Abstract:
An apparatus and method for loading and unloading articles such as luggage to a passenger vehicle or storage area. The apparatus is a single bed connected to a transport device. The elevation of the bed may be adjustable to be brought close to the platform or cargo area where luggage pieces are kept. A ramp member extends from the bed. The bed is generally a large conveyor that is smooth and continuous so that luggage wheels, straps, handles or the like cannot become lodged.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to article handling devices, and in particular to a luggage handling device for transporting, loading, and unloading luggage from aircraft or other types of transport equipment and/or storage locations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The article handling vehicle of the invention is designed to facilitate transporting, loading, and unloading of passenger luggage (baggage) in conjunction with aircraft, or other types of transport vehicles such as trains, cruise ships or the like. Currently, passenger luggage is loaded and unloaded from transport vehicles using a conveyor, a train of several cargo carts, a tractor, and typically three employees. Specifically, out-bound luggage is manually lifted from an airport or freight facility conveyor system, and placed onto cargo carts. The carts are then towed to the plane. At the plane side, the luggage is again manually lifted from the cargo carts and placed on a motorized conveyor. The conveyor transfers the cargo up an inclined belt to the cargo hold level of the aircraft. At the aircraft level, the luggage is again manually lifted off of the conveyor and positioned in the cargo pit. This process is repeated in reverse after the aircraft arrives at a destination. 
     The current method of transporting, loading and unloading luggage from aircraft is problematic for several reasons. First, it requires a significant amount of labor, usually two or three persons capable of lifting the required weight. Second, such personnel are at risk of back injuries, hernias and other problems caused by lifting luggage that is heavy or awkward to handle. Such injuries increase company medical expenses and may cause permanent physical problems and financial hardship for the employee. Third, a train of cargo carts takes up significant space whether they are in use or in storage. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus that is compact and reduces the labor needed to load and unload luggage to and from an aircraft or other transport. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides an apparatus and method for loading and unloading luggage or cargo to or from a cargo-carrying vehicle, aircraft, boat, truck, or other transportation machine. Generally, the apparatus is a bed connected to a transport device. In one embodiment, the elevation of the bed can be selectively changed so it can be brought close to the platform or cargo area where luggage pieces are kept. The bed is generally smooth to reduce the possibility that luggage wheels or other features will get attached to or caught within the conveyor. A ramp member extends from the bed, and also has a surface that reduces the possibility of luggage becoming attached or caught thereon. 
     The conveyor may be a large single conveyor that has a relatively low coefficient of friction so that luggage accumulating on the bed does not impede the movement of the conveyor. 
     In contrast, the ramp extending from the bed has a relatively high coefficient of friction to aid in transporting separated pieces of luggage onto or away from the bed. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a door or pair of doors is used as guides to keep the luggage pieces from jamming as they exit the bed. Further, a pair of side walls and a rear wall are used to keep the accumulated luggage from failing off of the bed during loading and transport. In another embodiment of the present invention, the driver cab of the transport device may be raised or lowered with the bed so that the operator driving the transport vehicle can more easily gain access thereto. In another embodiment of the present invention, the bed has a pair of side-by-side conveyor belts thereon for the purpose of preventing or remedying jams on the conveyor belt. 
     In operation, luggage pieces are loaded onto the bed, preferably from the ramp member. Once the desired amount of luggage pieces are placed onto the conveyor, the apparatus is either transported to another area to pick up more luggage, or is transported to a place where it will unload the luggage pieces. If necessary, the bed is raised and ramp angle adjusted. When necessary, luggage pieces are jostled to prevent jams. To transport luggage pieces from a cargo hold or the like to another place, this process is reversed. 
