Method and device for sorting baggage, said device being capable of handling unstable or irregularly shaped material
First Claim
1. A device for sorting articles, the device comprising:
- at least one loading station for automatically loading the articles, wherein each loading station comprises (i) at least one transport module for transporting the articles and (ii) a detection system to determine the position, shape, and size of the articles;
a set of cross-belt transport units, each cross-belt transport unit providing a supporting surface area for articles;
a supporting plate positioned between two adjacent transport units to permanently ensure continuity of a supporting surface between said two adjacent transport units over a width substantially equal to the supporting surface areas of the cross-belts; and
a control system for the at least one transport module;
wherein each loading station transfers the articles towards one or several of the transport units;
wherein the detection system detects a change in position of an article on the transport module during an acceleration phase of the transport module for transferring the article on one or several transport units;
wherein the control system controls the transport module according to said change in position of the article detected by the detection system;
wherein the transport belts comprise vertical profiles for keeping the articles on the transport units during their movements on the sorting device;
the device further comprising monitoring and control pieces of equipment for detecting the position of the vertical profiles and positioning the belts before the loading station and during the loading of the articles in order to place the articles between vertical profiles.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for sorting articles, including at least one station for automatically loading articles allowing transfer of the articles to one or several transport units, the station equipped with at least one device for transporting the articles and a system able to determine the position, the shape and the size of the articles, with a set of cross belt transport units, each unit provided with a supporting plate between two adjacent units. The device includes a system allowing detection of a possible change in position of an article on a transport device during the acceleration phase. Maintaining the article in position on its unit(s) is ensured during its movement on the sorter, by supporting plates permanently ensuring supporting surface continuity between two units over a width substantially equal to the supporting surface of the belts and by the presence of vertical profiles on the belts.
21 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A device for sorting articles, the device comprising:
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at least one loading station for automatically loading the articles, wherein each loading station comprises (i) at least one transport module for transporting the articles and (ii) a detection system to determine the position, shape, and size of the articles; a set of cross-belt transport units, each cross-belt transport unit providing a supporting surface area for articles; a supporting plate positioned between two adjacent transport units to permanently ensure continuity of a supporting surface between said two adjacent transport units over a width substantially equal to the supporting surface areas of the cross-belts; and a control system for the at least one transport module; wherein each loading station transfers the articles towards one or several of the transport units; wherein the detection system detects a change in position of an article on the transport module during an acceleration phase of the transport module for transferring the article on one or several transport units; wherein the control system controls the transport module according to said change in position of the article detected by the detection system; wherein the transport belts comprise vertical profiles for keeping the articles on the transport units during their movements on the sorting device;
the device further comprising monitoring and control pieces of equipment for detecting the position of the vertical profiles and positioning the belts before the loading station and during the loading of the articles in order to place the articles between vertical profiles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. An article sorting method comprising the following steps:
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providing a device for sorting articles, the device comprising; at least one loading station for automatically loading the articles, wherein each loading station comprises (i) at least one transport module for transporting the articles and (ii) a detection system to determine the position, shape, and size of the articles; a set of cross-belt transport units, each cross-belt transport unit providing a supporting surface area for articles; a supporting plate positioned between two adjacent transport units to permanently ensure continuity of a supporting surface between said two adjacent transport units over a width substantially equal to the supporting surface areas of the cross-belts; and a control system for the at least one transport module; wherein each loading station transfers the articles towards one or several of the transport units;
wherein the detection system detects a change in position of an article on the transport module during an acceleration phase of the transport module for transferring the article on one or several transport units;
wherein the control system controls the transport module according to said change in position of the article detected by the detection system;
wherein the transport belts comprise vertical profiles for keeping the articles on the transport units during their movements on the sorting device;detecting, with the detection system, a change in position of the article on the transport module during the acceleration phase of the transport module for transferring the article onto one or several transport units; controlling, with the control system, the transport module according to the detected change in position of an article; and pre-positioning the belts equipped with vertical profiles before the loading station and moving the belts during the transfer of the articles onto the transport units to place the articles between vertical profiles when they are found on the transport unit. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification