Material handling system and method of use

• US 7,270,227 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Bender, Tonya K., Younkin, Shawn, Stradley, Eugene, Binning, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell; James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/971,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 198/436, 198/437, 198/443, 198/444, 198/445, 198/446, 198/447, 198/448, 198/358, 198/350
• US Class Current: 198/358
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/648 about a vertical axis

Abstract

A material handling system and method of use for increasing throughput at security checkpoints. The material handling system includes a dual input conveyor with a merge conveyor leading to a detection system. At the output of the detection system is a diverting mechanism which will divert the items leaving the detection system to one of two output conveyors, corresponding to the input conveyors. A reject mechanism and accompanying conveyor may be provided, in addition to a bin return and control system.

Claims

1. A material handling system for carry-on luggage at a passenger security checkpoint, comprising:

a plurality of input conveyors for conveying items of carry-on luggage, the input conveyors located at a passenger entrance to a security checkpoint;

a merge device to singulate the flow of the items from the plurality of input conveyors into a single transportation path;

a threat detection machine adapted to detect characteristics of the carry-on luggage while the carry-on luggage is located on the single transportation path;

a plurality of output conveyors to provide buffer space for the items exiting from the single flow transportation path, the output conveyors located at a passenger exit to the security checkpoint; and

an output diverting device positioned between an output of the single transportation path and the plurality of output conveyors to separate and direct the items to a respective one of the plurality of output conveyors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input conveyors are at least two input conveyors and the plurality of output conveyors are at least a same number as the plurality of input conveyors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the output diverting device directs items originating from a first conveyor of the plurality of input conveyors to only a respective first conveyor of the plurality of output conveyors, and directs items originating from a second conveyor of the plurality of input conveyors to only a respective second conveyor of the plurality of output conveyors.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a take-away conveyor which transports empty bins from an output of the plurality of output conveyors to an input of the plurality of input conveyors.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a transport device for placing the empty bins on the take-away conveyor, the transport device including a chute or a lift.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reject conveyor, wherein the output diverting device is moveable to direct rejected items to the reject conveyor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a detector to regulate the movement of the items between (i) each of the plurality of input conveyors and the merge device and (ii) the single transportation path and each of the plurality of output conveyors; and

a scanning or reading device to capture information concerning the items such that the items are matched at the output of the single transportation path.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control for controlling the diversion of the items passing by the merge device and the output diverting device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control is a hand-held device.

7. A material handling system, comprising:

a plurality of input conveyors for conveying items;

a merge device to singulate the flow of the items from the plurality of input conveyors into a single transportation path;

a plurality of output conveyors to provide buffer space for the items exiting from the single flow transportation path; and

an output diverting device positioned between an output of the single transportation path and the plurality of output conveyors to separate and direct the items to a respective one of the plurality of output conveyors;

wherein the merge device includes one of (i) a pivoting conveyor, (ii) a stationary Y-shaped merge alignable with each output of the plurality of input conveyors, (iii) a sweep arm and (iv) a belt guide; and

the output diverting device is one of (i) a pivoting conveyor, (ii) a sweep rtm which is aligned with each input of the plurality of output conveyors, and (iii) a belt guide.

8. A material handling system, comprising:

a plurality of input conveyors for conveying items;

a merge device to singulate the flow of the items from the plurality of input conveyors into a single transportation path;

a plurality of output conveyors to provide buffer space for the items exiting from the single flow transportation path; and

an output diverting device positioned between an output of the single transportation path and the plurality of output conveyors to separate and direct the items to a respective one of the plurality of output conveyors;

wherein the merge device directs movement of the items from one of the plurality of input conveyors to the single transportation path while blocking items on any remaining of the plurality of input conveyors; and

the output diverting device diverts movement of the items exiting from the single transportation path to one of the plurality of output conveyors while blocking items from flowing to any remaining of the plurality of output conveyors.

