ARRANGEMENT AND PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING OF SUITCASES

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for handling luggage to and from a cabin-related cruiser. The arrangement and the method for handling luggage comprising cassettes, with at least four wheels, which accommodate suitcases of standard size and into which all the suitcases for a cabin are loaded, and wheeled pallets on each of which three to six cassettes carrying suitcases can be loaded and which are designed so as to be readily transported in the cruiser's corridors. The cabins are fitted with a separate space, such as a cassette cupboard, for the cassette.

Description: Arrangement and procedure for handling of suitcases The invention relates to an arrangement and a method of a new type for handling suitcases. The invention has been devised for use primarily on cruisers, but it can " also be utilised for instance at hotels and in other applications requiring rapid handling of large amounts of luggage. The tonnages of passenger cruisers have increased rapidly in recent years. For instance, the maximum tonnage of 75,000 tonnes in the late 80's increased to 100,000 in the 90's, and the biggest cruiser ordered at present has a tonnage of 135,000 tonnes. The passenger numbers of these giant cruisers have increased accordingly up to the range of 3, 100 to 3,400 passengers. There has also been a marked increase in the number of suitcases carried by passengers. In cruiser traffic in general, passengers are estimated to carry 2.5 to 3.2 suitcases per person on the average. With respect to the highest current tonnage, this means handling of up to 8,000 to 11,000 suitcases. Cruise organisers and passengers also pose higher requirements on more rapid luggage handling. This means that, as the ship is leaving, the luggage should be brought to the cabins as fast as possible to allow passengers, dressed in the desired outfits, to enjoy the service on board and to bring the cruise organisers proceeds. Similarly, at arrival in the morning, luggage logistics should be rapid from the cabins to the port terminal and the luggage conveyor belts. Part of cruiser passengers start the cruise after having first spent a few days at the hotels of holiday resorts, which arrange transfers to the port terminal. The port terminal of a cruiser is often located in a different city than the passenger's hotel. In this case, the passenger has to carry his suitcase from the hotel room to the bus and from there to the ship. In many cases, passengers may feel that the transfer from the hotel to the ship is very awkward precisely because of their having to attend to their luggage. Current luggage handling systems shall also ensure safe handling of the luggage throughout the procedure. Current luggage identifying systems are useful both in terms of logistics control and safety. Due to ever harder competition in the cruiser field, shipyards which manufacture cruisers have increasingly strived to develop passenger comfort and operational systems on board. Usually partial systems for ships are bought as turnkey concepts from leading subcontractors in the field. A luggage handling system is a typical example of such a partial system to enhance passenger comfort. Thus, the development of luggage handling systems is of crucial importance to shipyards and subcontractors who supply the systems. The current luggage handling system of prior art is most elementary; passengers carry their suitcases to the ship. In some cases, to transport their luggage, they may use the help of single trolleys pushed in the ship corridors. They may perhaps also use carriers, who take the luggage from the lift halls to the cabins. At departure, passengers who leave on a cruise spend unreasonably much time bringing their luggage. Often they get to change their clothes unnecessarily late, and cannot relax at once. At the end of the cruise, the suitcases are often collected the night before, which is a restriction for passengers. The conventional system is also slow at arrival, passengers having to wait for their luggage fairly long before they can continue out of the port area. