Method and installation for automatic processing of baggage

A system for automatically processing individual hand-held bags between two storage areas, the bags respectively having a base surmounted by two opposed lateral flanks, said bags being adapted to rest in equilibrium on their base, said bags being transferred from one storage area to the other via a longitudinal transfer platform, said longitudinal transfer platform being adapted to support said bags;

• wherein said system comprises:
• means for forming rows of bags resting on their base, on one of said storage areas, the bags of each of said rows being pressed against a neighboring row, such that the bags of each row are pressed flank to flank with the bags of the neighboring row, and in a direction substantially normal to said flanks;
• means for driving each of said rows sequentially in translation in a first direction over said longitudinal transfer platform so that each of said rows of bags extends longitudinally on said platform;
• and,
• means for driving each of said rows of bags supported by said platform in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to transfer said row of bags to the other storage area,
• wherein said other storage area is situated in an aircraft and said one storage area is situated outside said aircraft.

A system for automatically processing individual hand-held bags between two storage areas, the bags respectively having a base surmounted by two opposed lateral flanks, said bags being adapted to rest in equilibrium on their base, said bags being transferred from one storage area to the other via a longitudinal transfer platform, said longitudinal transfer platform being adapted to support said bags;

• wherein said system comprises:
• means for forming rows of bags resting on their base, on one of said storage areas, the bags of each of said rows being pressed against a neighboring row, such that the bags of each row are pressed flank to flank with the bags of the neighboring row, and in a direction substantially normal to said flanks;
• means for driving each of said rows sequentially in translation in a first direction over said longitudinal transfer platform so that each of said rows of bags extends longitudinally on said platform;
• and
• means for driving each of said rows of bags supported by said platform in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to transfer said row of bags to the other storage area,
• wherein said bags have two opposed edge walls respectively connecting said lateral flanks, said two edge walls and said lateral flanks being surmounted by a holding wall opposite said base, said system comprising a stowage rack for forming said rows of bags one above the other and at a distance leaving said holding wall and at least one of said edge walls of each of said bags free;
• wherein said stowage rack extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises at least two superposed levels and at least one open lateral bay, so that bags can be stowed manually flank against flank on said levels via said bay so that the flanks of said bags are substantially perpendicular to said axis so as to form said rows;
• and
• wherein said stowage rack comprises two opposed open lateral bays, so that bags can be stowed manually via each of said bays on each side of the stowage rack to match up said rows.

A system for automatically processing individual hand-held bags between two storage areas, the bags respectively having a base surmounted by two opposed lateral flanks said bags being adapted to rest in equilibrium on their base, said bags being transferred from one storage area to the other via a longitudinal transfer platform, said longitudinal transfer platform being adapted to support said bags;

• wherein said system comprises:
• means for forming rows of bags resting on their base, on one of said storage areas, the bags of each of said rows being pressed against a neighboring row, such that the bags of each row are pressed flank to flank with the bags of the neighboring row, and in a direction substantially normal to said flanks
• means for driving each of said rows sequentially in translation in a first direction over said longitudinal transfer platform so that each of said rows of bags extends longitudinally on said platform;
• and
• means for driving each of said rows of bags supported by said platform in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to transfer said row of bags to the other storage area,
• wherein said system comprises longitudinal driving means for driving said rows substantially perpendicularly to the flanks of the bags of said rows, said longitudinal driving means being adapted to drive said rows of bags in said first direction;
• and
• wherein said longitudinal driving means comprise at least two substantially parallel conveyor belts spaced from each other.

A system for automatically processing individual hand-held bags between two storage areas, the bags respectively having a base surmounted by two opposed lateral flanks, said bags being adapted to rest in equilibrium on their base, said bags being transferred from one storage area to the other via a longitudinal transfer platform, said longitudinal transfer platform being adapted to support said bags;

• wherein said system comprises:
• means for forming rows of bags resting on their base, on one of said storage areas, the bags of each of said rows being pressed against a neighboring row, such that the bags of each row are pressed flank to flank with the bags of the neighboring row, and in a direction substantially normal to said flanks,
• means for driving each of said rows sequentially in translation in a first direction over said longitudinal transfer platform so that each of said rows of bags extends longitudinally on said platform;
• and
• means for driving each of said rows of bags supported by said platform in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to transfer said row of bags to the other storage area,
• wherein said system comprises transverse driving means for driving said rows transversely, said transverse driving means being adapted to drive said rows of bags in said second direction;
• and
• wherein said transverse driving means comprise rotary driving means adapted to interengage in said bases to drive simultaneously each of the bags of said row of bags.

A system for automatically processing individual hand-held bags between two storage areas the bags respectively having a base surmounted by two opposed lateral flanks, said bags being adapted to rest in equilibrium on their base, said bags being transferred from one storage area to the other via a longitudinal transfer platform, said longitudinal transfer platform being adapted to support said bags;

• wherein said system comprises:
• means for forming rows of bags resting on their base, on one of said storage areas, the bags of each of said rows being pressed against a neighboring row, such that the bags of each row are pressed flank to flank with the bags of the neighboring row, and in a direction substantially normal to said flanks;
• means for driving each of said rows sequentially in translation in a first direction over said longitudinal transfer platform so that each of said rows of bags extends longitudinally on said platform;
• and
• means for driving each of said rows of bags supported by said platform in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to transfer said row of bags to the other storage area,
• wherein said bases comprise a rectilinear toothed portion and said rotary drive means include driving pinions adapted to mesh in said rectilinear toothed portion.

A system for automatically processing individual hand-held bags between two storage areas, the bags respectively having a base surmounted by two opposed lateral flanks, said bags being adapted to rest in equilibrium on their base, said bags being transferred from one storage area to the other via a longitudinal transfer platform, said longitudinal transfer platform being adapted to support said bags;

• wherein said system comprises:
• means for forming rows of bags resting on their base, on one of said storage areas, the bags of each of said rows being pressed against a neighboring row, such that the bags of each row are pressed flank to flank with the bags of the neighboring row, and in a direction substantially normal to said flanks,
• means for driving each of said rows sequentially in translation in a first direction over said longitudinal transfer platform so that each of said rows of bags extends longitudinally on said platform;
• and
• means for driving each of said rows of bags supported by said platform in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to transfer said row of bags to the other storage area,
• wherein, said bags have an identical thickness, said transfer platform being equipped with a plurality of consecutive rotary driving means spaced longitudinally by a distance corresponding to said thickness.