NL8802765A - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING ARTICLES IN AN OPEN-ROAD SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Description

Method and device for sorting articles in an open-road system.

The invention relates to a method for sorting articles from loading stations to unloading stations, the location of which has not yet been determined at the time of entering the articles into the system, as is the case, for example, with baggage, which is being sorted in airports, where it is common, at the time of registration, the sorting point to which such baggage is to be sent has not yet been determined. The luggage is transported by wagons, each of which is electronically distinguished by its own fixed code, which, at the time of loading, is associated with a code, which can vary each time, and identifies the destination of the article.

Along the road, in proximity to the switches, there are devices capable of reading these codes as the wagon passes, and acting accordingly on the switches to guide the wagon to the predetermined sorting point.

Transport and sorting systems are known in which a number of wagons move along a predetermined road and unload the articles at predetermined points of the road, corresponding to as many different final destinations.

In systems of this kind, the article is given a code at the time of loading, corresponding to its destination; suitable devices, whether spaced apart along the road, or centralized, serve to steer the wagon as it continues along its path, and to operate the devices for unloading when the wagon come by for the corresponding collection post.

In general, in this type of system, there are few entry points for the articles, while there are many destinations, and thus many unloading stations; typical devices of this type are the article sorting installations in post offices or the order sorting systems in the large mail order companies.

In other cases, for example baggage handling in airports, there are many entry points, while the discharge points or areas are few and not yet determined at the time of registration.

It is therefore not possible to provide a fixed and direct route between entry and sorting points, and accordingly it is not possible to give the article a distinct code from the unloading station.

Furthermore, the entry of items into the system can even be performed a long time before the time of departure, requiring that the luggage be kept in parking zones before being selectively led to the sorting stations.

Known methods exist for automating luggage transport from the check-in to the unloading areas, methods which, however, do not completely solve the problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,217 relates to a process for affixing to each baggage item a tag issued by a special machine on which is written an automatically readable information where the baggage is to be sent, guided by a central computer .

However, the system does not take sufficient account of the fact that there is often no free sorting point during registration, or that this has not yet been determined; all vehicles are stored unsorted, ie no differentiation is made at destinations; therefore, lengthy operations are required to recover the baggage intended for a particular destination (when it is released) due to the accidental storage conditions.

It is therefore necessary to resort to manual sorting, which affects the efficiency of the overall system.

United States Patent 4,239,434 describes a method based on the determination of the baggage weight, however, it is not taken into account that the paths which the baggage must follow after moving to the sorting points are not predeterminable; in fact such a method can only be applied in the case of fixed roads.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,260,349 deals with the problem of storing baggage before sending it to the unloading stations, a problem which is very unsatisfactorily solved by recirculating the baggage; however, such an unselected storage system gives rise to many inconveniences.

All of these patents - however unsatisfactory the solutions offered - have been referred to as evidence of the current importance of airline baggage handling.

It is clear from the above that baggage sorting in open-road systems is a very complex problem.

In order to solve this problem, according to the present invention there is provided a method in which the luggage is transported by wagons each of which, when introduced into the system, is given a code containing all necessary information for the identification of the luggage; more particularly, such a code or mark may consist of a number of fields, in which, in coded form, the data is entered, relevant for an area of various information, such as, for example, the name of the airline company, the flight number, the name of the passenger , and such.

The carriage is provided with its own fixed code, for example of the bar type, which identifies it, and can be detected by readers of the known type, arranged along the road in the vicinity of the switches.

It is provided that this code is associated in the memory of a central computer, which controls the entire system, with the a.m. information, to enable the system to perform further operations.

Each car is thus identified by two distinct and independent codes: a brand, assigned in accordance with the order to be performed, and the bar code, which is fixed and identifiable for the special car. The brand is read by devices that, by acting on the switching devices, send the car to its correct destination? the barcode, also detected along the road, provides the central computer with information enabling it to verify that a particular command corresponds to each car.

This is a cross-check system, intended to avoid errors in sorting the luggage.

In fact, if the mark is sufficient to send the car to a predetermined collection point, the barcode allows an additional check that each car has completed its task correctly, for example by checking that all cars are loaded with a given order - and only those - have arrived at a predetermined unloading area.