10. A material handling system, comprising:

a plurality of input conveyors for conveying items;

a merge device to singulate the flow of the items from the plurality of input conveyors into a single transportation path;

a plurality of output conveyors to provide buffer space for the items exiting from the single flow transportation path; and

an output diverting device positioned between an output of the single transportation path and the plurality of output conveyors to separate and direct the items to a respective one of the plurality of output conveyors;

wherein the output diverting device is a vertical moving device to move rejected items to reject conveyor at different height than the plurality of output conveyors.

13. A material handling device for carry-on luggage at a passenger security checkpoint, comprising:

a plurality of input conveyors for conveying items of carry-on luggage, the input conveyors located at a passenger entrance to the security checkpoint;

a singulator positioned in the transportation path of the items exiting from each of the plurality of input conveyors, and which directs the items into a single conveyor system leading to a detection system;

a detection system adapted to detect characteristics of the carry-on luggage while the carry-on luggage is located on the single conveyor system;

a plurality of buffer conveyors to provide buffer space for the items exiting from the detection system; and

a diverting device positioned at an output of the single conveyor system to direct the items to one of the plurality of buffer conveyors, the buffer conveyors located at a passenger exit from the security checkpoint.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the detection system includes any combination of an adjustable sensing biometrics device, an x-ray device, a controlled substance detecting device, and an explosive detection device.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a take-away conveyor which transports empty bins from an output of the plurality of buffer conveyors to an input of the plurality of input conveyors; and

a reject conveyor, wherein the diverting device is moveable to direct rejected items to the reject conveyor.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a control to control:

the singulator such that the items exiting from outputs of each of the plurality of input conveyors are directed to the detection system; and

the diverting device such that the items exiting from the detection system are directed to a respective one of the plurality of buffer conveyors.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising at least one detector to provide information to the control for regulating movement of the singulator and the diverting device as the items pass thereby.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the control is a hand-held device.

15. A material handling system, comprising:

a plurality of input conveyors for conveying items;

a merge device to singulate the flow of the items from the plurality of input conveyors into a single transportation path;

a plurality of output conveyors to provide buffer space for the items exiting from the single flow transportation path; and

an output diverting device positioned between an output of the single transportation path and the plurality of output conveyors to separate and direct the items to a respective one of the plurality of output conveyors;

wherein the singulator includes one of (i) a swivel conveyor, (ii) a stationary V-shaped merge, (iii) a sweep arm and (iv) a belt guide; and

the diverting device is one of (i) a swivel conveyor, (ii) a sweep arm and (iii) a belt guide.

16. A material handling system, comprising:

a plurality of input conveyors for conveying items;

a merge device to singulate the flow of the items from the plurality of input conveyors into a single transportation path;

a plurality of output conveyors to provide buffer space for the items exiting from the single flow transportation path; and

an output diverting device positioned between an output of the single transportation path and the plurality of output conveyors to separate and direct the items to a respective one of the plurality of output conveyors;

wherein the singulator directs the items from one of the plurality of input conveyors to the detection system while blocking the items on any remaining of the plurality of input conveyors; and

the diverting device diverts the items exiting from the detection system to only one of the plurality of buffer conveyors while blocking the items from flowing to any remaining of the plurality of buffer conveyors.

21. A material handling device for carry-on luggage at a passenger security checkpoint, comprising:

at least two input conveyors for conveying items of carry-on luggage, the input conveyors located near a passenger entrance to the security checkpoint;

a metering device positionable between respective outputs of the at least two input conveyors and which directs the items into a single conveyor system leading to a detection system;

a detection system adapted to detect characteristics of the carry-on luggage while the carry-on luggage is located on the single conveyor system;

at least two pick-up conveyors located near a passenger exit from the security checkpoint;

a diverting device positionable between respective inputs of the at least two pick-up conveyors to direct the items exiting from the detection system to one of the at least two pick-up conveyors; and

a control coordinating movement of the items through the metering device and the diverting device to regulate the transportation path of the items between the at least two input conveyors and the at least two pick-up conveyors.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the detection system includes any combination of an adjustable sensing biometrics device, an x-ray device and an explosive detection device.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the metering device is movable between outputs of the at least two input conveyors.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the diverting device is movable between inputs of the at least two pick-up conveyors.