Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AIRPORT BAGGAGE ACCUMULATION RACK
HAVING ROTATABLE SHELVES,
AND METHOD FOR HANDLING BAGGAGE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to more efficiently unloading ticketed baggage from a
conveyor onto
a baggage cart for delivery to waiting planes. More particularly this
invention relates to an
intermediate baggage accumulation and discharge rack which minimizes lifting
and speeds
loading onto the baggage cart.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ticketed bags are conveyed from a check-in area, to the departure area of an
airport on
conveyors. These conveyors typically dump onto a closed loop, discharge
conveyor. Baggage
handlers must then individually carry and lift each bag from the discharge
conveyor onto a
baggage cart. The handlers must carry and hand lift the bags to the baggage
cart, and reach
across a few feet to fill a lower row on a far side of the cart before lifting
bags onto the lower row
on the near side of the cart. Then they must similarly lift bags to an upper
row and across the cart
before then lifting bags to the upper row near side of the baggage cart. After
the baggage cart has
been loaded the baggage handlers most frequently must push the loaded cart out
of the way and
position an empty waiting cart before they can finish unloading the discharge
conveyor. Empty
carts may weigh 1800 pounds and loaded carts may weigh more than 5000 pounds.
Loading,
shuffling unloaded and loaded carts, co-ordinating transport, and subsequently
unloading the
baggage cart is a time consuming, labor intensive, injury prone process. The
bags are both bulky
and heavy. Loaders frequently suffer injuries and are off work due to these
injuries.
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Airports are very limited by space as to the number of baggage carts that can
circulate,
and be staged empty around the discharge conveyors. Baggage carts are
typically 5 feet wide by
feet long. If there was sufficient room loaders and drivers would prefer to
stage an adequate
number of empty baggage carts parallel to the discharge conveyors to
completely load all
baggage onto for a given flight. Space limitations in the number of baggage
carts that can be
staged is presently a bottleneck for the airline industry which limits the
throughput of baggage,
and the throughput of planes.
Transporting, individually lifting and loading the bags onto the baggage cart,
co-
ordinating towing the baggage cart to the awaiting aircraft, then rehandling
the bags to load onto
the aircraft is a considerably more time consuming step, than having the
passengers walk onto the
aircraft. It is not unusual for the loaders to be held up while they wait for
a driver, who tows the
loaded carts to an awaiting aircraft, or to remove and replace the loaded cart
with an empty cart.
Passengers often wait for completion of baggage loading prior to departure. If
a more efficient
apparatus or method of moving the bags from the discharge conveyor to the
aircraft could be
devised, then the same passenger gates, at any given airport could turn around
substantially more
flights. What is needed is a baggage rack which eliminates the need for
loaders to substantially
lift the bags, and which can accommodate more bags. What is also needed is a
baggage rack
which eliminates the need to stage carts at the discharge conveyor, and
thereby eliminates the
need to shuffle empty and full carts to and from the discharge conveyor.
Additionally if the
loaded rack could be configured to automatically discharge accumulated bags,
substantial
additional labor and time could be saved.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to disclose a baggage rack having rotatable
shelves which
the baggage handlers could fully load without the need to substantially lift
the bags. It is an
object of this invention to disclose a baggage rack which substantially
reduces baggage handler
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injury and lost working time. It is an object of this invention to disclose a
baggage rack which
can hold substantially more bags so that the need to shuffle both full and
empty carts is
eliminated. It is an object of this invention to disclose a baggage rack which
because of its ability
to hold substantially more bags minimizes baggage loading space requirements
around individual
areas in an airport. It is yet a further object of this invention to disclose
a baggage rack which
because of its ability to be more efficiently loaded, and to hold
substantially more bags,
substantially reduces baggage plane loading time. Traditionally, baggage
loading is not only the
most labor intensive, but also the most space and time consuming process in an
airport.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention, by reducing a historical
bottleneck in airports, to
substantially improve airport efficiency.