The said information can be input to the central computer also in association with other information, such as the progressive access number, the access count number, and the like.

In this way, the system is provided with all useful information for the identification of the transported article and of the means of transport.

The present invention will now be described in details only by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the drawing.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an apparatus for sorting aircraft baggage, in which the method according to the invention is applied, Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of the logical baggage sorting, Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the electronic devices mounted on each carriage, FIGS. 4 and 5 are a type of switch which can be used in the apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the mechanical devices for actuating the switch.

The device of fig. 1 mainly consists of a number of blocks, namely: - a car accumulation area 1, each car being marked by a code, indicating whether the car is available or not, - a number of registration zones 2, - a main circuit loop 3 , - storage zones 4 for wagons, intended for flights, which still have to go through the loading phase, - unloading areas 5, - loading zones 6 for incoming and transiting luggage, and - roads 8, 9 and 10 for moving the wagons, for example, from the way to the accumulation area, then from the latter to the enrollment, and again to the road.

Each car is preferably equipped with an independent motor, which allows the car to continue in the open-road zones; in the fixed-road zones, on the other hand, such as, for example, the accumulation and loading zones in the vicinity of the tender, or the up-down routes (when the device is at different heights), the handling will preferably be achieved by means of a chain , so that the wagons will move in all these areas of the road in a synchronized manner.

No detailed description of the individual devices making up the entire installation has been given, as they are of generally known type or have been illustrated in other patents such as the aforementioned U.S. patents.

Programmable logic controllers - hereinafter referred to as "PLC" - are located in proximity to the road network switches and are provided with the information related to the outbound flights to be loaded.

These devices, which perform the function of programmable local controllers, control the actuation of the road controller, such as switches or the like, so as to allow the car passing in front of the controller to reach a specific destination via an optimal path according to the code, thereby this car is marked.

It is ensured that an exchange of information can take place between the car and the fixed PLC devices in connection with the identification codes? in case of coincidence between the read and stored code, the devices will take care of sending the car to a predetermined sorting point; otherwise, the vehicle will be led further along the road and, if necessary, to the storage area for each flight.

The messages sent by the wagons may further include availability information or defect information; in that case, the PLC devices will direct the wagons to the collection areas or to repair areas - if any.

As already mentioned, the transport wagons are preferably self-propelled; the motor supply is controlled - via devices of known type - by a microcomputer mounted on board the car, to which sensors, mounted on its wheels, send indications as to the operational conditions concerning both the road (e.g. passage on long-term roads, accumulation areas, normal transition areas, etc.) and traffic (lines, obstacles, etc.) so that the logical devices can control the speed of movement of the car under the different operating conditions with a view to achieving the maximum permissible speed.

Other sensors signal to the logic device in the presence of a fixed obstacle and / or the contact of the car with external elements such as other cars; in this case, the logic devices will set the motor to the minimum speed conditions in order to possibly remove the obstacle. When a fixed obstacle is encountered on the road, the power is interrupted and the controllers make repeated attempts at fixed time intervals to restore circulation.

In accordance with the storage areas, where the carriages are usually in contact with each other, a special tone or modulated carrier wave is introduced into the busbars, whereby the microcomputer, informed by said tone, that it is in a storage area, the timed attempts of will eliminate the PLC devices to restart circulation; when the tone disappears, the handling can be put back to work.

The method can therefore be defined as an asynchronous sorting process, using open roads, in which a main control computer (MCC) "talks" to the controlled elements by detecting information and sending instructions; different language levels correspond to the different degrees of responsibility of the different establishments.

At the first level, the main computer MCC is networked with the airport information system (AIS) and with the logistic information system (LIS) respectively, as well as with a control room.

The systems of the device operate at a different language level, more suited to the type of information and instructions exchanged between the main computer and the road control units (PCU), the latter having the function of controlling traffic in the different zones, such as the accumulation storage areas, etc., in which the road is divided.

An even more simplified language level is used for the "collusion" between the road control units (PCU) and the programmable local controls (PLC) which are to read the message marked on the vehicle, control the shift actuators, and identify information coming from the sensors that detect the position of the switches.

