PASSENGER CARRY-ON BAGGING SYSTEM FOR SECURITY CHECKPOINTS
First Claim
1. A method of screening passenger baggage comprising:
- placing a disposable container at an entrance to a threat scanning machine located at a security checkpoint, the container being adapted for receiving an item of baggage and for containing the item during conveyance through the threat scanning machine, the container comprising;
a bottom;
a plurality of flexible side panels, the flexible side panels meeting at at least one corner; and
a relatively rigid flange secured at the corner of the flexible side panels, the flange extending from the bottom to an open top;
making the container available to a passenger passing through the checkpoint;
conveying the container containing the item through the threat scanning machine while the container rests directly on a moving conveyor belt of the threat scanning machine; and
discarding the container upon a single conveyance through the threat scanning machine.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A threat scanning system may employ disposable flexible baggage containers with a coefficient of friction selected to encourage sliding of the containers past side rails and other baggage. An exemplary system may have a threat scanning machine, a first feeder conveyor having a baggage entrance, a second feeder conveyor substantially parallel to the first feeder conveyor, and a scanner conveyer arranged to receive baggage from the first and second feeder conveyors and to convey baggage to the threat scanning machine, the scanner conveyor having one or more side rails that baggage containers may impact. After baggage is conveyed through the threat scanning machine, the baggage containers may be discarded after a single use.
106 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of screening passenger baggage comprising:
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placing a disposable container at an entrance to a threat scanning machine located at a security checkpoint, the container being adapted for receiving an item of baggage and for containing the item during conveyance through the threat scanning machine, the container comprising; a bottom; a plurality of flexible side panels, the flexible side panels meeting at at least one corner; and a relatively rigid flange secured at the corner of the flexible side panels, the flange extending from the bottom to an open top; making the container available to a passenger passing through the checkpoint; conveying the container containing the item through the threat scanning machine while the container rests directly on a moving conveyor belt of the threat scanning machine; and discarding the container upon a single conveyance through the threat scanning machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A baggage handling system comprising:
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a threat scanning machine; a scanner conveyer belt arranged to convey baggage through the threat scanning machine from an entrance to an exit; a plurality of baggage containers provided at a first location preceding the entrance, each of the baggage containers comprising; a bottom; a plurality of flexible side panels, the flexible side panels meeting at at least one corner; and a relatively rigid flange secured at the corner of the flexible side panels, the flange extending from the bottom to an open top. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A baggage handling system comprising:
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a threat scanning machine; a first feeder conveyor having a first entrance; a second feeder conveyor substantially parallel to the first feeder conveyor, the second feeder having a second entrance; a scanner conveyer arranged to receive baggage from the first and second feeder conveyors and to convey baggage through the threat scanning machine, the scanner conveyor having a first side rail with a first impact point and a second side rail with a second impact point; a plurality of flexible baggage containers located near the first entrance and provided to passengers using the first entrance; and a plurality of flexible baggage containers located near the second entrance and provided to passengers using the second entrance, wherein the flexible baggage containers have a coefficient of friction with the first and second side rails sufficient to encourage sliding of the containers past the impact points, and wherein the feeder conveyors form multiple separate lanes, each conveyor feeding conveyed items to the scanner conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification