Abstract:
A method is provided for handling loads in a warehouse for containers that may be automatically stored and removed from storage by a container stacking crane, between a storage area and a truck or other vehicle parked in a parking space of a loading and unloading area To optimize the throughput performance and safety of handling loads in a warehouse for containers, it is proposed that after the truck drives into the parking space and after the driver of the truck leaves the parking space, the parking space is secured against the presence of persons including the driver, before a release signal is given to the container stacking crane for the automatic loading or unloading process.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method for handling loads in a warehouse for containers, particularly standard containers. 
     European patent application EP 1 490 286 B1 discloses a method for handling loads of standard containers in a warehouse. The warehouse is a part of a port cargo handling installation which includes a water-side handling area, the warehouse and a land-side handling area. The water-side handling area has handling devices in the form of handling bridges with which ships lying alongside a quay are loaded and/or unloaded. Between the handling devices and an area of the warehouse where containers are placed into and removed from storage, the containers are transported by floor-borne vehicles, in particular driverless transport vehicles. At the end opposite the area where containers are placed into and removed from storage, the warehouse is allocated a loading and unloading area for transport vehicles such as trucks or lorries, to which the transport vehicles travel via an entry and exit area of the handling installation with an identification area. 
     The warehouse is an automated warehouse with a corresponding automated area specially secured against unauthorised access by a boundary such as, for example, a wall or fence. The automated area of the warehouse terminates in each case at the adjacent land-side loading and unloading area for the lorries and at the adjacent water-side area where containers are placed into and removed from storage. In both these areas manual operation or semi-automatic operation takes place for safety reasons. The automated warehouse includes a rectangular, longitudinally extending warehouse area in which the containers are stored in columns and rows and stacked up to 5 containers one on top of another on the ground. 
     The warehouse area is located below an automatic stacking crane which can travel on rails. The automatic stacking crane includes a crane bridge, the ends of which run on elevated rails via running gears. The crane bridge is therefore able to travel in the longitudinal direction of the warehouse area. A trolley which can travel transverse to the warehouse area is disposed on the crane bridge. A vertically moveable mast is mounted on the trolley, the lower end of which mast is adjoined by a load-receiving means in the form of a spreader for containers. Gantry cranes or semi-gantry cranes can also be used instead of a stacking crane. 
     A handling process in this handling installation takes place as follows. A lorry to be loaded and/or unloaded travels into the handling installation via an entry and exit area and thus arrives in an identification area in which the lorry and possibly its transported containers are identified and measured. Access authorisation is then issued to the driver in the form of a magnetic card or chip card which contains all relevant data relating to the handling task. These data are also transmitted to a superordinate data processing system of a logistics administration facility. The driver then drives his lorry to an area of the loading and unloading area which he has been allocated and reverses his lorry into a parking position in the loading and unloading area. The lorry is recognised and identified during the parking procedure by a camera disposed in the loading and unloading area. The camera also makes it possible to deliver information relating to the position of the lorry, such as its distance from a demarcation within the loading and unloading area and its angle of rotation with respect to the ground, to the data processing system of the logistics administration facility. When the parking procedure is completed the exact position of the lorry is then known to the data processing system of the logistics administration facility. These data then serve as a target position for the stacking crane for setting down or picking up a container onto or from the lorry. In the usual manner an operator monitors and controls the loading process on a central monitor via cameras disposed on the load-receiving means. Before the loading and/or unloading process takes place, the driver of the lorry goes to a registration office in order to use the magnetic or chip card to indicate that the lorry is ready to be loaded and unloaded. If the operator of the stacking crane should determine via the cameras that twist locks are incorrectly positioned, he can use an intercom to ask the driver to rectify the incorrect positioning. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an optimized method for handling loads in a warehouse for standard containers in relation to its through-put rate and safety. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for handling loads in a warehouse for containers, particularly standard containers, in which the containers are automatically placed into and removed from storage by a container stacking crane, the containers are unloaded by the container stacking crane in a loading and unloading area adjacent to the warehouse onto a truck or lorry parked in a parking space of the loading and unloading area, or are picked up from a lorry parked in a parking space of the loading and unloading area. An increase in the handling rate may be achieved in that after the lorry has entered the parking space and after the driver of the lorry has left the parking space, the parking space is secured against the presence of at least one person, particularly the driver of the lorry, and an authorisation signal for the automatic loading or unloading process is transmitted to the container stacking crane when no person is detected. By means of the securing process, the parking space into which the lorry travels and in which the driver is consequently present, is converted into a secured area which a container stacking crane can also enter and in which it can travel in automatic operation. For purposes of the written description, the phrase “secured against the presence of at least one person” should be understood to mean that intrusion of a person or later entry of persons is prevented or discovered. It will also be appreciated that the terms “lorry” and “lorries” refer to trucks or other vehicles that support and transport the containers on the trucks themselves, or towing vehicles or trucks with trailers that support and transport the containers. 