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a luggage handling solution which resolves the solutions and eliminates the drawbacks mentioned above. The invention relates to an arrangement for handling luggage which is based on a cabin- related system comprising cassettes with at least four wheels on the sides, two on either side of the axis of symmetry, which accommodate about six standard-sized suitcases and into which all the suitcases from the cabins are loaded, pallets equipped with wheels, on each of which three to six cassettes including suitcases can be loaded and which are designed so as to be readily transported in the cruiser corridors. The arrangement of the invention is characterised in that a cassette cupboard has been mounted in the cabins for a casette of cabin-related suitcases, the cassette cupboard being equipped with a door to be locked on the corridor side and with doors on the cabin side. The invention also relates to a method for handling suitcases, in which passengers arrive with their luggage to the port terminal, the suitcases are loaded into cassettes in the collecting hall of the port terminal, the cassettes containing the suitcases are loaded in pallets in the collecting hall of the port terminal, the loaded pallets are conveyed from the port teraiinal to the landing stage and from there on to the ship. The method of the invention is characterised by the fact that the pallets are transported to the cabins and the cassettes are distributed into cassette cupboards in the cabins, from where the passengers take their luggage into use. The invention also relates to a second handling method, in which passengers arrive with their luggage to the hotel, and before starting on a cruise, the passengers' suitcases are loaded into cassettes at the hotel, the cassettes containing the suitcases are loaded onto pallets in the hotel lobby, the loaded pallets are taken to the port terminal, where the pallets are transported to the landing stage and from there to the ship. This second method is characterised by the fact that the pallets are transported to the cabins and the cassettes are distributed into cassette cupboards in the cabins, from where the passengers take their luggage into use. The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, of which figure 1 shows the cassette in the luggage handling arrangement of the invention including suitcases, figure 2 shows the pallet in the luggage handling arrangement including the cassettes, figure 3 shows cabins with cassette cupboards in the luggage handling arrangement, figure 4 shows the transfer of the cassette in the luggage handling arrangement into the cassette cupboard, figures 5 and 6 show the wheel solution of the cassette in the luggage handling arrangement, figure 7 shows the transport of a single cassette with a cassette cart in the luggage handling arrangement, figure 8 is a flow chart of the transfer of luggage from the hotel to the cruiser with the luggage handling method, figure 9 is a flow chart of the transfer of luggage from the hotel to the cruiser with the luggage handling method. Figure 1 illustrates a cassette including suitcases in the luggage handling arrangement of the invention. The luggage handling arrangement of the invention is based on a cabin-related system, the basic unit of which is a cassette 1, into which all the suitcases 2 for a cabin are loaded. The cabin-related cassette 1 may for instance be a wheeled stand with an aluminium or steel frame which can be opened on two sides. Lock-up mesh doors are provided on both sides in the lateral meshes of cassette 1. Cassette 1 accommodates about six suitcases 2 of standard size. This is often enough, since in double cabins there is usually an average of four to five suitcases, and in family cabins up to six suitcases 2. The cassette 1 of the invention has at least four wheels on the sides, two on either side of the axis of symmetry. Under the supporting beam of cassette 1 ball rollers can be optionally placed to enable cassette 1 to move freely in the lateral direction. Cassette 1 of the invention may have a collapsible design, allowing it to be easily stored in a small space. Thus, instead of handling a single suitcase 2, the luggage handling system can start handling a cabin-related unit, i.e. a cassette 1 containing up to six suitcases 2. This unit 1 is easy to load, to sort in the port terminal, to encode and to steer to the elevators and to distribute to each cabin in the ship corridors. Cassette 1 is principally a unit formed of the suitcases needed for one cabin, acting at the same time as a loading unit, an address unit and a distribution unit. By handling suitcases 2 on the lowermost distribution level with several suitcases 2 at a time, th e handling steps can be appreciably shortened and the handling time in the corridors is appreciably reduced. The side doors in cassette 1 have doors for loading suitcases 2. Cassette 1 is delivered loaded to the cabin, where it stays for the time of the voyage. Cassette 1 acts as a store for emptied suitcases 2. Towards the end of the trip cassette 1 is reloaded with packed suitcases 2. Cassette 1 is then the smallest handling unit of the collecting step. The upper part of cassette 1 is similar to the castor pallets of prior art. The bottom of cassette 1 can be folded as in prior art into the shape of a trapezoid, which enables cassette 1 to be effectively stored for instance in the port terminal step. Cassettes of a folding