Abstract:
A baggage handling system includes a first conveyor section having a first conveying surface, a second conveyor section having a second conveying surface with the first conveying surface angled with respect to the second conveying surface, and a conveyor belt extending between the first conveyor section and the second conveyor section. The belt is driven in a conveying direction and includes an upper section defining the first and second conveying surfaces and a lower section extending below the first and second conveying surfaces. In addition, the conveyor belt is configured to extend the first conveying surface over the second conveying surface such that there is no gap between the first and second conveying surfaces in the conveying direction wherein items conveyed on the first conveying surface are deposited onto the second conveying surface.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/837,772 filed Aug. 15, 2006 by applicant Chris Maness entitled BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a baggage handling system and, more particularly, to a baggage handling system that is configured to share a common belt and drive between two angle conveyor sections. 
         [0003]    Two angled conveyors are often connected together by a hitch conveyor section so that the two conveyor sections can share a common conveyor belt and a common drive. With the elimination of unnecessary belts and drives and their associate electrical wiring, controls, and programming, significant savings in costs can be realized. However, the traditional configuration of a hitch conveyor section is such that there is a gap in the conveying direction of the conveying surface where the conveyor belt is extended around the pulleys that redirect the belt from its angular orientation on one conveyor section to its other angular orientation on the second conveyor section. This gap creates a debris accumulation point, which is unacceptable and not permitted in baggage handling system applications. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for a device that allows two angled conveyor sections to be coupled together so that they can share a common belt and drive to reduce costs but without the attendant problems associated with traditional hitch conveyors. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a baggage handling system that couples two angled conveyor sections together so that they can share a common belt and drive, while eliminating any gaps in the conveying surface in the conveying direction. 
         [0006]    In one form of the invention, a baggage handling system includes a first conveyor section having a first conveying surface, a second conveyor section having a second conveying surface with the first conveying surface angled with respect to the second conveying surface, and a conveyor belt extending between the first conveyor section and the second conveyor section. The conveyor belt is driven in a conveying direction and has an upper section defining the first and second conveying surfaces and a lower section extending below the first and second conveying surfaces. In addition, the conveyor belt is configured to extend the first conveying surface over the second conveying surface such that there is no gap between the first and second conveying surfaces in the conveying direction wherein items conveyed on the first conveying surface are deposited onto the second conveying surface. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, the first conveyor section is generally horizontal and the second conveyor section is angled at an incline. Alternately, the second conveyor section may be generally horizontal and the first conveyor section angled at an incline. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the baggage handling system includes a driver, which drives the conveyor belt and moves the upper section of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction. 
         [0009]    In yet another aspect, the baggage handling system includes a transition conveyor section, which configures the conveyor belt to extend the first conveying surface over the second conveying surface. The transition conveyor section includes a plurality of redirection pulleys to configure a portion of the upper section of conveyor belt in a generally side-ways S-shaped configuration to extend the first conveying surface over the second conveying surface to provide an overlap between the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface. 
         [0010]    In a further aspect, the transition conveyor section further includes a second plurality of redirection pulleys to configure a portion of the lower section of conveyor belt in a generally S-shaped configuration. 
         [0011]    In yet a further aspect, the transition conveyor section includes a frame, with the pulleys mounted between and supported by the frame. 
         [0012]    According to yet a further aspect, the first or second conveyor section includes the driver. The frame of the driver may have a height generally equal to the height of the frame of the transition conveyor section. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a baggage handling system that achieves a reduction in the number of conveyor belts and devices associated with a conventional hitch conveyor without the debris accumulation points associated with hitch conveyors. 
         [0014]    These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a baggage conveyor system of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of detail A of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of another embodiment of the baggage conveyor system of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a transition conveyor section of the baggage conveyor systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged elevation view of the transition conveyor section of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  is an enlarged end view of the transition conveyor section of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the drive assembly of the baggage conveyor systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the right end bracket for the end roller of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the left end bracket of the baggage conveyor system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a prior art hitch conveyor section. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the numeral  10  generally designates a baggage conveyor system of the present invention. Baggage conveyor system  10  includes a first conveyor section  14  arranged in a generally horizontal plane and a second conveyor section  18  that is angled with respect to conveyor section  14 . Conveyor section  14  may comprise two or more conveyor beds  12   a,    12   b  as illustrated, or a single conveyor bed section. Similarly, conveyor section  18  may comprise a single conveyor bed section  16  as illustrated or may be formed from multiple conveyor beds. Further, the conveyor bed sections may be arranged in any order. As will be more fully described below, baggage conveyor system  10  is configured so that conveyor sections  14  and  18  share a common belt and a common driver, which can result in significant cost savings. 
