Patent GB-1454859-A (GB)
Title: Automatic object routing system
IPC: B65G47/50
Filed: 1974-09-20
Abstract: 1454859 Conveyer systems BENDIX CORP 20 Sept 1974 [23 Nov 1973] 41098/74 Heading B8A [Also in Division G4] Articles carrying destination encoded labels are automatically directed to collection locations 18-28 of a conveyer system (Fig. 1), as the result of storing a schedule of destination collection location assignments. The system includes scanning and decoding the labels to produce decoded destination data, comparing the data with the schedule and providing a destination signal, applying the latter to a timing device 120, 125 (Fig. 3), and synchronising the latter to the speed of the conveyer system. A divert signal is generated at a timed interval after applying the destination signal to the timing device, the divert signal being applied to means for diverting the articles from the conveyer system to the locations 18-28. As described, for checking in luggage at an airport, check points 11-17 are connected by respective conveyers and suitable junction points (e.g. 59), with one or other of two code readers 71, 78. According to the information in the code as read by the readers, each article of baggage is (1) discharged by an appropriate one of a series of diverters 35-45 and 47-57 on to a selected conveyer spur 18-28; (2) recirculated via a conveyer 76 back past the readers to take its turn again for discharge to the destined spur 18-28 if the bags are passing with less than a minimum spacing, or (3) diverted to a 'claim' loop 32 if the label is unreadable or non- existent, or if the article is too long for discharge by the diverters 35-45. The latter actions are determined by the operation of three spaced photo electric gate systems 95, 100, and 105 (Fig. 2). If a light beam 100 is broken by passage of an article, before a beam 95 is unblocked, the article is too long. Scanned data transmitted over a line 104 is transmitted to an interface circuit 115 (Fig. 3) and compared with stored data to verify the presence of a valid label. If a satisfactory comparison is not made, a no-read signal is generated and the bag is diverted to the loop 32. The passage of each article past the gates 95-105 gives the system time to perform a check for errors which can occur. Instead of the labels of the articles being read at 71 or 78, each of these readers has an associated keyboard 127, 127 (Fig. 3), by means of which the code can be fed into the system manually. A visual indication of the output signals is given on a cathode ray tube indicator 117, and a copy 119 of the signals is given by a teletype device 118. These devices also give indications of a permanent flight schedule, for example for a whole week. This schedule may be modified by feeding in signals to the terminal 124. The latter may provide a printout 122 or a recorded tape 123, and the information is fed back to the interface 115. The latter feeds into two controllers 111 and 112. These are alternative computer devices, only one being in active use at a time so that the other is available for standby. The output from the operational computer is fed to north and south timing devices 120, 125 which respectively control the operation of the diverters 47-57 on the 'north' conveyer 29, and the diverters 35-45 on the 'south' conveyer 31. The timing devices are mechanical ball-type mechanisms running in synchronism with the respective conveyers. Start-up of the system is initiated by feeding in a sixteen-bit status word into the controller as indicated by a logic diagram (Fig. 7, not shown). A further logic diagram (Fig. 8, not shown) applies to the operation of the part of the system in which the light gates 95, 100, and 105 (Fig.2) operate. On occurence of failure in the system, another logic diagram (Fig. 9, not shown) applies. Changing from automatic code reading to manual operation, is governed by yet another logic diagram (Fig. 10, not shown).