only one single search spine down the middle.

[0013]

[0005] As it is shown on figure IE, such screening installation 10 are provided with at least one delivery lane 30 (and for some, as the one of figure IE, several delivery lanes 30), for transferring the trays to the users after the trays and the belongings have been screened through the screening device. In a usual configuration, the screening installation includes areturn module for each delivery lane 30 to transfer the trays to a return lane to go back to the divest lane.

[0014]

[0006] With such security installations, since the users must be separated from their belongings during the screening process, it is not unusual that a thief or a distracted person takes the, or part of the, belongings of one user at the delivery line. When it happens, the user which has been deprived of his belongings will generally ask a staff member to find his belongings. This could lead to long search for the belongings, a verification of security camera footages and to the stopping of the security installation for verification. Such process clearly impacts the proper functioning of the security screening installation. To improve the efficiency of the security screening installations and to avoid the bad experiences for users to lose their belongings, it should be interesting to develop a way to prevent such stealing of the belongings of users that have to go through the security screening.

[0015] Presentation of the invention

[0016]

[0007] The invention aims to resolve the above problem and to provide a security screening installation that is more efficient than the one of the previous art.

[0017]

[0008] From a first aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a method for implementing a security screening installation, the security screening installation comprising:

[0018] at least one divest lane for users to put their belongings into trays,

[0019] at least one screening device feed by the at least one divest lane (110A) with the trays,

[0020] at least one delivery line for delivering the trays to the users after the trays and the belongings have been screened through the screening device,

[0021] at least one sensor installed on the at least one divest lane and configured to determine a state of packing of a tray,

[0022] at least one secondary sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane and configured to determine a state of packing of a tray,wherein the method for implementing a security screening installation comprises the following steps:

[0023] D. when the users put their belongings into trays on the at least one divest lane, associate the tray with the user who had put his belongings in it using at least the one sensor,

[0024] I. After a tray has been screened through the screening device and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane, for each tray, detect if the user that discharges said tray is the one associated with it,

[0025] J. If a tray is detected using at least the secondary sensor as discharged by a user that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user.

[0026]

[0009] With such method, since the association between the user and the belongings is determined when the belongings are put on trays, the verification during the delivery of the belongings that this is effectively the associated user that recover the belongings allows to detect any attempted theft and so to make the staff stop it. The theft being preveniently stop, the user can keep his belongings, and it is possible to avoid the disturbance on the functioning of the security screening installation that the stealing of belongings would provoke.

[0027]

[0010] According to the first aspect of the invention, during the step D of association of the tray with the user who had put his belongings in it, the user is identified based on at least one feature of its features selected from facial recognition feature, a document relative to the user such as an id documents or travelling documents, a body shape feature, displacement behavior feature , continuous tracking of the user and wherein during the step I. of detecting if the user that discharges said tray is the one associated with it, the user is identified base on at least one feature that used during step D.

[0028] [Oil] According to the first aspect of the invention, the security screening installation comprises at least one reading device for reading at least one document relative to the user before the user access to the at least one divest lane, and at least one display for displaying information regarding the at least one divest lane,Wherein the method for implementing a security screening installation further comprises the following step:

[0029] A. When the at least one reading device reads the at least one document relative to the user, identify a language relative to the document relative to the user (20), B. Detecting when the user is looking on the at least one display,

[0030] C. When the user is detecting has looking to the at least one display, display information regarding the at least one divest lane in the identified language through the at least one display.

[0031]

[0012] With such identification and displaying, the user is guided in his own language allowing to increase the efficiency of the divesting of the belonging on the divest lane.

[0032]

[0013] According to the first aspect of the invention, during step D. of association of the tray with the user who had put his belongings in it, the user could be identified based on at least one feature including the document relative to the user read by at least one reading device.

[0033]

[0014] The information regarding the user obtained on the document relative to the user could be used during the security screening process to adapt the security screening according to this information.

[0034]

[0015] According to the first aspect of the invention, the at least one sensor could further be configured to identify, via image recognition, trays to be searched for security purpose.

[0035]

[0016] Such identification could also be based on behavior recognition of the user, the belongings, the association of belongings... and help the staff member to identify the belongings that are most likely to be hazardous.

[0036]

[0017] According to the first aspect of the invention, the identification of the trays to be searched for security purpose could also based on at least one of the screening results and of the behavior the associated user.

[0037]

[0018] According to the first aspect of the invention, when a tray is identified to be searched, information obtained on the user during step D. for associated the trays with the user, such as an Id photo of the user, could be retrieved for a staff member that has to perform the search of the belongings.

[0019] According to the first aspect of the invention, the information obtained on the user (20) during step D. retrieved for the staff member includes at least one of :

[0038] information a tracking of the user using the sensors,

[0039] image / video of the user during or after the loading of the tray, indication of behavior of the user before, during and / or after the loading of the tray, and / or

[0040] information on the user based on provided user's documentation.

[0041]

[0020] With such information, the staff member could you use the information of the user when reviewing the belongings and interviewing the user about his belongings.

[0042]

[0021] According to the first aspect of the invention, the identification of the trays to be searched for security purpose could also be based on at least one of the screening results and of the behavior the associated user.

[0043]

[0022] In such way, it is possible to identified which user is more susceptible to present security issues.

[0044]

[0023] According to the first aspect of the invention, the delivery lane including several delivery emplacements, the control unit being,

[0045] The method for implementing a security screening installation could further include, after a tray has been screened through the screening device, identify, by using the at least one secondary sensor on which delivery emplacement the associated user is located, and deliver through the at least one delivery lane the tray to the identified delivery emplacement.

[0046]

[0024] According to the first aspect of the invention, the invention also relates on security screening installation comprising:

[0047] - at least one divest lane for users to put their belongings into trays,

[0048] - at least one screening device fed with trays in which belongings of users have been placed,

[0049] - at least one delivery lane for delivering the trays to the users after the trays and the belongings have been screened through the screening device,

[0050] at least one sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane,

[0051] at least one secondary sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane ,the at least one sensor and the at least one secondary sensor being configured to determine a state of packing of a tray,

[0052] and in that the security screening installation further comprises at least one control unit configured to control the at least one delivery lane and to connect to the at least one sensor and the at least one secondary sensor,

[0053] the control unit being further configured for:

[0054] when the users put their belongings into trays on the at least one divest lane, associate the tray with the user who had put his belongings in it using at least the one sensor,

[0055] After a tray has been screened through the screening device and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane, for each tray, detect if the user that discharges said tray is the one associated with it,

[0056] If a tray is detected using at least the secondary sensor as discharged by a user that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user.

[0057]

[0025] Such installation is adapted to allow to perform the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0058]

[0026] According to the first aspect of the invention, the at least one sensor could comprise a camera installed above the delivery lane, the control unit being configured to detect based on image recognition the state of the trays and of the return module.

[0059]

[0027] According to the first aspect of the invention, the at least one secondary sensor could comprise a camera installed above the delivery lane, the control unit being configured to detect based on image recognition the state of the trays and of the return module.

[0060]

[0028] According to the first aspect of the invention, the control unit could include a communication module to inform about its configuration, such module being preferably a display module.

[0061]

[0029] From a third aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a method for implementing a security screening installation, the security screening installation comprising:- at least one screening device fed with trays in which belongings of users have been placed,

[0062] at least one delivery lane for delivering the trays to the users after the trays and the belongings have been screened through the screening device,

[0063] a return module to return the trays after the users have retrieved their belongings on the trays from the at least one delivery lane, and

[0064] at least one sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane,

[0065] wherein the method for implementing a security screening installation comprises the following steps:

[0066] Al. after screening the belongings using the screening device, transferring the trays and the belongings through the delivery lane to the users in such a way they can recover their belongings,

[0067] Bl. detect, using the at least one sensor, if:

[0068] at least one tray has been confirmed empty,

[0069] no obstacle, such as a non-emptied tray, prevents the tray being confirmed as empty to be delivered to the return module,

[0070] no item, such as a forgotten belonging from a user, is in the return module or on tray that is on the return module,

[0071] Cl. If, during step Bl. all criteria are verified by the at least one sensor, transfer the tray being confirmed as empty to the return module.

