Front and rear storage area
A pre-storage area is a storage area that is reserved to optimize the loading process. Loads that are to be transported by ship, plane or truck, for example, can be staged in the pre-storage area. The back storage area, on the other hand, ensures that the goods do not block the entire process flow on the conveyor system.
Process in the pre-storage area
The process in the pre-stowage and back-stowage area can be explained in more detail using conveyor belts at airports. When baggage is checked in at the beginning of a flight, it is placed on a conveyor belt at each individual check-in counter and transported onwards. At this point, there is usually no pre-stowage area for the passenger to see, as the baggage is transported on various conveyor belts until it is put together. If the conveyor technology at an airport is designed to transport the baggage from two or more conveyor belts to a destination position on a single conveyor belt, then the baggage is conveyed onto a common belt and transported onwards from there. To prevent congestion, junctions are attached to the conveyor belts via which the items of luggage are transported before they finally reach the common conveyor belt. The area between a branch and the common conveyor belt is the pre-congestion area.
Process in the backlog area
The process is similar for the backlog area. Before the baggage can be picked up again by passengers on a conveyor belt, it can be transported on various conveyor belts. The area between the last branch and the baggage reclaim area is the backlog area. If the length of the queue exceeds the backlog capacity, a traffic jam occurs.
For more information on an automatic storage device that can be used to store, transfer and retrieve loading units, see Shuttle.
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