# US 2015/0246735 A1 · Automatic bag drop method and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0246735 A1 - Document ID: US20150246735A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/428,726 - Filed: 2013-09-05 - Published: 2015-09-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-18 - Assignees: I.E.R. - Applicants: Ier - Inventors: Damien Roux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150246735A1 ## CPC - B64F 1/368: {Arrangements or installations for routing, distributing or loading baggage} - B64F 1/366: {Check-in counters} - B65G 43/08: Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A system is provided for the automatic drop-off of at least one object on a conveyor belt for the purpose of the transport of the at least one object. The system includes: at least one apparatus for delimiting an area, called a drop-off area, allowing access to the conveyor belt and including at least one point of entry into the drop-off area and at least one point of exit from the drop-off area; at each point of entry into the drop-off area, at least one first reader, for reading an item of authorization data; in the drop-off area: at least one second reader, for reading an item of authorization data; at least one delivery apparatus for delivering a tag, of identification to be affixed to the object to be dropped; and at least one database which can be accessed by the readers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for the automatic drop-off of at least one object on a conveyor belt, for the purpose of transporting said at least one object, at a drop-off area, delimited and allowing access to said conveyor belt, said drop-off area comprising at least one point of entry and at least one point of exit, and said method comprising, during the drop-off of at least one object by at least one user: a drop-off area entry phase, comprising the following steps: first reading, of an item of said drop-off area access authorisation data provided by said user; and when the read item of authorization data is valid, authorization of said user to enter said drop-off area; and a drop phase, comprising the following steps: second reading, said item of authorisation data inside the drop-off area; if the authorization data read during the second reading is an item of data read previously during the first reading, creating and delivering a tag, for identification of said object comprising at least one item of data relating to the transport and/or the identification of the object; affixing said identification tag to said objects; and drop-off of said object on said conveyor belt by said user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of creating the tag comprises a step of printing the at least one item of data on a media and/or a step of writing the at least one item of data in digital form to a memory, such as an RFID chip, integrated in the tag. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the item of authorization data is written on a bar code boarding card or in digital form in a memory, such as an RFID chip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the phase of entry to the drop-off area comprises a step of comparing the read item of authorization data with an item of data relating to: a departure location, for example a departure location of a flight in the case of a bag transported by air; an arrival location, for example an arrival location of a flight in the case of a bag transported by air; a departure time; and/or an entitlement associated with a transport. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the phase of entering the drop-off area comprises: a step of reading an item of identity data; and a step of verifying the association of the read authorization data with the read item of identity data, the authorization to enter the area then also depending on the result of this verification step. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the authorization step comprises an opening of a device controlling entry into the drop-off area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a drop-off area exit phase, performed after the drop phase and comprising, when the tag comprises a remotely readable data medium, such as an RFID chip: a step of detecting a tag delivered in the drop-off area and not affixed to an object before exit from the drop-off area; and a step of opening a device for controlling the exit from the drop-off area when no tag is detected during the detection step. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises: a step of recording, in association with the user, tags delivered to the user; a step of detecting tags affixed to objects passing along the conveyor belt; and a step of changing the status of an item of data associated with the tag once the tag has been detected on the conveyor belt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the detection step of the exit phase comprises: a step of reading, called third reading, of an item of data relating to the user; and a step of verifying the status of tags stored in association with the user; the step of opening a device for controlling the exit from the drop-off area being performed depending on the status of the tags and optionally on the result of the comparison of previously determined data relating to the weight and/or to the dimensions of the objects to which the tags have been affixed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step of measurement and verification of a weight or a dimension of at least one object during the drop-off area entry phase or during the drop-off of phase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, for at least one object, the step of measurement and verification comprises: before the drop-off step, a step of storing at least one item of data relating to a dimension or a weight of the object; and during/after the step of drop-off of the object on the conveyor belt: a step of measuring a weight or a dimension of the object; and a step of comparing said measured weight or said measured dimension with said stored item of weight or dimension data. ### Claim 12 A system for the automatic drop-off of at least one object on a conveyor belt for the purpose of the transport of said at least one object, said system comprising: at least one means for delimiting a drop-off area, allowing access to said conveyor belt and comprising at least one point of entry into said drop-off area and at least one point of exit from said drop-off area; at each point of entry into said drop-off area at least one first reader, for reading of an item of authorization data; in the drop-off area: at least one second reader, for reading an item of authorization data; at least one means of creating and delivering a tag, for identification to be affixed to the object to be dropped; and at least one database storing data relating to the user and/or to the object, which can be accessed by said readers; and means of comparing data read by the first reader with data stored in the database and/or data read by the first reader with those read by the second reader. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises, at each point of exit from the drop-off area: at least one means of controlling the exit from said drop-off area; and at least one means, called third reader, of reading an item of authorization data; the database also being accessible to said third reader. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, characterized in that it also comprises at least one means of measuring a weight or a dimension of an object. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, characterized in that it also comprises means of writing, specifically printing or entering an item of digital data, onto the tag and/or on an identification media from which the item of authorization data is read. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) An airport equipped with an automatic bag drop system according to claim 12.