[0072]

[0030] With such method, the transfer of the emptied trays is performed automatically without needing a user or a staff member to put the emptied trays into the return module. This provides a more efficient way to return the trays to a divest zone for new users to put their belongings into the trays. Furthermore, since no user of staff member has to manipulate the emptied trays, it avoids risk of hands of a user or of a staff member be caught between two consecutive trays or into conveyor elements of the delivery lane.

[0073]

[0031] It as to be noticed that the transfer of the emptied trays could be performed directly from the delivery lane, using the delivery lane itself, or from a delivery zone specifically implemented for the users to recover their belongings, using a specific transfer means such as a specific lane of the delivery zone.

[0032] According to the third aspect of the invention, during step Al and Cl, the transfer of the trays is performed using conveyor elements, such as rollers of the least one delivery lane, configured to displace the trays during step Al. and eventually during step Cl., And wherein during steps Al. and eventually step Cl., the at least one sensor is configured to detect hand entering a danger zone defined around the conveyor elements,

[0074] wherein if, during steps Al. and eventually step Cl., the at least one sensor detects the hand entering the danger zone, the transfer of the trays during said step is stopped, the transfer of the trays being resumed when said hand is identified as being out of the danger zone being resumed when said hand is identified as being out of the danger zone.

[0075]

[0033] According to the third aspect of the invention, each conveyor element could be of a motorized type or of a non-motorized type, and the danger zone defined around each conveyor element could depend of the type of said conveyor element, the danger zone being preferably wider for a conveyor element of the motorized type than the one for a conveyor element of the non- motorized type.

[0076]

[0034] In this way the security screening installation could be stopped earlier when a hand approached the conveyor elements that are most hazardous, i.e. the motorized one.

[0077]

[0035] According to the third aspect of the invention, during steps Al. and Cl., the at least one sensor could be configured to detect hand approaching a tray being transferred to the user or to the return module,

[0078] if, during one of steps Al. and Cl., the at least one sensor detects a hand approaching a tray being transferred, the transfer of said tray being stop, the transfer of said tray being resumed when the hand is detected away from the tray being transferred.

[0079]

[0036] With such detection of hand entering a danger zone or approaching a tray being transferred, it is possible to avoid risk for the users and the staff members to have their hand injured and help the installation to operate smoothly.

[0080]

[0037] According to the third aspect of the invention, during at least one of steps Al. and step Cl., the sensor could be configured to detect if a tray being transferred is damaged.

[0081]

[0038] With such detection, staff members could easily remove trays detected damaged and avoid future problems caused by the use of damaged trays.

[0039] According to the third aspect of the invention, the at least one delivery lane could comprise rollers for transferring the trays to the users after the screening and wherein the at least one sensor is also configured to identify the distance between two trays during the transfer of the trays to the user, wherein at least one control unit is configured to control the velocity of the rollers at least partially based on the distance between two trays determined using the at least one sensor.

[0082]

[0040] With such configuration, it is possible to use the sensor according to the first aspect of the invention to reduce the distance between two trays and so to increase the number of trays that could be transfer back to the users.

[0083]

[0041] According to the third aspect of the invention, the at least one sensor could further be configured to identify, via image recognition, trays to be searched for security purposes.

[0084]

[0042] According to the third aspect of the invention, the identification of the trays to be search could also be based on images from the at least one screening device.

[0085]

[0043] With such configurations, it is possible to detect more efficiently the user's belonging susceptible to cause security issues and to have then search.

[0086]

[0044] According to the third aspect of the invention, the screening installation could further include at least one search lane where search could be performed on user's belongings, wherein, during step Al, when the at least one sensor identifies trays to be searched.

[0087]

[0045] The third aspect of the invention also relates on a security screening installation comprising:

[0088] - at least one screening device fed with trays in which belongings of users have been placed,

[0089] at least one delivery lane for delivering the trays to the users after the trays and the belongings have been screened through the screening device,

[0090] a return module to return the trays after the users have retrieved their belongings on the trays from the at least one delivery lane, and

[0091] at least one sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane (130),

[0092] the at least one sensor is configured to determine if:

[0093] o at least one tray has been confirmed empty,o no obstacle, such as a non-emptied tray, prevents the tray being confirmed as empty to be delivered to the return module,

[0094] o no item, such as a forgotten belonging from a user, is in the return module or on tray that is on the return module,

[0095] and the security screening installation further comprises at least one control unit configured to control the at least one delivery lane and to connect to the at least one sensor,

[0096] the control unit being further configured for:

[0097] after screening the belongings using the screening device, control the at least one delivery lane for transferring the trays and the belongings to the users in such a way they can recover their belongings,

[0098] detect, using the at least one sensor, if:

[0099] o at least one tray has been confirmed empty,

[0100] o no obstacle, such as a non-emptied tray, prevents the tray being confirmed as empty to be delivered to the return module,

[0101] o no item, such as a forgotten belonging from a user, is in the return module or on tray that is on the return module,

[0102] If, it has been detected that all criteria are verified, to command the transfer of the tray being confirmed as empty to the return module.

[0103]

[0046] Such security screening installation allows to carry out the method according to the first aspect of the invention and to benefit from the advantages associated to this method.

[0104]

[0047] According to the third aspect of the invention, the at least one sensor could comprise a camera installed above the delivery lane, the control unit being configured to detect based on image recognition the state of the trays and of the return module.

[0105]

[0048] Such camera allows to detect efficiently the state of the tray and to perform the detection to perform the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0106]

[0049] According to the third aspect of the invention, the at least one delivery lane could comprise rollers for transferring the trays to the users to retrieve their belongings and the at least one sensor could also be configured to identify the distance between two trays during the transfer of the trays to the users, the at least one control unit being configuredto control the velocity of the rollers at least partially based on the distance between two trays determined using the at least one sensor.

[0107]

[0050] With such configuration, it is possible to use the sensor according to the first aspect of the invention to reduce the distance between two trays and so to increase the number of trays that could be transferred back to the users.

[0108]

[0051] from a second aspect of the invention, the invention relates on a method for implementing a security screening installation, the security screening installation comprising at least one divest lane for users to put their belongings into trays, at least on screening device feed by the at least one divest lane with the trays, and at least one sensor installed on the at least one divest lane and configured to determine a state of packing of a tray,

[0109] wherein the method for implementing a security screening installation comprises the following steps:

[0110] D. Make the users to put their belongings into trays on the at least one divest lane, E. Detect using the at least one sensor if at least one tray has been incorrectly packed by identifying at least one from:

[0111] o an over-height object on a tray,

[0112] o an object hanging out of a tray,

[0113] o items that are loose on top of a tray,

[0114] G. if an incorrectly packed tray is detecting, stop the corresponding divest lane, H. restart the corresponding divest lane when, by using the at least one sensor, the incorrectly packed tray has been detected correctly packed.

[0115]

[0052] With such a method, all the problems regarding an incorrectly packed tray are avoided at the beginning of the divest lane and do not affect the screening device. In this way the stopping time of the security screening installation is reduced since it is easier to correct the problem at the beginning of the divest lane than when it occurred in the screening device. Indeed, intervention in the screening device is time consuming and can stop the whole security screening installation for several minutes or even several tens of minutes. With the method of the invention, if a potential problem is identified, it is possibleto only stop the corresponding divest lane during the time for a staff member to intervein and correct the potential issue.

[0116]

[0053] Figure 2 shows some of the incorrect packing of a tray that could be avoided thanks to the second aspect of the invention. In particular, the method according to the second aspect of the invention could allow to:

[0117] - avoid the arrangement of an over-height object on a tray, such as a luggage 21A placed in a standing position instead of a lying down position, such object could potentially be blocked at the entrance of the screening device,

[0118] - avoid objects that hanging out of a tray and that could potentially be caught in a roller (on the divest lane or in the screening device), such as a belt 21B or a scarf 21, - avoid the loss of a object, such as a passport or a boarding pass, that are loose on top of a tray.

[0119]

[0054] It has to be note that avoid any object kept loose on top of a tray, not only avoid problem with the security screening installation but also avoid problem regarding the following movement of the user that could potentially lose the object since this object is more than likely necessary for the user.

