Optical device for the automatic loading and unloading of containers onto vehicles
First Claim
1. Method for load transfer in a container storage space for standard containers, with a stacker crane for the containers servicing the container storage space, controllable by a logistical management data processing (DP) system, wherein the stacker crane can travel between a storage place for each container and a loading platform of a transport vehicle of a container that can travel in the area of the container storage space, wherein the stacker crane has a load suspension device for depositing the container on the loading platform, which can be oriented with respect to it, the method of loading the transport vehicle comprising:
- a) identifying the transport vehicle and transferring the data generated in this way to the logistical management DP system, b) providing a calibrated camera system, detecting defined identification points on the loading platform of the transport vehicle with said camera system and transferring coordinates of the identification points to the logistical management DP system, c) comparing with the logistical management DP system the coordinates of the identification points against the data of the container being loaded as stored in the DP system and determining the fastener to be assigned to this container and position coordinates on the loading platform of the transport vehicle, d) driving the stacker crane under computer control with the container to be loaded above the loading platform of the transport vehicle, above the position coordinate, wherein the position coordinate is defined by the vertical position of the loading platform and by the point of intersection of the diagonals of the identification points of the loading platform, wherein the position coordinate describes the target position of the container, e) providing a calibrated camera system arranged on the trolley of the stacker crane, detecting the fastener of the loading platform and selectively moving the container so that the fastener of the container is positioned above the coordinated fastener of the loading platform, f) setting down the container on the loading platform of the transport vehicle such that the fastener of the container and the coordinated fastener of the loading platform mate together at the end of the setdown process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an automatic method for increasing the throughput of a container reloading point or a container storage space and for reducing the loading and unloading time for a container transport vehicle. According to said method, after the identification of a container transport vehicle, the loading platform of the transport vehicle that has been parked in the parking area of the container storage space is measured. The position co-ordinates of the loading platform are determined by a data processing system. The container to be loaded is then automatically positioned by means of a crane, using the position co-ordinates of the loading platform. To align the container exactly in relation to the loading platform, the latter is measured again and any deviation in relation to the position of the container thus obtained is used for said exact alignment. The container is deposited on the platform automatically. The unloading of a container transport vehicle involves practically identical steps.
34 Citations
64 Claims
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1. Method for load transfer in a container storage space for standard containers, with a stacker crane for the containers servicing the container storage space, controllable by a logistical management data processing (DP) system, wherein the stacker crane can travel between a storage place for each container and a loading platform of a transport vehicle of a container that can travel in the area of the container storage space, wherein the stacker crane has a load suspension device for depositing the container on the loading platform, which can be oriented with respect to it, the method of loading the transport vehicle comprising:
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a) identifying the transport vehicle and transferring the data generated in this way to the logistical management DP system, b) providing a calibrated camera system, detecting defined identification points on the loading platform of the transport vehicle with said camera system and transferring coordinates of the identification points to the logistical management DP system, c) comparing with the logistical management DP system the coordinates of the identification points against the data of the container being loaded as stored in the DP system and determining the fastener to be assigned to this container and position coordinates on the loading platform of the transport vehicle, d) driving the stacker crane under computer control with the container to be loaded above the loading platform of the transport vehicle, above the position coordinate, wherein the position coordinate is defined by the vertical position of the loading platform and by the point of intersection of the diagonals of the identification points of the loading platform, wherein the position coordinate describes the target position of the container, e) providing a calibrated camera system arranged on the trolley of the stacker crane, detecting the fastener of the loading platform and selectively moving the container so that the fastener of the container is positioned above the coordinated fastener of the loading platform, f) setting down the container on the loading platform of the transport vehicle such that the fastener of the container and the coordinated fastener of the loading platform mate together at the end of the setdown process. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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2. Method for load transfer in a container storage space for standard containers, with a stacker crane for the containers servicing the container storage space, controllable by a logistical management data processing (DP) system, wherein the stacker crane can travel between a storage place for each container and a loading platform of a transport vehicle of a container that can travel in the area of the container storage space, wherein the stacker crane has a load suspension device for picking the container up from the loading platform, which can be oriented with respect to it, the method of unloading of a transport vehicle comprising:
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a) identifying the transport vehicle and the container being unloaded and transferring the data generated in this way to the logistical management DP system, b) providing a calibrated camera system, detecting defined identification points of the container with said camera system and transferring coordinates of the identification points to the logistical management DP system, c) determining with the logistical management DP system, from the identification points, the fastener and position coordinate of the container, d) driving the stacker crane under computer control above the container, above the position coordinate, while the position coordinate is described by the vertical position of the upper edge of the identification points of the container and by the point of intersection of the diagonals of the identification points of the container, which describes the absolute target position of the load suspension device, e) providing a calibrated camera system arranged on the trolley of the stacker crane, detecting the fastener of the loading platform of the container and selectively moving the load suspension device so that the fastener of the load suspension device of the stacker crane stands above the coordinated fastening fastener of the container, f) bringing the load suspension means up to the container such that the fastener of the load suspension means and the fastener of the container mate together. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification