KR20140053902A - A container handling and flow system, use thereof and method of handling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The container handling and flow system includes a plurality of base elements (1, 31) for mounting on top of the containers and fixtures for locking the base elements on the corner fittings (14) of the container. The base elements are elongated and have a length corresponding to the width of the containers to be handled, and the system may include base elements of different lengths corresponding to different container standards. The fixtures are disposed one at each end of the base element at a distance corresponding to the distance between the corner fittings. The base elements have sufficient strength and stiffness to allow the load of the second or more containers to move across or on a pair of base elements mounted on the first container.

Description

≪ Desc / Clms Page number 1 > A container handling and flow system, a use thereof, and a container handling and flow system,

The present invention relates to a container handling, operation and flow system comprising a plurality of base elements mounted on containers and fasteners for locking the base elements to the corner fitting of the container.

The above system provides quick and easy container handling in container terminals as well as in onboard vessels and is disclosed in the international application PCT / DK 2008/050245. These base elements are designed to lie on the containers at the terminals and onboard vessels. Empty containers and loaded containers, such as ISO shipping containers, may or may not be carried on the base elements, wherein the base elements are preferably configured to form a path, And may be used to transport cranes, shuttles, and other base elements, among others.

It is expected that container shipping will continue to occur globally in the future. The continuing trend toward larger and newer container ship designs increases the importance of harbors and transhipment hubs due to the growing relevance of hub-and-spoke shipment. Moreover, customers require inexperienced supply chains, which are made possible through more efficient and advanced supply chains by optimal exchange and direct transport. In particular, the productivity and functionality of terminals, warehouses and vessels are essential factors in this process to achieve a high level of efficiency in the entire chain requiring new technologies and methods.

The operation of the container terminal can be differentiated into four groups: vessel anchoring, crane operation, internal terminal transport and optimal storage and stacking of containers. The port generally tries to achieve the shortest anchoring time for the container change volume required, taking all of the above factors into account. For these very characteristic and complex tasks, harbors sometimes require up to a month of planning time in advance, because many limited and conflicting variables need to be considered and managed to achieve the best overall solution. Containers often need to move in and out of terminals, warehouses, ships, and so on. Complex data calculations are thus performed to determine the optimal storage locations for containers and their transport. The stacking of containers in terminals for lamination and stacking of the vessels is often stacked only three to five stories high today, in order to simplify the operation of the harbor and ensure stability to the wind and otherwise stability can not be guaranteed. Also, the need to frequently re-stack the containers to allow access to the currently employed equipment and the one container required in the raised stack is too complex and economically too inefficient to organize. Moreover, actual work is always slowed down by overloaded areas of the yard, crane interference, traffic congestion, equipment failure, or storage problems. Such problems spread rapidly throughout the system and negatively affect all related operations. As a result, vessels' docking time is long, their investment in terminals is expensive, the operation of the terminals is complex, loud and energy consuming, difficult to organize and maintain, unstable and limited.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container handling and flow system, which is a more optimized and simplified process, with increased performance and functionality of the technology, reduced operating costs and emissions.

This object is achieved by a container handling and flow system in which the base elements have a length corresponding to the width of the containers to be elongated and handled, the system may comprise base elements of different lengths corresponding to different container standards And the fasteners are disposed one at each end of the base element at a distance corresponding to the distance between the corner fittings, the base elements carrying a load of one or more container (s) and moving across a pair of base elements It has sufficient strength and stiffness to allow it to rest on top of it.

Now the base elements are considerably smaller than in PCT / DK2008 / 050245 and therefore the need for costly cranes in container handling can be reduced because of their ease of handling and storage. The base elements may be installed in the containers throughout the entire loading time from the initial position (A) to the final position (B) along all or at least part of the transport chain and storage. This flexibility ensures basic facility capacity and correct handling at the actual point of demand. This is not possible today as many ports around the globe are experiencing bottlenecks in infrastructure, and it will take years to overcome them with today's technology as a very risky and costly long-term investment. As a novel invention, an easy solution is provided, which can easily control the volumes to be handled.

To provide base elements that can span the width of two or more containers placed in pairs or in adjacent rows of the same container or in the same row. The base elements can be used to provide increased stability when the containers are stacked in such a manner that the containers are mounted on a ship or stored in a terminal or a warehouse. However, the interconnect may be used to interconnect two or more containers into a single unit, and a single unit may be treated as one. In particular, the use of a single unit sets a particular demand for fixtures, which can be of any kind, including conventional twist locks. The structural design of the base elements is particularly made to transfer loads from one or more stacked containers below one or more stacks and to take heavy loads from containers and goods that are connected to or are on top of others .

