Dual-Sloping Carousel Baggage Handling Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slope carousels in baggage handling facilities face issues such as baggage damage due to collisions and inefficient space usage, leading to higher installation costs and reduced baggage transfer capacity.

Innovation Solution

A dual-sloping carousel design with a downward section and an upward section, featuring a maximum downward slope of approximately 20 degrees at the connecting portion to the conveyor belt, which reduces space requirements and installation costs while preventing baggage from falling and being damaged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a slope carousel is used to connect conveyor belt to carousel, then baggage transfer capacity increases, but installation cost increases and space occupation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaggage transfer capacityVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The carousel surface is segmented into multiple zones with different slope angles. The connecting portion has a maximum downward slope of approximately 20 degrees to receive baggage from the conveyor belt, while other portions have different slope angles optimized for their specific functions. This segmentation allows the carousel to achieve high baggage transfer capacity through optimized slope design without requiring a uniformly steep slope throughout, thereby reducing overall installation cost and space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a slope carousel is used to connect conveyor belt to carousel, then baggage transfer capacity increases, but space occupation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaggage transfer capacityVSAvoidspace occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the carousel have different slope angles tailored to their specific functional requirements. The connecting portion has a maximum downward slope of approximately 20 degrees for efficient baggage receipt, while other portions have optimized slopes for transfer and delivery. This local optimization allows the carousel to achieve high baggage transfer capacity without requiring excessive space, as each section uses only the slope angle necessary for its function rather than a uniformly steep design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If conventional carousel design is used, then simple structure is maintained, but baggage damage occurs due to collision and falling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidbaggage damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The carousel employs dynamic slope angle adjustment where different portions rotate at different effective slope angles during operation. The connecting portion maintains a maximum downward slope of approximately 20 degrees to control baggage entry, while other portions adjust their slopes to guide baggage smoothly and prevent collisions. This dynamic control prevents baggage damage while maintaining relatively simple structural components that can be implemented through controlled rotation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If maximum downward slope of approximately 20 degrees is applied at connecting portion, then baggage transfer efficiency increases, but risk of baggage falling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaggage transfer efficiencyVSAvoidbaggage safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The carousel controls the slope angle parameter dynamically across different portions and during rotation. The connecting portion is designed with a maximum downward slope of approximately 20 degrees optimized for baggage receipt efficiency, while other portions have different slope angles that prevent baggage from gaining excessive speed or falling. This parameter optimization across different sections achieves high transfer efficiency while maintaining baggage safety through controlled gravitational forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The dual-sloping carousel effectively prevents baggage damage and increases transfer capacity, allowing for efficient and convenient baggage loading and unloading, with the ability to double load baggage and reduce the risk of collisions.

Implementation Method 1

the baggage naturally descends to an outer side where the passengers are waiting based on a slope angle of a carousel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3290343B1Dual-sloping carousel

Publication Date: 2020.01.01 KOREA AIRPORTS CORP

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AI summary

A dual-sloping carousel is disclosed. According to the present invention, the carousel comprises forward-sloping and reverse-sloping sections, so as to reduce the risk of falling baggage, thereby preventing the baggage from being damaged.