[0120]

[0055] According to the second aspect of the invention, the at least one divest lane may include conveyor elements, such as rollers, for displacing the trays from a corresponding divest zone to the at least one screening device,

[0121] the method for implementing a security screening installation further comprising, before the step F. of stopping the corresponding divest lane, the following step:

[0122] F. detect using the at least one sensor a user's hand entering a danger zone defined around the conveyor elements of the at least one divest lane,

[0123] wherein:

[0124] during the step G. the corresponding divest lane is stopped if a hand entering a danger zone has been detected during step F.,

[0125] during the step H., if the corresponding divest lane has been stopped when a hand entering a danger zone has been detected during step E., the corresponding divest lane is restarted when a removing of the hand from the danger zone has been detected using the at least one sensor.

[0056] With such a step. F., it is possible to avoid injury risk for the hand of the users and of the staff member and so increase the safety of the security screening installation according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0126]

[0057] According to the second aspect of the invention, the security screening installations may comprise at least one reading device for reading at least one document relative to the user before the user access to the at least one divest lane, and at least one display for displaying information regarding the at least one divest lane ,

[0127] The method for implementing a security screening installation further comprising the following step:

[0128] A. when the at least one reading device reads the at least one document relative to the user, identify a language relative to the document relative to the user, B. detecting when the user is looking on the at least one display,

[0129] C. when the user is detecting has looking to the at least one display, display information regarding the at least one divest lane in the identified language through the at least one display.

[0130]

[0058] With such identification and displaying, the user is guided in his own language allowing to increase the efficiency of the divesting of the belonging on the divest lane.

[0131]

[0059] the security screening installation according to the second aspect of the invention may comprise at least two divest lanes and at least one respective sensor for each divest lane, and wherein during the step C. of displaying information, the user is directed to one of the at least two divest lanes based on the information provided by the respective sensor of the at least two divest lanes.

[0132]

[0060] With such configuration, it is possible to improve automatically the repartition of the users regarding the divest lanes.

[0133]

[0061] According to the second aspect of the invention, the installation may further comprise at least one delivery lane for delivering the trays to the users after the trays have been screened through the screening device, and at least one secondary sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane,

[0134] in step D. when the users put their belongings into trays, each tray is associated with the user who had put his belongings in it,the method further comprising the following step:

[0135] I. After a tray has been screened through the screening device and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane, for each tray, detect if the user 20 that discharges said tray is the one associated with it,

[0136] J. If a tray is detected as discharged by a user that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user.

[0137]

[0062] In this way it is possible to avoid the theft of the belongings of the users.

[0138]

[0063] The second aspect of the invention also relates to a security screening installation comprising:

[0139] at least one divest lane for users to put their belongings into trays,

[0140] at least one screening device (120) feed by the at least one divest lane with the trays,

[0141] at least one sensor installed on the at least one divest lane,

[0142] the at least one sensor being configured to determine a state of packing of a tray, and the security screening installation further comprises at least one control unit configured to control the at least one divest lane and to connect to the at least one sensor,

[0143] the control unit being further configured for:

[0144] after the user has put its belongings into trays on the divest lane, checking through the connection with the at least one sensor if that at least one tray has been incorrectly packed by identifying at least one from:

[0145] o an over-height object on a tray,

[0146] o an object hanging out of a tray,

[0147] o items that are loose on top of a tray,

[0148] if an incorrectly packed tray is identified, stopping the corresponding divest lane, to restart the corresponding divest lane when, by using the at least one sensor, the incorrectly packed tray has been detected correctly packed.

[0149]

[0064] Such security screening installation makes it possible to implement the method of the invention and to derive the benefit therefrom.

[0065] According to the second aspect of the invention, the at least one sensor may comprise a camera installed above the divest lane, the control unit being configured to detect based on image recognition the packing state of a tray.

[0150]

[0066] According to the second aspect of the invention, the at least one divest lane may comprise rollers for feeding the trays after users have put their belongings into trays and wherein the at least one sensor is also configured to identify the distance between two trays during the feeding of the trays to the screening device, at least one control unit being configured to control the velocity of the rollers at least partially based on the distance between two trays determined using the at least one sensor.

[0151]

[0067] With such configuration, it is possible to use the sensor according to the second aspect of the invention to reduce the distance between two trays and so to increase the number of trays that could be screened by the screening device.

[0152]

[0068] According to the second aspect of the invention, the at least one divest lane may comprise conveyor elements, such as rollers, for feeding the trays after users have put their belongings into trays and wherein the at least one sensor is also configured to detect hand entering a danger zone defined around the conveyor elements of the at least one divest lane,

[0153] the control unit being further configured to:

[0154] detect using the at least one sensor if a hand entering the danger zone defined around the conveyor elements,

[0155] stop the corresponding divest lane if a hand has been detected entering the danger zone defined around the conveyor elements,

[0156] restart the corresponding divest lane when a removing of the hand from the danger zone has been detected using the at least one sensor.

[0157]

[0069] According to the second aspect of the invention, the security screening installation may comprise at least one reading device for reading at least one document relative to the user before the user access to the at least one divest lane, and at least one display for displaying information regarding the at least one divest lane,

[0158] the control unit being further configured to connect to the reading device and to control the displaying of the at least one display, andthe control unit being further configured to

[0159] when the at least one reading device reads the at least one document relative to the user, identify a language relative to the document relative to the user, detect when the user (20) is looking on the at least one display,

[0160] when the user is detected has looking to the at least one display, display information regarding the at least one divest lane in the identified language through the at least one display.

[0161]

[0070] According to the second aspect of the invention, the security screening installation may further comprise at least one delivery lane for delivering the trays to the users after the trays has been screened through the screening device, and at least one secondary sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane, the control unit being further configured to connect to the at least one secondary sensor,

[0162] the control unit being further configured to,

[0163] - when the users put their belongings into trays, each tray is associated with the user who had put his belongings in it using the at least one sensor,

[0164] - After a tray been screened through the screening device and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane, for each tray, detect, using the at least one secondary sensor, if the user that discharges said tray is the one associated with it,

[0165] - If a tray is detected as discharged by a user that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user.

[0166]

[0071] According to the second aspect of the invention, the security screening installation may further at least one delivery lane for delivering the trays to the users after the trays has been screened through the screening device, and at least one secondary sensor installed on the at least one delivery lane, the delivery lane including several delivery emplacements, the control unit being further configured to connect to the at least one secondary sensor and to control the delivery lane,

[0167] the control unit being further configured to,

[0168] - when the users put their belongings into trays, each tray is associated with the user who had put his belongings in it using the at least one sensor,- After a tray has been screened through the screening device, by using the secondary sensor identify on which delivery emplacement the corresponding user is located, and deliver through the at least one delivery lane the tray to said delivery emplacement.

[0169]

[0072] With such configurations, it is possible to avoid the theft of the belongings of the users.

[0170]

[0073] According to the second aspect of the invention, each tray may comprise a tag, such as a RFID tag or QR code tag, the at least one sensor and the at least one secondary sensor being configured to read the tag of trays in order to associate a tray with a user.

[0171]

[0074] The at least one sensor and the at least one secondary sensor may be configured to identify a tray based on the user's belongings and their arrangement into the tray.

[0172]

[0075] The at least one sensor and the at least one secondary sensor being configured to identify a user based on facial recognition.

[0173] Brief description of the drawings

[0174]

[0076] The present invention will be better understood on reading the description of exemplary embodiments, given for purely indicative purposes and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0175] - figure 1A to IE shows examples of security screening installations, and more specifically of their divest lane, according to the previous art ;

[0176] Figure 2 shows an example of incorrectly packed tray according to the first and second aspect of the invention,

[0177] Figure 3 shows a security screening installation according to the first to the third aspect of the invention,

[0178] Figure 4 shows a block diagram of a security screening installation according to the first and second aspect of the invention,

[0179] Figure 5 shows an illustration of the detection of a hand of entering a danger zone defined around conveyor elements using a sensor according to the second aspect of the invention,

[0180] Figure 6 shows according to the first to the third aspect of the invention the equipment of a divest lane of the security screening installation with a sensor,Figures 7A and 7B shows respectively a side view and a top view of an access gate of a security screening installation of the invention according to the first aspect of the invention that includes a reader for personal documents, such as an ID or a boarding pass and a display for displaying information regarding the divest lane,

[0181] Figure 8 is a flowchart of the steps of a method for implementing a security screening installation according to the first and the second aspect of the invention, Figure 9 shows a conveyor of a divest lane of the invention according to the first and third aspect of the invention equipped with sensors according to the invention, Figure 10 shows a divest conveyor and a delivering conveyor according to the first to the third aspect of the invention, both conveyors being equipped with sensors allowing to determine the distance between two consecutive trays,

[0182] Figure 11 shows an alternative of a supporting frame for a sensor according to the invention.