The base elements can be mounted on the top or bottom of the container or can be mounted on both the top and bottom. The upper base elements and the lower base elements do not need to be identical and at least some of the upper and / or lower base elements are designed to engage with each other such that the lower base elements placed on top of the upper base elements of the other containers It is desirable that it can be maintained. This can be accomplished by locking the upper and lower base elements stationary with each other with a fixture such as a twist lock or by providing a groove in one of the base elements and a projection in the other, Can move across the lowermost container, but is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction. These two types of mutual locking can of course be combined.

Preferably, at least some of the base elements are provided with rollers, wheels or conveyors, which are driven by a roller motor, a conveyor drive, a push / pull system or the like capable of moving at least one container Or may be passive. Ideally, the wheels or rollers of the upper base elements should be made so that a common standard ISO container can be moved over the rollers or wheels from element to element without the need for additional elements or attachments, such as bottom base elements do. This can be accomplished by using wheels or rollers of small dimensions and / or by placing the wheels adjacent and / or diagonally together and / or by superimposing the wheels on top of each other. This particularly reduces the need for crane and similar equipment used to handle containers in terminals and warehouses, but is also the case for onboard vessels. Ideally, the drive unit should have an engine such as an electric, hybrid, fuel cell, magnetic or the like, having sufficient power to move one or more containers and / or move the containers across a series of multiple elements. It is also advantageous that at least some of the base elements are capable of stopping or at least slowing the container or other unit moving across them and possibly also providing brakes that can again obtain kinetic energy by doing so. The base elements should preferably include a vibration damper, which will optimize the dynamic load distribution on the elements. Such vibration attenuators may be integrated along the entire base element or may only be found at connection points to the container.

However, if the opposite base elements (bottom or top, respectively) have wheels or rollers, or if the wheels or rollers are integrated in containers such as those disclosed in PCT / DK2009 / 050168, Bridges are available.

The design details of the base elements will, of course, depend on the number of built-in functional elements and their intended purpose, but the base elements shaped as a bridge with longitudinally curved sides may include suspension or damping means Or not include, while at the same time keeping weight and required investment down.

Container handling and flow systems include: roof and / or sidewall systems for protection against carriers, cranes, lashing devices, supply and / or stabilizing elements, water, wind and sunlight, Security solutions, light, lamps, CCTV and control cameras, remote control units, wireless systems or Bluetooth systems, network solutions, RFID and / or memory and control chips, Weight balance and trim for gensets, engines, power packs, flywheels, batteries, capacitors, chargers, cooling systems, grooved tracks, containers, stacks and vessels sensors for sensing distance, container and lamination stability, damage, movement, weather, etc., and one or more functional elements selected from the group consisting of air / gas or electricity supply, It may further include, and the functional elements, or separate, or are (s) connected to the grouping unit, or are integrated in the base element. It should be noted that each functional element may instead be mounted or integrated in the shuttle which is driven through the base elements or along the base elements, thereby reducing the cost of the standard base element or container in that way. Due to such additional functions, the positioning of the container in a vessel, terminal or warehouse is simplified because the containers can be stacked anywhere and can act modularly and without requiring additional floor space, As in the case of FIG. Second, this solution avoids a very expensive terminal deployment where the above functions are integrated into the terminal's infrastructure. Today, these functional elements often have to be integrated into the terminal's infrastructure, where heavy loads need to be carried up, which is expensive to implement, requires surface space, hinders everyday work and / Loss of work. Third, monitoring containers and their movement can contribute to good control of the job.

It is particularly advantageous to use differently installed base elements and a combination of different units, since base elements and other units with the necessary features before use can be installed modularly.

The containers in which the upper base elements are installed can be configured to form a path for the other containers and / or can be constructed at the terminal or at the vessel, so that they can be used for shuttle and / Thereby forming an access path to the exchange carrier and / or the container.

At least some of the containers in the lower row of container stacks on the deck are tied to prevent the containers from slipping or tilting in bad weather and causing instability of the ship, loss of cargo and / or damage to the ship structure However, according to the present invention, lashings are also used on the ground to stabilize containers against dynamic loads when strong winds and, for example, container stacks are moved. It is therefore desirable that the base elements be interconnected in brick mode or other types so as to sufficiently tie and secure the container. Alternatively, at least some of the base elements may include connectors, tracks, or other types of bundle elements for attachment of the bundle elements. Conventional bundling equipment is known, for example, from German patent DE 10005887A1 and therefore is not described in detail here.

