Method of distributing airport baggage

An automated baggage distribution system in an airport for distributing airport baggage in airport baggage totes, the system comprising:

• one or more inductions;
• one or more discharges;
• one or more tote stations;
• a control system;
• one or more conveyors;
• wherein at least one tote station is configured to release a single empty tote, so that the single empty tote, when released, is supported by a support conveyor of the automated baggage distribution system, and the at least one tote station is further configured to release two or more empty totes from the tote station together and at once, so that the two or more empty totes, when released, are supported by the support conveyor, wherein the two or more empty totes are on top of each other when released from the tote station, and so that, when released, a lowermost of the two or more empty totes on top of each other supports one or more empty totes on top of it, wherein said totes each define a recess on an outer surface of the totes, and wherein said automated baggage distribution system is configured to carry out a method comprising:
• a) filling a tote with baggage at the induction,
• b) moving the tote with baggage in the baggage distribution system,
• c) emptying the tote from baggage at a discharge,
• d) determining, by a control system, which of the totes in the baggage distribution system are empty totes,
• e) positioning a first set of two or more empty totes above each other, so that the first set of two or more empty totes above each other are supported by a tote station comprising support members,
• f) releasing a single empty tote from the tote station to a first support conveyor of the automated distribution system, so that the single empty tote, when released, is supported by the first support conveyor of the automated baggage distribution system,
• g) moving the single empty tote in the baggage distribution system;
• h) positioning a second set of two or more empty totes above each other, so that the second set of two or more empty totes above each other are supported by said tote station comprising said support members
• i) releasing said second set of two or more empty totes from the tote station together and at once to the first support conveyor of the automated distribution system, so that the second set of two or more empty totes, when released, are supported by the first support conveyor,
• j) moving the second set of two or more empty totes in the baggage distribution system, where the second set of two or more empty totes are on top of each other when released from the tote station, and so that, when released, a lowermost of the second set of two or more empty totes on top of each other supports one or more empty totes on top of it and so that the lowermost of the second set of two or more empty totes on top of each other is then supported by the first support conveyor;
• wherein where both empty and filled totes travel in or on said one or more conveyors of the baggage distribution system and, wherein said one or more conveyors both convey single empty totes, two or more totes on top of each other and single filled totes.