One aspect of this invention provides for a rack for loading and accumulating
bags
thereon comprising: a) a frame having a length, a width, opposite ends, and
opposite open faced
long sides; b) a plurality of similarly sized shelves, each shelf carried by,
and generally
extending between the frame ends, and in vertical alignment with another shelf
on a first open
faced long side; c) said frame also carrying similar shelves on the opposite
open faced long side;
d) wherein said shelves are movably carried in tracks and a powered mechanism
is provided
which generally rotatably moves the shelves around the ends of the frame, so
that after a first
shelf positioned on a bottom portion of the first long side is loaded, it can
be moved upwardly,
generally rotating an empty bottom shelf on the opposite side into the bottom
portion position on
the first open faced long side, and generally rotating a top shelf on the
first long side into a top
position on the second long faced side, so that all of the shelves can be
loaded from the bottom
portion position on the first long side; rotatably moving the shelves after
filling each shelf
and, e) wherein the shelves are held and maintained in a horizontal working
position so that a
bag can be first rested on a front shelf portion without the shelf tipping
from its horizontal
position prior to being pushed back fully onto the shelf.
In a preferred aspect of this invention the rack further comprises a shelf
unloading
mechanism centrally positioned within the rack, configured to push the shelf
loaded with bags to
the opposite long side of the rack off the rack; so that all of the shelves
can be discharged
therewith, by rotatably moving all of the shelves after discharging the shelf
on the opposite long
side of the rack.
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4
by rotatably moving all of the shelves after discharging the shelf on the
opposite long side of the
rack.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention each shelf is carried on
a drawer
slide so that when the shelf unloading mechanism pushes on the shelf loaded
with bags, the
sliding shelf initially slides out of, and laterally away from the opposite
long side, thereby
facilitating subsequent drop placement directly beneath and in front of the
extended shelf.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of loading a baggage rack
comprising the steps
of: i. providing a rack for loading and accumulating bags thereon as described
in herein; ii.
positioning the first side of the rack adjacent to a discharge conveyor;
iii. loading bags on the
bottom shelf of the first side of the rack until said shelf is full; iv.
rotating the shelves on the rack
until the shelf on the bottom portion is empty and after rotating, again
filling the shelf on the bottom
portion and, v. repetitively rotating and loading adjacent shelves of the rack
until all shelves of
the rack are filled and/ or bags no longer remain on the closed loop discharge
conveyor.
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4A
In another aspect, there is provided a rack for loading and accumulating bags
thereon comprises: a.
a frame having a length, a width, two frame ends opposite each other, and a
first open faced long side and
a second open faced long side opposite the first open faced long side; b. a
plurality of similarly sized
shelves, each shelf carried by, and generally extending between the two frame
ends, and in vertical
alignment with another shelf on the first open faced long side; c. said frame
also carrying similar shelves
on the second open faced long side; d. wherein said shelves are movably
carried in tracks and a powered
mechanism is provided which generally rotatably moves the shelves around the
two frame ends, so that
after a first shelf positioned on a bottom poi lion of the first open faced
long side is loaded, it can be
moved upwardly, generally rotating an empty bottom shelf on the second open
faced long side into the
bottom portion position on the first open faced long side, and generally
rotating a top shelf on the first
open faced long side into a top position on the second open faced long side,
so that all of the shelves can
be loaded from the bottom portion position on the first open faced long side;
rotatably moving the shelves
after filling each shelf; and, e. wherein the shelves are held and maintained
in a horizontal working
position so that a bag can be first rested on a front shelf portion without
the shelf tipping from its
horizontal position prior to being pushed back fully onto the shelf; f.