When the bundling function is provided as part of the base element it is possible to safely tie and stabilize the containers and stacks whenever necessary and this can optionally be done in an automatic manner so that all stacks of heat and / It provides fast speed and flexible bundling. Apart from the traditional bundling equipment which can be locked into the openings in the base elements, the use of interconnections of the upper and lower base elements or other elongate elements interconnecting adjacent containers may provide the necessary stabilization, Traditional bundles can be supplemented. Alternatively, a lashing system consisting of a common container fitting and / or base elements can be conceived with the shuttle carrying part provided with the arms provided and the traditional or improved bundling means removed.

In this way, a simple and efficient system can be created that can be remotely managed without the need to position the cargo personnel in hazardous locations. In addition, such a system is much faster and more flexible in operation than currently known bundling solutions. Of course, such solutions may also be used to provide more flexibility in stiffness and safety, for example in flexible containers such as those described in PCT / DK2009 / 050168 or flexible And can be used as a stabilized embodiment that can move automatically.

The flexible bundling function may be used to support container stacks at terminals, warehouses or the like, wherein the container stacks are placed on top of each other and move through the terminal or warehouse on the base elements or tracks in the course of the flow. In the preferred container flow process, all containers or many containers can be moved, which enables the exchange of ISO containers at first without lifting at the terminal or warehouse. The containers are only rolled / moved forward, backward, or laterally on the base elements as needed. The container may be moved from one laminate to another, with or without lift means, drive means or rolling means, or from one laminate to a fixed shelf system and / or to a special carriage have. Such a complete flow system creates a flexible solution, which allows container stacks to be positioned as close as possible to one another and as far apart as needed, allowing for optimal use of space in confined areas, And is more space efficient than solutions in today's ports. Second, the use of modern software and simulation flow solutions reduces the need to lift containers because the container locations are frequently changed, and therefore frequently accessible, changeable in time as well as economically more efficiently.

In an ideal solution, this process can reduce the need for energy by being combined with the inclined support surface. The warp can form a straight line with or without sideways integrated from one end of the terminal or warehouse, or it can be constructed from lines and curves, Allows to roll / move to the pier. Although a three-dimensional inclined surface structure can be conceived, it is too expensive to be realized. Thus lifting occurs once or several times and the lifting can be concentrated in one or several places in the terminal or warehouse. In order to compensate for the effect of inclination, the bottom container transport or bottom base elements are made in a negative passive form with respect to the tilt angle to ensure that the container stack itself has no or little angle, The angle of the sieve shall be avoided for the safety of the cargo and the safety of the work. Of course, active hydraulics may also be employed for height level equalization of the stacks as an integrated unit for base elements or bottom conveyors or as a separate unit. Negative elements and / or hydraulic devices may be configured to take two or more container stacks at the same height level to facilitate the operation of the shuttle and carrier to drive along the attachment for pick-up and exchange of cargo . Tilt solutions do not have major advantages solely on transhipment hubs related to energy, exhaust gas, work planning complexity, and time requirements. Such a concept of flexibility not only allows the buffer paths of the containers to be constructed at the upper level as described in PCT / DK2008 / 050245, but is now also possible at all levels of the container floors so that all stacked containers can be moved have. Thus, at the terminals, the entire vessel cargo can be moved and stored together optimally over time, and the container cargoes can be exchanged optimally for the best possible shipping efficiency. This new kind of flexibility allows for improved internal terminal / warehouse transport systems and fast loading and unloading of vessels, trucks and trains as well as improved space-optimized container stacking methods while reducing overall work time in the terminal / warehouse . Some of the present invention also relates to a necessary software and control management system, which ensures that the correct ISO-container is in place at the desired time within the terminal or warehouse, enabling all operations to be tracked and smooth and energy- Ensure that cargo is shipped. Such a system may be controlled from a central external system and possibly remotely controlled via network systems from other points in the world, but may be controlled by other systems, such as base stations, carriers and / To be organized in a decentralized manner, which will improve the efficiency, maintenance and operational stability of the modularized flow solution. However, such distributed systems as a whole have interfaces for exchanging data and information with external networks for supervision and satisfaction of customer demand.