type are stored within one cassette. This relates to an application called a train of castor pallets. The cabin-related cassette system provides a basis for a short process span at departure and arrival. Figure 2 shows a pallette including cassettes in the luggage handling arrangement of the invention. The luggage handling arrangement of the invention also comprises wheeled pallets 3, on each of which from three to six cassettes 1 including suitcases 2 can be loaded. Pallet 3 is designed such that it 3 can be easily transported on the long main corridors of a cruiser. Pallet 3 may have a length up to more than 2.5 metres. For instance, a pallet 3 transporting four pieces of cassettes 1 with six suitcases 2 each may contain a total of 24 suitcases 2. Pallet 3 can be designed so as to be 3 symmetrical both with regard to its longitudinal axis and to its transverse axis. At both ends of cassette 1 pivotable pairs of wheels are provided, which are located at the outer edge of cassette 1. In addition, at the centre of the cassettes, pairs of wheels are provided, which are located on an inner line relative to the pairs of wheels at the ends. The axle spacing between the central pairs of wheels is more than half of the axle spacing of the outermost pairs of wheels. The gauge difference - between the pairs of wheels is 2 to 3 times the thickness of the wheel (cf. figure 6). At the bottom of pallet 3, there are transverse guide profiles 23 of e.g. aluminium for the wheels or ball rollers of cassette 1. Fixing rails for locking girdles are provided on the sides of pallet 3. Sudden stops or starts are connected to the movement of pallets 3 on conveyor paths, and for this reason the cassettes 1 need to be secured in position in pallets 3. Figure 3 shows cabins with cassette cupboards in accordance with the arrangement for luggage handling of the invention. The arrangement of the invention for handling suitcases also comprises cabins 4, in which a cassette cupboard 7 has been installed for the cassette 1 formed of suitcases 2 for each cabin. Cassette cupboard 7 may be located adjacent to bathroom unit 6 in the cabin 4 corridor, or optionally at the rear end of the bathroom unit 6 of cabin 4. Optionally, cassette cupboard 7 has been left out, and instead, space has been reserved in the cabin 4 entrance for bringing in cassette 1, unloading suitcases 2 and for storing the emtpy, folded cassette 1. Cassette cupboard 7 may have the structure of a separate prefabricated module 7 or may be an integrated part of the cabin module 4 structure. Cassette cupboard 7 is equipped with a lock-up door on the corridor side and with doors towards the cabin. The cassette may also be brought into the cabin through the cabin door and transferred into the cassette cupboard. The cassette cupboard may contain e.g. a shelf level that can be pulled out on rails, on top of which the cassette is transferred from the pallet. The figure also shows a truck 5, which can be used to tow pallet 3 in the main corridors. The solution in accordance with the invention can utilise the benefits of long main corridors, and thus corridor pallet 3 can be long, and there are no attempts to turn it into the transverse corridors. A train of for instance three to six pallets 3 can be formed of pallets 3. In the solution of the invention, the suitcase cassette 1 for each cabin 4 can be introduced into cassette cupboard 7 from the corridor side. Suitcases 2 are typically unloaded from the cabin 4 side through the side door of cassette cupboard 7. The passengers pick up their suitcases 2 and unpack them into other cupboards and racks. Cassettes 1 remain in cassette cupboards 7. Optionally suitcases 2 can be taken out and introduced via the corridor. In the distribution step, the emptied pallets 3 can be placed on an emtpy pallet 3 in the row. In the hall, empty pallets 3 are more tightly packed on some pallets 3, and are placed for the time of the voyage either in a storeroom on the same deck or are taken by elevator to a storeroom in some other deck. Figure 4 shows the transfer into the cassette cupboard of the cassette of the arrangement for handling luggage in accordance with the invention. The arrangement for handling luggage in accordance with the invention also comprises an arrangement 8 for adjusting the bottom of cassette cupboard 7. This arrangement 8 for adjusting the bottom enables the cassette 1 containing suitcases 2 to be pushed from pallet 3 into cassette cupboard 7 without connecting platforms. When being pushed, pallet 3 may be at a distance of approx. 