Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the field of scanning inspection technology, in particular to a container inspection system, a port facility, and a container inspection method.

With the development of the vessel industry, the workload of container loading and unloading operations is increasing. As large equipment for loading and unloading containers, quay cranes are increasingly used in various ports to achieve automated loading and unloading.

To prevent prohibited cargo from entering the territory through ports and ensure the safety of cargo in circulation, scanning inspection is usually performed on containers after cargo is unloaded. At present, generally after a container is unloaded by using a quay crane, the container is transported by an AGV transfer trolley (or container transport truck) in a yard to a designated location to perform scanning inspection on the container. This requires a special area for scanning inspection at the port. Not only is a large space occupied, but also long time is consumed, and the circulation efficiency of the container at the port is low. Besides, dangerous prohibited articles may enter the yard, causing potential safety hazards.

<CIT> relates to a crane equipped with an inspection device that can maintain excellent inspection conditions without decreasing cargo transporting efficiency. On a container transporting route of a quay crane, a truck (position adjustment device), is provided moveably in a direction across this transporting route. An inspection device, which inspects the container, is provided on this truck. An upper part frame, which projects above the inspection device, and a lower part frame, which projects under the inspection device, are provided on the truck. An upside position detector, which detects the relative position of the container and the inspection device in the direction of movement of the truck, is provided in a position higher than that of the inspection device of the upper frame. A control device is provided, which controls operation of the position adjustment device based on detection results of the upside position detector so that the inspection device and the container are positioned appropriately for inspection. This document thus discloses a container inspection system, comprising:a quay crane, comprising:an inspection platform; and a hoisting component, for hoisting and transporting a container to the inspection platform;a sensor, disposed on the inspection platform, for detecting whether the container arrives at the inspection platform; and an inspection device, disposed on the inspection platform, for performing scanning inspection on the container arriving at the inspection platform; wherein the inspection device comprises: an installation base disposed on the inspection platform;an L-shaped arm with one end mounted on the installation base, and the other end being a free end, the L-shaped arm and the installation base forming a frame with an opening underneath; a ray source mounted on the installation base; and a detector mounted on the L-shaped arm.

<CIT> relates to a crane apparatus installed on a pier, wharf, bulkhead wharf or other foundation directly transshipping containers from a vessel moored alongside the foundation to another transportation mode without ground placement of the containers. The crane apparatus includes a parent crane displaceable along the foundation for unloading containers from the vessel and placing them on a first platform of the parent crane, and a sibling crane displaceable along the foundation independently of displacement of the parent crane for loading containers from the first platform directly onto over-the-ground vehicles or onto another vessel moored alongside the foundation. The parent crane has a first trolley-hoist-spreader movable along an outreach boom for unloading containers from the vessel and placing them on either the first platform or a second platform of the parent crane, and a second trolley-hoist-spreader movable along a backreach boom for loading containers from the second platform onto another vessel or onto over-the-ground vehicles. A container security scanning system may be provided on the second platform for scanning the containers while on the second platform to determine whether one or more preselected chemical, biological, explosive or nuclear materials are present in the containers.

<CIT> relates to a crane comprising support means arranged to support a load and to move the load along a path, and a scanner comprising a radiation source and radiation detection means arranged to scan a scanning volume. The path is arranged to pass through the scanning volume so that the scanner can scan the load as it moves along the path. It further includes load monitoring means arranged to determine if the load is in the scanning volume so that the source can be activated or deactivated accordingly. Furthermore, a control means determines the speed and position of the load and consequently controls the pulse frequency of the source.

<CIT> relates to a crane apparatus equipped with a container security scanning system for scanning containers for radioactive material, such as neutron or gamma ray emissions. The crane apparatus has a crane for unloading containers from a marine vessel and placing the containers on a deck located at the portal girder level of the crane and for transferring the containers from the deck to another location. The container security scanning system comprises one or more scanning units disposed on the deck, each scanning unit having one or more scanning platforms for supporting a container such that a bottom of the container is vertically spaced from the deck. A scanning device is movable beneath the container in a space between the underside of the scanning platforms and the deck for scanning the container to detect whether radioactive material is present. Existing cranes can be retrofitted with the container security scanning system, and newly manufactured cranes can be upgraded to include such a system.