Furthermore, such a system may be used for opening side containers such as those described in PCT / DK2009 / 50167, as well as between those means or other means for transport such as trucks, trains, cars, etc., It is most suitable for cargo exchange. For this purpose, the container handling and flow system may further include attachment or adjustment members for being integrated into the container or directly mounted. These may be, for example, rail elements that are attached to the upper corner fittings of the containers and span their length, so that they can serve as support for the load carriers and thus can be used as described in PCT / DK2009 / 050167 For example, for boxes, it is possible to build a fully functional warehouse system that allows quick and easy exchange of container loads. Such attachment members can utilize existing container profiles and / or forklift holes / recesses by appropriate negative patterns to optimally distribute the load and allow for greater flexibility.

With respect to the mounting of the base elements, this can be done in several ways, but it is desirable to be mounted by a robot or mechanical system, preferably at a first contact point in the warehouse or container terminal, so as to keep the labor cost to a minimum . Storage and / or supply systems for storing and delivering the base elements, respectively, are an advantageous part of the system according to the invention, which can be provided adjacent to the mounting facility or provided elsewhere. The mounting, storing or delivering equipment includes or is supplemented by one or more control units to ensure the installation of appropriately functioning ready-to-use elements.

Alternatively, or as a supplement, the container handling and flow system may be configured to mount or separate base components to or from other base components that have already been mounted, It can contain more parts, allowing flexible installation at any point. However, it can set specific limits on the design of the base element. As an example, when viewed from the mounting position, the height of the base element is greater than its width, and thus, when rotated about 90 degrees about its own length axis, between two containers mounted on top of each other, Lt; / RTI > In this way, the base elements can be moved to virtually any location in the array formed by the containers in the loading vessel or terminal with minimal effort and equipment. For the same reason, the base elements may be specially designed to include a grooved path, where the spare elements can be moved and / or placed by being pulled or pushed. Of course, such grooved paths may be used for the modularly designed functional elements described above.

It may be advantageous if the containers are to be transported to another location, in particular using the container handling and flow system according to the invention, that the base elements are left on the container as they are delivered to the vessel, truck or train. This avoids separation and subsequent re-mounting of the base elements and may be used during transport if base elements are provided, for example, with bundling functions. The mounting optimally prepares the cargo within the vessel and / or containers for the next destination by providing the possibility of changing the load locations of the container during navigation, which is optimized by the supply chains And the need for handling. Part of the present invention therefore relates to an appropriate container vessel design wherein the containers may be arranged in a manner not only within the hull as well as inside the hull, from one laminate over deck to another laminate, and / or from one row to another, By means of elements or means according to FIG. For this purpose, but not limited thereto, the base elements are made to be connectable to additional vertical and horizontal reinforcement members and can be constructed as a fully functional shelf and storage system in a modular system .

The base elements are preferably made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of composites comprising metals such as steel, plastic and fiber reinforced materials. In any case, the material should be suitable for transmitting and / or absorbing forces generated by moving the goods and / or containers.

In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a container having a first type of upper base element.
2 is a perspective view of a container having a second type of upper base element.
Figures 3 and 4 are side views of third and fourth types of upper base elements.
5 is a perspective view of two containers on top of each other with a fifth type of upper base element and a lower base element.
6A-6C are cross-sectional views of different types of cooperating upper and lower base elements.
7 is a perspective view of the mounting of the sixth type of upper base element.
8 is a perspective view of a series of containers with upper base elements and adjustment members.
Figs. 9 to 11 are views showing the end portion showing an example of the bundle.
12A-12C are cross-sectional views of different types of attachment members.
Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views of three-dimensional arrays of containers.
15 is a perspective view of a warehouse solution.
16A to 16C are sectional views showing the installation of containers in the warehouse of Fig.

Figure 1 shows a container with upper base elements 1 attached to an upper corner fitting 14 so as to span across the width of the container at each end. To this end, a fastener (not shown), such as twist locks, is provided which, although desirable, does not necessarily have to be integrated into the base elements.

On the upper surfaces, the base elements (1) are provided with wheels (16). These are passive so that they can simply allow another container to pass over it without substantial friction, or actively allow the container seated on top of the base element to move. In the latter case, the base element includes an internal motor (not shown) and is powered via a hitch 9, shown in FIG. 1, and a suitable connection socket.

In this manner, it should be understood that whenever reference is made to a container that moves across base elements or overlying base elements, it also applies to other objects such as lifting devices or other types of storage units.

