The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.
The invention also relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 10.
As known in the art there exist standards relating to the size and structures of containers. ISO standard 668: 1988/1:1993 specifies the location of the corner fitting apertures of the container with respect to one another, and the dimensions of the containers. ISO standard 1161 specifies the shape of the corner fitting apertures of the container, and the permissible mode of handling the container is specified in the standard SFS-ISO 3874.
As known in the art, empty containers generally weigh below 5000 kg. The standardized container lengths are 10, 20, 30 and 40 feet. The 40 foot long containers have a height of either 8½ feet or 9½ feet and the 20 foot long containers have a height of 8½ feet. The prior-art container moving devices, for example, straddle carriers, usually comprise length adjustment, so that the handling length can generally be adjusted to be 20, 30 or 40 feet. Applications are also known in which the handling length can be adjusted to be 35 feet. Containers are handled as empty and as full.
With respect to the prior art, reference may be made, for example, to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,863,970, 5,280,980 and 6,145,903. In these prior-art arrangements, which mainly relate to the handling of full 20 foot containers, two containers are placed longitudinally one after the other in the handling equipment. Such devices are generally massive because full containers weigh as much as 40 tonnes. In addition, handling is problematic because the structure with its containers becomes rather long, and therefore they also have not been suitable for the handling of longer 40 foot containers.
As known in the art, empty containers are stored in ports such that several containers are placed one upon the other. Containers are handled by means of transfer and transport devices, for example, straddle carriers, the gripping member of which grips the container from above one container at a time, so that the container can be transferred to a desired location.
An object of the invention is to create a device and a method for handling of containers in order to handle several containers simultaneously by a container transfer device.
One object of the invention is to provide a device for use in connection with a container transfer device, for example, a straddle carrier, and a method in which the auxiliary device is used.
With a view to achieving the objects described above as well as those coming out later, the device according to the invention is mainly characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.
The method according to the invention is in turn mainly characterized in what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 10.
The invention can be applied in connection with the handling of containers that comply in respect of their height with the standards in force such that the location of the corner fittings is known. One exemplifying embodiment of the invention is suitable for handling containers that comply with the standard in respect of their length, but another exemplifying embodiment of the invention is suitable for use also in connection with containers the length of which does not comply with the standard.
One requirement of the method and the device in accordance with the invention is that the containers placed one upon the other and handled at the same time by the device and in the method shall be of equal length. Height does not impose any limitations.
The device used in connection with the invention is a lifting device which is attached to a length-adjustable gripping member of a container transfer device, for example, a straddle carrier and which enables two or more containers to be lifted and transported.
In accordance with the invention, the device comprises members which are attached to the apertures of the container corner fittings and which attachment members have been placed on the end pieces of the device which have been connected to each other by means of longitudinal frame structures. The frame structure of the device can be fixed or telescopic, so that its length can be adjusted.
In accordance with the invention, the device comprises attachment members placed on the end pieces of the device such that those attachment members which are not needed in lifting containers of a certain height, i.e which are not in use, have been placed such that they retract inside, for example, by applying spring loading, by means of a gas pump or an electric device, so that they will not impede the gripping of the attachment members in use.
In accordance with the invention, the end pieces have been connected to each other such that each end piece engages the corner fittings of the lowermost container(s) and, even though the containers stacked on each other would be misaligned, the attachment members find their way to their positions in the corner fitting apertures. Because of this advantageous additional feature, the arrangement in accordance with the invention takes into account the usual small inaccuracy in stacking because, in practice, containers are never exactly one upon the other. The device in accordance with the invention centers itself such that it grips both or a plurality of stacked containers. The centering can be carried out by means of an actuator, springs, pumps and equivalent.
In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention, the driver of the container transfer device, for example, a straddle carrier, is supplied with information about pins positioned in place, for example, by means of flaps, signal lights or equivalent signaling means known in themselves.
The invention is particularly well suited to the handling of empty containers weighing less than 5000 kg, but full/heavier containers can also be handled by means of it. The invention is particularly well suited to the handling of containers of standard length, in particular 20 and 40 foot containers.
In accordance with one advantageous additional feature of the invention, when it is desirable to handle containers of non-standard length, it is possible to use the device of the invention that, in accordance with an advantageous additional feature, has been provided with telescopic or slide beams, whereby the length of the device can be adjusted.
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the figures in the appended drawing, but the invention is not meant by any means to be narrowly limited to the details of them.
As shown in
In the situation shown in
As shown in
The length of the gripping member of the container transfer device is shortened from 35 feet to 30 feet, so that the spindle pins 31 on the end pieces 12 are inserted in through the end apertures of the top corner fittings 21 of the lower container 20. If the lower container 20 is not quite exactly aligned with the upper container 20, a spindle beam 17 moves in a lateral direction and guide members 37 (
In
If the containers to be lifted are 20 feet long, the pins on the frame at the 20 foot container 20 are lowered into the apertures of the top corner fittings 21. After that, the operation is continued as described above.
As shown in the figures, in accordance with the invention, in the lower part of the end frameworks 12 there are attachment members 31, 32, for example, spindle pins at two different levels, thus enabling the handling of both 8½ foot and 9½ foot high containers 20. These attachment members 31, 32 include guides 34 and a mechanism 37 which enables handling of the container 20 although they would not be quite exactly on top of each other.
As shown in the application of
The frame 10 of the device 30 in accordance with the invention is provided with guides and it is a framework that is, for example, about 12 m long and 2.5 m wide, and it incorporates the guide pins 34 needed for the alignment of the invention, as well as the end pieces 12 moving on its guides 11. As shown in
As shown in
Above, the invention has been described with reference to some of its advantageous exemplifying embodiments only, but the invention is not meant by any means to be narrowly limited to the details of them.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20021249 | Jun 2002 | FI | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/FI03/00469 | 6/12/2003 | WO | 6/30/2005 |