Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WO 99/17075 PCTISE98/01730
A DEVICE FOR SIZE CHECK OF LUGGAGE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
The present invention is related to a device for site check of
luggage.
The device may be applied at all places where the size of the
luggage is an important pararneter_ The device is therefore
especially applicable where the storage space of an object, for
example a vehicle, a boat or an aircraft, is limited. The device is
especially applicable for size check of hand luggage intended to
be brought into an aircraft_
The airline companies have regulations regarding the maximum
allowed size and/or weight of hand luggage. The size limitation
is in some cases defined in that the hand luggage has to fit
under a seat for the traveller in question, or in a space for hand
luggage, said space being situated above the position of the
seat.
Such an indefinite limitation might lead to discussions regarding
the exact allowable size of the hand luggage that may be
brought into the aircraft by the traveller. It could be unpleasant
for the control crew to refuse a traveller with a suspiciously
large hand luggage to pass.
A hand luggage spacing located above the seats is often intend-
ed for housing hand luggage for several travellers. This results
in the traveller getting to the spacing first might fill up the com-
plate spacing with his own hand luggage, which results in that
the other travellers, who also were to place their hand luggage
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2
into said spacing, will have to place their hand luggage in other _
places, for example under the seat. It might get crowded in the '.
aircraft if also these travellers should bring a larger hand
luggage than allow~d, which results in difficulties both for the '
cabin crew and for the travellers to move around.
Housing luggage in the cabin without fastening it properly is a
safety risk. Non-fastened luggage might be displaced in the
cabin when the aircraft banks yr is brought to make sudden
changes in the height direction, for example due to air pockets.
This safety risk increases with an increasing amount of luggage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a device for size check
of luggage, which eliminates the above mentioned dlsadvant-
ages.
This object is achieved by the invention in that the device
comprises a passage, which the luggage is to pass through, the
passage being delimited by delimiting means in order to put an
upper limit on the size of the luggage regarding the height and
width thereof, the delimiting means comprising a first delimiting
portion forming a base portion for delimiting the passage down-
wards, a second delimiting portion forming an upper portion for
delimiting the passage upwards, and third delimiting portions
forming side wall portions for delimiting the passage sideways.
The inventive passage involves an easy and safe method to de-
termine whether a specific piece of luggage has a size below the
upper size limit or not_ The piece of luggage is approved regard- ,
ing the height and width thereof if it can be brought through the
passage. It is however not approved if it cannot be brought to
pass through the passage and should then be treated in some
other way. tn the case of hand luggage, a non-approved piece of
luggage will thus not be possible to be brought into the aircraft
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as hand luggage. but may instead be labelled for storage in the
ordinary aircraft storage space.
The inventive device has means for delimiting the allowed
luggage length to a set value in order to achieve a maximum
three~dimensional luggage size. According to a preferred em-
bodiment, a sensor arrangement utilising a non-contact sensing
method may be used for delimiting the size of the luggage in the
longitudinal direction. According to a preferred embodiment, the
sensor arrangement ut;llses a suitable radiation, for example
electromagnetic radiation, such as light. It is, how~ver, also
within the scope the inventive Claims that the sensing operation
regarding whether the actual length of the luggage exceeds a
maximum allowed length value or not, is performed with the aid
of other types of sensor arrangements, for example arrange-
ments based on mechanics. It is, for example, possible to ar-
range fingers in a suitable distribution along the luggage and
movable towards the same in such a way that information re-
garding approval or non-approval of the luggage length may be
2Q achieved by registering whether the fingers contact the luggage
or not. Other types of sensor arrangements may also be of in-
terest, such as pneumatical arrangements. The above mention-
ed radiation could be formed by one or a plurality of air jets
located in such a way that information regarding the length of
the luggage is obtained by registering whether said jet or jets hit
the piece of luggage or not.
Generally, it is established that the inventive device makes it
possible to easily and effectively control whether the luggage
has the allowed size yr not. This Implies that personnel respons-
ible for the luggage check do not need to carry out any sub-
jective estimations of the luggage size. The inventive device
may instead be used for providing an objective estimation. This
is of particular interest at the size check of hand luggage for
airlines. .
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
With reference to the appended drawing, a more specific dis
closure of embodiment examples of the invention wilt follow
hereinafter:
Flg. ~ illustrates a perspective view of a first preferred embodi-
ment of the inventive device.
Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the first preferred embodiment of
the invention, with a piece of luggage indicated by dotted
lines in the device.