     In one embodiment, after the lorry has entered the parking space and after the driver of the lorry has left the parking space, the parking space is secured against access by at least one person, particularly the driver of the lorry. Moreover, provision can be made so that, according to the operational regulations of the handling installation, the presence of persons in the region of the parking space is prohibited and thus the driver is compelled by suitable measures to leave the parking space in order to allow automatic operation. The security measure can be limited to preventing access when no further persons are present (i.e., detected) in the region of the parking space. 
     Security in relation to the area where the driver is present can be increased in that, after leaving the parking space, the driver of the lorry moves to a waiting area, the presence of the driver is detected or established in the waiting area, and the authorisation signal to the container stacking crane for the loading or unloading process is maintained as long as the driver stays in the waiting area. 
     In order to achieve high speed in the loading or unloading process, after the loading or unloading process is completed, i.e. after the container stacking crane has left the parking space, the driver is informed of this fact, and the security of the parking space against access by persons, particularly the driver of the lorry, is lifted and the authorisation signal to the container stacking crane for the automatic loading or unloading process is withdrawn. 
     The parking space may be secured, for example, by closing a gate, which is part of a demarcation surrounding the parking space, against access by persons, particularly the driver of the lorry. It is also possible to replace the gate by suitable sensor groups which provide a sufficiently high level of recognition security. 
     In order to increase security further, provision may be made for establishing the number of persons in the lorry before it is driven into the parking space, so that only a single person can be directed to travel into the parking space with the lorry. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic plan view of a handling facility for standard containers in a port area; 
         FIG. 2  shows an enlarged portion of  FIG. 1  taken from the region of an area of a warehouse where containers are placed into and removed from storage; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the portion of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  shows an enlarged section view of  FIG. 3  including a representation of the viewing angle of the camera attached to an automatic container crane. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a layout plan of a handling installation  1  in a port area in which containers  2 , particularly standard containers, are handled. It will be appreciated that the layout plan shows only a section of the handling installation, but the essential components are visible. The handling installation  1  includes a land-side handling area  3 , a warehouse  4  and a water-side handling area  5 . 
     The land-side handling area  3  adjoins a land-side end  4   a  of the warehouse  4  and includes an entry and exit area  6  for lorries  7  in order to transport the containers  2  to be handled or transported in and/or out, and adjoining this entry and exit area  6  is a loading and unloading area  8  at the land-side end  4   a  of the warehouse  4 . The entry and exit area  6  for the lorries  7  is divided into a public area  6   a , which is connected to the public road network, and an area  6   b  within the port. The public area  6   a  and the area  6   b  within the port are separated by a control area  9 . With the exception of the public area  6   a  of the entry and exit area  6 , the handling installation  1  is accordingly surrounded by a boundary  10 , for example a fence, wall or a combination thereof. In the control area  9  incoming and outgoing lorries  7  are identified, possibly measured, weighed and processed with respect to their handling task. Cameras (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) may also be mounted in the control area  9  and used to record images of the lorry  7  from all sides, its official number plate and also an identification number provided on the container  2 . The data thus generated, which may also be required for the loading and/or unloading of the lorry  7 , are transmitted to a superordinate data processing system (not shown) of a logistics administration facility of the handling installation  1 . It may also be ensured, in accordance with the safety guidelines of the port operation, that the driver&#39;s cabin  7   a  of the lorry  7  contains only a driver and that any passenger leaves the lorry and waits in the control area  9 . After passing through the control area  9 , an incoming lorry then travels into the internal area  6   b  of the entry and exit area  6  and via appropriate lanes  11  of the entry and exit area to one of the plurality of parking spaces  12  within a loading and unloading area  8  of the warehouse  4 . 