10 to 25 cm from the wall. Figure 5 illustrates a single cassette of the arrangement for handling luggage in accordance with the invention being transported with a cassette cart. The arrangement for handling luggage in accordance with the invention also comprises a cassette cart 9. Cassette cart 9 can have a design which makes it easy to lift cassette 1 from the top of pallet 3 and to transport it into cabin 4. Cassette cart 9 allows the distribution of single cassettes 1 in narrower spaces, as for instance in the bow corridors of the cruiser. The suitcases having been distributed to the cabins, the empty pallets 3 are collected in the hall to form a cluster on top of a second pallet 3 or vertical clusters, and are transferred into the lift cage or for storage in storerooms on the lower deck. At arrival, the passengers load the cassette 1 themselves. The staff in charge of pallets 3 may check the attachments of cassettes 1 in the collecting step. The empty wheeled cassettes 1 can be collected to be nested in a small space at arrival. The arrangement for handling luggage in accordance with the invention has been devised to be utilised primarily on cruisers, but it can also be utilised for instance at hotels and in other applications requiring rapid handling of large amounts of luggage. Figure 6 is a flow chart of the method for handling luggage in accordance with the invention, showing the transfer of luggage from the port terminal to the cruiser. First, the passengers arrive with their luggage 2 to port terminal 10. The passengers check in in the same way as at airports. In this situation, each suitcase 2 is encoded relative to each cabin, for instance using bar code or carrier memory techniques. The code data may include for instance the name of the ship, the deck number, the fire section number, the lift number and the cabin 4 number. The terminal conveyor system identifies the single suitcases 2 on their way and directs them to their respective sorting lines. The identification may be based on e.g. bar code technique or the use of "carrier memory pages". Next, suitcases 2 are loaded into cassettes 1 in the collecting hall 11 of the port terminal. After this, the cassettes 1 containing suitcases 2 are loaded into pallets 3 in the collecting hall 12 of the port terminal and are grouped according to the transport order. The loaded pallets 3 are then conveyed from the port terminal to the landing stage and from there to the ship 13. On board, pallets 3 are transported or transferred by conveyors by means of elevators to the respective stories to be distributed to cabins 4. Pallets 3 are transported from the elevator halls by means of a truck 5 to cabins 4, and cassettes 1 are distributed to cabins 14. After this, the passengers can take their luggage 2 into use 15 in the cabins. After the cassettes have been distributed, the empty cassettes 1 are stacked and the empty pallets 3 are assembled into clusters to be stored. When the ship returns to the port, cassettes 1 containing suitcases 2 are collected into pallets 3 accordingly. Pallets 3 are transported to the port terminal, where cassettes 1 are unloaded and suitcases 2 are lifted onto feeding belts. In this situation, the passengers pick up their suitcases 2 in the way it is normally done at airports. Figure 7 shows a flow chart of the arrangement for handling luggage in accordance with the invention, with the luggage passing from the hotel to the cruiser. First, the passengers arrive with their luggage 2 to the hotel 16. When the passengers are setting off on a cruise, their luggage 2 is loaded into cassettes 1 in hotel 17. After this, cassettes 1 containing suitcases 2 are loaded into pallets 3 in the hotel lobby 18. The loaded pallets 3 are then taken to port terminal 19. From the port terminal pallets 3 are transported or transferred by conveyors to the landing stage and from there to the ship 20. On board, pallets 3 are taken with elevators to their respective stories to be distributed to cabins 4. Pallets 3 are transported from the elevator halls with a tractor 5 to cabins 4 and cassettes 1 are distributed to cabins 21. After this, the passengers make take their luggage 2 into use 22 in the cabins. If the passengers are assigned the same area of the ship, pallets 3 need not to be unloaded anew for sorting in the port terminal. Because cassette 1 as such is already the loading unit of one family, it does not require rehandling in the port terminal. If the passengers are assigned different decks and cabin areas on the ship, the loaded cassettes 1 are readily replaced into other pallets 3 in the port terminal. Based on pallets 3 and cassettes 1, the system enables short handling periods in the port terminal and on the ship, both at departure and arrival. The passengers get to change their clothes, consume and relax without delay. At arrival the short process span makes it possible to start collecting suitcases 2 only on the morning of arrival. The system also speeds up unloading in the port terminal, so that the passengers can receive their luggage 2 more rapidly.