[0183] Figure 12 shows a block diagram of a security screening installation according to the third aspect of the invention,

[0184] Figure 13 shows a flowchart of the steps of a method for implementing a security screening installation according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0185]

[0077] Identical, similar or equivalent parts of the different drawings bear the same numerical references so as to facilitate the transition from one figure to another.

[0186]

[0078] The different parts represented in the drawings are not necessarily on a uniform scale, to make the drawings more readable.

[0187]

[0079] The different possibilities (variants and embodiments) must be understood as not being exclusive of each other and can be combined with each other. This is particularly the case for the first and second aspect of the invention that can be implemented together or individually on a security screening installation.

[0188]

[0080] In particular, even if disclosed separately, the first to the third aspect of the invention are perfectly compatible and could be implemented together on one security screening installation. Such possibility is advantageous and is a usual implementation of the invention. Similarly, some possibilities of the first aspect (or of the second or third aspect) of the invention could be implemented on a security screening installationaccording to the second aspect (or to the first or third aspect) of the invention without key features of the first aspect (or the second or third aspect) of the invention. In other words, even though the first to the third aspect are compatible, they are also not interdependent.

[0189] Detail description of specific embodiments of the invention

[0190]

[0081] Figure 3 shows a security screening installation 100 according to the first and second aspect of the invention that includes sensors 117A, 117B installed on the divest lane 110 in order to allow the implementation of the method according to the first and second aspect of the invention.

[0191]

[0082] In the present embodiment, since the first and second aspect of the invention could be implemented in parallel in a similar security screening installation 100, both aspects are described together by emphasizing, when required, specific features that relate to the first or to the second aspects of the invention.

[0192]

[0083] According to the first and second aspect of the invention, the security screening installation 100 comprises:

[0193] a divest lane 110 for users 20 to put their belongings into trays 115A, 115B, 115C, at least on screening device 120 feed by the at least one divest lane 110A with the trays 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0194] a screening device 120 fed by the divest lane 110A with the trays 115A, 115B, 115C, sensors 117A, 117B installed on the divest lane 110, at least one of the sensors 117A, 117B being configured to determine a state of packing of a tray 115A, 115B, 155C,

[0195] a delivery lane 130 for delivering the trays 115A, 115B, 115C to the users after the trays 115A, 115B, 115C has been screened through the screening device 120, secondary sensors 137 installed on the at least one delivery lane 130,

[0196] a search lane 140 on which the trays 115A, 115B, 115C are delivered if it is determined during the screening by the screening device 120 that the user's belonging had to be inspected,

[0197] a third sensor 127 installed between the screening device 120 and the search lane 140.

[0084] As shown in figure 3, the divest lane 110 includes a divest zone 111 including 3 different emplacements for the user to put their belongings into trays 115A, 115B, 115C. When a tray 115A, 115B, 115C is fully packed, the user can put the tray 115A, 115B, 115C on a divest conveyor 112 that delivers the tray to the screening device 120. In the present embodiment, the divest lane 110 being of the letter box type, each divest emplacement of the divest zone 111 includes a "letter box" hole for the user to take tray. In this configuration, the trays 115A, 115B, 115C are provided by a return conveyor 135 that returns the trays from the delivery lane 130 after they have been emptied by the user.

[0198]

[0085] As shown in figure 3, in the present embodiment, the divest conveyor 112 and the return conveyor 135 are of the roller type conveyor and so are comprising rollers with at least one motorized roller for controlling the movement of the trays along said conveyor. As an alternative at least one of the divest conveyor 112 and of the return conveyor 135 could comprise at least one conveyor belt. Such rollers and belts form conveyor elements.

[0199]

[0086] In the present embodiment of the first and the second aspect of the invention, one sensor 117A is installed above the divest zone 111 to cover all three divest emplacements. The installation of this sensor 117A above the divest zone 111 is obtain by the means of an invert U shaped frame installed at the border between the divest emplacements and the divest conveyor 112, the sensor 117A being fixed on the base of the "U" facing the divest zone. According to the first and second aspect of the invention, with such arrangement, only one sensor 117A is required to determine the state of packing of all trays 115A, 115B, 155C packed into the divest zone 111.

[0200]

[0087] As an alternative, according to the first aspect of the invention, the sensor 117A could also be configured to read an identifier of the trays. Such identifier could be a visual identifier, such as a barcode or a QR code, or an electronic tag, such as an RFID tag.

[0201]

[0088] The sensor 117A installed on the divest zone 111 could comprise at least one camera configured to allow detecting packing state of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C based image recognition the packing state of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C.

[0202]

[0089] The divest lane 110 also comprises another sensor 117B installed above the divest conveyor in order to also confirm the packing state of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C and to detect if a belonging would be lost on the conveyor. Similarly to sensor 117B of the divest zone117A, the other sensor 117B is installed above the divest conveyor 112 using an invert U shaped frame. This second invert U shaped frame is installed in such a way that the divest conveyor extends between the arms of the invert U shape and therefore that all the trays 115A, 115B, 115C pass between the arms of the invert U before being delivered to the screening device 120. The other sensor 117B is fixed on the on the base of the "U" facing the divest conveyor 112.

[0203]

[0090] In a similar way than the sensor of the divest zone 111, in the present embodiment of the first and second aspect of the invention the secondary sensors 137 is installed on the delivery lane 130 between a delivery conveyor 132 and a delivery zone 131 In this way, each tray 115A, 115B, 115C could be identified before being delivered to the delivery zone 131. As shown in figure 3, the delivery zone 131 includes four emplacements in order to allow four users to recover their belongings after the screening. After having recovered their belongings, the user could place the emptied tray 115A, 115B, 115C in holes 134 that lead to the return lane 135. In this way, the emptied tray 115A, 115B, 115C could be sent back to the divest station.

[0204]

[0091] It as to be note that, if in the present embodiment of the first and second aspect of the invention, the delivery conveyor is of the roller type conveyor, it could also comprise, as an alternative, at least one conveyor belt.

[0205]

[0092] If during the screening, the belongings of a user have to be further inspected, the corresponding tray is delivered to the search lane 140 that includes a search conveyor 152 of the roller type (as an alternative the search conveyor could comprise a conveyor belt). Similarly to other sensor 117B, the third sensor 127 is installed above a search conveyor 122 in order to allow each tray to be inspected to pass through the third sensor 127.

[0206]

[0093] As shown on the block diagram of figure 5, the security screening installation 100 according to the first and second aspect of the invention also comprises a control unit 105 configured to control the at least one divest lane 110 and to connect to the sensor 117A of the divest zone 111 and the other sensor 117B of the divest conveyor. According to the second aspect of invention, the control unit 105 is further configured for:

[0207] after the user 20 has put its belongings into trays 115A, 115B, 115C on the divest lane 110, checking through the connection with the sensors 117A, 117B if that atleast one tray 115A, 115B, 115C have been incorrectly packed by identifying at least one from:

[0208] o an over-height object 21A on a tray 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0209] o an object hanging 21B, 21C out of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0210] o items that are loose on top of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0211] if an incorrectly packed tray 115A, 115B, 115C is identified, stopping the corresponding divest lane 110 or more specifically the corresponding divest conveyor 112,

[0212] to restart the corresponding divest lane 110, or more specifically the divest conveyor 112, when, by using the at least one sensor 117A, 117B, the incorrectly packed tray 115A, 115B, 115C has been detected correctly packed.

[0213]

[0094] In order to obtain a quick correction of the packing problem, when an incorrectly packed tray 115A, 115B, 115C is identified, the control unit 105 could also be configured for providing an indication, such as a visual or audible alarm, regarding the identification. In this way, the user 20 or a staff member 24 could correct the packing of the tray 115A, 115B, 115C identified as incorrectly packed and thus allow the divest lane 110 to restart quickly.