     In the loading and unloading area  8  a lorry  7  parked in the parking space  12  is loaded and/or unloaded by a container stacking crane  13  operating in the warehouse  4 . In the illustrated embodiment, container stacking crane  13  operates automatically. The warehouse  4  includes a plurality of warehouse areas  4   c , which are disposed in parallel and linearly next to each other. Each warehouse area  4   c  has a respective land-side end  4   a  at which the loading and unloading area  8  is allocated, and at a respective water-side end  4   b  is an allocated area  14  where containers are placed into and removed from storage. Each warehouse area  4   c  has one or a plurality of container stacking cranes  13 , which can travel along the warehouse areas  4   c  on rails  15 . The container stacking cranes  13  transport the containers  2  between the warehouse area  4   c  and the loading and unloading area  8  and/or the area  14  where containers are placed into and removed from storage. In addition to the one or more container stacking cranes  13 , each warehouse area  4   c  also has an area  4   d  where the containers  2  are set down. The set-down area  4   d  has a rectangular and elongate base surface on which the containers  2  are disposed in columns and rows. Up to five containers  2  are stacked one on top of another. The set-down containers  2  are aligned with their longitudinal axis or extension substantially in parallel with the rails  15  of the container stacking cranes  13 . This alignment of the containers  2  is also found in the loading and unloading area  8  with the incoming and outgoing lorries  7 , and in the area  14  where containers are placed into and removed from storage with incoming and outgoing driverless transport vehicles  17 , so that the container stacking cranes  13  do not have to pivot the respective containers  2 , apart from alignment corrections, if needed, during pick-up and set-down. 
     At the water-side end  4   b  of the warehouse  4  the containers  2  are set down by the container stacking crane  13  on stationary support frames  16  in the area  14  where containers are placed into and removed from storage, or are picked up therefrom for onward transportation. These support frames  16  serve as interfaces to the driverless transport vehicles  17 , which pick up the containers from the support frames  16  and/or set them down thereon and transport them into the area of handling bridges  18  by means of which ships lying alongside a quay  19  in the region of the water-side handling area  5  of the handling installation  1  are loaded and unloaded. 
       FIG. 2  shows an enlarged section of  FIG. 1  from the region of the loading and unloading area  8  and of a part of the adjoining warehouse area  4   c . It is clear that in each loading and unloading area  8  a plurality of parking spaces  12  for lorries  7  are disposed next to each other and, desirably, at the smallest possible or practical distance from each other. In the case of a warehouse area  4   c  with nine rows of containers  2  set down next to each other, six parking spaces for lorries  7  are provided next to each other. Each parking space  12  is closed laterally by its demarcation  12   a  when seen or viewed in the longitudinal direction of a lorry  7 . This demarcation  12   a  adjoins a warehouse demarcation  21 , which defines the whole warehouse  4  since the container stacking cranes  13  in operation at that point operate automatically and access to this automated area must therefore be prevented. The demarcation  12   a  between the parking spaces can be formed, for example, as a fence, wall, or a combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, lateral concrete troughs are shown, which facilitate reverse parking of the lorries  7  since the wheels of the lorry  7  can be guided at this location. A fence is then additionally erected in each case on these concrete troughs. At the end of the parking space  12 , facing the container area  4   c , is provided the warehouse demarcation  21 , which surrounds the warehouse  4 . The parking space  12  is therefore provided with an opening  12   b  in the manner of a gate at the front. The lorry reverses into the parking space  12  through this opening  12   b  for the subsequent loading and/or unloading process. 