further comprising a shelf unloading
mechanism centrally positioned within the rack, configured to push the shelf
loaded with bags to the
second open faced long side of the rack off the rack; so that all of the
shelves can be discharged therewith,
by rotatably moving all of the shelves after discharging the shelf on the
second open faced long side of
the rack; g. wherein each shelf is carried on a drawer slide so that when the
shelf unloading mechanism
pushes on the shelf loaded with bags, the shelf initially slides out of, and
laterally away from the second
open faced long side, thereby facilitating subsequent drop placement directly
beneath and in front of an
extended shelf.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of loading a rack for loading
and accumulating bags
comprising the steps of: i. providing the rack for loading and accumulating
bags thereon as described
herein; ii. positioning a first side of the rack adjacent to a discharge
conveyor; iii. loading bags on a
bottom shelf of the first side of the rack until said shelf is full; iv.
rotating the shelves on the rack until the
shelf on a bottom portion is empty and after rotating, again filling the shelf
on the bottom portion and, v.
repetitively rotating and loading adjacent shelves of the rack until all
shelves of the rack are filled and/ or
bags no longer remain on the discharge conveyor.
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4B
Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become
apparent to
those skilled in the art from the following description in conjunction with
the accompanying
drawings.
FIGURES OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a baggage rack having rotatable shelves.
Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C are perspective views of the rack unloading mechanism.
Figure
2A shows the rack unloading mechanism in a fully retracted position. Figure 2B
shows the rack
unloading mechanism in a fully extended position. Figure 2C shows the rack
unloading
mechanism in a fully extended position wherein the shelf is fully retracted.
Figure 2D is a plan
view of the discharge mechanism in a fully retracted position, as shown in
Figure 2A. Figure 2E
is a plan view of the discharge mechanism in a fully extended position as
shown in Figure 2B.
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Figure 3 is an elevational view of the loaded baggage rack shown in figure 1
better
showing discharge into a baggage cart.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the baggage rack having wheels for transport
when
loaded to a plane.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 on figure 1 showing
the powered
mechanisms which independently move the shelves across each of the four sides
of the rack.
The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific
embodiments of
this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the
same reference
numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It
should be noted that
such discussion and description is not meant to be limiting and that other
embodiments are
possible.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to figure 1 we have a
perspective
view of a baggage rack 20 having rotatable shelves 28. Most generally a rack
20 for loading and
accumulating bags 24 thereon comprising: a) a frame 26 having a length, a
width, opposite ends,
and opposite open faced long sides; b) a plurality of similarly sized shelves
28, each shelf 28
carried by, and generally extending between the frame 26 ends, and in vertical
alignment with
another shelf 28 on a first open faced long side 30; c) said frame 26 also
carrying similar shelves
28 on the opposite open faced long side 32; d) wherein said shelves 28 are
movably carried in
tracks 34 and a powered mechanism 36 is provided which generally rotatably
moves the shelves
28 around the ends of the frame 26. After a first shelf 29 positioned on a
bottom portion of the
first long side 30 is loaded, the shelf 29 can be moved upwardly, generally
rotating an empty
bottom shelf 28 on the opposite side 32 into the bottom portion position on
the first open faced
long side 30, and generally rotating a top shelf 28 on the first long side 30
into a top position on
the second long faced side 32. All of the shelves 28 can be thereby loaded
from the bottom
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position on the first long side 30; rotatably moving the shelves 28 after
filling each shelf 28. It is
particularly important to note that the shelf powered mechanism 36 ensures
that e) the shelves 28
are held and maintained in a horizontal working position so that a bag 24 can
be first rested on a
front shelf portion without the shelf 28 tipping from its horizontal position
prior to the bag 24
being pushed back fully onto the shelf 28. Because the shelves 28 are always
loaded onto the
first shelf 29 in the lowest position on the rack 20 lifting is minimized. Use
of a transfer
conveyor 21 between the bag discharge conveyor 22 and the rack 20 allows the
bag 24 to be
wholly slid, without any lifting at all, from the discharge conveyor 22 onto
the rack 20. And
because the bags are always initially loaded onto the closest side of the rack
20 carrying is
minimized in contrast to the present conventional system of carrying the bags
24 to a baggage
cart 18.