    
    
     While the present invention is particularly useful for loading and unloading luggage to and from aircraft, other applications are possible and references to use with aircraft should not be deemed to limit the application of the present invention. The present invention may be advantageously adapted for use where similar performance capabilities and characteristics are desired, such as in other passenger transport industries, or in factories and package delivery businesses where packages of odd shapes and sizes need to be transported from one place to another. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing luggage pieces being loaded from the elevated bed into an aircraft cargo hold; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the apparatus in FIG. 1, where the empty bed is lowered for transport; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, taken generally along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in FIG. 1.; 
     FIG. 6 is one alternative embodiment showing the vehicle cab connected to the bed; and 
     FIG. 7 is one alternative embodiment of the bed having a pair of side-by-side conveyors. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  of the present invention is a vehicle  12  having a bed  14  for transporting passenger luggage between two points, such as between a terminal and an aircraft or cruise ship or between a loading dock and a warehouse storage unit. Vehicle  12  may be any type of vehicle having the capability to lift bed  14  to an elevated position for unloading or loading. One of the most commonly available vehicles having such capability is a hydraulic scissor lift truck as shown. Bed  14  is in effect, a large, selectively reversible conveyor that can be positioned to move luggage pieces  16  either to or from a location such as the aircraft cargo hold  18  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, bed  14  may be comprised of a tray-like frame  20  having an optional bottom  22 , and two opposing sides  24  on each side. Extending between sides  24  is a single continuous conveyor  26  that can rotate toward the front end  28  or the back end  30  of vehicle  12 . Conveyor  26  preferably has the characteristics of (1) being able to carry the maximum amount of luggage pieces  16  that can fit on bed  14 , (2) having an accumulator belt with a low-friction surface  32  (e.g. Intralox Series 1400 (remove Style FT) manufactured by Intralox, Inc., Harahan, La.), and (3) having a driving motor with enough power so that a full load of luggage held stationary on bed  14  will not impede movement of the conveyor system  26 . Further, it is desirable that the belt is adjustable for tension, resists abrasion from luggage hinges, handle, wheels or the like, and is easily replaceable. 
     A pair of opposing side walls  38  and a rear wall  40  are preferably attached to the top side of frame  20  to prevent luggage pieces from falling off during transport or loading. Side walls  38  may be attached directly over tray sides  24  as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 to possibly prevent luggage straps or the like from becoming caught between conveyor surface  32  and a side wall  38 . Side walls  38  may vary in height and are smooth so that luggage slides easily against walls  38 . It may be preferable to use stake panels (not shown) so they can be removed for conveyor maintenance. 
     The rear wall  40  spans the distance between side walls  38 . Rear wall  40  may be removable for maintenance, and may open for rear loading or unloading of bed  14 . Preferably, there is only a slight gap between rear wall  40  and the rear edge  50  of bed  14  so that luggage straps or the like cannot get pulled underneath bed  14 . Rear wall  40  has a stiffness or is attached to frame  20  such that the pressure caused by loading a full bed of luggage onto apparatus  10  does not allow rear wall  40  to deflect significantly. For this reason, it is preferable to either have a hinged connection (not shown) between the top edge of frame  20  and the bottom edge of rear wall  40 , or use a removable stake panel (not shown). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, doors.  60  are angled to create a funnel-type opening between a reversible ramp  70  and conveyor  26 . A pair of operator platforms  62  may cover the resulting triangular area between walls  60  and comers of frame  20 . This serves as a place where an operator may stand, and also serves as a safety feature by covering the portion of the conveyor  26  that is not loaded with luggage. 
     Doors  60  may be stationary so that each door operates as a wall, or they may be moveable so that they can be used to jostle the luggage and breakup any bottlenecks that may occur as the conveyor  26  is operating to deliver luggage  16  to ramp  70 . For example, doors  60  may be have a hinged connection  64  to frame  20  or platform  62 , and be moved with hydraulic or pneumatic actuators  66  as shown in FIG.  4 . The length of doors  60  may extend from hinged connection  64  to side walls  38 . Preferably, doors  60  extend between hinged connection  64  and a stationary walls  68 , as shown in FIG.  4 . When in a closed position, doors  60  and stationary wall  68  lie in a parallel plane so that it appears to be a continuous wall. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, ramp  70  extends outwardly from the front edge  71  of conveyor  26 . Preferably, ramp  70  has a width spanning the opening between doors  60 . Ramp  70  is a conveyor with a continuous belt  73  that is preferably of a relatively high friction material so that luggage does not easily slide thereon. This allows ramp  70  to push luggage pieces  16  to their intended destinations. Belt  73  has a pair of sides  75  that may be relatively low as shown, or be higher so that luggage pieces  16  cannot easily fall therefrom. 