<CIT> relates to a gantry crane used for the operation of loading containers onto a vessel or the operation of unloading containers from a vessel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gantry crane which makes it possible to minimize the distance of movement of an operator, to drastically increase the speed of loading or unloading operation of containers and to minimize the number of stevedores who work on land, thereby improving the safety of loading or unloading operation. According to the present invention, a gantry crane provided with the trolley and operator's cab which are separately constructed and independently driven, and at least one container loading/unloading terminal provided at intermediate portions of the posts is disclosed.

It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section of the present disclosure is only intended to enhance understanding of the general background of the present disclosure, and should not be considered as an admission or any form of implication that the information constitutes related technology well known to those skilled in the art.

Embodiments of the present disclosure propose a container inspection system, a port facility, and a container inspection method, to increase the container circulation efficiency, reduce a floor area occupied by an inspection system and improve the safety in a yard, as much as possible.

According to an example which does not form part of the claimed invention, a container inspection system is provided, including:.

The inspection platform is provided with an inspection station and a temporary storage station, wherein the inspection station is configured to receive the container hoisted and transported by the hoisting component, and the temporary storage station is configured to temporarily store the container on which scanning inspection is completed; and the inspection station is disposed on a side close to an initial storage location of the container, and the temporary storage station is disposed on a side away from the initial storage location of the container.

The installation base is disposed on a side of the inspection station away from the temporary storage station, and a vertical portion of the L-shaped arm is disposed on a side of the inspection station close to the temporary storage station.

According to the invention, a container inspection system includes:
a quay crane, including:.

The inspection platform is provided with an inspection station and a temporary storage station, the inspection station being configured to receive the container hoisted and transported by the hoisting component, the inspection device being configured to perform scanning inspection on the container arriving at the inspection station; and the temporary storage station being configured to temporarily store the container on which scanning inspection is completed.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure further provides a port facility, which includes the above-mentioned container inspection system.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure further provides a container inspection method, including:.

Further, before hoisting and transporting, by a hoisting component of a quay crane, a first container to an inspection platform disposed on the quay crane, the container inspection method further includes:.

In some embodiments, the container inspection method further includes:.

In some embodiments, the container inspection method further includes:
after hoisting and transporting the first container to a container transporting equipment, hoisting a third container by the hoisting component, and after the scanning inspection on the second container is completed and the second container is transferred to the temporary storage station, placing the third container onto the inspection station.

In some embodiments, the container inspection method further includes:
before the first container is hoisted and transported to the inspection platform, a guide mechanism disposed on the inspection platform is raised, to guide the first container to fall by the guide mechanism during the placement of the first container onto the inspection platform.

In some embodiments, the container inspection method further includes:
before the first container is transferred to the temporary storage station, the guide mechanism disposed on the inspection station is dropped, to enable the first container to be translated to the temporary storage station.

In some embodiments, after the scanning inspection on the first container is completed, the inspection device returns to an original location, so that a movement direction of the inspection device during the scanning inspecting on the second container is same as a movement direction thereof during the scanning inspection on the first container; or
after the scanning inspection on the first container is completed, the inspection device keep stationary, so that a movement direction of the inspection device during the scanning inspecting on the second container is opposite to a movement direction thereof during the scanning inspection on the first container.

In some embodiments, a container inspection method includes:.

In some embodiments, after hoisting and transporting, by a hoisting component of a quay crane, a first container to an inspection platform disposed on the quay crane, the container inspection method further includes:
detaching the hoisting component from the first container, and during the scanning inspection on the first container by the inspection device, hoisting and transporting, by the hoisting component, a second container.

In some embodiments, the inspection platform is provided with an inspection station and a temporary storage station, and.

In some embodiments, after transferring the first container from the inspection station to the temporary storage station, the container inspection method further includes:.

In some embodiments, after placing, by the hoisting component, a second container hoisted and transported during the scanning inspection on the first container by the inspection device, onto the inspection station, the container inspection method further includes:
detaching the hoisting component from the second container, and during the scanning inspection on the second container, hoisting and transporting, by the hoisting component, the first container on the temporary storage station to container transporting equipment.

In some embodiments, after hoisting and transporting the first container on the temporary storage station to the container transporting equipment, the container inspection method further includes:
hoisting, by the hoisting component, a third container, and after the scanning inspection on the second container is completed and the second container is transferred to the temporary storage station, placing the third container onto the inspection station.