The side surfaces of the base elements facing away from the container are provided with longitudinal protrusions 17 which serve as a rail for additional equipment or serve for connection with other base elements as will be described later . Finally, the end surfaces of the base elements are provided with connectors 9 for interconnection with other base elements. These connectors may be simple protrusions that are used only for mechanical connections, or may be electrical connectors for supplying energy to the internal motor, for example, or may be any of the ones included in the base elements A fluid connector according to functional elements, or the like. It will be appreciated that although the connectors 9 are shown here at only one end of the base elements, the connectors may also be provided at the opposite end surfaces. These may be identical to those shown, but it is desirable that the connectors at the opposite ends of the base element are made to cooperate, for example, as plugs and sockets.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment in which the upper base elements 1 are provided with grooved tracks 18 instead of the longitudinal protrusions 17. [ Moreover, the base elements are made here as a curved lower portion 1 ', which provides the shape of a simple bridge in order to provide the best possible balance between the weight and the strength of the base element.

1 is that the adjustment members 19 extend along the container sides along the length of the container, thereby interconnecting the ends of the base elements 1 such that the frame is formed at the top of the container. This not only provides strength and stiffness to the stack of containers, but also the adjustment members have a curved lower side 19 ', which also allows other containers to move across the length of the container. For this purpose, the wheels 16 are also provided with adjustable members and in this case all the wheels on both base elements and adjustment members are preferably retractable or rotatable so that they are perpendicular to the direction shown in Figure 2 Thereby avoiding friction.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the upper base element 1, but has a wheel 16 and a connector 9 for connection to the other base elements. These base elements are further provided with fasteners 20 for connection to a container on which the base element is mounted and to a container that can be potentially placed on top of the base element. Moreover, the connectors 20 'are provided for interconnecting with the bottom base elements or carriers as will be described later. Finally, the base element of Fig. 3 is provided with brakes for stopping or braking the wheels to hold the container disposed above the base element stationary or to stop the container from moving across the base element. When slowed or stopped by the brakes, it may provide for storing and accumulating the kinetic energy of the container or the like, and the base element may comprise a battery or other suitable hardware (not shown). The accumulated energy may be used to drive an internal motor, or it may be used to provide other functional elements as described below.

Embodiments of the upper base element 1 shown in Figures 1-3 are well suited for carrying containers with bottom base elements, which provide a relatively smooth lower portion. However, if carrying containers without bottom base elements, a design such as that shown in Fig. 4 would be convenient. As is known to those skilled in the art, most cargo containers are made to transmit all loads through the corner fittings 14, while the walls and the edges therebetween have limited load bearing capabilities. Thus, the corner fittings protrude slightly beyond the side, bottom and roof of the container, so that only the corner fittings become contact points when the container is placed on the top or a level surface of another container. However, when the distance between the points of contact with the wheels is passed over a series of wheels 16, such as on the relatively far-away base elements of Figs. 1-3, the corner fittings lose contact, The load on the top is at the point of low levitation, which is in contact with the wheel. In order to avoid this, the center distance D between the wheels, rollers or balls should be smaller than the width of the corner fittings of containers to be handled, depending on the process of the movement direction. Thus for ISO containers the distance must be less than 162 mm when the movement traverses the container and less than 178 mm when the movement is longitudinal. It should be noted that in this respect, Figures 3 and 4 are not made for measurement, but are intended only as exemplary sketches.

The alternative, of course, is to use a belt or chain, which provides overall or substantially continuous support, but the wheels or rollers generally tend to require less maintenance. Especially since base elements can be used even if one or several wheels fail.

A fifth type of upper base element 1, in which conditioning elements as in FIG. 2 are provided, is shown in FIG. These base elements 1 also have a curved lower portion 1 ', but neither the longitudinal protrusions nor the grooves can be regarded as a simplified type. The wheels are now replaced by balls 16 ', thereby avoiding the potential directional problems associated with wheels or rollers having fixed axes as described above.

The top container shown in Figure 5 further includes a set of bottom base elements 31 corresponding to the top base elements 1 with respect to attachment structure and mode, but without balls or wheels. The adjustment members 32 are also added to the bottom base elements, such as the upper base elements, so that the frame is formed at the bottom of the container, but the adjustment members are positioned at the top of the container Or at the bottom.

