Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Brixius
Wolfgang Brixius has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 7131523Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport luggage transport system, and guide means for a transport system of this type, for transporting individual items, are disclosed. The items are transported along a transport path with at least one straight section, with support elements for supporting a bottom side of the containers. The bottom side of the containers includes at least one straight guiding element in the form of a groove-shaped recess extending in a transport direction and having two opposing side faces. To accurately and securely guide the containers, guiding means with lateral guiding rollers engage with the side faces of the groove-shaped recesses.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2004Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 7104387Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport luggage transport system, is disclosed that moves containers with individual items along a transport path. The system includes at least one support element that supports a bottom side of the containers along the transport path, guiding means, and loading and unloading means as well as a motion link located next to the passing containers. A pinwheel rotatably supported on the container has pins adapted to engage with the motion link. An endless conveyor belt revolves transversely to the transport direction and is driven by the pinwheel, whereby an upper belt section of the endless conveyor belt forms a support surface for the containers. The bottom side of the containers includes at least one groove-shaped recess oriented in the transport direction that engages with the guiding means at least at the loading and unloading location.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 7092788Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport baggage handling system, includes a container for receiving an article, a sensor assembly including an inductive sensor for monitoring a transport of the container along a transport path, and a screening device for completely scanning the article within the container together with the container. The container is provided with a marking in the form of a doped zone or a metal element so attached to the container body as to pass the sensor assembly in its response range for detection of the container. The container body is hereby constructed to allow scanning of the article together with the container body.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2004Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Graefer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 7048109Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport baggage handling system, includes a container having an underside formed with a grooved recess which defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, as viewed in a transport direction of the container. The transport system has at least one incline conveyor which is constructed to define a convexly curved transport path for transporting the container through engagement of the grooved recess, whereby the incline conveyor supports only the leading and trailing edges of the recess of the container, as the container is moved in the transport direction. This ensures a stable travel of the container along the convexly curved transport path.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 7040477Abstract: A transport system for transport of containers has a switch with an entry zone, an exit zone with at least two different transport paths for conveying a container, and a switch mechanism for selectively controlling the transport of the container to the transport paths. During their travel, the containers are supported by a support assembly, and aligned and advanced in a controlled manner in the entry zone by an alignment and propulsion mechanism. A propulsion and guide assembly in the exit zone is rendered operative in response to a transport of the container along the transport paths and includes at least two modules which respectively cooperate with the transport paths and are disposed in the exit zone below the plane of the support assembly. The modules are hereby so controlled that only the one of the modules is raised into a plane above the plane of the support assembly, when the container is transported along the associated transport path.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 7025195Abstract: A conveyor system for transport of containers, in particular an airport baggage handling system, includes a conveyor having a curved transport path with one end defining an entry zone and another end defining an exit zone. The containers are moved by a container propulsion mechanism along the curved transport path between the entry and exit zones, wherein the curved transport path is constructed for movement of the containers in an inwardly inclined disposition for reducing centrifugal forces.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 7014034Abstract: A container transport system for transport of an article, in particular a baggage item, includes a container for receiving an article, with the container made of flame-resistant, wear-resistant and translucent plastic material which is stable in shape. The container has an underside which is formed with touch surfaces extending in a transport direction by which the container is advanced by a conveyor between a receiving end and a discharge end. The conveyor is provided with a guiding and/or driving engagement assembly for cooperation with the touch surfaces of the container.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene, Andreas Syndikus
-
Patent number: 7016768Abstract: A system and method is described for transporting articles, in particular for transporting container holding baggage pieces. At least two endless conveyor belts are sequentially arranged to define an upstream conveyor belt and a downstream conveyor belt for transport of articles in a transport direction from the upstream conveyor belt to the downstream conveyor belt. The conveyor belts are driven by drive-motors, in particular asynchronous motors, with the rotation speed of each drive motor being regulated depending on the weight of the articles located on the conveyor belt associated with the particular drive motor. The drive motors can be controlled by adjusting the frequency and/or voltage of the supplied electric power.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene, Wolfgang Brixius
-
Patent number: 7004301Abstract: A transport system for advancing containers includes a curve section for defining a curved transport path which is defined by a curve radius, and a driving and guiding assembly for advancing and guiding a container along the transport path. The driving and guiding assembly has support elements, which support the underside of the container, and is constructed to bear upon at least one of the sidewalls, at least along portions thereof, in a force-locking or form-fitting manner for propulsion of the container. The container has an underside formed with two longitudinal sidewalls extending mirror-symmetrically and curved outwardly or inwardly at a radius, which corresponds to the curve radius, such that a distance between the sidewalls is at a maximum or minimum in mid-section of the sidewalls.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 6976573Abstract: A transport system for articles includes an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor, and an elevator having an elevator conveyor and movable in a vertical direction between a lower end position in which the elevator conveyor is in alignment with the lower conveyor, and an upper end position in which the elevator conveyor is in alignment with the upper conveyor. The transfer of the articles between the conveyors and the elevator conveyor is controlled by a control unit which cooperates with a signaling assembly including a first signaling member associated to one plane for indicating that the elevator has reached an upper trigger position during movement from the lower end position to the upper end position, and a second signaling member associated to the other plane for indicating that the elevator has reached a lower trigger position during movement from the upper end position to the lower end position.