In some embodiments, before hoisting and transporting, by a hoisting component of a quay crane, a first container to an inspection platform disposed on the quay crane, the container inspection method further includes:
raising a guide mechanism disposed on the inspection platform, to guide the first container to fall by the guide mechanism during the placement of the first container onto the inspection platform.

In some embodiments, before transferring the first container from the inspection station to the temporary storage station, the container inspection method further includes:
dropping a guide mechanism disposed on the inspection station, to enable the first container to be translated to the temporary storage station.

In some embodiments, a movement direction of the inspection device during the scanning inspecting on the second container is same as or opposite to a movement direction thereof during the scanning inspection on the first container.

Based on the above-mentioned technical solutions, in the embodiments of the inspection system of the present disclosure, by arranging the inspection device on the inspection platform of the quay crane, a floor area occupied by the inspection device may be reduced, and there is no need to reserve a special inspection location for the inspection device in an area outside the quay crane, so that the overall layout of the port is more reasonable; and arranging the inspection device on the inspection platform of the quay crane may also achieve the scanning inspection during the process of unloading the container from a vessel or during the process of loading the container from the ground to a vessel, to avoid in-yard inspection, and the process of transferring the container to an AGV trolley and transporting by the AGV trolley the container to an inspection location is omitted, thereby greatly reducing container loading, unloading and scanning inspection time, shortening the total circulation time of the container at the port, and improving the circulation efficiency; this may also prevent dangerous prohibited articles from entering a yard, and improve the safety; in addition, by providing the sensor to detect whether the container arrives at the inspection platform, reference information may be provided for turning on/off the inspection device, and the accuracy of scanning inspection may also be improved, so that inspection process is more reasonable and smoother.

The port facility and the container inspection method provided by the present disclosure also correspondingly have the above-mentioned beneficial technical effects.

The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and form a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure and description thereof are used for explaining rather than unduly limiting the present disclosure. In the drawings:.

The technical solutions in the embodiments will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

In description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that orientation or position relations denoted by the terms "center", "transverse", "longitudinal", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", "lower", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like are orientation or position relations illustrated based on the drawings, are merely for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying description, instead of indicating or implying the denoted devices or elements must have specific orientations or be constructed and operated in specific orientations, and thus the terms cannot be understood as limiting the protection scope of the present invention, which is solely defined by the appended claims.

To overcome shortcomings of an inspection system in the related art, the present invention makes improvements on the inspection system. Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in an illustrative embodiment of a container inspection system provided by the present disclosure, the inspection system includes a quay crane <NUM>, a sensor and an inspection device <NUM>.

The quay crane <NUM> is provided with an inspection platform <NUM>, and a hoisting component <NUM> of the quay crane <NUM> is configured to hoist and transport a container and place the container to the inspection platform <NUM>; the sensor is disposed on the inspection platform <NUM> and configured to detect whether the container is in place; and the inspection device <NUM> is disposed on the inspection platform <NUM>, and the inspection device <NUM> moves relative to the container to perform scanning inspection on the container.

In the above-mentioned illustrative embodiment, by arranging the inspection device <NUM> on the inspection platform <NUM> of the quay crane <NUM>, a floor area occupied by the inspection device <NUM> may be reduced, and there is no need to reserve a special inspection location for the inspection device <NUM> in an area outside the quay crane <NUM>, so that the overall layout of the port is more reasonable; and arranging the inspection device <NUM> on the inspection platform <NUM> of the quay crane <NUM> may also achieve the scanning inspection during the process of unloading the container <NUM> from a vessel or during the process of loading the container <NUM> from the ground to a vessel, to avoid in-yard inspection, and the process of transferring the container <NUM> to an AGV trolley and transporting by the AGV trolley the container <NUM> to an inspection location is omitted, thereby greatly reducing container loading, unloading and scanning inspection time, shortening the total circulation time of the container at the port, and improving the circulation efficiency; this may also prevent dangerous prohibited articles from entering a yard, and improve the safety; in addition, by providing the sensor to detect whether the container <NUM> arrives at the inspection platform <NUM>, reference information may be provided for turning on/off the inspection device <NUM>, and the accuracy of scanning inspection may also be improved, so that inspection process is more reasonable and smoother.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the inspection platform <NUM> is provided with an inspection station <NUM> and a temporary storage station <NUM>, the inspection station <NUM> being configured to receive the container hoisted and transported by the hoisting component <NUM>, the inspection device <NUM> being configured to perform scanning inspection on the container <NUM> arriving at the inspection station <NUM>; and the temporary storage station <NUM> being configured to temporarily store the container on which scanning inspection is completed.