[0214]

[0095] In this configuration, as shown on the bock diagram of figure 4 by the arrow in solid lines, the control unit only control the divest lane 110 (and more specifically the divest conveyor) and is connect to the sensor 117A (and the other sensor 117B) in order to control the packing status of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C. As it will describe in the following and as it is shown in dotted lines, according to the second aspect of the invention, the control unit 105 could also be configured to:

[0215] - control the screening device 120, or more specifically a conveyor of the screening device 120, and to connect with the third sensor 127, and / or

[0216] - control the search lane 140, and more specifically the search conveyor 142, and / or - control the delivery lane 130, and more specifically the delivery conveyor 132, and to connect with the second sensor 137.

[0217]

[0096] With such configuration regarding the other lanes 130, 140 and of the screening device 120 of the security screening installation 100, it allows to use the control unit 105to optimize the installation according to the third aspect of the invention. As an example, since the search lane 140 and the delivery lane also comprise sensors 127, 137 according to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to identify if a belonging of a user 20 has fallen during the displacement of the tray 115A, 115B, 115C.

[0218]

[0097] Similarly, based on the sensors 117A, 117B, 127, 137 and according to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to detect theft of a user's belongings. In this way, the control unit 105 could be configured to:

[0219] - when the user 20 put their belongings 21A, 21B, 21C into trays 115A, 115B, 115C each tray 115A, 115B, 115C is associated with the user who had put his belongings in it using the sensor 117A of the divest zone 111,

[0220] - after a tray 115A, 115B, 115C has been screened through the screening device 120 and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane 140 to the delivery zone, for each tray 115A, 115B, 115C, detect, using the secondary sensors 137, if the user 20 that discharges said tray is the one associated with it,

[0221] If a tray 115A, 115B, 115C is detected as discharged by a user 20 that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user 20.

[0222]

[0098] The identification of the user could be done, for example, by facial recognition or another type of recognition such as based on infrared sensors, through the sensors 117A, 127, 137 or could be based on other personal recognition. The identification of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C could be done either by:

[0223] image recognition of the user's belongings and their arrangement into the tray 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0224] - tag reading, each tray 115A, 115B, 115C comprising a tag, such as a RFID tag or QR code tag, the sensor 117A of the divest zone 111 and the sensors 137 being configured to read the tag of trays 115A, 115B, 115C in order to associate a tray 115A, 115B, 115C with a user 20.

[0225]

[0099] So accordingly, the user could be identified based on at least one feature of its features selected from facial recognition feature, a document relative to the user such asan id documents or travelling documents, a body shape feature, displacement behavior feature , continuous tracking of the user.

[0226]

[0100] In the present embodiment of the first, and eventually of the second aspect of the invention, since the sensor 117A of the divest zone 111 and the sensors 137 of the delivery zone 131 comprises camera, the identification of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C is done by image recognition or using QR code reading. As an alternative, the sensor 117A of the divest zone 111 and the sensors 137 could also comprise another type of sensor, such as a RFID reader, in order to read a tag of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C is or of the user 20 in order to allow the identification of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C and / or the user 20.

[0227]

[0101] As shown on figure 5, the sensors 117A, 117B, 127, 137 of the second aspect of the invention could also be used to secure the conveyor 112, 132, 142 of the invention and avoid a user 20 and / or a staff member to have their hand 22 injured. In this way, the control unit 105, through the connection to the sensors 117A, 117B, 127, 137, could further configured for:

[0228] - detect using the at least one sensor if a hand 22 entering the danger zone 114 defined around the conveyor elements,

[0229] - stop the corresponding lane 110, 130, 140, and more specifically the corresponding conveyor 112, 132, 142, if a hand has been detected entering the danger zone 114 defined around the conveyor elements,

[0230] restart the corresponding lane 110, 130, 140 when a removing of the hand 22 from the danger zone 114 has been detected using the at least one sensor 117A, 117B, 127, 137.

[0231]

[0102] It has to be noted that if this possibility could be implemented for all the lanes 110, 130, 140 of the security screening installation 100 as explained above, it could also be implemented only on divest lane 110 as shown in figure 5. In this way it is possible to benefit of both the packing verification and a safe installation only by equipping the divest lane 111 with sensors 117A, 117B according to the second aspect of the invention. This possibility is shown in figure 6, for which only the divest conveyor 112 comprises a sensor 117A that checks the packing status of all the trays after they have been put by the users on the divest conveyor. As an alternative to the present embodiment, it is possible to benefit from the second aspect of the invention using only one sensor 117A installed on the divest conveyor112. Similarly, it is possible to just equip the divest zone, in a similar configuration of the sensor 117A of the divest zone 111 shown on figure 3, to be able to achieve the checking the packing status of all the trays after they have been put by the users 20 on the divest conveyor 112.

[0232]

[0103] According to a possibility of the first aspect of the invention, and eventually the second aspect of the invention, as shown on figure 7A and 7B, the security screening installation 100 could further comprising a reading device 152 for reading a document relative to the user 20 before the user 20 access to the divest lane 110, and a display 155 for displaying information regarding the divest lane 110. Control unit 105 could further be configured to connect to the reading device 152 and to control the displaying of the at least one display 155. Furthermore, the control unit could be further configured to

[0233] - when the reading device 152 reads the document relative to the user 20, identify a language relative to the document relative to the user 20,

[0234] - detect when the user 20 is looking at the at least one display 155,

[0235] - when the user 20 is detecting has looking at the display 155, display information regarding the at least one divest lane 110 in the identified language through the at least one display 155.

[0236]

[0104] With this possibility, the information regarding the divest lane 110 is shown in a language specific to the user and the user 20 is thus more likely to follow the displayed instruction than if it is provided in a foreign language or in multiple languages. In a typical configuration of the first aspect of the invention, and eventually of the second aspect of the invention, the reading device equipped an access point 150 of the security screening installation where the user 20 as to scan one of its personal documents, such as an ID document a boarding pass or any documents required to enter the building secured by the security screening installation 100. Indeed, the user 20 is usually required to scan a personal document in order to have the door 151 leading to the rest of the security screening installation 100 to open.

[0237]

[0105] In order to identify the user 20 and to associate the identified language to the user 20, the access point could also comprise an access point sensor 157. The assess point sensor 157 could be configured to identify the user by, for example, facial recognition or anothertype of recognition such as based on infrared sensor. The access point sensor 157, or another sensor associated to the display 155, is also configured, based on image recognition, to detect when the user looks to the display in order to display the information regarding the divest lane 110.

[0238]

[0106] According to this possibility of the first aspect of the invention and eventually to the second aspect of the invention, the information regarding the divest lane 110 that is displayed on the display 155 could be:

[0239] Information regarding the divest procedure for putting their belongings on the trays 115A, 115B, 115C, such as the type of belongings that has to be put visible on the trays 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0240] When the security screening installation 100 has a plurality of divest lanes 110, divest zones 111, and / or divest emplacements, an indication regarding the divest lane 110, divest zone 111 and / or divest emplacement where the user 20 should divest its belongings,

[0241] Information on an eventual problem regarding the document relative to the user.

[0242]

[0107] Of course, if in figures 7A and 7B, there is only one display 155 arranged just after the doors 151 of the access point 150, it is possible, according to the first aspect of the invention and eventually of the second aspect of the invention, that the security screening installation comprised multiple displays 155 to guide the user 20 in its own language during all the screening process.

[0243]

[0108] According to the first aspect of the invention and eventually of the second aspect of the invention, the control unit could be configured to adapt the displayed information according to the information obtained by the sensors 117A, 117B, 127, 137. In particular, the control unit could direct the user to a second divest lane 110 when the sensors 117B of the divest conveyor 112 of a first lane 110 allow to identify a bottleneck of said divest conveyor 112.

[0244]

[0109] The security screening installation of this first embodiment of the first and second aspect of the invention allows the implementation of a method according to the first andsecond aspect of the invention. The method for implementing such installation comprises the following steps:A. when the at least one reading device 152 reads the at least one document relative to the user 20, identify a language relative to the document relative to the user 20, B. detecting when the user (20) is looking on the at least one display 155,

[0245] C. when the user 20 is detecting has looking to the at least one display 155, display information regarding the at least one divest lane 110 in the identified language through the at least one display 155.