6a to 6c, there are shown three possible combinations of upper base elements 1 and base base elements 31, the upper base element of Fig. 6a corresponding to the upper base element of Fig. 1 , The upper base element of Fig. 6B corresponds to the upper base element of Fig. The upper base element of Fig. 6c corresponds to the upper base of Fig. 5, except that it has a wheel 16 instead of a ball 16 '. As can be appreciated, the bottom base elements 31 are all provided with grooves which serve as tracks for the wheels and thus contribute to keeping the top container in place, but on the one side of the wheels It may be sufficient to provide an elevated edge. Furthermore, the function of the upper and lower base elements can be swapped so that the wheels or balls are provided to the base base elements instead of being in the upper base elements, and vice versa for other functional elements, including those described hereinafter .

A more complex embodiment of the upper base elements 1 is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the left side is shown in the mounted state, while the right side is shown in its state before being mounted by the remote operation carrier 13 Respectively. In the type shown here, the carrier and base plate elements themselves are configured in a slim form so that the carrier can pass between two containers mounted on top of each other while carrying the base element. For this purpose, the base element may be extensible, possibly telescopic, inflatable, or have a width less than the height, carried at the lying-down position shown in FIG. 7, ) ≪ / RTI >

In addition to the structure of the base element in Fig. 7, such a base element does not have a wheel or the like, but on its track there is provided a protruding edge 2 for holding the wheels of the base base element of the other container. The base elements include tracks 18 as shown in Figures 2 and 6B and fixtures 20 for connection to container corner fittings 14, here twist-locks, Here, it further comprises connectors from the base element to the base element, in the form of an inductive unit 8 for data and electrical transmission, and a disconnect connector 9 for cooling air exchange.

The additional functional elements in the base elements in Fig. 7 are the cooling fluid sockets 6 for the power supply sockets 5, in particular for Porthole or Conair containers, for separating the base element from the container (10,12) on the side surface facing the hand-held handle bar (7), locking or lashing hole (15) and the container in the mounted state, wherein the grooves in a negative form of a twist lock, so as to keep the additional elements in place, and also to allow the remote carrying parts to be driven respectively along the elements. Finally, CCTV equipment (4), RFID chips, cameras and / or remote operation control units, which can be assisted by satellite monitoring equipment, are provided for efficient electronic monitoring and handling of containers. Moreover, along with integrated functional elements such as, for example, satellite and / or CCTV in the base element, containers can be constantly controlled and monitored globally via a network or web-based solution. Solutions are currently often impossible because different container solutions exist on the market or because remote operating units do not yet provide this functionality. Such systems can, in principle, be fitted to real containers, but they are not economical and are not reasonably operational. However, by incorporating such solutions into base elements, such services can be provided without changing the standard of known containers, ISO, or others.

As shown in Figure 7, the base element may be provided with grooved tracks on the outer side, i.e., a side surface that faces away from the mounted container and a groove on the opposite side of the inner side Grooved tracks may be provided. An example of the use of these grooves is shown in Figure 8, wherein the adjusting elements 34, 35 are provided with protruding protrusions 35 on their sides, the protruding protrusions being inserted into the recesses. The control elements 33, 34 shown here also have grooves on the sides intended to serve as tracks for other equipment, because they overlap the two base elements, so that groups or arrays formed by the containers, . ≪ / RTI >

Another example of the use of grooved tracks deviating from the container is shown in Figure 9 wherein the grooves 18 on both the upper base element 1 and the lower base element 31 are lashing device, 21). This lashing provides extra stiffness to the container and thus provides increased stability when the other containers are subsequently placed on top. However, the element shown at the bottom of the container also indicates the upper base element of the underlying container (not shown), in which case the bundling device 21 holds the two containers together as a unit. Likewise, the element shown at the top of the container may be the bottom base element of the container (not shown) thereon.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 differs slightly from the embodiment of FIG. 9 in that the bundling device 22 is attached to the corner fitting 14 of the container. Here, although it is an upper corner fitting portion, it may be a bottom corner fitting portion. Moreover, the bundling device 22 shown here is much thinner than the bundling device 21 shown in Fig. 9, which means that several different types of devices, especially with different strengths depending on demand, can be employed ≪ / RTI > If made from a material that allows for a very thin and foldable design, the binding device can be accommodated in a groove or recess in the top and / or bottom base elements when not in use.

