Container Inspection/Cargo-Handling Method and Container Inspection/Cargo-Handling System

• US 20080025825A1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., Ltd. (Tsuneishi Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Company Limited (Mitsui E&S Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Kiyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/279
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 63/004 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

To provide a container inspection/cargo-handling system capable of efficiently inspecting import/export containers.

In order to solve the aforesaid problem, a container inspection/cargo-handling system of the present invention includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV) 18 that travels in circulation in a quay area. Further, on a circulation travel line of the AGV 18, provided are a quay crane 16 loading/unloading a container 14 to/from the AGV 18, a radiation inspection device 20 inspecting a cargo in the container 14 loaded on the AGV 18, and a container transfer means 22 for transferring the container 14 between the AGV 18 and a manned transport vehicle (container transport vehicle) 24.

Claims

1. A container inspection/cargo-handling method, wherein an automated guided vehicle moves in circulation in a quay area where a container ship anchors and transfers a container to/from the ship, and a container cargo on the automated guided vehicle is subjected to radiation inspection while the automated guided vehicle is moving in circulation.

2. The container inspection/cargo-handling method according to claim 1, wherein the automated guided vehicle moves in circulation between a container stack yard and an area for container transfer to/from the ship, and the container cargo on the automated guided vehicle moving in circulation is subjected to the radiation inspection.

3. The container inspection/cargo-handling method according to claim 1, wherein the container is transferred between the automated guided vehicle moving in circulation and a truck chassis.

5. The container inspection/cargo-handling method according to claim 1, wherein a circulation loop in the quay area and a circulation loop connecting the quay area and the container stack yard are provided, and the automated guided vehicle is capable of selecting one of the loops for transport.

17. The container inspection/cargo-handling method according to claim 2, wherein a circulation loop in the quay area and a circulation loop connecting the quay area and the container stack yard are provided, and the automated guided vehicle is capable of selecting one of the loops for transport.

4. A container inspection/cargo-handling method, wherein an automated guided vehicle circulates in a quay area to transfer a container to/from a ship, radiation inspection is conducted on a route of the circulation, and the container is transferable between the automated guided vehicle moving in circulation and a truck chassis or an automated guided vehicle moving between the quay area and a container stack yard.

6. A container inspection/cargo-handling method for conducting radiation inspection of a cargo in a container unloaded from a ship or a cargo in a container to be loaded on the ship, wherein an automated guided vehicle moves in circulation in a quay area, and a loading/unloading work between the automated guided vehicle and the ship, the inspection of the container loaded on the automated guided vehicle, and a transfer work of the container between the automated guided vehicle and a manned transport vehicle are conducted on a circulation travel line of the automated guided vehicle.

7. The container inspection/cargo-handling method according to claim 6, wherein the container transfer work and the container loading/unloading work are conducted at least one place on the circulation travel line, and the number of places for the container inspection is set to one or a number less than the number of places for the container transfer work and the container loading/unloading work.

8. A container inspection/cargo-handling system, wherein a container crane installed in a quay area where a container ship anchors and a circulation route of an automated guided vehicle passing through a work area of the container crane are provided to enable transfer of a container between the container ship and the automated guided vehicle, and a radiation inspection device emitting radiation to a container cargo on the automated guided vehicle is provided along the circulation route.

9. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 8, wherein the circulation route is a reciprocation and circulation route in the quay area.

10. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 8, wherein a container transfer means is provided on the circulation route to enable transfer of the container between a truck chassis and the automated guided vehicle.

11. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 8, wherein a container transfer means is provided on the circulation route, a second automated guided vehicle to/from which the transfer means transfers the container is provided, and the second automated guided vehicle is capable of circulating and transporting the container between a container stack yard and the quay area.

13. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 8, wherein the circulation route is composed of a quay area loop and a connecting loop including a part common to the quay area loop and connecting the quay area and the container stack yard, and the radiation inspection device is provided on the quay area loop or the common loop.

14. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 13, wherein the circulation route is composed of a quay area loop and a connecting loop including a part common to the quay area loop and connecting the quay area and the container stack yard, and the quay area loop is a switchback-type reciprocation and circulation route.

12. A container inspection/cargo-handling system, wherein a container crane installed in a quay area where a container ship anchors and a circulation route of an automated guided vehicle, which passes through a work area of the container crane to reach a container stack yard, are provided to enable transfer of a container between the container ship and the automated guided vehicle and enable transport of the container to the container stack yard, and a radiation inspection device emitting radiation to a container cargo on the automated guided vehicle is provided along the circulation route.

18. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 12, wherein the circulation route is composed of a quay area loop and a connecting loop including a part common to the quay area loop and connecting the quay area and the container stack yard, and the radiation inspection device is provided on the quay area loop or the common loop.

19. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 18, wherein the circulation route is composed of a quay area loop and a connecting loop including a part common to the quay area loop and connecting the quay area and the container stack yard, and the quay area loop is a switchback-type reciprocation and circulation route.

15. A container inspection/cargo-handling system for conducting radiation inspection of a cargo in a container unloaded from a ship or a cargo in a container to be loaded on the ship, wherein an automated guided vehicle traveling in circulation in a quay area is provided, and on a line on which the automated guided vehicle travels in circulation, provided are:

a cargo handling means for loading/unloading the container to/from the automated guided vehicle;

a container inspecting means for inspecting the cargo in the container loaded on the automated guided vehicle; and

a container transfer means for transferring the container between the automated guided vehicle and a manned transport vehicle.

16. The container inspection/cargo-handling system according to claim 15, wherein the number of the cargo handling means and the number of the container transfer means installed on the line on which the automated guided vehicle travels in circulation is at least one, and the number of the container inspecting means installed on the line on which the automated guided vehicle travels in circulation is one or a number less than the number of the cargo handling means and the container transfer means.