The inspection station <NUM> is disposed on a side close to an initial storage location of the container, and the temporary storage station <NUM> is disposed on a side away from the initial storage location of the container.

In the case where the container is unloaded, the initial storage location may be a cargo carrying equipment such as a ship; and in the case where the container is loaded, the initial storage location may be a moving equipment (such as AGV trolley) that transports the container or a storage warehouse that stores the container, or the like.

By providing the inspection station <NUM>, the placement position of the container <NUM> on the inspection platform <NUM> may be guided, which facilitates the scanning inspection on the container <NUM>, and improves the efficiency of the scanning inspection.

By providing the temporary storage station <NUM>, the container <NUM> on which scanning inspection is completed may be moved to the temporary storage station <NUM> for temporary storage. Even if the container <NUM> is not timely hoisted and moved away from the temporary storage station <NUM>, scanning of the next container <NUM> is not affected, and the inspection station <NUM> may continue to receive the next container <NUM> and perform scanning inspection work on the next container <NUM>, to achieve the continuity of the scanning inspection work and effectively improve the efficiency of the scanning inspection.

Arranging the inspection station <NUM> on the side close to the initial storage location of the container <NUM> may facilitate hoisting and obtaining the container <NUM> and effectively shorten a moving path of the container <NUM>, and arranging the temporary storage station <NUM> on the side away from the initial storage location of the container <NUM> may facilitate hoisting and carrying the container <NUM> away and effectively shorten the moving path. Such arrangement may prevent the container <NUM> on the inspection station <NUM> from interfering with the movement of the container <NUM> on the temporary storage station <NUM>, and may also prevent the container <NUM> on the temporary storage station <NUM> from interfering with the placement of the container <NUM> on the inspection station <NUM>.

Optionally, the container inspection system includes a plurality of inspection stations <NUM> and a plurality of temporary storage stations <NUM>, such that the scanning inspection efficiency may be further improved.

As to the arrangement form of the inspection station <NUM> and the temporary storage station <NUM>, there may be many options. Two optional implementations are given below.

In an optional embodiment, the temporary storage station <NUM> is arranged on a side of a long edge of the inspection station <NUM>, and a long edge of the temporary storage station <NUM> and the long edge of the inspection station <NUM> are parallel to each other. In this arrangement, further optionally, a line connecting the center of the temporary storage station <NUM> and the center of the inspection station <NUM>, and a short edge of the temporary storage station <NUM> or the inspection station <NUM> are parallel to each other.

In another optional embodiment, the temporary storage station <NUM> is arranged on a side of a short edge of the inspection station <NUM>, and a short edge of the temporary storage station <NUM> and the short edge of the inspection station <NUM> are parallel to each other. In this arrangement, further optionally, a line connecting the center of the temporary storage station <NUM> and the center of the inspection station <NUM>, and a long edge of the temporary storage station <NUM> or the inspection station <NUM> are parallel to each other.

The area ranges of the inspection station <NUM> and the temporary storage station <NUM> are roughly similar to the shape of the container <NUM>. Generally speaking, the container <NUM> is in the shape of a cuboid. The long edge of the inspection station <NUM> and the long edge of the temporary storage station <NUM> described above are parallel to a length direction of the container <NUM> (as a first direction), and the short edge of the inspection station <NUM> and the short edge of the temporary storage station <NUM> described above are parallel to a width direction of the container <NUM> (as a second direction).

In the above-mentioned various embodiments, the container <NUM> may keep stationary, and the scanning inspection is achieved by the movement of the inspection device <NUM> relative to the container <NUM>. Alternatively, the inspection device <NUM> keeps stationary, and the scanning inspection is achieved by the movement of the container <NUM> relative to the inspection device <NUM>.