In a preferred aspect of the invention the shelves 28 further comprise end
walls 25 to
ensure bags 24 carried thereon are supported in an upright position.
Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C are perspective views of the shelf unloading mechanism
40.
Figure 2A shows the shelf 28 and the shelf unloading mechanism 40 in a fully
retracted position.
Figure 2B shows the shelf 28 and the shelf unloading mechanism 40 in a fully
extended position.
Figure 2C shows the shelf unloading mechanism 40 in a fully extended position
and the shelf 28
in a fully retracted position. The shelf unloading mechanism 40, centrally
positioned within the
rack 20, is configured to first push the shelf 28 loaded with bags 24
forwardly. Then while the
shelf unloading mechanism 40 is maintained in a forward position, the shelf 28
is retracted,
thereby dumping the bags 24 onto the target 44. Each shelf 28 when rotated to
a position
adjacent to the shelf unloading mechanism 40 can be sequentially discharged
therewith. Most
preferably each shelf 28 is carried on a drawer slide 42 so that when the
shelf unloading
mechanism 40 pushes on the shelf 28 loaded with bags 24, the sliding shelf 28
initially slides out,
thereby facilitating subsequent drop placement directly beneath and in front
of the extended shelf
28.
Figure 2D is a plan view of the shelf extension/ retraction mechanism 39 in a
fully
retracted position, as shown in Figure 2A. The shelf extension/retraction
mechanism 39 includes
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scissor arms 39A, piston 41, and latch 43. Figures 2D and 2E best show a
piston 41 which
extends between scissor arms 39A, and a latch 43 which latches and unlatches
the outer end
portion of scissor arms 39A to the sliding shelf 28. In a preferred embodiment
the latch 43 is
magnetic. Figure 2D additionally shows the scissor arms 39A unengaged from the
shelf 28 to
thereby allow rotation into and out of the unloading position. Figure 2E is a
plan view of the
scissor arms 39A in a fully extended position as shown in Figure 2B. Figure 2E
additionally
shows the scissor arms 39A latched 43 to the shelf 28 so it can thereby extend
and retract the
shelf 28.
In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the shelf unloading
mechanism 40
pushes on the shelf 28 loaded with bags 24 and a shelf extension/retraction
mechanism 39 is
included to retract the shelf 28 back into the frame 26 when the shelf
unloading mechanism 40 is
fully extended so that after the sliding shelf 28 is extended and positioned
above a target drop
area 44, then when the sliding shelf 28 is retracted the bags 24, maintained
in position by the
shelf unloading mechanism 40, gently drop beginning at, and from the most
extended end of the
sliding shelf 28 onto a target area 44 positioned directly beneath the sliding
shelf 28.
Figure 3 is an elevational view of the loaded baggage rack 20 shown in figure
1, better
showing discharge into a baggage cart 18. A rack 20 for discharging the loaded
rack onto a cart
18 having a length and shelf height spacing generally similar to the length
and shelf height
spacing of the rack 20, wherein the shelf unloading mechanism 40 discharges
the bottom shelf 28
on the opposite side 32 of the rack 20, and further comprising a second shelf
unloading
mechanism 40, centrally positioned within the rack 20 above the bottom shelf
unloading
mechanism 40, configured to push the shelf 28 loaded with bags 24 immediately
above the
bottom shelf 28 on the opposite long side 32 of the rack 20 off the rack 20;
so that the bottom two
shelves 28 on the opposite long side 32 of the rack 20 can discharged into the
baggage cart 18.