Claims: Claims 1. An arrangement for handling luggage based on a cabin-related system, comprising - cassettes (1) with at least four wheels on the sides, two on either side of the axis of symmetry, which (1) accommodate e.g. four or six suitcases (2) of standard size and into which (1) all the suitcases (2) for the cabins are loaded, - wheeled pallets (3), in each of which three to six cassettes (1) including suitcases (2) can be loaded and which (3) are designed so as to be readily transported in the cruiser corridors, characterised in that the cabins have a separate space, such as - a cassette cupboard (7) installed in the cabins (4) for the cassette (1) formed by the suitcases (2) for each cabin. 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cassette cupboard (7) is equipped with a lock-up door on the corridor side and with doors on the cabin side. 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the cassettes (1) are wheeled stands with an aluminium or steel frame which can be opened on two sides. 4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that lock-up mesh doors are provided on both sides in the lateral meshes of the cassettes (1). 5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the cassette (1) has a collapsible design. 6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that ball roller members are provided underneath the supporting beams of the cassettes (1). 7. AΆ arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the bottom of the cassettes (1) can be folded into a trapezoid. 8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pallets (3) are symmetrical both with respect to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis. 9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that, at both ends of the pallets (3), pivotable pairs of wheels are provided, located at the outer edge of the pallet (3), and in addition, at the centre of the pallets (3), pairs of wheels are provided on an inner line relative to the pairs of wheels at the ends. 10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that transverse guide profiles (23) are provided at the bottom of the pallets (3). 11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that fixing rails are provided on the sides of the pallets (3). 12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cassette cupboard (7) is located next to the bathroom unit (6) in the cabin (4) corridor. 13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cassette cupboard (7) is located at the rear end of the bathroom unit (6) of the cabin (4). 14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that there is space in the cabin (4) entrance for bringing in the cassette (1), unloading the suitcases (2) and storing the empty, folded cassette (1). 15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the cassette cupboard (7) has the structure of a prefabricated module (7). 16. An arrangement as claimed claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the cassette cupboard is an integrated part of the cabin module (4) structure. 17. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1-16, characterised in that the arrangement comprises a truck (5). 18. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1-17, characterised in that the arrangement comprises an arrangement (8) for adjusting the bottom of the cassette cupboard (7). 19. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1-18, characterised in that the arrangement comprises a cassette cart (9). 20. An arrangement as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the cassette cart (9) has a design allowing the cassette (1) to be readily lifted from the top of the pallet (3) and transported to the cabin (4). 21. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1-20, characterised in that the arrangement has been set up on a cruiser. 22. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1-20, characterised in that the arrangement has been set up in a hotel. 23. A method for handling suitcases, in which - the passengers arrive with their luggage (2) to the port terminal (10), - the suitcases (2) are loaded into cassettes (1) in the collecting hall (11) of the port terminal, - the cassettes (1) containing suitcases (2) are loaded onto pallets (3) in the- collecting hall (12) of the port terminal, - the loaded pallets (3) are transported from the port terminal to the landing stage and from there to the ship (13), characterised in that - the pallets (3) are transported to the cabins (4) and the cassettes (1) are distributed to spaces in the cabins (14), such as cassette cupboards, from where the passengers take their luggage (2) into use (15). 24. A method as claimed in claim 23, characterised in that the passengers check in at arrival, each suitcase (2) being encoded relative to its respective cabin. 25. A method as claimed in claim 24, characterised in that the code data on the suicase (2) include the name of the ship, the deck number, the fire section number, the lift number and the cabin (4) number. 26. A method for handling luggage, in which - the passengers arrive with their luggage (2) to the hotel (16), - when the passengers set off on a cruise, their suitcases (2) are loaded into cassettes (1) in the hotel (17), - the cassettes (1) containing suitcases (2) are loaded onto pallets (3) in the hotel lobby (18), - the loaded pallets (3) are transported to the port terminal (19), - from the port terminal, the pallets (3) are transported to the landing stage and from there to the ship (20), characterised in that - the pallets (3) are transported to the cabins (4) and the cassettes (1) are distributed into spaces in the cabins (21), such as cassette cupboards, from where the passengers take their luggage (2) into use (22). Abstract The invention relates to an arrangement and a method of a new type for handling luggage. The solution of the invention can be utilised on cruisers, at hotels and in other applications requiring rapid handling of large amounts of luggage.

Inventors: RAPELI PEKKA E, RAPELI, PEKKA, E.
Applicants: RAPELI PEKKA E, RAPELI, PEKKA, E.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B63B27
IPC codes: B62B3, B63B27, B63B29