The inspection device <NUM> includes an installation base <NUM>, an L-shaped arm <NUM>, a ray source <NUM> and a detector, wherein the installation base <NUM> is disposed on the inspection platform <NUM>; one end of the L-shaped arm <NUM> is mounted on the installation base <NUM>, and the other end of the L-shaped arm <NUM> is a free end, the L-shaped arm <NUM> and the installation base <NUM> forming a frame with an opening underneath, so that the container <NUM> passes through the opening underneath when the inspection device <NUM> moves relative to the container <NUM>; the ray source <NUM> is mounted on the installation base <NUM>; and the detector is mounted on the L-shaped arm <NUM>.

The L-shaped arm <NUM> includes a horizonal arm and a vertical arm. Optionally, both the horizonal arm and the vertical arm are provided with detectors. The ray source <NUM> emits a sectorial radiation plane, which intersects the container <NUM>. The detectors on the horizonal arm and the vertical arm receive a ray passing through the container <NUM> to achieve the scanning inspection on the container <NUM>.

Optionally, the sectorial radiation plane emitted by the ray source <NUM> is perpendicular to the length direction of the container <NUM>.

Optionally, the inspection device <NUM> moves relative to the container <NUM> in the length direction of the container <NUM>. During the scanning inspection, both the ray source <NUM> and the detectors of the inspection device <NUM> move relative to the container <NUM> in the length direction of the container <NUM>.

To facilitate the movement of the inspection device <NUM> relative to the container <NUM>, the inspection platform <NUM> is provided with a guide rail <NUM>, and the bottom of the installation base <NUM> is provided with rollers, which cooperate with the guide rail <NUM>, so that the installation base <NUM> may move on the inspection platform <NUM>, thereby causing the entire inspection device <NUM> to move.

Optionally, the container inspection system further includes a drive mechanism, which is configured to drive the inspection device <NUM> to move relative to the container <NUM>.

The bottom of the installation base <NUM> is provided with rollers, and when the rollers cooperate with the guide rail <NUM> provided on the inspection platform <NUM>, the drive mechanism may use a drive element such as a motor or a cylinder to drive the inspection device <NUM> to move.

In addition, the drive mechanism may also be in the form of an AGV trolley, and the inspection device <NUM> as a whole is placed on the AGV trolley, and the movement of the AGV trolley drives the inspection device <NUM> to move.

The installation base <NUM> is disposed on a side of the inspection station <NUM> away from the temporary storage station <NUM>, and a vertical portion (i.e. the vertical arm) of the L-shaped arm <NUM> is disposed on a side of the inspection station <NUM> close to the temporary storage station <NUM>, and the horizonal arm of the L-shaped arm <NUM> is disposed above the container <NUM>. As the installation base <NUM> occupies a large floor space, placing the vertical arm of the L-shaped arm <NUM> between the inspection station <NUM> and the temporary storage station <NUM> may reduce as much as possible the distance between the inspection station <NUM> and the temporary storage station <NUM>, to facilitate the transfer of the container <NUM> between the inspection station <NUM> and the temporary storage station <NUM>.

In the various embodiments of the container inspection system provided by the present disclosure, after the scanning inspection on the container is completed on the inspection platform of the quay crane <NUM>, the container may be hoisted and transported by the hoisting component <NUM> on the quay crane <NUM> to a container moving equipment, and the container is transported by the container moving equipment to a target position.

As to the above-mentioned target location, in the case where the container is unloaded from a cargo carrying equipment such as a ship, the target location may be a warehouse for storing containers on the ground of a yard of the port, or may also be a truck for transporting containers, etc.; and in the case where the container is loaded to a cargo carrying equipment such as a ship, the target location may be a storage bin for storing containers on the cargo carrying equipment such as a ship.

In the case where the container is unloaded from a cargo carrying equipment such as a ship, the above-mentioned container moving equipment may be an AGV trolley, a container transport truck or the like; and in the case where the container is loaded to cargo carrying equipment such as a ship, the above-mentioned container moving equipment may be equipment, disposed on the cargo carrying equipment such as a ship, for placing containers to corresponding storage bins.

Optionally, the container inspection system further includes a transfer device <NUM>, the transfer device <NUM> being disposed on the inspection platform <NUM> and being configured to transfer the container <NUM> on the inspection station <NUM> to the temporary storage station <NUM>. Providing the transfer device <NUM> may further improve the work efficiency.

