Abstract: The invention provides a chute system (C1,C2,C3) for a sorting system arranged for transporting objects, e.g. for use for discharging luggage from a conveyor system. The chute system has one or more chute sections with an inlet (IL) in one end and an outlet (OL) in the opposite end. Displacement means, e.g. a pneumatic actuator, is arranged to adjust an angle of inclination of the one or more chute sections (C1,C2,C3) by displacing the chute section (C1,C2,C3) in a motion comprising pivoting around a pivot point positioned downstream of the inlet (IL). E.G. the pivot point can be positioned at the outlet, e.g. by means of a hinge. The adjustment of the angle of inclination may be controlled by a processor in response to various position and/or speed sensors and/or information about incoming objects from a vision based system or from the associated sorting system, e.g. identification of poly wrapped objects.

Abstract: A device 202 for servicing and/or inspection of a material handling system 204 is disclosed, which device provides safer, less time consuming and less difficult service and/or inspection of the material handling system 204 than other devices. The device 202 is adapted to be moved along a track 214 of the material handling system and adapted for servicing and/or inspection of the material handling system or components thereof positioned on or adjacent to the track 214. The device includes at least one section, such as a hatch and/or a sliding bearing surface 216, 602, 706, 708, 710, 902, 1002, displaceable between a first and a second position, where the section positioned in the second position is enabling a person of accessing parts of the material handling system which are moving relatively to the device during movement of the device or during operation of the material handling system.

Abstract: An example of an aim with the disclosed method and system may be seen to provide a method and system which does not require more square meters of footprint than existing solutions or even requires less square meters of footprint, while still being as effective as, or even more effective than reference methods and systems. The handling system comprises a moveable unit 101 adapted to move linearly in a travelling direction 406 of said moveable unit, where the moveable unit comprises a loading device 100 adapted to load one or more objects 102 at a time into or onto the airport trolley by activation of the loading device 100.

Abstract: In order e.g. to provide a more efficient cross-belt sorting system there is among others disclosed a cross-belt sorting system 102 for side by side items 808 in which system items are loaded onto their side by side position on a cross-belt by one or more top-load loading stations 106, 108 in response to an identification of the items.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of handling a variety of objects of different size, shape and weight, where each object is to be transported to a specific destination, where the transportation involves transportation on a conveyor system (4) and discharge from the conveyor system (4) to at least one intermediate elongate storage device (5-10), the method comprising the steps of determining desired position of an object on the intermediate elongate storage device (5-10) and discharging the object with one of at least two speed levels in the longitudinal direction of the storage device (5-10) that allows the object to reach the desired position. The invention further relates to a handling system for performing the method as well as a control system for controlling such system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise an even or an uneven number of permanent magnets arranged on a plate-like carrier. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form arrow of magnets with alternating polarity, said row having two neighboring magnets. At least one of the two neighboring magnets has a reduced dimension in the transport direction, and the two neighboring magnets are situated at a transition between adjacent carts.

Abstract: A device 202 for servicing and/or inspection of a material handling system 204 is disclosed, which device provides safer, less time consuming and less difficult service and/or inspection of the material handling system 204 than other devices. The device 202 is adapted to be moved along a track 214 of the material handling system and adapted for servicing and/or inspection of the material handling system or components thereof positioned on or adjacent to the track 214. The device includes at least one section, such as a hatch and/or a sliding bearing surface 216, 602, 706, 708, 710, 902, 1002, displaceable between a first and a second position, where the section positioned in the second position is enabling a person of accessing parts of the material handling system which are moving relatively to the device during movement of the device or during operation of the material handling system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Accordingly, embodiments include an improved sorting system that provides an improved energy utilization and efficiency. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise a number of permanent magnets arranged on a carrier plate. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form a row of magnets with constant pitch and alternating polarity, said row having an interruption situated at a transition between adjacent carts. A maximum number of coils in the stator may thereby be active at the same time, when driving the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Accordingly, embodiments include an improved sorting system that provides an improved energy utilization and efficiency. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise a number of permanent magnets arranged on a plate-like carrier. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form a row of magnets with constant pitch and alternating polarity, said row having an interruption situated at a transition between adjacent carts. A maximum number of coils in the stator may thereby be active at the same time, when driving the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention is a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts and comprise an uneven number of permanent magnets arranged on a carrier plate. The magnets on the reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form a row of magnets with constant pitch and alternating polarity. The row of magnets has an interruption situated at a transition between adjacent carts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise an even or an uneven number of permanent magnets arranged on a plate-like carrier. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form arrow of magnets with alternating polarity, said row having two neighbouring magnets. At least one of the two neighbouring magnets has a reduced dimension in the transport direction, and the two neighbouring magnets are situated at a transition between adjacent carts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sorting system including a conveyor comprising a plurality of carts for carrying articles, in particular for sorting articles such as parcels and baggage. The conveyor has a linear synchronous motor drive system with stators arranged along a track which the carts follow. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sorting system as well as to provide a sorting system with improved energy utilisation and efficiency. Reaction elements are mounted on each of the carts. The reaction elements each comprise an uneven number of permanent magnets arranged on a plate-like carrier. The magnets on reaction elements of adjacent carts are arranged to form arrow of magnets with constant pitch and alternating polarity said row having an interruption situated at a transition between adjacent carts. A maximum number of coils in the stator may thereby be active at the same time, when driving the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to automated handling of baggage objects of variable sizes, shapes and consistencies, including baggage in an airport. The invention involves measuring at least length in two directions of the objects while supported on a conveyor means, turning selected objects in an angle according to a selection in response to the measured lengths in relation to a predetermined value, and transferring objects to a storage device to collect a plurality of objects, and preferably while the objects are supported on a conveyor means. The selection in response to at least one predetermined value provides one basis for deciding whether to turn the objects before the objects are transferred to the storage device. This facilitates automatic transfer of baggage objects without manual intervention.