Fig. 3 illustrates a partly cut front view according to fig. 2,
rotated 90° in relation to the view in fig. 2
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first preferred embodi-
ment of the inventive device. The device has means for delimit-
ing a three-dimensional space, which corresponds to the maxi-
mum allowed size of th~ luggage. The delimiting means delimits
the space in three mutually perpendicular directions. In the ver-
tical direction, the space is delimited downwards by a base por-
tion 1 and upwards by an upper portion 2. The space is delimit-
ed sideways by two wall portions 3, 4 arranged on opposit~
sides of the base portion 1. The wall portions 3, 4 are arranged
in parallel with each other, the base portion 1 and the upper por-
tion 2 also being arranged in parallel with each other, and the
wall portions 3, 4 being arranged in a substantially perpen,
dicular angle in relation to the base portion 1 and the upper por-
tion 2 in order to obtain a parallelepipedical space. A passage
S, according to fig. 1, formed running through the device for
bringing luggage to and from the space delimited by the de-
limiting means.
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The delimitation of the space in the longitudinal direction thereof
is achieved by means of a sensor arrangement comprising two
sensor elements 5, 6 spaced in th~ longitudinal direction of the
space, and a central processing unit arranged in contact with
the sensor elements 5, 6. The device also comprises a signal ar-
rangement 7 arranged in contact with the sensor arrangement,
The signal arrangement is arranged in such a way that it sends
a signal when the extension of the luggage is longer than the
maximum allowed length in a direction controlled by the sensor
arrangement.
The size of the luggage may thereby be controlled in three
substantially perpendicular directions. The luggage is intended
to be brought into the passage and to the space through a first
opening 8 of the device. The luggage should further be brought
through the space and out through a second opening 9 of the
device. The sensor arrangement according to the first preferred
embodiment of the invention operates in such a way that the
respective sensor element 5, 6 forms an optic delimination line
for delimiting the three-dimensional space in the longitudinal
direction thereof. The sensor elements 5, 6 are arranged in the
wall portion 4 and operate both as senders and receivers of a
light beam, reflected at the opposite wall portion 3. A signal is
sent to the central processing unit when the light beam is re-
fracted by an object, for example a piece of luggage. The control
of the extension of the luggage in the longitudinal direction of
the space takes place in that the luggage brought through the
opening 8 and towards the opening 9 will refract the light beam
radiated by the sensor element 6 when a first portion of the
luggage is brought out of the space. The sensor ~lement 6
sends a signal to the central processing unit which controls
whether the light beam radiated from the sensor element 5 is
non-refracted. If it is non-refracted, the length of the luggage is
within the maximum allowed value in the longitudinal direction of
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the control space, and the luggage is approved for further trans-
port as hand luggage. 1f, however, both light beams radiated
from the sensor elements 5, 6 are refracted at the same time,
the luggage length is longer than allowed. The central process- -
ing unit wilt then react and contact the signal arrangement.
Thus, the distance between the sensor elements 5, 6 corre-
sponds to the maximum allowed length of the luggage in the
longitudinal direction of the space.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the inventive
device, the control of the extension of the luggage in the height
direction and the lateral direction of the space is effected by the
base portion 1 and the upper portion 2, and by the two wall por-
tions 3, 4. If the luggage, for example has a larger extension in
't5 the lateral direction of the space, than tha distance between the
side walls 3, 4, the luggage will not be possible to be moved
through the opening 8 of the device. Suitably, personnel are
present at the size check of the luggage in order to control that
travellers cannot pass the size check with hand luggage of a
larger size than allowed without the luggage being sire checked
with aid of the device.
Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the inventive device according to
the first preferred embodiment. A piece of luggage 10 is in-
dicated by dotted lines inside the device. The piece of luggage
has an extension in the height direction and the lateral direction,
substantially corresponding to the maximum allow~d extensions
in these directions. The upper portion 2 has an opening 11 ex-
tending in the direction of the passage. The luggage 10 is in-
tended to be brought through the passage by a force applied on
a handle 12, or a strap, extending through the opening 11. The
piece of luggage 10 may also be supported by th~ base portion
1 during the movement through the passage. Normally, the tra-
veller moves the piece of luggage through the passage by carry-
ing it at a distance from the base portion.
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Fig. 3 illustrates a partly cut front view of the inventive device
according to the first preferred embodiment. Fig. 3 illustrates the
sensor elements 5, 6 spaced in the longitudinal direction of the
space. The piece of luggage 10 is indicated by dotted lines in
fig. 3 and has an extension in said longitudinal direction exceed-
ing the distance between the sensor elements 5, 6 and the
length of the piece of luggage, therefore, exceeds the maximum
allowed length.
The three-dimensional space corresponding to the maximum
allowed luggage size has a substantially parallelepipedic shape
according to a first preferred embodiment. The shape of the
space may however, within the frame of the inventive claims,
differ from a parallelepipedic shape. The device rnay. for ex-
ampt~, be formed in such a way that the shape of the three-
dimensional space corresponds to a spacing for hand luggage,
said spacing normally being located above the seats arranged in
the cabin of an aircraft.
According to a second preferred embodiment of tlne sensor
arrangement, two pairs of sensor elements arranged a~t each
end of the space in the longitudinal direction thereof being in
contact with each other. A first sensor element in each of the
sensor element pairs is arranged in one of the wall portions, and
a second sensor element in each of the pairs of sensor elements
is arranged in the other wall portion. One of the sensor elements
operates as a sender and the other sensor element operates as
a receiver. The sensor element operating as a sender may
thereby be a light source, and the sensor element operating as a
receiver may be light sensitive and arranged to react when it is
supplied with light or when a supply of light is interrupted.