         [0026]    To couple conveyor sections  14  and  18  so that they share a common belt and driver, positioned between the two conveyor sections  14  and  18  is a transition conveyor section  20 . 
         [0027]    Transition conveyor section  20  allows a single belt and a single driver to be shared by both conveyor sections  14  and  18 . Further, as will be more fully described below, transition conveyor section  20  configures the conveyor belt so that the conveying surface  24  of first conveyor section  14  overlaps with the conveying surface  26  of conveyor section  18  so that items that are conveyed on conveying surface  24  are deposited onto conveying surface  26 . In this manner, transition conveyor section  20  provides a cascading transition between the respective conveyor sections. Furthermore, transition conveyor section  20  eliminates any gaps in the conveying direction between the two conveying surfaces of the respective conveyor sections. 
         [0028]    As noted above, in this illustrated embodiment, conveyor section  14  is oriented in a generally horizontal plane, while conveyor section  18  is angled at an incline with respect to conveyor section  14 . For example, conveyor section  18  may be angled at an incline of 14° relative to conveyor section  14 . In addition, conveyor system  10  includes a drive assembly  28  between adjacent conveyor bed section  12   a  and  12   b  of conveyor section  14 , which drives belt  22  around a closed loop between the two conveyor sections. The closed loop is defmed between the ends of the respective conveyor sections by a pair of end brackets  30  and  32  and their respective pulleys. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the numeral  110  generally designates another embodiment of the baggage conveyor system section of the present invention, which is of similar construction to baggage conveyor system  10 . System  110  includes two conveyor sections  114  and  118  that are also joined by transition conveyor section  20 , described more fully below, and further are arranged such that conveyor section  114  is angled to provide a decline, such as a 14° decline, to conveyor section  118 . For further details of the individual components of conveyor section  110 , reference is made herein to baggage conveyor system  10 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  3 , and  4 , transition conveyor section  20  includes a frame  40  and two pairs of stub pulleys  42  and  44  and  46  and  48 . Stub pulleys  42  and  44  redirect the upper section  22   a  of conveyor belt  22  to form a cascading transition between conveying surface  24  and conveying surface  26 . In the illustrated embodiment, stub pulleys  42  and  44  are arranged with the upper roller  42  downstream of lower roller  44  and, further, positioned over lower section  22   b  of belt  22 . In this manner, rollers  42  and  44  redirect conveyor belt  22  into a side-ways S-shaped configuration so that conveying surface  24  overhangs conveying surface  26 , for example, by a distance equal to the cosine of angle α ( FIG. 3 ) times the spacing S between stub pulleys  42  and  44  (assuming that curved portions of the belt do not constitute the upper or lower sections of the belt and are instead transition portions). Thus, when items are conveyed on conveying surface  24 , the items will be deposited on conveying surface  26  downstream of stub pulleys  42  and  44  with conveying surface  26  conveying the items away from the transition conveyor section. 
         [0031]    Similarly, the lower section  22   b  of conveyor belt  22  is redirected by pulleys  46  and  48  also with a generally S-shaped configuration so as to redirect the lower section  22   b  of belt  22  into the adjacent conveyor bed section and, further, maintain the overall spacing between the upper and lower sections of the belt in a compact arrangement. For example, as best seen in  FIG. 1A , the upper surface of pulley  46  may be generally aligned in a common plane with the upper surface of pulley  70  ( FIG. 1  and described more fully below in reference to the drive assembly), which provides a generally parallel belt path through conveyor bed section  12   a.  Depending on the location of the drive assembly  28 , the upper surface of pulley  46  may be generally aligned in a common plane with the upper surface of pulley  82  (also described more fully below) to thereby provide the generally parallel belt path. Similarly, pulley  48  is located below and upstream of pulley  44  so that the lower portion  22   b  is generally parallel with the upper portion of belt  22 , which defines conveying surface  26 , through conveyor bed section  16 . 
