Airport Baggage Conveyor Vertical Transfer Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airport baggage conveyor systems face inefficiencies due to long transport distances and high energy consumption when storing and retrieving luggage, particularly in early baggage storage systems, which strain the distribution system and reduce throughput.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a distribution system above a storage system, featuring vertical conveyors and operating units that directly transfer load carriers between the distribution system, storage system, and end points like baggage carousels, allowing for efficient sorting and storage of load carriers with matching criteria, eliminating the need for complex distribution and reducing multiple transports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If baggage is stored in a centrally located early baggage storage area, then all baggage can be temporarily stored in one location, but transport routes become long and transport times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized storage concept into decentralized storage units distributed at different end points (baggage carousels). Instead of one central storage area, multiple local storage units are created at different locations in the system, segmenting the storage function across multiple points to reduce transport distances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical dimension by placing storage units above or below the conveyor system level, utilizing three-dimensional space. This allows direct vertical access to stored baggage at each end point, eliminating the need for long horizontal transport routes through the distribution system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a common distribution system is used for multiple final destinations, then the system can handle various load carriers, but the distribution system becomes a bottleneck and throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the distribution system by creating dedicated vertical conveyors for each end point. This divides the previously monolithic distribution system into multiple independent channels, allowing parallel operations and eliminating the bottleneck effect of a single shared distribution path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical conveyors as intermediary devices between the horizontal distribution system and the end points. These vertical conveyors act as mediators that directly transfer load carriers to their destination without requiring them to traverse the entire distribution system, thus improving throughput.
3Quantity of substance
If corner transfer devices are used in high-bay warehouses for baggage storage, then storage capacity is increased, but the system becomes technically complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex corner transfer devices from the system. Instead of using them to access storage areas, the invention uses simple vertical conveyors that directly serve each end point, eliminating the need for complex transfer mechanisms while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service storage units at each end point that can be independently accessed and operated. Each storage unit serves its local end point without requiring complex coordination or transfer devices, simplifying the overall system while maintaining storage functionality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the distribution system handles both stored and non-stored load carriers, then the system is versatile, but the distribution system is strained and additional control elements are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage and retrieval operations from the distribution system by implementing dedicated vertical conveyors at each end point. This separates the storage function from the distribution function, allowing the distribution system to focus on transport while storage operations are handled independently at local units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control functions by giving each vertical conveyor and storage unit independent control capabilities. This distributes the control burden across multiple simple local units rather than requiring complex centralized control for the entire distribution system.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention discloses a conveyor system for unit loads with assigned sorting criteria in uniform load carriers, in particular an airport baggage conveyor system, comprising a distribution system, at least one storage system, and at least one terminal, in particular a baggage carousel. The distribution system is arranged above the storage system, and the storage system is arranged above the terminal. The terminal comprises at least one dedicated vertical conveyor, configured for directly transferring a load carrier from the distribution system to the storage system and vice versa, as well as from the storage system to the terminal and vice versa. Each terminal is assigned to a storage system. The conveyor system is configured to fill each storage system with load carriers with matching sorting criteria.The storage system has a storage structure formed by horizontal access paths, resulting in a parallel row structure with each row of shelves parallel to the others. The access paths within the storage system are bounded transversely along the shelf rows on both sides by shelf units of the respective shelf structure. The access paths are at least approximately straight, longitudinally extending paths along which an operating unit, encompassed by the conveyor system, moves. All access paths of the storage system extend longitudinally. The operating unit is designed to transport load carriers along the shelf rows and to load and unload shelf compartments within the shelf rows. The operating unit and the vertical conveyor are designed for the mutual transfer of load carriers, or the operating unit is encompassed by the vertical conveyor.