[0246] D. Make the users 20 to put their belongings into trays 115A, 115B, 115C on the at least one divest lane 110, wherein during the putting of the belongings into trays 115A, 115B, 115C each tray 115A, 115B, 115C is associated with the user 20 who had put his belongings in it,

[0247] E. Detect using the sensors 117A, 117B of the divest lane 110 if at least one tray 115A, 115B, 115C has been incorrectly packed by identifying at least one from:

[0248] o an over-height object on a tray 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0249] o an object hanging out of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0250] o items that are loose on top of a tray 115A, 115B, 115C,

[0251] F. detect using the at least one sensor a hand 22, of a user 20 or of a staff member 24, entering a danger zone 114 defined around the conveyor elements 112 of the divest lane 110,

[0252] G. if an incorrectly packed tray 115A, 115B, 115C is detecting during step E. or if a hand entering a danger zone has been detected during step F, stop the corresponding divest lane 110 and more specifically the corresponding divest conveyor 112, H. restart the corresponding divest lane 110, and more specifically the corresponding divest conveyor 112, when, by using the sensors 117A, 117B of the divest conveyor 111, the incorrectly packed tray 115A, 115B, 115C has been detected correctly packed or a removing of the hand 22 from the danger zone 114 has been detected

[0253] I. . After a tray 115A, 115B, 115C has been screened through the screening device and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane, for each tray 115A, 115B, 115C, detect if the user 20 that discharges said tray is the one associated with it,J. If a tray 115A, 115B, 115C is detected as discharged by a user 20 that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user 20.

[0254]

[0110] As already mentioned, and discussed regarding figure 6, the second aspect of the invention could be implemented and configured for just a part of the security screening installation 100. In the same way, just a part of the method could be implemented, without departing the scope of the invention. As an example, when only the divest lane 110 is equipped with sensors 117A, 117B, it is possible to implement only steps D to H. of the method. It is also to be noted that in the above method, the detection of hand of step F. is only mentioned in relation to the divest lane 110, it is also possible to implement similar detection for the delivery lane 130, the search lane 130 and eventually the return lane 135, the corresponding lane being stop in case of such a detection.

[0255]

[0111] For implementing the first aspect of the invention, both the divest and the delivery lane 110, 130 have to be equipped with respectively at least one sensor 117A, 117B and at least one secondary sensor 137.

[0256]

[0112] Furthermore, as shown in figures 9 ad 10, by providing a conveyor, such as the divest conveyor 112 and the delivery conveyor 132, with sensor 117B, 137 according to the first and second aspect of the invention, it is possible to use the sensor 117B, 127 to control the movement of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C relative to each other. Indeed, in conventional conveyor, the conveyor comprises sensors arranged below the rollers to specifically control the velocity of rollers and so the distance between two consecutive trays 115A, 115B, 115C. With such conventional sensors, the distance between two consecutive trays is relatively important since such sensors detect the space between the trays 115A, 115B, 115C. By using the sensor 117B, 127 to control the movement of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C relative to each other, it is possible to reduce the distance between the trays and so increase the number of trays that could be inspected by the screening device 130 and that could be delivered through the delivery conveyor 132.

[0257]

[0113] Accordingly, the other sensor 117B and / or the secondary sensors 137 could be configured to identify the distance between two trays, for example by image recognition, during the feeding of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C to the screening device 120 and duringthe delivery of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C after the screening. The control unit 105 is also configured to control the velocity of the rollers 113 of both the divest conveyor 112 and the delivery conveyor at least partially based on the distance between two trays 115A, 115B, 115C on said conveyor determined using the corresponding sensors 117B, 137. Figures 9 and 10 show more specifically two configurations of the sensors 117B, 137 that could be used to provide such identification of the distance between two trays. In figure 9, the frame 118 is longitudinal to the divest conveyor 111 whereas in figure 10 each sensor is provided on a corresponding frame 118, 138. In the security screening installation shown on figure 10 includes a return module for recovering the emptied trays and returning, through a return lane, the emptied trays to the divest lane 110.

[0258]

[0114] It must be noted that the sensors 117A, 117B, 127, 137 and the control unit 105 of the first and second aspect of the invention provides evolution to improve the efficiency of a security screening installation 100. As an illustration of such improvement, in case the delivery zone 111 includes several delivery emplacements, the control unit may be configured to control the delivery conveyor 132 to deliver a tray to a delivery emplacement on which the corresponding user 20 is located. According to this possibility the secondary sensors 137 installed on the at least one delivery lanel30, and the control unit 105 is configured to:

[0259] - when the users 20 put their belongings 21A, 21B, 21C into trays 115A, 115B, 115C, each tray 115A, 115B, 115C) is associated with the user who had put his belongings in it using the at least one sensor,

[0260] - After a tray 115A, 115B, 115C has been screened through the screening device 120, by using the secondary sensor 137 identify on which delivery emplacement the corresponding user 20 is located and delivered through the at least one delivery lane 140 the tray to said delivery emplacement.

[0261]

[0115] As other examples, the control unit 105 could be configured to:

[0262] Verify if a tray has been identified as clear during the screening procedure is effectively delivered to the delivered lane 130, and if a tray has been identified as suspect during the screening procedure is effectively delivered to the search lane 140, and / orAllow a dynamic control the feeding of the trays 115A, 115B, 115C to the screening device 130 (as example if a user has been identified as already pass to the delivery zone 131, the corresponding trays being prioritized for the screening), Verify, by image recognition, if a tray is damage 115A, 115B, 115C and automatically put it aside through the return lane 135,

[0263] To give access to the faster divest lane 110 when users 20 have been identified as needed priority access (late for the boarding, disable user...),

[0264] Provide data information regarding the security screening installation 100 such as:

[0265] o Total number of trays from divest,

[0266] o Average divesting times,

[0267] o Number of trays per user,

[0268] o Average images per user (IPU or IPP, also known as average number of images per passenger / tray),

[0269] o Average transit times from divest to repack for a tray or per user, o Time lost due to badly loaded trays,

[0270] o Total trays screened,

[0271] o Total trays for search,

[0272] o Repack times when the belongings are delivered at the delivery zone o Tray count in the system,

[0273] o Lost time due to tray blockages,

[0274] o Lost time due to tray starvation,

[0275] o Search times,

[0276] o Average screening time,

[0277] o Identification of best working teams.

[0278]

[0116] Regarding the later data information that could be provided by the control unit 105 to improve the management of the security screening installation 100 and help to increase their efficiency. It could help to identify issues that the operator of the security screening installation did not know it had. All the information could be provided at specific time period such as data for each day at fixed hours (as example at closing time for the equippedfacility / airport) or could be provided in real time. In same way, alarm could be set if one data is identified outside a predetermined range or relative to a threshold.

[0279]

[0117] Similarly, the data information that could be provided by the control unit 105 could also be used to manage a series of security screening installations in order to direct the users to the more appropriate security screening installation for improving the efficiency of the security screening installation. In particular, the sensors 117A, 117B, 127, 137 according to the invention could be used to identify security screening installations that are more efficient and to use this information for improving the balance of the workload between the installations that are more efficient and the installations that are less efficient. In a same way, the data information that could be provided by the control unit 105 could also be used to identify problems regarding one of the security screening installations and to decide to reduce the number of users sent to this problematic security screening installation.

[0280]

[0118] For all the above possibilities to improve the efficiency of a series of security screening installations, for each user, the identification of the optimized security screening installation and the indication provided to user to direct him to the identified security screening installation could be automatic and be implemented using the display 155 shown on figures 7A, 7B.

[0281]

[0119] According to the third aspect of the invention, the invention relates to an implementation of the invention specific to the delivery lane and the return module. Of course, if the first and second aspect of the invention are presented separately from the third aspect of the invention, these aspects could perfectly be combined as it will be specified.