The transfer device <NUM> transfers the container <NUM> from the inspection station <NUM> to the temporary storage station <NUM> and returns to an original location after the container <NUM> is hoisted and carried away, to prepare for the next transfer.

There may be multiple options for the specific structure of the transfer device <NUM>. For example, it may be a transfer trolley used in combination with a rail to facilitate the movement of the container <NUM> between different stations; or it may also be a roller, belt or chain transmission mechanism, etc..

Based on the above-mentioned container inspection system, the present disclosure further proposes a port facility, which includes the above-mentioned container inspection system.

The positive technical effects of the container inspection system in the various embodiments described above are also applicable to the port facility and are not repeated here.

The present disclosure further proposes a container inspection method. In an optional embodiment, the container inspection method includes:.

According to the invention, the quay crane <NUM> is provided with the inspection platform <NUM>, and the inspection device <NUM> performs scanning inspection on the container, on the inspection platform <NUM>; that is, the scanning on the container is performed during the process that the quay crane <NUM> transfers the container from cargo carrying equipment such as a ship to a yard of the port, or loads the container from a yard to cargo carrying equipment such as a ship; this may omit the process of first transferring the container from cargo carrying equipment such as a ship to an AGV trolley and then transporting by the AGV trolley the container to a special scanning inspection location in a yard, or first performing scanning inspection on the container at a special scanning inspection location in a yard, then transporting by an AGV trolley the container to the vicinity of the quay crane <NUM>, and then loading by the quay crane <NUM> the container to cargo carrying equipment such as a ship, thereby greatly shortening the circulation time of the container at the port, and improving the circulation efficiency; this may also reduce a floor area occupied by the inspection device, prevent dangerous prohibited articles from entering a yard, and improve the safety; and by detecting whether the container is in place, reference information may be provided for turning on/off the inspection device, and the accuracy of scanning inspection may also be improved, so that inspection process is more reasonable and smoother.

Further, before hoisting and transporting, by a hoisting component <NUM> of a quay crane <NUM>, a first container <NUM> to an inspection platform <NUM> disposed on the quay crane <NUM>, the container inspection method further includes:.

Adding the step of determining whether the inspection station <NUM> is empty may ensure the safety of the operation process, and avoid a collision risk or scanning failure caused by two containers falling in place on the inspection station <NUM> at the same time.

Optionally, the container inspection method further includes:.

With this configuration, the hoisting component <NUM> may be fully utilized, and the time of scanning inspection on the first container <NUM> is used to hoist the second container <NUM>, so that the inspection process may be speeded up, and the efficiency of scanning inspection is improved.

By providing the inspection station <NUM> and the temporary storage station <NUM>, the efficiency of the container inspection method may be further improved, and when the hoisting component <NUM> hoists and transports the second container <NUM>, the first container <NUM> on which scanning inspection is completed may be moved to the temporary storage station <NUM> for storage, and at the same time the inspection station <NUM> is vacated to provide a vacant space for the second container <NUM>.

Further, the container inspection method further includes:.

After the second container <NUM> falls in place on the inspection station <NUM>, scanning inspection is performed on the second container <NUM>, a scanning inspection process of which is same as the scanning inspection process of the first container <NUM>.

Using the time of scanning inspection on the second container <NUM>, the hoisting component <NUM> hoists and moves away the first container <NUM>, thereby further fully utilizing the hoisting component <NUM>, so that the scanning inspection process is more compact, and the efficiency of scanning inspection is greatly improved.

Optionally, the container inspection method further includes:
after hoisting and transporting the first container <NUM> to the container transporting equipment, hoisting a third container <NUM> by the hoisting component <NUM>, and after the scanning inspection on the second container <NUM> is completed and the second container is transferred to the temporary storage station <NUM>, placing the third container <NUM> onto the inspection station <NUM>. Then, scanning inspection on the third container <NUM> is started, and the process proceeds in this way, so that scanning inspection on multiple containers may be accomplished, the inspection process is compact and the inspection effect is high.