The PLC receives instructions how to behave in the presence of the cars, equipped with given codes: each car continuously transmits the information given to it (for example an aviation-company-flight-destination-combination, when it is on a transport "mission" , or a code, which reveals that the car is free to go on a mission, or a defect code, so that the car can be intercepted by a test station).

In the vicinity of the switches, a fixed receiving device receives the code, transmitted by the carriage, and in turn sends it to the local PLC, which, in accordance with whether the code belongs to an intercepting carriage, acts or does not act on the electromechanical control of the switch.

For a better understanding of the method according to the invention, the different sorting restrictions corresponding to the different zones in which the device is divided will now be described in detail. Loading at the registration points

A fixed receiver 11 detects the code of the incoming wagons, which indicates that these wagons are empty and can be loaded? a transmitter 12 marks a fictitious code, and a receiver 13 checks that such a fictitious code can be accurately reproduced by the car; if this is the case, the carriage is guided via switch 14 to the ascending running length of road 8 from where it arrives at the accumulation zone 1.

From zone 1, the wagons arrive at the registration points via the downward running length 10, where the luggage is weighed and its dimensions automatically checked.

At this point, the operator uses a keyboard on the baggage to print the airline-flight-destination code, which is stored in the local PLC. The PLC, which controls the registration area, then reserves one of the free incoming cars and arranges for the luggage to be transferred from the loading station to the car by means of an input belt 16.

After going along the Oralaagweg 9, the car passes in front of a transmitter 17 and, in addition to the fixed code of the car, notices the information related to the order to be executed.

This information is checked by the next receiver 18, which, in case of a positive result, activates the association between the fixed code of the car (checked by the barcode reader 19) and the information relevant to the "mission" (passenger name , airline, flight, destination) in the information base of the main computer system. The carriage then enters the main sorting loop and begins to move autonomously, via the onboard engine, while continuing to transmit its code identifying baggage, carrier, destination, etc.

Whenever a car approaches a switch, suitable devices detect its code and act on the switch in accordance with the instructions given by the main computer: if the flight is to undergo the loading phase, the switches are operated to sending the car to the respective area, while, if the flight is not yet complete, the cars carrying such a code are sent to the storage areas. The empty wagons are intercepted and returned to the zone opposite the ascending road length 8.

Storage areas

The wagons destined for the storage areas are guided along circuit 20: when a fixed receiver 21 scans the code of a wagon to be stored in an area within its control sphere, e.g. area 22, it activates switch 23 at the appropriate time. If an area is designated for storing the wagons, marked by a particular code, a mechanical blocking device is placed in intercept position, which is the stop for the first of the stored wagons; if an area is not prepared to store the wagons marked by a particular code, the mechanical blocking device is kept in a non-intercepting position, thus converting this area into a regular road, which can be used when alternative routes are requested to be.

As soon as a discharge area is declared available for the wagons marked by a particular code, the mechanical blocking device in the storage areas containing the wagons identified by this code is brought to a non-intercepting position; at the same time, the logic controllers mounted on the wagons, distinguished by that code, are informed of this new state, which causes the wagons to move forward and enter the road leading to the discharge areas.

Transport of the luggage to the unloading zones

The wagons, from the main sorting loop 3 and from the accumulation areas, are identified by a receiver 25 and a barcode laser 26,

When the carriages arrive at the discharge areas 27, they automatically discharge the luggage through devices such as, for example, a rotating belt, mounted on the carriage or the like.

Once the wagons have passed the discharge area, further controllers check that the luggage has actually been unloaded, and print an availability code on the trolley using the aforementioned methods. The cart then begins to recirculate over the device or can be driven to a storage area especially for empty carts in accordance with the requirements.

Sorting the incoming baggage

The baggage, unloaded from an incoming aircraft, is loaded onto the wagons in zone 6, and each wagon is earmarked, according to the circumstances, or by a destination code associated with one of the delivery carousels or by a code indicating, that the car must be transferred to other flights.

If receiver 27 receives a code indicating that the destination for the incoming car is, for example, carousel 7, it will act on switch 28.