[0282]

[0120] Accordingly, and as illustrated on figure 10 and on the block diagram of figure 12, the security screening installation 100 according to the thirst aspect of the invention comprises:

[0283] - at least one screening device 120 fed with trays 115A, 115B, 115C in which belongings of users have been placed,at least one delivery lane 130 for delivering the trays 115A, 115B, 115C to the users 20 after the trays 115A, 115B, 115Candthe belongings have been screened through the screening device 120,

[0284] a return module to return the trays after the users have retrieved their belongings on the trays from the at least one delivery lane (130), and

[0285] sensors according to the first and second aspect 137, said sensors being formed, on figure 10, by the secondary sensors 137 (according to the third aspect of the invention) installed on the delivery lane 130,

[0286] the control unit 105.

[0287]

[0121] The return module is a module that is configured to deliver emptied trays to the return lane. As an example of such a return module, it is possible to consult document EP3936467A1.

[0288]

[0122] It is to be noted that in the rest of this document, in order to be coherent with the above description of the third aspect, the sensors 137 of the first and second aspect of the invention are named secondary sensors 137. Similarly to the first and the second aspect of the invention, each secondary sensor 137 could include at least a camera installed above the delivery lane 130, the control unit 105 being configured to detect based on image recognition the state of the trays and of the return module. At an alternative or complementary to such camera, the secondary sensors 137 could include alternative sensors such as LIDAR sensor or ultrasonic sensor.

[0289]

[0123] The control unit 105 is configured to control the delivery lane 130 and to connect to the secondary sensors 137.

[0290]

[0124] The control unit 105 is further configured for:

[0291] after screening the belongings using the screening device, control the at least one delivery lane 130 for transferring the trays 115A, 115B, 115C and the belongings 120 to the users in such a way they can recover their belongings 120,

[0292] detect, using the secondary sensors 137, if:

[0293] o at least one tray has been confirmed empty,

[0294] o no obstacle, such as a non-emptied tray, prevents the tray being confirmed as empty to be delivered to the return module,o no item, such as a forgotten belonging from a user, is in the return module or on tray that is on the return module,

[0295] If, it has been detected that all criteria are verified, to command the transfer of the tray being confirmed as empty to the return module.

[0296]

[0125] According to the possibility illustrate on figure 10, in the present embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the transfer of the emptied trays to the return module is performed using the delivery lane 130 since users recover their belongings directly on the delivery lane 130. When, in a similar configuration as the one illustrate on figure 3, the security screening installation includes specific delivery zones for the users to recover their belonging, the transfer from the transfer of the trays being confirm as being empty could be transfer using a specific transfer means of said delivery zone such as a specific lane of said delivery zone.

[0297]

[0126] Furthermore according to the third aspect of the invention, the control unit 105 could be further configured to:

[0298] detect, using the secondary sensors 137, a hand 22 entering a secondary danger zone similar to the danger zone according to the third aspect of the invention, defined around the conveyor elements 112 of the delivery lane 13, and

[0299] if, during the transfer of a tray on the delivery zone or on the transfer module through the delivery lane 130, the at least one sensor detects the hand 22 entering the secondary danger zone, the delivery lane 130 is stop, the delivery lane 130 being resumed when said hand is identified as being out of the secondary danger zone.

[0300]

[0127] As a possibility of the third aspect of the invention, the dimension of the secondary danger zone around the conveyor elements 112 could be adapted based on the type of conveyors element 112 and / or the position of the conveyor elements on the conveyor and / or on the security screening installation. As an example, the conveyor elements being either of the motorized type (as motorized rollers) or the non-motorized type (as nonmotorized rollers), the secondary danger zone could be wider around the motorized type conveyor elements than for the non-motorized type conveyor elements. As example, the danger zone could extend 200 mm around the motorized type conveyor elements whereas it could extend 50 mm around the non motorized type conveyor elements. As anotherexample, the danger zone could only be defined on part of the security screening installation where it is considered that there is danger for the users, i.e. part of the installation where the users may come in contact with the conveyor elements as the delivery zone 131.

[0301]

[0128] Of course such possibility could also be implemented to the security screening installation 100 according to the first and second aspect of the invention.

[0302]

[0129] Of course, when the security screening installation 100 comprises delivery zones, such secondary danger zone could also be defined for the specific transfer means of said delivery zone and the control unit 105 could be further configured to stop said specific transfer means if an hand 22 is identified as entering said secondary danger zone, said specific transfer means being resumed after the hand is identified by the secondary sensor 137 out of secondary danger zone.

[0303]

[0130] Similarly, according to the third aspect of the invention, the control unit 105 could be further configured for:

[0304] - detecting, using the secondary sensor 137, hand 22 approaching a tray being transferred to the user or to the return module, and

[0305] - if, during the transfer of a tray to the user or to the return module, one of steps Al. and Cl., the at least one sensor detects a hand 22 approaching a tray being transferred, the transfer of said tray being stop, the transfer of said tray being resumed when the hand 22 is detected away from the tray being transferred.

[0306]

[0131] As another possibility of the third aspect of the invention, already discussed for the security screening installation 100 according to the firstand second aspect of the invention, the control unit 105 could use the secondary sensors 137 to detect if a tray being transferred is damaged. According to this possibility, it is possible to inform the staff members that a tray should be removed from the security screening installation, for example when it is return to the divest lane 110.

[0307]

[0132] In order to provide assistance to the staff member that screen the user's belongings using the screening device 120, the control unit could further be configured to identify, by using the secondary sensors 137 and via image recognition, trays to be searched for security purpose. According to this possibility of the third and first aspect of the invention,and eventually of the second aspect of the invention, the identification of the trays to be search could also be based on images from the at least one screening device 120, the behavior the associated user and / or information obtained through the reading of the documents related to the user. The screening installation 100 further including at least one search lane where search could be performed on user's belongings, when the control unit identifies, through the secondary sensors, trays to be searched, said trays to be search could be transferred to the search lane in such way to allow to perform a search on said tray. As a preferential feature of the third and the first aspect of the invention compatible to the second aspect of the invention, the control unit 105 could include a communication module to inform about its configuration, such module being preferably a display module (or dashboard) or informatic connection to a device, such as a computer or an electronic pad.

[0308]

[0133] Furthermore, certain features already described for the first and second aspect of the invention could eventually apply to the security screening installation 100 according to the third aspect of the invention.

[0309]

[0134] As shown in figure 13, Such security screening installation 100 according to the third aspect of the invention could be operated to carry out a method including the following steps:

[0310] Al. after screening the belongings using the screening device 120, transferring the trays 115A, 115B, 115C and the belongings 120 through the delivery lane 130 to the users in such a way they can recover their belongings 120,

[0311] Bl. detect, using the secondary sensors 137, if:

[0312] o at least one tray has been confirmed empty,

[0313] o no obstacle, such as a non-emptied tray, prevents the tray being confirmed as empty to be delivered to the return module,

[0314] o no item, such as a forgotten belonging from a user, is in the return module or on tray that is on the return module,

[0315] Cl. If during step Bl. all criteria are verified using the secondary sensors 137, transfer the tray being confirmed as empty to the return module 139.

[0135] When the third aspect of the invention is implemented on a security screening installation 100 according to the first or second aspect of the invention, the step Al corresponds to step I, the possibility to verify that detect if the user 20 that discharges said tray is the one associated with it being optional. Steps Bl and Cl are then performed after step I. and generally if step J. is not carried out (obviously if a thief is identified, the transfer of the tray should be stop).

[0316]

[0136] Of course, the present embodiment of the first, second and third aspect of the invention as shown in figure 3 is provided as an illustration of the invention and does not limit the scope of the invention. As an example, a security screening installation according to the invention could easily include one or several divest lanes 110 each one having one or several divest zones 111, one or several screening devices 120 and one or several delivery lanes 130 each one having one or several delivery zones 131 without departing of the scope of the invention. Similarly, each lane 110, 130, 140 could comprise one or several (or none for the delivery lanes, for the second or third aspect of the invention and the search lanes) sensors, only one sensor being needed on the divest lane 110 (and the delivery lane for the first aspect of the invention). Regarding the divest zone 111 and delivery zone 131, if each one includes in figure 3 respectively three divest emplacements and four delivery emplacements, a divest zone 111 and a delivery zone 131 could include a number of divest / delivery emplacements that is less or upper than three or four without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0317]

[0137] According to a possibility of the invention of the first aspect of the invention and compatible with, the second and the third aspect of the invention, the control unit 105 could be further configured to:

[0318] associate each packed tray with information regarding the user which has loaded its belonging on said tray,

[0319] when a tray is identified during the screening to be searched, retrieve the information of the user associated with said tray in order to be used during the search.

