Airport baggage tub

An airport baggage tub, comprises a molded sheet. The molded sheet further comprises a large radius corner and a slick surface edge. The molded sheet is mechanically coupled to a material region.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices that enable goods to efficiently move on conveyor systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently, airports must screen checked luggage for explosives by running the checked luggage through an Explosive Detection System (EDS). The EDS is a belt conveyor apparatus that pulls a container through a system that screens for explosives. The front of the EDS is covered by a lead curtain to avoid exposing the technician to excessive x-rays and other radiation.

However, the lead curtain is very heavy and traditional small radius corner baggage tubs currently used in airport conveyer systems frequently fail to make it through the curtain without jamming, and thus fail to make it through the EDS. Lighter luggage can be pulled from the traditional small radius corner baggage tub into the EDS which causes jamming, alarms and necessitates manual luggage screening.

The present invention teaches an airport baggage tub, which solves all of these problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An airport baggage tub, comprises a molded sheet. The molded sheet further comprises a large radius corner and a slick surface edge. The molded sheet is mechanically coupled to a material region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with traditional small radius airport baggage tubs, and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1shows the invention in use. A user desires to move baggage24with airport baggage tub10. The user places baggage24onto material region18. Airport baggage tub10comprises large radius corner12, slick surface edge20, and negative draft indentation14.

FIG. 2shows another view of airport baggage tub10. While, the device can be made from a large number of materials including plastic, metal and wood, metal can cause difficulties with the EDS and is not recommended. To build the device from plastic, a manufacturer should utilize a plastic vacuuming forming machine utilizing aluminum tooling with water lines to control mold temperature. A plastic sheet can be cut to size and inserted into a clamping frame to hold a sheet while it is heated to the appropriate temperature and sag for forming. The plastic sheet is then placed above or below the tooling on a platform, which is pushed into the heated plastic by a mold while applying vacuum creating a molded sheet. The molded sheet is then cooled on the mold by air until it is ready for removal from the platform. The tub is then base routed and drain holes can be drilled as requested.

FIG. 3andFIG. 5show negative draft indention14from a bottom view and top view of airport baggage tub10. One of the difficulties with airport baggage tubs prior to the disclosed invention is that compressing the airport baggage tubs together resulted in the airport baggage tubs sticking together and requiring substantial manual effort to separate airport baggage tubs. The present invention solves that problem with the insertion of negative draft indentions. Negative draft indentions creates a pocket of air which prohibits an otherwise strong vacuum force from holding a first airport baggage tub10to a second airport baggage tub10. As shown, here with baggage24, airport baggage tub10is not overloaded which could cause further difficulties in EDS. The underside of airport baggage tub10is mechanically coupled to second material surface22. Second material surface22can be identical to material surface18in composition and method for application to airport baggage tub10. The primary difference is function, while material surface18serves to keep baggage in place and from being moved by lead curtains, second material surface22serves to increase the friction between baggage tub10and belt conveyer of EDS.

FIG. 4shows slick surface edge20of airport baggage tub10in more detail. Slick surface edge20provides a unique curled edge geometry that enables baggage24to quickly pass through EDS. Similarly, large radius corner12on slick surface edge20prevent airport baggage tub10from becoming stuck in EDS. Note that airport baggage tub10has an inward angled side, that is the perimeter of slick surface edge20is greater than the perimeter of material surface18.

Regarding materials, High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE) is ideal for airport baggage tub10. Material region18and second material region22should be Lavant texture non-skid non-abrasive material. Material region18and second material region22can be applied with a male tool to prevent crushing a texture of material region18.