A bag handling system for a mass transit environment is disclosed. The bag handling system includes a first set of autonomous automated guided vehicles and a second set of autonomous automated guided vehicles. The first and second sets of autonomous automated guided vehicles are configured to transport bags through one or more bag processing areas.

A method and system for identification of an item is provided, wherein the system includes a conveyor belt, a positioning device and a reader operable to receive at least one reading at at least one first antenna from at least one tag attached to the item, the first antenna being adapted to be arranged at a read point along the conveyor belt, wherein the positioning device is configured to retrieve a first position of the item at a first time instant before the first antenna and a second position of the item at a second time instant after the first antenna, the first and second time instants defining a time window, wherein the reader is configured to extract from each reading retrieved by the first antenna a measurement (6) of the phase of the signal transmitted by the tag (5) and perform a data processing of the phase measurements whereby the identification of the item (2) is accomplished.

A system for handling of luggage or parcel items comprises at least one cart with shelves, at least one item conveyor, such as a sorting conveyor or a luggage reclaim conveyor, and at least one item accumulation unit arranged in proximity to the conveyor. The item accumulation unit is configured as a buffer for storing a plurality of the items on a plurality of accumulation shelves. An item transfer structure is configured to transfer the plurality of the items from the sorting conveyor or from the shelves of the at least one cart into the item accumulation unit. Operation of item accumulation unit and/or the item transfer structure is controlled by a control system.

A system for sorting articles includes a plurality of article supporters attached to an endless chain. At least one diverting point is provided at which the articles may be removed. A plurality of lateral pushers are movable along the article supporter so as to selectively push the articles off the article supporters at the diverting point. A distributing mechanism initiates the movement of the lateral pushers. At least one diversion detection device is configured to identify a presence of each of the article supporters. A controller is configured to determine a slat number of each of the article supporters and to determine whether the article positioned on the article supporter associated with the detected slat number should be removed at the diverting point, and to actuate the distributing mechanism. The at least one diversion detection device is substantially aligned with the actuator in the direction of travel.

A conveyor load tracking method, including associating a designated load with a designated load data record associated with a designated load location record encompassing a first segment of the conveyor and designated load expected travel distances after associated conveyor travel. An unknown load is detected entering a second segment with a sensor outside of the designated load expected travel distances, and a new data record associated with the unknown load is created. The new data record is associated with a new location record encompassing the second segment and encompassing new expected load travel distances of the unknown load after associated conveyor travel. The sensor detects that the designated load is not present at the at a first expected travel distance, and in response the designated load data record is disassociated from the designated load location record, and paired with the new data record and its new location record.

A method of sorting baggage at an airport, the method comprising: acquiring a digital image of an identification label for identifying a piece of baggage, the label including an identification code designed to correspond to a set of items of data from a first database compiled as the baggage is being checked in; the method further comprising the following steps: retrieving information that is printed on the label from the image; comparing the information with data that is recorded in a local second database at the airport before the label is printed, the second database being distinct from the first database, the data from the second database being representative of a list of flights to or from the airport; and, in response to a match being detected, transmitting data representative of a flight number corresponding to the piece of baggage to a conveyor system.

Cargo may be optimally placed within a cargo hold using a cargo mover comprising a flexible conveyor belt extending from a ground location to a cargo hold, data defining a dimensional map of available space existing within the cargo hold for placement of cargo, a conveyor controller operatively in communication with the flexible conveyer belt and comprising packing software, and a smart loader comprising a predetermined set of scanning sensors operative to scan the cargo hold and a processor operatively in communication with the predetermined set of sensors and the conveyor controller. An interior of the cargo hold is scanned to create a dimensional map of the cargo hold and cargo placed onto the flexible conveyor belt where certain of each piece is cargo's physical dimensions are scanned. The processor compares the scanned cargo hold data set with the cargo's physical dimensions as well as with an order in which that piece of cargo will arrive at the smart loader to determine the placement of each piece of cargo. As each piece of cargo is placed into cargo hold, the smart loader continues to scan and update the dimensional map of the cargo hold to determine where each subsequent piece of cargo will be placed in the cargo hold.

A sorting system has a sorting area and a controller system that receives luggage-related sorting information for each piece of luggage. A transport mechanism transports the luggage into a sorting area which includes a sorting area with at least one make-up-place connected to the transport mechanism. The make-up-place sorts sorts the luggage according to at least one item of luggage-related sorting information. Movable load devices receive the pieces of luggage sorted by the at least one make-up-place. The controller system assigns each piece of luggage according to at least one luggage-related information to a particular movable load device and the controller system is also adapted to select a make-up-place for each piece of luggage and to send the piece of luggage to the selected make-up-place to be loaded into the assigned movable load device.

Automated and/or autonomous material handling equipment include conveyors and/or baggage carts that can be used in material handling systems for safe and efficient package movement and management within facilities such as warehouses, airports, campuses and/or other locations. In some examples, material handling systems include a conveyor that can be tilted and/or raised in a motorized and automated manner. In some embodiments, the autonomous baggage carts include a cart body defining an interior space configured for receiving baggage items, driven wheels attached to the cart body, an onboard microcomputer and antenna configured for wireless communication with a remotely located computerized baggage handling management and control logistics system, and a door conveyor movably attached to the cart body. In some examples, an automated conveyor system described herein can be used separately from the baggage cart.

Described herein are systems and methods for baggage or parcel handling. The system includes an automated bag unloading cell, a container roller deck positioned in the automated unloading cell. The container roller deck includes a roller deck base and a deck frame. The deck frame can selectively support and transfer a container housing a bag or parcel. The deck frame can selectively rotate about a deck frame axis of rotation relative to the roller deck base. The deck frame is operable to selectively release the bag or parcel from the container. The container roller deck can also include an index table in communication with the deck frame. The index table can be operable to receive the bag or parcel released from the container. The index table can include at least one index table conveyor operable to selectively advance the bag or parcel from the index table to a first transfer device.