Loading bridge for air cargo loading

• US 6,659,704 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takasu, Toru, Fukuhara, Yugo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US10/132,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20020164236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 414/502, 414/503, 414/398, 414/393, 244/137.1, 14/715, 198/457.07
• US Class Current: 414/398
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/3055 with hinged head interface between aircraft and passenger bridge

Abstract

In the conventional air cargo transportation system, the transportation of the cargo that is stored inside of the airport terminal building, to the area of the loading/unloading door is normally performed using the package/cargo carts. However, numerous workers were needed to load the cargo and drive the carts, which is very labor intensive and entails high manpower costs. The conventional system is also dangerous as they move along the complex tarmac markings. To solve these problems, this invention discloses a loading bridge which employs a cargo conveyor line comprising a transport means such as a conveyer, which can be extended or retracted, that connects with a rotunda extending from the airport terminal building; a cargo conveyor junction having a means to change the direction of the cargo conveyance by rotating the conveyor surface or changing its angle to alter the direction of the cargo conveyance to match the next conveyor line; and another cargo conveyor line to reach the cargo loading/unloading door of the aircraft, to thereby enable the automated conveyance of cargo for the aircraft from the airport terminal cargo holding area to the cargo door of the aircraft to eliminate the possibility of equipment collisions, to reduce manpower costs, and to shorten the time required for loading the aircraft.

Claims

1. A loading bridge for conveying air cargo that connects an airport terminal with a cargo loading/unloading door of an aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of cargo conveyor lines, at least one of which is extendable and retractable; and

a cargo conveyor junction that joins said plurality of cargo conveyor lines, which by rotating a conveying surface or by changing the angle of the surface, diverts the conveying direction of the cargo riding on said cargo conveyor line from one cargo conveyor line to a designated one of said plurality of cargo conveyor lines;

wherein

said cargo conveyor junction is round shaped, and comprises a carousel having a plurality of cargo loading carousel plates which move in a circular path, and said carousel receives cargo from said cargo conveyor line and places the cargo on said cargo loading carousel plates moving in a circular path, and forwards the cargo to the designated cargo conveyor line.

2. An air cargo conveying loading bridge according to claim 1, wherein said cargo conveyor junction comprises a transport unit having a cargo transport conveyor belt which is rotatable, and a control mechanism which can rotate said transport unit and stop said unit at a point at which said diverted conveying direction of said transport unit matches a conveying direction of said designated cargo conveyor line.

3. An air cargo conveying loading bridge according claim 1, wherein

one end of said loading bridge connects to the airport terminal and the other end reaches the cargo loading/unloading door of the aircraft to thereby enable the cargo to be transported from the airport terminal to the cargo loading/unloading door of the aircraft.

4. An air cargo conveying loading bridge for conveying air cargo that connects an airport terminal with a cargo loading/unloading door of an aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of cargo conveyor lines, at least one of which is extendable and retractable; and

a cargo conveyor junction that joins said plurality of cargo conveyor lines, which by rotating a conveying surface or by changing the angle of the surface, diverts the conveying direction of the cargo riding on said cargo conveyor line from one cargo conveyor line to a designated one of said plurality of cargo conveyor lines;

wherein

said at least one extendable and retractable cargo conveyor comprises a central conveyor unit having a transport conveyor, and end conveyor units which are slidably joined to said central conveyor unit at each of its ends, and which includes a mechanism that maintains an approximately flat transport surface for the cargo between said end conveyor units and said central conveyor unit.

5. An air cargo conveying loading bridge according to claim 4, wherein

one end of said loading bridge connects to the airport terminal and the other end reaches the cargo loading/unloading door of the aircraft to thereby enable the cargo to be transported from the airport terminal to the cargo loading/unloading door of the aircraft.

6. A loading bridge for conveying air cargo that connects an airport terminal with a cargo loading/unloading door of an aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of cargo conveyor lines, at least one of which is extendable and retractable; and

a cargo conveyor junction that joins said plurality of cargo conveyor lines, which by rotating a conveying surface or by changing the angle of the surface, diverts the conveying direction of the cargo riding on said cargo conveyor line from one cargo conveyor line to a designated one of said plurality of cargo conveyor lines;

wherein

said cargo conveyor junction is round shaped, and comprises a carousel having a plurality of cargo loading carousel plates which move in a circular path, and said carousel receives cargo from said cargo conveyor line and places the cargo on said loading carousel plates moving in a circular path, and forwards the cargo to the designated cargo conveyor line; and

said at least one extendable and retractable cargo conveyor line comprises a central conveyor unit having a transport conveyor, and end conveyor units which are slidably joined to said central conveyor unit at each of its ends, and which includes a mechanism that maintains an approximately flat transport surface for the cargo between said end conveyor units and said central conveyor unit.