Before the first container <NUM> is hoisted and transported to the inspection platform <NUM>, a guide mechanism disposed on the inspection platform <NUM> may be raised, to guide the first container <NUM> to fall by the guide mechanism during the placement of the first container <NUM> onto the inspection platform <NUM>. By providing the guide mechanism, the container may fall accurately; it may also limit the container <NUM> to prevent the container <NUM> from deviating from the inspection station <NUM> or the temporary storage station <NUM>, and ensure the container <NUM> may be accurately hoisted every time after the hoisting component <NUM> falls, thereby reducing the alignment time and improving the circulation efficiency.

Further, before the first container <NUM> is transferred to the temporary storage station <NUM>, the guide mechanism disposed on the inspection station <NUM> may be dropped, to enable the first container <NUM> to be translated to the temporary storage station <NUM>. The guide mechanism may be configured to be a liftable structure, which may be raised or dropped with the fall or transfer of the container and may achieve a guiding and positioning function without affecting the transfer.

Optionally, the guide mechanism includes a plurality of guide cylinders <NUM>, the guide cylinders <NUM> being arranged along edges of the inspection station <NUM> on the inspection platform <NUM>, such that the container <NUM> may be guided and positioned by the guide cylinders <NUM>. The tops of the guide cylinders <NUM> are cone-shaped, so that the container <NUM> may be better guided to fall quickly and accurately. The temporary storage station <NUM> on the inspection platform <NUM> may also be provided with guide cylinders <NUM> to limit the container <NUM>.

In addition, after the scanning inspection on the first container <NUM> is completed, the inspection device <NUM> may return to an original location, so that a movement direction of the inspection device <NUM> during the scanning inspecting on the second container <NUM> is same as a movement direction thereof during the scanning inspection on the first container <NUM>; or
after the scanning inspection on the first container <NUM> is completed, the inspection device <NUM> may also keep stationary, so that a movement direction of the inspection device <NUM> during the scanning inspecting on the second container <NUM> is opposite to a movement direction thereof during the scanning inspection on the first container <NUM>.

A working process of an embodiment of the container inspection system, the port facility, and the container inspection method of the present disclosure will be described below in conjunction with <FIG>:.

In this embodiment, continuous scanning inspection on multiple containers may be efficiently achieved by at least one hoisting component, and this is applicable to a quay crane with one or more hoisting components, and has a wide range of applications. Of course, in other embodiments, scanning inspection on multiple containers may also be achieved by two or more hoisting components.

From the description of multiple embodiments of the container inspection system, the port facility, and the container inspection method of the present disclosure, it can be seen the embodiments of the container inspection system, the port facility, and the container inspection method of the present disclosure have at least one or more of the following advantages:.

Claim 1:
A container inspection system, comprising:
a quay crane (<NUM>), comprising:
an inspection platform (<NUM>); and
a hoisting component (<NUM>), for hoisting and transporting a container (<NUM>) and placing the container (<NUM>) to the inspection platform (<NUM>);
a sensor, disposed on the inspection platform (<NUM>), for detecting whether the container (<NUM>) arrives at the inspection platform (<NUM>); and
an inspection device (<NUM>), disposed on the inspection platform (<NUM>), for performing scanning inspection on the container (<NUM>) arriving at the inspection platform (<NUM>);
wherein the inspection platform (<NUM>) is provided with an inspection station (<NUM>) and a temporary storage station (<NUM>), the inspection station (<NUM>) configured to receive the container (<NUM>) hoisted and transported by the hoisting component (<NUM>), the inspection device (<NUM>) being configured to perform scanning inspection on the container (<NUM>) arriving at the inspection station (<NUM>), and the temporary storage station (<NUM>) configured to temporarily store the container (<NUM>) on which scanning inspection is completed;
wherein the inspection device (<NUM>) comprises:
an installation base (<NUM>) disposed on the inspection platform (<NUM>);
an L-shaped arm (<NUM>) with one end mounted on the installation base (<NUM>), and the other end being a free end, the L-shaped arm (<NUM>) and the installation base (<NUM>) forming a frame with an opening underneath;
a ray source (<NUM>) mounted on the installation base (<NUM>); and
a detector mounted on the L-shaped arm (<NUM>);
wherein the installation base (<NUM>) is disposed on a side of the inspection station (<NUM>) away from the temporary storage station (<NUM>), and a vertical portion of the L-shaped arm (<NUM>) is disposed on a side of the inspection station (<NUM>) close to the temporary storage station (<NUM>).