The barcode laser, associated with receiver 27, verifies the carriage code to verify that said carriage was actually loaded with a luggage item at such a destination, after which the carriage discharges to a conveyor 29, which carries the luggage to the delivery carousel.

After unloading, the car is marked by transmitter 30 with an "availability" code, and receiver 31 checks that this code is correct before the car is released to the main road.

If, on the other hand, the baggage loaded on the car in accordance with the arrival zone 6 were to be taken on another flight, the car in question would be circulated in the main sorting loop, and then handled as it came from registration.

Selective shot of a piece of luggage.

The selective identification of a piece of luggage from a storage area uses the identification number of each transport trolley.

In fact, in the system information base is stored the association between baggage identification code, passenger name and distinguishing number of the transport vehicle, the latter being identified via the bar code.

For the inclusion of a separate baggage item, the wagons of the concerned storage areas are treated: when the requested wagon passes in front of the barcode laser, the code or brand pre-assigned at the time of registration is replaced by another destination code and the wagon is led along the main road and then to the desired zone.

An analogous process can be performed to intercept a piece of baggage already in the vicinity of the unloading areas.

To complete the description, the devices used for carrying out the method of the invention will now be described, even though they are not the subject of the claims, and some of them are already known because they are described in previous patents or applications by the same applicant, for example Italian patent 1,140,188 or Italian patent applications 22264 A / 84, 23110 A / 84, 20779 B / 85 and 24 227 B / 85.

The main devices for carrying out the above operations are: the carriages, the tracks, the programmable control devices and the pushing elements.

Each car is equipped with a discharge unit, which can be handled both by independent motors, mounted on board the car, as well as by external means such as chains, lifts, etc.

Discharge devices of known type are mounted on each carriage, such as, for example, a revolving belt, which forms the transport surface on which the articles to be sorted are placed, and which can be operated by known means both by an independent motor, coupled to the driving roller of the belt or by an external motor member located in accordance with the discharge posts and adapted to be coupled by connecting devices on board the carriages and coupled to the belt drive roller.

The carriage is equipped with a microcomputer, a transmitter-receiver, some sensors such as a proximity sensor, an anti-collision sensor and a mechanical block sensor.

Fig. 3 shows the connection diagram, in which: 31 is the microcomputer, which processes the various received information and controls the carriage function; 32 is a zone decoder which identifies the tone present on the bus bar and sends a corresponding signal to the microcomputer; 33 is a mechanical block sensor, for example a magnetic sensor, which detects any mechanical blocks operated by the control system, for example the block of the storage areas; 34 is a sensor that detects movement of one wheel of the carriage and sends signal to the microprocessor to inform it that movement is actually in progress; 35 is a proximity and contact sensor, which detects the presence of roadside obstacles, and then sends a signal to the microcomputer, allowing the latter to reduce the forward speed to avoid collisions; 36 is the carriage motor unit, controlled by microcomputer 1, and powered through busbars 37, which, in addition to providing the power supply, are traversed by electrical signals which, decoded appropriately, inform the microcomputer of the position of the carriage; 38 is the input line of the make signal, printed on the carriage, and which includes the characteristic information of the "mission" to be performed; 39 is the output line of the brand signal, which identifies the car and which is issued continuously, to be received by the PLC devices, which will take the correct steps for the correct destination of the car itself.

The tracks or switches, shown in fig.

4 to 6, are equipped with deflectors, which allow to adapt the road to the program established for each car.

The switches are engaged by respective guide wheels, which run in seat 40 and are attached to the carriage; the control of the switch, which can be both electric and pneumatic, takes place via the PLC units.

When the carriage moves forward, it rests on free-running wheels on rails 41, which act as sliding paths.

These sliding paths are shown in Figures 4 and 6, with the deflectors in two possible positions that determine the path of the carriage.

The programmable controllers are electronic devices located near the switches of the track system and are equipped with receivers and programmable logic devices.

In accordance with the program, PLC devices control the switches, for example, by means of an electric servo motor.