         [0032]    As best understood from  FIGS. 4 and 4A , each of the respective stub pulleys  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  is mounted to the side walls  40   a  and  40   b  of frame  40  by mounting bolts  50  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Further, stub pulleys  46  and  48  are mounted in side walls  40   a  and  40   b  in a common slotted opening  52 , with the mounting bolts  50  of pulley  48  similarly mounted in slotted openings in side wall  40   a  to permit adjustment of at least pulley  48 . Once positioned in opening  52 , a cover plate  53  is provided to cover a central portion  52   a  of opening  52 . 
         [0033]    Located at the ends of each side wall  40   a,    40   b  of frame  40  are a pair of mounting flanges  54  and  56 , which include slotted openings  54   a  and  56   a,  respectively, for receiving mounting fasteners that secure transition conveyor section  20  to the respective conveyor bed sections  12   a  and  16  of conveyor sections  14  and  18 , respectively. With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 4 , flanges  56  are located along the generally vertical ends of side walls  40   a,    40   b  and are, therefore, generally aligned in a common vertical plane to abut and mount to the end of conveyor bed section  12   a.  To accommodate the inclined orientation of conveyor bed section  16  relative to conveyor bed section  12   a,  sides walls  40   a  and  40   b  have angled or inclined ends opposed from their generally vertical ends so that flanges  54  are located in an angled or inclined plane to provide angled mounting surfaces that will abut and mount to the ends of conveyor bed section  16 . 
         [0034]    As best seen in  FIG. 1 , when transition conveyor section  20  is positioned between conveyor sections  14  and  18 , flanges  54  mount to the conveyor bed section  16  and flanges  56  mount to conveyor bed section  12   a.  Further, conveyor bed section  16  is aligned such that its belt bed  16   a  is aligned with transition plate  55  (see  FIG. 1A ), with the lower surfaces of frame  40  of transition conveyor section  20  being generally aligned with the lower surface of conveyor bed section  16 ; though this will vary depending on the angle of the conveyor section. Bed section  12   a  is mounted such that its upper surface is generally aligned with the upper surface or end of frame  40 . Optionally, the height of frame  40  is commensurate and generally equal to the overall height of drive section  28 , described more fully below. In this manner, the entire assembly can be located above the finished floor. 
         [0035]    As best seen in  FIG. 5 , drive assembly  28  includes a frame  60 , a drive motor  62 , a gear box  64 , and a drive pulley  66 . In addition, drive assembly  28  includes a take-up pulley  68  and a stub pulley  70  and a second stub pulley  72 , which direct the belt to the adjacent conveyor section. A suitable drive assembly  28  is available from Siemens under the Model No. 9326 Center Drive. It should be appreciated that other drive assemblies may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , conveyor belt  22  extends around end rollers or pulleys  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 , which are mounted by end brackets  30  and  32  to their respective conveyor bed sections. For conveyor section  18 , conveyor bed section  16  includes an angled portion  90 , which includes a redirection pulley  92  to direct the lower section  22   b  of conveyor belt  22  from end roller  86  into conveyor bed section  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , for conveyor system  110 , conveyor bed section  112   b  includes an angled portion  90  that includes redirection pulley  92  to direct the lower section  22   b  of conveyor belt  22  from end rollers  80  and  82  into conveyor bed section  116  to provide the necessary incline between the respective portions of the conveyor system. 
         [0037]    As can be appreciated from the foregoing, the transition conveyor section, therefore, provides a cascading transition between the conveying surface of one conveyor section and the conveying surface of another angled or inclined conveying section without any gaps between the respective conveying surfaces of the conveyor sections in the conveying direction. Further, transition conveyor section  20  enables a single belt conveyor belt and a single driver to be used between two adjacent conveyor sections that are angled with respect to each other. 
         [0038]    While several forms of the invention have been shown and described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the number of conveyor bed sections forming the conveyor sections may be increased or decreased and may be arranged in any order, without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, the angular orientation of the conveyor bed sections may be varied. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims which follow as interpreted under the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.