[0320]

[0138] The information of the user could be one from:

[0321] a tracking of the user using the sensors,

[0322] image / video of the user during or after the loading of the tray,indication of behavior of the user during and / or after the loading of the tray, and / or

[0323] information on the user based on provided user's documentation (ID, boarding pass...).

[0324]

[0139] With such information, the person in charge of the searching of the tray could make sure that the correct person is associated with the tray to be searched. Furthermore, this information could also be used to identify risk regarding the user in order to adapt the search to this identified risk.

[0325]

[0140] According to another possibility of the invention compatible with the first, the second and the third aspect of the invention, and especially for a security screening installation 100 related to person transportation, the control unit 105 could be further configured to:

[0326] when or after a user puts its belongings into trays and if the user's belongings include at least one luggage, identify at least one dimension of the at least one luggage and eventually estimate and / or measure the weight of said at least one luggage,

[0327] provide the information regarding the dimension and eventually the estimated / measured weight of the at least one luggage to a transport company that will take in charge the transportation of the user.

[0328]

[0141] In particular, at least one dimension could be an estimated volumetric size or estimated length and with (or estimated equivalent length and width) of said luggage. Said information regarding dimensions and eventually the estimated / measured weight of the at least one luggage could be used by the transport company to organize the luggage when boarding the user. Such information could enable to reduce the turnaround time for the boarding since the decision to where the luggage should be stored could be decided before boarding.

[0329]

[0142] In order to provide estimation / measurement regarding the weight of the luggage, the divest lane or the delivery lane could include at least one weigh cell. Furthermore, as already described, in order to associate the user and the information regarding the user's luggage, the security screening information could include at least one reading device forreading at least one document relative to the user before the user access to the at least one divest lane.

[0330]

[0143] According to a possibility compatible with the first, second and third aspect of the invention, the sensor 117A, 117B could be adapted to be used with trays including an illustration, such as an imprint advertisement on a bottom of the tray. Accordingly, to this possibility, the sensor could be configured to record an image of an emptied tray including the illustration, and the sensor could be configured to identify the belongings based on a comparison of an image of tray with the user's belongings with the previously captured image of the emptied tray.

[0331]

[0144] Such possibility opens the possibility to use illustrated tray with the method of the invention without significantly affecting the method according to the first, second and third aspect of the invention.

Claims

Claims1. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100), the security screening installation (100) comprising:at least one divest lane (110) for users (20) to put their belongings (21A, 21B, 21C) into trays (115A, 115B, 115C),at least one screening device (120) feed by the at least one divest lane (110A) with the trays (115A, 115B, 115C),at least one delivery line for delivering the trays (115A, 115B, 115C) to the users (20) after the trays (115A, 115B, 115C) and the belongings have been screened through the screening device (120),at least one sensor (117A, 117B) installed on the at least one divest lane (110A) and configured to determine a state of packing of a tray (115A, 115B, 155C), at least one secondary sensor (137) installed on the at least one delivery lane (130) and configured to determine a state of packing of a tray (115A, 115B, 155C, wherein the method for implementing a security screening installation (100) comprises the following steps:D. when the users (20) put their belongings into trays (115A, 115B, 115C) on the at least one divest lane (110), associate the tray with the user who had put his belongings in it using at least the one sensor (117A, 117B),1. After a tray (115A, 115B, 115C) has been screened through the screening device and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane, for each tray (115A, 115B, 115C), detect if the user (20) that discharges said tray is the one associated with it, J. If a tray (115A, 115B, 115C) is detected using at least the secondary sensor as discharged by a user (20) that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user (20).

2. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to claim 1, wherein during the step D of association of the tray with the user who had put hisbelongings in it, the user is identified based on at least one feature of its features selected from facial recognition feature, a document relative to the user such as an id documents or travelling documents, a body shape feature, displacement behavior feature, tracking, continuous tracking of the user and wherein during the step I. of detecting if the user (20) that discharges said tray is the one associated with it, the user is identified base on at least one feature that used during step D.

3. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the security screening installation comprises at least one reading device (152) for reading at least one document relative to the user (20) before the user (20) access to the at least one divest lane (110), and at least one display (155) for displaying information regarding the at least one divest lane (110),Wherein the method for implementing a security screening installation (100) further comprises the following step:D. When the at least one reading device (152) reads the at least one document relative to the user (20), identify a language relative to the document relative to the user (20),E. Detecting when the user (20) is looking on the at least one display (155),F. When the user (20) is detecting has looking to the at least one display (155), display information regarding the at least one divest lane (110) in the identified language through the at least one display (155).

4. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to claim 2 and 3, wherein during step D. of association of the tray with the user who had put his belongings in it, the user is identified based on at least one feature including the document relative to the user read by at least one reading device (152).

5. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to any one from claim 1 to 4, wherein the at least one sensor (117A, 117B) is further configured to identify, via image recognition, trays to be searched for security purpose.

6. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to claim 5, wherein the identification of the trays to be searched for security purpose is also based on at least one of the screening results and of the behavior the associated user.

7. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to any one from claim 1 to 6, when a trays is identified to be searched, information obtained on the user (20) during step D. for associated the trays with the user, such as an Id photo of the user, is retrieved for a staff member that has to perform the search of the belongings.

8. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to claim 7, wherein the information obtained on the user (20) during step D. retrieved for the staff member includes at least one of :information a tracking of the user using the sensors,image / video of the user during or after the loading of the tray, indication of behavior of the user before, during and / or after the loading of the tray, and / orinformation on the user based on provided user's documentation.

9. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to any one from claim 1 to 8, wherein during step D. and I., the tray is identified based on at least one feature of the tray selected from an identifier of the tray, such as a visual or a RFID tag, a visual identification of the tray and a tracking of the tray.

10. Method for implementing a security screening installation (100) according to any one from claim 1 to 9, wherein the delivery lane including several delivery emplacements, andThe method for implementing a security screening installation further includes, after a tray has been screened through the screening device, identify, by using the at least one secondary sensor on which delivery emplacement the associated user is located, anddeliver through the at least one delivery lane the tray to the identified delivery emplacement.

11. Security screening installation (100) comprising:- at least one divest lane (110) for users (20) to put their belongings (21A, 21B, 21C) into trays (115A, 115B, 115C),- at least one screening device (120) fed with trays (115A, 115B, 115C) in which belongings of users have been placed,- at least one delivery lane (130) for delivering the trays (115A, 115B, 115C) to the users (20) after the trays (115A, 115B, 115C) and the belongings have been screened through the screening device (120),at least one sensor (117A, 117B) installed on the at least one delivery lane (130), at least one secondary sensor (137) installed on the at least one delivery lane (130), the security screening installation (100) being characterized in that the at least one sensor (117A, 117B) and the at least one secondary sensor (137) are configured to determine a state of packing of a tray (115A, 115B, 155C),and in that the security screening installation (100) further comprises at least one control unit (105) configured to control the at least one delivery lane (130) and to connect to the at least one sensor (137) and the at least one secondary sensor (137),the control unit (105) being further configured for:when the users (20) put their belongings into trays (115A, 115B, 115C) on the at least one divest lane (110), associate the tray with the user who had put his belongings in it using at least the one sensor (117A, 117B),After a tray (115A, 115B, 115C) has been screened through the screening device and has been delivered through the at least one delivery lane, for each tray (115A, 115B, 115C), detect if the user (20) that discharges said tray is the one associated with it,If a tray (115A, 115B, 115C) is detected using at least the secondary sensor as discharged by a user (20) that is not associated with it, provide a warning regarding a potential theft of the belongings of a user (20).

12. Security screening installation (100) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor (137) comprises a camera installed above the delivery lane (130), the control unit (105) being configured to detect based on image recognition the state of the trays and of the return module.

13. Security screening installation (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the control unit includes a communication module to inform about its configuration, such module being preferably a display module.

Images