As described above most preferably each shelf 28 is carried on a drawer slide
42 so that
when the shelf unloading mechanism 40 pushes on the shelf 28 loaded with bags
24 thereon, or
loaded shelf 28, the sliding shelf 28 initially slides out of, and laterally
away from the opposite
long side 32, thereby facilitating subsequent drop placement directly beneath
each of the
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extended shelves 28. Again, most preferably a shelf extension/retraction
mechanism 39 is
included to retract the shelf 28 back into the frame 26 when the shelf
unloading mechanism 40 is
fully extended so that after the sliding shelf 28 is extended and positioned
above a fixed shelf 27
in the baggage cart 18, then when the sliding shelf 28 is retracted the bags
24 maintained in an
extended position by the shelf unloading mechanism 40, gently drop beginning
at, and from the
most extended end of the sliding shelf 28 onto the fixed shelf 27 of the
baggage cart 18
positioned directly beneath the sliding shelf 28.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the baggage rack having wheels for transport
when
loaded to a plane. If the rack 20 further comprises wheels 50, and a steering
mechanism 52,
which most preferably is a centrally pivoted front axle 54 and a tongue 56,
then after the bags 24
are loaded onto the rack 20, the rack 20 can be towed, like a baggage cart 18
to, and then
discharged onto a plane loading conveyor (not shown). Said loading plane
conveyor (not shown)
would be positioned just beneath the discharge shelf 28 on the opposite long
side 32 of the rack
20 so that bags 24 would drop directly onto the plane loading conveyor (not
shown).
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 on figure 1 showing
the powered
mechanisms 36 that independently move the shelves 28 across each of the four
sides of the rack
20. Guide wheels 33 are positioned within tracks 34. Powered mechanism 36
includes a drive
chain 36A which carry dogs 37 extending outwardly therefrom. When the dogs 37
contact the
shelf frames 35, shelves 28 on one side of the rack 20 are moved ahead one or
more positions
independently of shelves 28 on other sides of the rack 20 in the direction 31
around the rack 20.
There are four independent power mechanisms 36, one for each open face 30,32
and one for each
of the top and bottom side portions of the rack 20. Adjacent ends of the drive
mechanisms 36
allow for a handoff at each corner of the rack 20 to transfer a shelf 28 from
one side to the other.
It should be noted that there are four dog tabs 35B on each shelf frame 35 to
facilitate
engagement with dogs 37 on the opposite open faces 30,32 and top/bottom of the
rack 20.
Most generally a method of loading a baggage rack 20 comprises the steps of:
i)
providing a rack 20 for loading and accumulating bags 24 thereon as described
most generally
above; ii) positioning the first side of the rack 20 adjacent to the discharge
conveyor 22; iii)
minimally lifting and carrying, and loading bags 24 onto the bottom shelf 28
of the first side of
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the rack 20 until said shelf 28 is full; iv) rotating the shelves 28 on the
rack 20 until the shelf 28
on the bottom portion is empty and again filling the newly rotated shelf 28 on
the bottom portion
with minimal lifting and carrying; and, v) repetitively rotating and loading
adjacent shelves 28 of
the rack 20 until all shelves 28 of the rack 20 are filled and/ or bags 24 no
longer remain on the
discharge conveyor 22.
If the method further comprises the step of using a transfer conveyor 21 to
move the
bags 24 from the discharge conveyor 22 to the baggage rack 20, then the
necessity of lifting and
carrying the bags 24 is reduced. When the baggage rack 20 further comprises a
shelf unloading
mechanism 40 centrally positioned within the rack 20, configured to push bags
24 loaded on a
discharge shelf 28 on the opposite long side 32 of the rack 20 off the rack
20; so that all of the
shelves 28 can be discharged therewith, rotatably moving all of the shelves 28
after discharging
the lower shelf 28 on the opposite long side 32 of the rack 20; the method
then further comprises
the steps of pushing the bags 24 loaded on a bottom shelf 28 on the opposite
long side 32 of the
rack 20 off the rack 20; and then rotating the shelves 28 and again pushing
the bags 24 loaded on
the opposite long side 32 of the rack 20 off the rack 20 until all of the
shelves 28 are discharged.
The most general method can be further detailed with the rack 20
specifications detailed above.
While the invention has been described with preferred specific embodiments
thereof, it
will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to.
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