Airport Baggage Tote Stacking and Release Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated airport baggage distribution systems face challenges in balancing capacity, cost, and transit time, often requiring high speeds and complex handling of totes across multiple terminals, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining empty totes in the system, positioning them stacked for support, and strategically releasing them either singly or in pairs to optimize storage and transport, using a control system to manage tote stations and conveyors, allowing for efficient handling and reduced transit times while minimizing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If baggage is distributed at elevated speeds (1-10 m/s) to reduce transit time, then transport time is decreased, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the baggage handling process into discrete tote units that can be independently controlled. Each tote is a self-contained module that can be routed, stacked, and managed separately, allowing the system to handle multiple totes in parallel without requiring complex coordination for the entire baggage flow.
Solution Approach 2:
Empty totes are stacked vertically within tote stations, with multiple totes nested in a compact arrangement. This vertical stacking allows the system to store and retrieve multiple empty totes in a small footprint area, reducing the need for extensive horizontal conveyor networks and associated complexity.
2Reliability
If dedicated transport units (totes) are used to ensure hassle-free distribution at high speeds, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tote serves multiple functions: it acts as a container for baggage during transport, a stackable storage unit when empty, and a standardized interface for conveyor systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized equipment for each operation, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state of totes between filled and empty conditions, managing them differently based on their current state. Empty totes are stacked vertically in designated stations, while filled totes are conveyed horizontally. This parameter-based management simplifies control logic compared to handling individual pieces of baggage.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple terminals are served with gates spread across several thousands of square meters, then capacity is increased, but transport distance and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal baggage handling to vertical stacking of totes at strategic locations. By stacking empty totes vertically in tote stations positioned at key points in the network, the system creates three-dimensional utilization of space, reducing the horizontal footprint and transport distances required to serve multiple terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
Empty totes are pre-positioned and stacked at tote stations before baggage needs to be transported. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid deployment of filled totes when needed, reducing wait times and enabling faster response to baggage transport demands across distant terminals.
4Measurement precision
If totes are released individually from tote stations, then control precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system employs periodic release cycles where totes are released from stacking positions in a rhythmic sequence. This periodic action allows the system to maintain precise control over tote release timing while achieving high throughput, as the repetitive nature of the operation optimizes both precision and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The tote release mechanism operates continuously, with totes being released in rapid succession rather than with significant delays between individual releases. This continuous action maintains high productivity while the control system ensures precise timing and positioning of each tote release through automated control.
Data Source
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AI summary
In order, e.g., to improve distribution of baggage in an airport, the disclosure regards a solution for distributing the baggage in baggage totes in an automated baggage distribution system 102. The solution comprises positioning two or more empty totes above each other, so that the two or more empty totes are supported by a tote station by support members 206, determining, by a control system, when either a single empty tote should be released from the tote station or two or more empty totes should be released from the tote station together and at once, and in response to the determination releasing single empty totes from the tote station or releasing two or more empty totes on top of each other from the tote station. A lowermost 1604 of the two or more empty totes on top of each other supports one or more empty totes 1606 on top of it and the lowermost empty tote is, when released, supported by a support conveyor 204.