Luggage processing station and system thereof

• US 9,714,099 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICM Airport Technics Australia Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ICM Airport Technics Australia Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Dinkelmann, Richard, Dinkelmann, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMBESS, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US15/119,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20170008644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/04 Sorting according to size sorting devices as a component of the automatic supply and removal of workpieces B23Q7/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/368 Arrangements or installations for routing, distributing or loading baggage
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/52 operating by fluid means G01C19/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/00 Apparatus for weighing a continuous stream of material during flow; Conveyor belt weighers
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods

Abstract

A processing station for registering a piece of passenger'"'"'s luggage for a trip, wherein the processing station includes an injector for receiving the piece of luggage associated with the passenger; at least one sensor associated with the injector, the at least one sensor, in combination with at least the floor of the injector, creating a zone around the piece of luggage. A controller associated with the sensor being adapted to monitor, via the at least one sensor, intrusions through the zone to determine one or more of whether a predetermined limit on dimensions of the piece of luggage has been exceeded or whether a foreign object has intruded the zone from outside, and allow further processing of the piece of luggage only if no intrusion of the zone is detected. The controller also adjusts the area of the zone to accommodate different sizes of luggage.

Claims

1. A luggage processing station for registering a piece of passenger'"'"'s luggage for a trip, the processing station comprising:

an injector for receiving the piece of luggage associated with the passenger;

at least one sensor associated with the injector, the at least one sensor, in combination with at least the floor of the injector, creating a zone around the piece of luggage; and

a controller associated with the sensor being adapted to monitor, via the at least one sensor, intrusions through the zone to determine one or more of whether a predetermined limit on dimensions of the piece of luggage has been exceeded or whether a foreign object has intruded the zone from outside, and allow further processing of the piece of luggage only if no intrusion of the zone is detected;

wherein the controller dynamically adjusts the volume of the zone to accommodate different sizes of luggage.

2. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the zone encompasses the piece of luggage at a distance of between 1 mm to 1 m from the outer perimeter of the piece of luggage.

3. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor includes a camera.

4. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor includes a stereotypic camera.

5. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor includes an infrared spectrum sensor.

6. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the luggage processing station includes three or more sensors.

7. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the luggage processing station includes at least one barcode reader.

8. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the injector includes no physical walls other than the floor.

9. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the injector includes at least a physical front wall, a physical side wall and a physical floor.

10. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the zone includes convex or concave walls.

11. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the zone includes at least one virtual wall that tapers towards the centre of the injector.

12. The luggage processing station according to claim 3, wherein the camera is directed towards the centre of the injector wherein the luggage is received, when in use.

13. The luggage processing station according to claim 1, wherein the zone includes a virtual top wall which is generally parallel to a floor of the injector when the height of the virtual top wall is below a minimum threshold.

14. A luggage processing station for registering a passenger'"'"'s luggage for a trip, wherein the processing station comprising:

a luggage transportation tub having a first shape, the tub being adapted to receive the piece of luggage associated with the passenger;

an injector for receiving the tub with the piece of luggage therein;

at least one camera associated with the injector, wherein the camera is positioned so as to allow an image of tub with the luggage to be taken; and

a controller associated with the at least one camera, the controller being adapted to control the operation of the at least one camera and wherein the controller compares the image to a database of predefined tub shapes.

15. The luggage processing station of claim 14, wherein the controller confirms with the passenger the use of the tub.

16. The luggage processing station of claim 14, wherein the injector includes a weighing sensor electrically connected to the controller.

17. The luggage processing station of claim 16, wherein the controller using the weighing sensor measures the combined weight of the luggage and tub and then subtracts the weight of the tub from combined weight and records the result against the passenger'"'"'s flight information.