     Ramp  70  generally operates in the same direction as conveyor  26 . Ramp  70  and conveyor  26  may be driven by a single motor (not shown). In another embodiment of the present invention, ramp  70  and conveyor  26  may be operated by separate motors or have a transmission (not shown) in order to be selectively operable in separate directions. This would make it possible to clear any small items accidentally caught in the small gap  72  between ramp  70  and conveyor  26 . Preferably, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, ramp  70  is pivotally connected to the bed  14  with reference to a horizontal plane in order to move up and down some slight degree with the aircraft body  73 . Such movement of ramp  70  may operate using limit switches (not shown) to cause bed  14  to be driven up or down in accordance with any significant movement of the aircraft body or the like. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 6, doors  60  are replaced by a continuous stationary wall  78 , and the conveyor  26  is split into a pair of side-by-side conveyors  80  and  82 . Conveyors  80  and  82  have the same characteristics as full conveyor  26 . Preferably, conveyors  80 ,  82  can be operated in different directions with respect to one another, and have variable speeds. This will allow the operator to better control the flow of luggage pieces as they exit or enter the conveyors  80 ,  82 . To prevent luggage from being unduly abraded or becoming caught on wall  78 , a rollers  84  may be positioned adjacent to the vertical edge  86  of wall  78 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, vehicle  12  may have a cab enclosure  90  as shown or at least a seat without an enclosure. A driver operates vehicle  12  from the driver seat (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, this seat and optional enclosure  90  may be connected to bed  14  so that it is raised and lowered with bed  14  as shown in FIG.  6 . This will allow the driver easier access to the conveyor  26 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the seat and enclosure are connected to the chassis  92  of vehicle  12 . Connected to chassis  92  may be a hydraulic scissor lift system  94  or the like. Controls (not shown) are used to change the direction of conveyor  26  (or belts  80 ,  82 ) or ramp belt  73 , and to possibly adjust the speed of the same. Controls would also be used to operate the scissor lift and optional doors  60 . These controls may be located near the driver seat so that the operator of vehicle  12  can easily access them. In another embodiment, the controls are instead or in addition located near platforms  62  so that the operator of apparatus  10  can stand near the ramp  70  and bed  14  while the luggage is being loaded or unloaded. In yet another embodiment, an even more convenient control is remotely accessed, so that the driver of vehicle  10  could perform the entire loading and unloading process from the driver seat, platform  62  or even from the ground or cargo hold. Thus, a remote control, for conveyors  26  or belts  80 ,  82 , ramp belt  73  and optional doors  60  would enable a single person to perform the entire loading and unloading of apparatus  10 . 
     In operation, luggage pieces  16  are loaded onto conveyor  26 , preferably from ramp  70 . In this instance ramp  70  and conveyor  26  are moving in the same direction. Once the desired amount of luggage pieces are placed onto the conveyor  26 , the apparatus  10  is either transported to another area to pick up more luggage, or is transported to a place where it will unload the luggage pieces  16 , such as an aircraft cargo hold  18  as seen in FIG.  1 . If necessary, the bed  14  is raised and ramp  70  adjusted so that luggage pieces  16  can move from conveyor  26 , to ramp  70  and into the cargo hold without getting caught between the ramp and the floor  98  of cargo hold  18  or the like. When necessary, luggage pieces are jostled to prevent jams by moving doors  60  or by reversing the directions of belts  80 ,  82  or by varying the speed of belts  80 ,  82 , with respect to one another. To transport luggage pieces  16  from the cargo hold  18  or the like to another place, this entire process is reversed. However, it may be unnecessary to jostle the luggage pieces as they are collected onto conveyor  26 . 
     Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Accordingly, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one skilled in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims. It is to be understood that the invention may be used in connection with the transportation of a wide variety of shapes and sizes of goods in a number of different embodiments.