Fig. 2 shows the block diagram of the PLC logic, wherein: 42 is the main airport computer; 43 the node, which processes the information coming from computer 42 (it receives information regarding the flight times and the start of the loading operations? It receives from the registration points the information relevant to the baggage? It associates the destination indication receiver by 42 for the relevant piece of baggage, it informs the other establishments of the destination, it determines the optimal route for each piece of baggage? it informs the other control devices of the runway assigned to each item of baggage? it checks that the baggage present in the system on the correct is 3 sorted)? 44 is the by-system, which controls the topology of the device, keeps node 43 informed of the operating conditions of the system, and provides via video outputs the information necessary for controlling the system; j 45 is the PLC network, which controls the sorting of the car by actuating the switches, consists of a certain number of PLC units, coupled via the local network of high speed with the by-system 44? i 46 is the microcomputer on each car, which exchanges information with the system? 47 is a barcode reader which detects the number of each car.

When entering the baggage into the sorting system, whereby baggage is assigned to the respective wagons, the PLC unit set receives the identification code at the beginning of the circuit, and transmits it to the wagon when the latter passes by.

The tappets are, for example, pneumatic-type devices, controlled by electromagnets, or by cams, which are actuated either electrically or mechanically by the wagon itself, and are located in accordance with the passages from one transport system to another; more particularly in those points where the car goes from a road along which it runs by the operation of its own engine to a road where it is driven by chains, as is the case in the up and down passages 8, 9 and 10 or in the accumulation area 1. The actuation of the ram element is made synchronous with the elevator, either during its upward movement or its downward movement, so that the carriages are pushed onto the conveyor at certain time intervals determined by the duty cycle from the carrier himself.

Claims (12)

Method for sorting articles in an open-road guidance system, each article to be sorted being loaded onto a moving carriage, controlled by electronic systems connected to a main computer, along sliding paths, interconnected by switches, characterized in that each wagon - permanently identified by a fixed code - from time to time when loading an identification code is assigned of the various data, relevant for the final destination of the transported article, which code is used by logical devices, arranged along the road, to drive the switch and guide the car to the expected destination, 2. Method of sorting articles, i wherein each luggage article is loaded onto a trolley, which runs along roads, interconnected by switch, and earmarked by a permanent code, characterized in that - by the permanent code of each trolley a temporary code is associated, which identifies the baggage destination, - said code association, until discharging has taken place, is stored in an electronic system, which controls the entire installation, - a special road is assigned to the car, - the information relevant to the away from each individual carriage, is transmitted as a function of the code number of the carriage itself to the switch control devices, - as each carriage moves forward, the associated codes are detected by devices arranged in proximity to the switches, and - the switches are controlled based on the information received by the general control system as a function of the detected one er code association. Method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that each car can start its journey only after the correct association between the permanent code and the temporary code given to the car itself has been checked. Method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the logical devices on board each car are informed of the exact position of the car itself on the track by means of a modulated carrier wave over the feed lines of the car engine. Device for carrying out the method according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in a sorting system containing different roads, interconnected by switches as well as a number of carriages running along said roads, each distinguished by a fixed code, provided with - means for associating with the fixed code of each car of a temporary code which gives an identification of the final destination of the articles transported, - means placed along the road, for continuously detecting the code of each wagon and to act accordingly on the switches, and means suitable for initiating the unloading of the transported article, when the wagon passes by the collection areas. 6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that each carriage is provided with an independent motor, which motor is fed via bus bars placed along the road. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that a modulated carrier wave is introduced into the busbars according to the different road sections, and that on each car there are electronic means suitable for detecting said carrier wave and accordingly the different functions of the to drive the vehicle in accordance with the road zone in which the vehicle is located. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized by road sections along which the wagons move asynchronously and predetermined road sections along which the wagons move synchronously, driven by external means. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the track unit has storage areas for the empty wagons, coding and loading areas for wagons with luggage, recirculation areas for the empty wagons, where they are returned to storage, accumulation areas of the loaded wagons, baggage discharge areas, and areas for leading the empty wagons to the storage areas. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that micro-computers are arranged on each car for storing the information sent by sensors located on board the car, in order to stop it or move it forward with suitable speed. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensors are proximity sensors and contact sensors. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the information system uses different language levels according to the complexity of the functions it controls.