The functions of the bundling devices 21 and 22 of Figs. 9 and 10 are shown in Fig. As shown, this has an overall shape of X where the angle between the legs can be varied according to what is indicated by arrow (a), and the end members 23 adjust the length indicated by arrow b And may be telescoped into and out of the legs. In this way, the size of the packaged device can be adjusted to different container standards within certain limits, but more importantly, can be stored and moved to the intended use position in the folded state and then extended for attachment . To this end, the end members 23 are provided with a wheel 25 and connectors 24 for engaging the base elements and / or corner fittings, Can be moved between the forward engagement position and the retracted position, as shown in FIG. Preferably, the movement of the different parts of the bundling device is automated, preferably remotely controlled, so that the bundling action can be done without operator intervention or with less intervention of the operator.

However, the bundle of containers may be accomplished by a brick arrangement of simple overlap and interconnections of the top and / or bottom base elements such that one container has its middle portion on the gap between two neighboring containers . The connectors 20 'shown on the base element in Fig. 3 can be used for this purpose.

An alternative to the adjustment elements 33 shown in Fig. 8 are attachment elements such as those shown in Figs. 12A-12C, which may be active or self-driving units, or may be pure passive attachments, , Reinforcing means, bundling means or feeding means. These attachment elements 36,37 and 38 are connected to the sides of the corner fitting 14 of the container in such a way that they are in principle independent of the upper base elements 1 attached to the upper side of the corner fitting, . However, a combined solution of a base element and such an attachment can also be envisaged. The attachment element 36 of Fig. 12A constitutes a groove 18 corresponding to that shown in Figs. 2 and 6B and the attachment element 37 of Fig. 12B comprises a protrusion 17 corresponding to that shown in Figs. 1 and 6A , Whereas the attachment element 38 of Figure 12C constitutes a ledge 39 The distance retaining portion 40, made of rubber or the like, ensures the minimum spacing between the containers and serves as protection and stop members in the container flow storage solution. However, such a distance holding portion may be configured as a connector or a power supply portion.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a three dimensional array of containers having an upper base element 1, a lower base element 31 and attachment elements 38 as shown in Figure 12C. As shown, the attachment elements 38 extend from one corner fitting to the other corner fitting with substantially the same length as the container and have small reinforcements 41 spaced along the length. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the common base element or the modified base element is mounted directly on the support surface, i. E., Directly on the floor, floor or deck. Thus, negative locking holes as known from standard integrated container mating portions are provided on the support surface. Such a system is very flexible and adjustable for a wide variety of container sizes and volumes.

14 shows an example of the use of a ledge-type attachment members, wherein a pick-up carrier 29 runs on attachment elements along paths or passages formed between containers , The cargo 3 is taken in and out of the container of the open side. The carrier may have approximately the same height and width as the base elements 1, 31 used in the containers in the array means so that the carriers may be used to carry or store all of the containers, Their connection to the containers of the container should, of course, be dimensioned accordingly. The carriers may run on a paper or other support surface, or may be placed on top of a stack of containers, and any of these carriers may include means for lifting and lowering the entire container or other load.

The underlying concept behind using base elements to accept functional elements and deliver loads may be employed as a solution in the warehouse shown in FIG. Wherein the containers are provided with a rack 50 made of a shelf element 51, a pillar 52 and a bracing 53 similar to the base elements in Figures 2B, 6B, 7 and 8, , Where the bracing may advantageously be the binding device shown in Figures 9-11. The shelf elements are provided with wheels 56 to allow the containers to be placed thereon and easily moved into and out of the rack, even if wheeled bottom base elements are not provided. The shelf elements 51 further comprise grooves 58 which in this embodiment hold appropriate shelves in unoccupied spaces by the containers, for equipment running between the containers It can serve as a track.

Figs. 16A-16C show different embodiments of the detail shown by E in Fig. The embodiment of Figure 16A corresponds to that shown in Figure 15 wherein the shelf elements 51 are provided with wheels 56 and the container 55 is fitted with a bottom base element 31, (14) and serves to distribute the loads from the points of contact with the wheels.

Figure 16b shows two different embodiments, in which the bottom base element 31 in the right example is provided with wheels 46 running in the groove of the shelf element 51, and in the example of the left, 51 are provided with a runner with one or more wheels for transporting the containers.

Finally, FIG. 16C shows what can be referred to as a hybrid solution, wherein the wheels 56 are provided on an insert member 59 inserted in the groove of the shelf element. This increases the flexibility of the warehouse system because such insertion members can be easily removed and replaced by others with different functions.