The sensor arrangement may within the frame of the inventive
claims be formed in a plurality of different ways. According to a
third preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sensor
elements are arranged, preferably in a line, in the direction of
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the passage, on both side walls 3, 4, the sensor elements
forming a plurality of sensor element pairs. The two lines of
sensor elements are arranged substantially opposite each other.
The length of these two lines of sensor elements is preferably
larger than the maximum allowed length of the piece of luggage
in the longitudinal direction thereof. It is, thereby, easy to
measure the length of the piece of luggage in the longitudinal di-
rection of the space by placing it between the two lines of
sensor elements. The central processing unit registers the num~
bar of interrupted light beams between the sensor element lines.
The accuracy of the measurement increases with the number of
sensor elements. The sensor elements in one of the lines of
sensor elements operate as senders and the sensor elements in
the other line of sensor elements operate as receivers. It is, by
arranging the central processing unit in connection with the
signal arrangement, possible to generate a signal when the
length of the piece of luggage in the longitudinal direction of the
space exceeds the maximum allowed length in this direction.
The sensor elements are preferably formed by photoelectric
cells.
Each of the delimiting means described above in the form of a
base portion. an upper portion and wall portions form a delimit-
ing plane for the space. These delimiting means are continuous,
but it is also within the frame of the inventive claims to arrange
such delimiting means intermittent, such as a delimiting means
in the form of a grid structure.
According to a second preferred embodiment of the inventive
device, it has a wall portion delimiting the space in the longitu-
dinal direction. Such a wall portion is preferably arranged so
that it may be arranged in two different conditions, namely an
active condition preventing luggage from being brought out from
the space through the opening 9, and en inactive condition
allowing luggage to be brought out through the opening 9. Such
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a wall portion may, for example, be fellably, or pivotably ar-
ranged between these two conditions. The pivota~biiity may, for
example, be achieved by a hinge joint. It is thereby possible to
control the length of the piece of luggage in the longitudinal
direction of the space by means of such a further wall portion in
accordance with the following text:
The further wall portion is arranged in the active condition and a
piece of Luggage is brought into the space to a position contact-
ing said wall portion. The sensor arrangement senses thereafter
whether the length of the piece of luggage is larger than allowed
by means of a sensor element arranged in a position opposite
said wall portion in the longitudinal direction of the space. Said
wall portion is brought into the inactive condition if the piece of
luggage does not refract the light beam of the sensor element
located at a distance corresponding to the maximum allowed
length of the piece of luggage from said wall portion in the
longitudinal direction of the space, and the piece of luggage is
moved through the opening 9 and out of the space. Such a
2o further wall portion is preferably connected to the central pro-
cessing unit so that the central processing unit controls the dis-
placement of the wall portion between the active condition and
the inactive condition,
According to a third preferred embodiment of the inventive devi-
ce, it comprises an arrangement for moving luggage. The mov-
ing arrangement preferably comprises a conveyor delimiting the
space downwards. The length of such a conveyor in the direc-
tion of the passage is preferably longer than the length of the
3D space in this direction. A piece of luggage for size check is lo-
cated onto the conveyor and the piece of luggage is moved
through the opening 8 and into the space when the conveyor
moves. An upper portion forming the delimiting means in an up-
wards direction of the space may be formed in one piece if such
a conveyer is present. The opening 11 through the upper portion
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2, according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention,
is therefore not necessary.
It is, of course, within the frame of the inventive claims to delimit
the space in other directions than the longitudinal direction by
means of the sensor arrangement. The device may for example
be arranged with sensor elements delimiting the extension of the
space upwards. The sensor element will react if a piece of
luggage is located on, or moved along the base portion 1, if the
piece of luggage extends longer than the maximum allowed ex
tension in the height direction, i.e. the distance between the
base portion and the sensor element/-s. It is also within the
frame of the inventive claims to replace one of the wall portions
or both of them with sensor elements forming an optical delimi
tation of the space.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the inventive
device, it also comprises an arrangement for measuring the
weight of the luggage. Such a measuring arrangement is pre-
ferably arranged in the base portion of the device. The measur-
ing arrangement may however also be arranged in an upper part
of the device. A piece of luggage may thereby be controlled
regarding both the size and weight thereof_
The device has preferably a converging portion at the opening 8
in order to facilitate insertion of a piece of luggage into the
device.
It should be noted that the embodiments discussed above and
illustrated in the drawing only are to be regarded as examples_
The invention may thus be realised in different ways within the
inventive concept. It is especially noted that men skilled in the
art after having been presented to the inventive solution, of
course, are capable of making modifications of the exemplifying
embodiments without leaving the frame of the inventive claims.
