Systems and methods are provided for conveyor operation and maintenance that employ a “smart shoe” technology where one or more conveyor shoes incorporate features, such as an RFID tag, allowing selective wireless tracking and identification capability. A conveyor system comprises a shoe management system allowing interactions directly with a reader where interface between this application and the reader can be implemented via a socket interface. An open platform communications (OPC) wrapper can be created around the interface so that a Human Machine Interface (HMI) could interact directly with shoe management system.

In order to reduces a risk that a user of a baggage check-in machine is infected with a virus or the like, a baggage check-in machine (1) includes: an inner display (11) that displays an image which includes an operation target region and which is related to baggage check-in; an image formation section (30) that causes the image displayed on the inner display (11) to be formed as an aerial image in air around the baggage check-in machine (1); an operation identification section (102) that identifies an operation conducted with respect to a part in the aerial image which corresponds to the operation target region; and a process performance section (105) that carries out, in accordance with the operation which has been identified, a process related to the baggage check-in.

A method for wear detection during the operation of a conveying system having a closed circulating path, a pick-up which is attached to at least one running gear and which makes contact with a surface of a rail in the case of wear of the wheel and/or the rail, includes using a sensor coupled to the pick-up to register vibrations produced by the contact. The vibrations are transmitted wirelessly to a background system and are evaluated. The method and a conveying system allow wear detection, in particular in the case of closed conveying systems, and considerably reduce maintenance complexity.

Systems and methods are provided for conveyor operation and maintenance that employ one or both of a “smart shoe” technology where one or more conveyor shoes incorporate features, such as an RFID tag, and a “missing pin detection” technology where one or more pin components of conveyor shoes incorporate features, such as an RFID tag, allowing selective wireless tracking and identification capability. A conveyor system comprises a shoe management system allowing interactions directly with one or more RFID readers, which can detect, store and/or monitor information associated with “smart shoe” and/or “missing pin detection” RFID tags, where interface between this application and the reader can be implemented via a socket interface. System and method also or optionally provide for unique slat installation and removal.

A connector block for connection between first chain units and second chain units which alternately form portions of a conveyor chain. The connector block is provided using a first block body and a second block body each formed into a U-shaped metal plate. Each block body includes a base plate and side plates, and tabs formed at distal ends of side plates. Tabs are configured for interfitting placement in depressions formed in the base plate of the opposing block body. Side plates of the first block body and side plates of the second block body, are sized, shaped, and joined in secure interlocking engagement, and wherein the first tab receiving depressions each securely position therein a second tab bent for interfitting engagement therewith, and wherein the second tab receiving depressions each securely position therein a first tab bent for interfitting engagement therewith. All side plates further include holes defined by edge walls, for secure engagement with a pivot pin for connection with a first chain unit or a second chain unit.

A method for wear detection during the operation of a conveying system having a closed circulating path, a pick-up which is attached to at least one running gear and which makes contact with a surface of a rail in the case of wear of the wheel and/or the rail, includes using a sensor coupled to the pick-up to register vibrations produced by the contact. The vibrations are transmitted wirelessly to a background system and are evaluated. The method and a conveying system allow wear detection, in particular in the case of closed conveying systems, and considerably reduce maintenance complexity.

Curved magnetic guide for guiding the chain of a conveyor chain along a curvilinear transport direction including a pair of first guide profiles arranged spaced apart and extending in a continuous manner along a respective development direction concentric to the curvilinear transport direction, a support structure for supporting the first guide profiles having a plurality of box-shaped bodies, the box-shaped bodies being arranged in succession one after the other and spaced apart from one another along the curvilinear transport direction, where each of the box-shaped bodies houses at least one magnetic body and has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite one another, where the upper surface is provided with a pair of first constraining projections that are spaced apart and faced with distances between centers substantially equal to the distance between the development directions where the first constraining projections of the plurality of box-shaped bodies define two rows of first constraining projections that extend, spaced apart from one another, along a respective the development direction, where each of the first guide profiles is coupled with the first constraining projections aligned along one of the two rows, where the guide defines a forward guide for guiding the forward branch of the chain, the forward guide having a forward channel adapted for receiving the hinging portions of the links and which is laterally delimited by the first guide profiles of the at least one pair, where the first guide profiles each defines a sliding surface for the plate-shaped portion of the links to slide thereon, and where the magnetic bodies interact with the links to attract the links of the chain with the part of their plate-shaped portions against the sliding surfaces defined by the first guide profiles.

A transport attachment (1) for a plate conveyor (100; 200) for conveying material includes a transport plate (50) for conveying the material on a transport surface (10) of the transport plate (50). A connection device (40) has a fastening element (42) for fastening the transport attachment (1) to a driven traction element (150) of the plate conveyor (100; 200). At least one lateral supporting surface (41) is used for laterally supporting the transport attachment (1) in a curve of the plate conveyor (100; 200).

A transport attachment (1) for a plate conveyor (100; 200) for conveying material includes a transport plate (50) for conveying the material on a transport surface (10) of the transport plate (50). A connection device (40) has a fastening element (42) for fastening the transport attachment (1) to a driven traction element (150) of the plate conveyor (100; 200). At least one lateral supporting surface (41) is used for laterally supporting the transport attachment (1) in a curve of the plate conveyor (100; 200).

A conveying device (1) has conveying carts (2) arranged one behind another and spaced apart by an interspace (4). One conveying cart (2) has a cover (6) and another has a cross-belt conveyor (8) for conveying material transverse to the conveying direction. The cover (6) covers the interspace (4) between the conveying carts (2) so that the cover (6) of the one conveying cart (2) is under the upper run (21) of the transverse belt (10) of the other conveying cart (2). When negotiating curves, the cover (6) engages between an underside (22) of the upper run (21) and a first support plane (20) to hinder the transverse belt (10) from moving in the transverse conveying direction. When travelling straight ahead the cover (6) engages between the first support plane (20) and a second support plane (24) to permit movement of the transverse belt (10) in the transverse conveying direction.