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2003Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 6910570Abstract: A container transport system includes a first conveyor assembly at one transport plane, and a second conveyor assembly at another transport plane, and a transfer device for moving the containers between the conveyor assemblies. Each of the conveyor assemblies has a split conveyor to define a gap, and a further conveyor movable between a first position bridging the gap and a second position in which the further conveyor is moved outwardly transversely to the transport direction. The transfer device includes a convex portion disposed in proximity of one transport plane and a concave portion which can swing into the other transport plane. The container has a bottom underside formed in transport direction with at least one grooved recess which defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, as viewed in transport direction, with the convex and concave portions engaging only the leading and trailing edges of the container, as the container is moved between the transport planes.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 6897625Abstract: A conveyor system for transported goods which are transported with a preset transport speed and method for operating the conveyor system are described. The individual conveyers of the system are driven by asynchronous motors. Sensors associated with the conveyors measure the actual transport speed of the transported goods on conveyors to determine the dependence of the actual transport speed on the load, such as the weight of the transported goods. A controller adjusts the speed of the conveyors based on the signals received from the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene, Gerhard Hoffmann, Rainer Junk, Günther Spitzer, Friedrich Trautner
-
Publication number: 20050072653Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport luggage transport system, is disclosed that moves containers with individual items along a transport path. The system includes at least one support element that supports a bottom side of the containers along the transport path, guiding means, and loading and unloading means as well as a motion link located next to the passing containers. A pinwheel rotatably supported on the container has pins adapted to engage with the motion link. An endless conveyor belt revolves transversely to the transport direction and is driven by the pinwheel, whereby an upper belt section of the endless conveyor belt forms a support surface for the containers. The bottom side of the containers includes at least one groove-shaped recess oriented in the transport direction that engages with the guiding means at least at the loading and unloading location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2004Publication date: April 7, 2005Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Publication number: 20050061613Abstract: A container transport system includes a first conveyor assembly at one transport plane, and a second conveyor assembly at another transport plane, and a transfer device for moving the containers between the conveyor assemblies. Each of the conveyor assemblies has a split conveyor to define a gap, and a further conveyor movable between a first position bridging the gap and a second position in which the further conveyor is moved outwardly transversely to the transport direction. The transfer device includes a convex portion disposed in proximity of one transport plane and a concave portion which can swing into the other transport plane. The container has a bottom underside formed in transport direction with at least one grooved recess which defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, as viewed in transport direction, with the convex and concave portions engaging only the leading and trailing edges of the container, as the container is moved between the transport planes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Publication number: 20050065642Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport luggage transport system and a controller for the transport system are described. The transport system transports items to a predetermined destination on predefined transport routes via several branching locations. A master controller sets for each transported item a destination and a transport route, which are processed by one or more slave controllers. Each transported item is given an identification number that is identified by the slave controller. The master controller provides to the slave controller the destination associated with each identification number and associates with each destination at the branching locations a forwarding direction. Forwarding is processed by the slave controller without an interrogation of the master controller, based on the preset association at the branching locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Bernhard Falkner, Andreas Gerle, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene, Gerhard Hoffmann, Rainer Junk, Klaus-Peter Schwarzbach, Gojko Valencic, Roland Ziegler
-
Publication number: 20050056528Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport luggage transport system, and guide means for a transport system of this type, for transporting individual items, are disclosed. The items are transported along a transport path with at least one straight section, with support elements for supporting a bottom side of the containers. The bottom side of the containers includes at least one straight guiding element in the form of a groove-shaped recess extending in a transport direction and having two opposing side faces. To accurately and securely guide the containers, guiding means with lateral guiding rollers engage with the side faces of the groove-shaped recesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2004Publication date: March 17, 2005Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Patent number: 6860377Abstract: A transport system for cargo containers includes at least two spaced-apart conveyors for transporting a cargo container in conveying direction along a substantially horizontal transport path, wherein at least one conveyor is driven. Disposed to the side of the other conveyor is an unloading device for discharging the cargo by tilting the container. The unloading device includes a track with a looped section, and a plurality of couplers constructed for engagement with the containers at a leading end of the looped section, as viewed in conveying direction, and for disengagement from the containers at a trailing end of the looped section. The looped section is spatially configured to tilt the container as a one of the couplers engages the oncoming container on one side adjacent the other conveyor and is guided along the track.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2003Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Publication number: 20040245075Abstract: A transport system, in particular airport baggage handling system, for transport of containers with articles, in particular bags, includes a discharge unit for unloading a container which supports an article and defines a longitudinal axis. The discharge unit includes a curve section to define a curved transport path, and an engagement assembly for guiding and moving the container at a desired speed. The engagement assembly is constructed to move the container along the curved transport path at a transport speed by which the article is forced outwards as a result of centrifugal forces so that the article spontaneously slides from the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Publication number: 20040238332Abstract: A transport system, in particular an airport baggage handling system, includes a container having an underside formed with a grooved recess which defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, as viewed in a transport direction of the container. The transport system has at least one incline conveyor which is constructed to define a convexly curved transport path for transporting the container through engagement of the grooved recess, whereby the incline conveyor supports only the leading and trailing edges of the recess of the container, as the container is moved in the transport direction. This ensures a stable travel of the container along the convexly curved transport path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene
-
Publication number: 20040226803Abstract: A transport system for containers includes an infeed conveyor and an ouffeed conveyor at an angle to one another. A corner transfer unit is placed between the infeed and ouffeed conveyors and has a transfer conveyor extending in transport direction of the ouffeed conveyor and defining a transport plane which is lower than the transport plane of the infeed conveyor. An endless conveyor belt is disposed in an area of the transfer conveyor and is provided with a thickened area for compensating a distance between the transport planes of the infeed conveyor and the transfer conveyor to enable a movement of the container from the infeed conveyor onto the transfer conveyor as the container rests on the thickened area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Grafer, Albrecht Hoene