     In order to prepare the area of a parking space  12 , in which a lorry  7  is parked for subsequent loading and/or unloading, for automatic loading and/or unloading by the container stacking crane  13 , the method provides that the driver of the lorry  7  leaves (or is compelled to leave) not only the driver&#39;s cabin  7   b , but also the area of the parking space  12  via the opening  12   b  within the demarcation  12   a . Various possibilities exist to achieve this. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening  12   b  of the demarcation  12   a  is closed by a gate  12   c  after the driver leaves his parked lorry  7 . For this purpose, the driver can actuate a switch disposed outside the parking space  12 . The switch is located, for example, in the region of a waiting area  22  in the form of a communication stand, which is arranged or disposed as an extension of the lateral demarcation  12   a  of the parking space  12  and outside the demarcation  12   a . In the region of the waiting area  22 , provision is additionally made so that the driver may not leave the waiting area  22  during the process of loading and unloading the lorry  7  by the automatically operating container stacking crane  13 . If he did leave the waiting area, this would immediately lead to the cessation of automatic operation in the area of the respectively associated parking space. This can be effected by suitable means such as, for example, a contact mat on the floor, or light barriers, or substantially any suitable recognition electronics. After the gate  12   c  is closed and the driver has entered the waiting area  22 , corresponding data are transmitted to the data processing system of the logistics administration facility. The working area of the container stacking crane  13 , which is otherwise bounded by the warehouse demarcation  21 , is then extended by the now cleared individual parking space  12  so that in relation to this parking space  12  the container stacking crane  13  can now carry out the desired loading or unloading process automatically. After completion of the loading or unloading process by the container stacking crane  13 , the driver waiting in the waiting area  22  receives an appropriate notification. The gate  12   c  associated with the respective parking space  12  opens either automatically, or is unlocked so that the driver can open it manually. It is also possible for the driver to operate a switching element, which has been released in the meantime, in order to open the gate  12   c.    
     It will be appreciated that it is fundamentally also possible to close off the parking space  12  in the region of its opening by a secure sensor group, rather than by the gate  12   c.    
     In addition, in the region of the communication stand  22 , provision can be made for a canopy to be positioned in order to provide additional protection for the driver in the event of malfunction of the container stacking crane  13 . 
     It becomes clear from this description that rather than the above-described demarcations  12   a , which can be closed by the gate  12   c , individual parking spaces  12  may be defined as automated areas, if desired. When a parking space  12  is defined as an automated area, the gate  12   c  is closed and the driver is outside the parking space  12 . The respective parking space  12  becomes a “manual” area, which the container stacking crane  13  is not allowed to enter when the gate  12   c  is opened and the driver is in the region of the lorry  7  or no lorry  7  is parked. In this way, it is achieved that the container stacking crane  13  can carry out the loading or unloading of the lorry  7  automatically. 
     It is also possible for the loading or unloading process to take place semi-automatically or, in the event of one or more unsuccessful attempts in automatic operation, an operator may intervene via a central control stand using cameras disposed on the container stacking crane  13  and in the region of the parking space  12 . 
     Furthermore,  FIG. 2  shows the more detailed construction of the container stacking crane  13 . This container stacking crane  13  includes a bridge  13   a , which can travel along the rails  15  disposed laterally next to the set-down areas  4   d  of the respective warehouse area  4   c , on which bridge  13   a  a trolley  13   b  can travel transversely to the travel direction of the bridge  13   a . A vertically moveable mast  13   c  is mounted on the trolley  13   b , on which mast a load-receiving means  13   d , such as a spreader frame for receiving the containers  2 , is mounted. The container stacking crane  13  is therefore able to travel in the longitudinal direction of the respective warehouse area  4   c , and its mast  13   c  with the load-receiving means is able to travel transversely to the longitudinal direction of the warehouse area  14   c  via the trolley  13   b.    
     It is will be appreciated that it is also possible to use a gantry crane or semi-gantry crane instead of a container stacking crane  13 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of  FIG. 2 , which more clearly shows the construction of the container stacking crane  13  with its vertical mast  13   c . It also shows that the rails  15  are elevated to a level above the stacked containers  2 . The warehouse area  4   c  and the loading and unloading area  8  are separated from each other by the warehouse demarcation  21 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view corresponding to  FIG. 3 , but in this case the container stacking crane  13  has entered the loading and unloading area  8  from the warehouse area  4   c , and the gate  12   c  has previously been closed after the driver has left the lorry  7  and confirmed his presence in the waiting area  22 . A camera  23  is disposed on the container stacking crane  13  in the region of the trolley  13   b , by means of which camera the positions of the anchoring points on the platforms of the lorries  7  and/or the anchoring points on the containers  2 , which are to be unloaded and which are located on a lorry, are recognised and transmitted to the data processing system of the warehouse administration computer. These data are then used for the automatic loading or unloading process. 
     Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.