Figure 15 shows a completed container stack flow system in which each container is movable, Figures 13 and 14 show a stacked system on the other, where a single container is immovable (not shown) ) The moving element is mounted underneath the lowermost container or the containers are simply stacked on the ground.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is only defined by the claims, and the features described in each of these embodiments may be implemented in other ways than described, As shown in FIG. For example, the features described above with respect to the upper base element can be employed in the lower base element.

1. Base element 14. Corner fitting
16. Wheel 17. Projection

Claims (23)

A container handling and flow system, comprising: a plurality of base elements for mounting on a container; and fasteners for locking the base elements to a corner fitting of the container,
The base elements have a length corresponding to the width of the containers to be handled and to be handled and the handling and flow system of the container comprises base elements of different lengths corresponding to different container standards,
The fasteners are disposed one by one at each end of the base element at a distance corresponding to the distance between the corner fittings and wherein the base elements are movable across a pair of base elements or a load of one or more containers placed on a pair of base elements Wherein the container has sufficient strength and stiffness to permit delivery of the container. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising base elements that can span the width of two or more containers disposed side by side. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
At least some of the base elements may be driven by roller motors, conveyor drives, push / pull systems or the like capable of moving at least one container, or may be passive , Rollers, wheels or conveyors, brakes, vibration dampers and / or means for regenerating / collecting kinetic energy. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
Roof and / or side wall systems for protection against water, wind and sunlight, safety and security solutions, light, , Lamps, CCTV and control cameras, remote control units, wireless systems or Bluetooth systems, network solutions, RFID and / or memory and control chips, gensets, engines, power packs, Weight balancing and trimming means for wheels, batteries, capacitors, chargers, cooling systems, grooved tracks, containers, laminates and vessels, distance, container and stacking stability, damage, movement, weather Sensors for sensing the air / gas or electricity, and a supply of air / gas or electricity, wherein the functional elements are separate units or base elements Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > container handling and flow system. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
At least some of the base elements may be interconnected or may include connectors or tracks or lashing elements for attachment of the bundle elements, and the bundle elements or connectors may preferably be automatically operated, Container handling and flow systems. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
The container handling and flow system further comprises adjustment members or attachment members to be integrated or directly mounted in the containers. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
Wherein the base elements are shaped as a bridge with longitudinally curved sides. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
Further comprising an electronic control system having a storage facility and / or a supply system and / or preferably a remote communication for storing and delivering the base elements, respectively. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
Further comprises mounting and / or supply carriers for driving the base elements along other base elements that have already been mounted, or other base elements that have already been mounted, for mounting or dismounting the base elements on other containers and / Container handling and flow systems, including. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
Wherein the height of at least one type of base element is greater than the width when viewed in the mounted position. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,
Wherein the base elements are made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a metal such as steel, a plastic, and a composite comprising a fiber-attenuating material. Use of a container handling and flow system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 in container terminals, warehouses or onboard vessels. (a) disposing at least two base elements on a first container;
(b) locking the base elements to the corner fittings of the first container using fasteners on the base elements, the corner fittings being attached to opposite corners at the same end of the first container Locking the base elements;
(c) placing a first container in the stacks on at least one of the first and second base elements so that a load of one or more containers placed on top of the pair of base elements or moving across the pair of base elements can be transmitted through the base elements. And placing the container with a container. 14. The method of claim 13,
Further comprising the step of mounting base elements on both the top and bottom of the containers prior to placing the containers in the stack, wherein the top and bottom base elements may be of different configurations. The method according to claim 13 or 14,
Wherein the base elements are mounted at a first point of contact in a warehouse or container terminal, preferably by a robotic system or a mechanical system. 16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15,
Wherein the containers in which the base elements are installed are arranged to form a path for the other containers. 17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16,
Wherein the containers in which the base elements are installed are disposed in the terminals or vessels to form access paths to the container carriers. 18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17,
Wherein two or more containers are interconnected using base elements to form a moveable unit. 19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18,
Wherein the base elements are left on the container when delivered to a vessel, truck or train. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19,
Wherein the containers are stacked on a carrier or base element and are moved on a path through a terminal, a warehouse or a vessel without being substantially lifted. 21. The method of claim 20,
Wherein the paths are inclined and the containers are preferably disposed on negative height equalization carriers. 22. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 21,
Wherein the containers to be relocated to different rows / stacks are moved to the carriers. 23. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 22,
The handling and handling of containers within a terminal, warehouse or ship is controlled by an operating system and software that is centrally or autonomously controlled to optimally move and position the containers.

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