Abstract: The invention relates to automated handling of baggage objects of variable sizes, shapes and consistencies, including baggage in an airport. The invention involves measuring at least length in two directions of the objects while supported on conveyor means, turning selected objects in an angle according to a selection in response to the measured lengths in relation to a predetermined value, and transferring objects to a storage device to collect a plurality of objects, and preferably while said objects are supported on conveyor means. The selection in response to at least one predetermined value provides one basis for deciding whether to turn the objects before the objects are transferred to the storage device. This facilitates automatic transfer of baggage objects without manual intervention.

Abstract: A conveyor transports lightweight articles with a high degree of adaptability to the space it can occupy and the path along which the conveyor units can travel. The track of the conveyor has curving track sections connecting main track sections which may reside in different vertical levels. The conveyor units are pivotally connected to the carrier means so as to allow the conveyor unit to pivot relatively to endless carrier, such as a chain. Means for counteracting or preventing article-supporting members from tilting from their position relative to the horizontal plane are provided.

Abstract: An inductive energy transfer system supplies energy from a stationary primary rail to a number of movable secondary rails each connected to a movable unit. The system is particularly suited for conveyor units of a sorter system, each unit having an article support, the energy provided from the energy transfer system being used primarily for discharging articles from the article-support. The primary rail as well as the secondary rails are provided with legs so that the legs in an operational position are overlapping so as to reduce the losses caused by the air gap between the primary rail and the secondary rails. The movable units are each equipped with an electrical battery for smoothing the load from the movable unit on the primary side of the transfer system.

Abstract: A conveyor transports lightweight articles with a high degree of adaptability to the space it can occupy and the path along which the conveyor units can travel. The track of the conveyor has curving track sections connecting straight track sections having opposite transport directions and the individual conveyor unit comprises guide members that engage with stationary guides to prevent the article supporting member of the unit from tilting when passing straight as well as curving track sections. The article supporting members of the units are arranged between the main track and the stationary guides when the units are moving along the curving main track section. In particular, each unit may have first and second guiding members to prevent tilting of the article supporting member at curving and straight track sections, respectively, and both guiding members co-operate with their respective guides over a certain distance when the unit enters and leaves a curving track section.

Abstract: In a sorting system for flight luggage it it well known to put individual pieces of luggage in totes (4) which are entered onto a conveyor with sideways tiltable carrying platforms (2), whereby the pieces of luggage may be selectively unloaded from the totes at their destinations (D1,D2) or at a storage unit (W) where the totes are released and stored with their content for later re-introduciton into the sorting system. This known art has required a particular construction of the sorting conveyor with a large-angle tilt and a complex mechanism for releasibly holding the totes. According to the invention the totes have upper surfaces (8) which are of a concave shape in order that the pieces of goods may be slid off the totes while secured, at the same moderate angle required for the sliding-off at the storage unit. Hence the conveyor itself may be quite conventional, at the same time as the holding mechanism may be limited to mere retractable flanges (14) on the sides of the carrying platform.