EP0699164B1 - Container transfer process and arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A shipping container (26I, 26II) is transferred from a location A on the ship to a location B on shore. On its way between both locations A and B the container (26I, 26II) is transferred at a position C from a container loading crane (16) to conveyor means (40) on the shore. At this location (C), the container (26I, 26II) is laid on holders (34) for intermediate coupling units which have a recess (54) for each intermediate coupling unit (30). The intermediate coupling units (30) may then either be coupled to the container (26I, 26II), when the container is loaded on the ship (28) and must be locked there by means of the intermediate coupling units (30), or they may be uncoupled from the container (26I, 26II), when the container is leaving the ship (28) and is to be deposited on shore (12) without intermediate coupling units (30).

Description

The invention relates to a method for moving containers which have upper container corner fittings for coupling with coupling means of a spreader in their upper corners and lower container corner fittings for connection to the upper corner fittings of a respective lower container or with corresponding carrier fittings in their lower corners of a container carrier, between a first stand, at which the respective container with its lower container corner fittings is secured by detachable intermediate coupling units on upper container corner fittings of a lower container or on corresponding carrier fittings of a container carrier, and a second stand Which of the containers is to be accommodated without the intermediate coupling units, with the intermediate coupling units first being detached from the lower container or the container carrier in the context of this method, and the container to be moved is s or is then lifted from the lower container or the carrier by means of a spreader, taking the intermediate coupling units with it, the intermediate coupling units are then removed from the lower container corner fittings, and the container to be moved, which is freed from the intermediate coupling units, is then brought to the said second location.

See for example WO-A-92/05093.

Such a method is used, for example, when containers are arranged on the deck of a container transport ship lying against a quay edge and these containers have to be brought from the deck to a land-side storage location by a ship loading crane or container loading crane. Please note the following: The containers are on the deck of the container transport ship on the deck floor by means of intermediate coupling units secured. If the containers are arranged one above the other on deck, the upper container is also secured to the lower container by intermediate coupling units. The intermediate coupling units can be detached both from the lower container or from the deck and from the respective upper container. Up to now, the procedure has been as follows: The container to be relocated is detached from the container adjacent to the bottom or from the deck of the container ship, in that the intermediate coupling units, while maintaining their connection with the respective container to be relocated, the deck of the container ship can be solved. This is done by hand. The work crew on deck of the ship uses operating rods, insofar as the coupling points are not readily accessible, to access the coupling points, ie the respective actuators of the intermediate coupling units. If a container to be moved is then released, it is raised, after it has been connected to a spreader before the solution, and transported in the direction of the new land-based stand. Now the intermediate coupling units are still available on the underside of the container to be moved; on the other hand, these intermediate coupling units are disruptive, undesirable and costly when the container to be moved is parked at a land-side storage location. There is therefore a need to uncouple the intermediate coupling units from the container to be moved, ie from its underside, while the container is being moved from the ship-side stand to the shore-side stand. This uncoupling of the intermediate coupling units from the container currently on the way has so far been carried out in such a way that an operating team has been deployed in order to prevent the container from projecting downwards Dismantle intermediate coupling units and then pass them on to a bearing for intermediate coupling units. This work, which is required by the team, is extremely laborious since the intermediate coupling units have a weight of the order of 5-15 kg and have to be handled. In addition, the actuating means must be actuated, which bring about the loosening or coupling of the intermediate coupling units to the respective container.

The same problem naturally arises when containers have to be loaded onto a ship's deck from a land-based stand or from a road transport vehicle or from a railroad train. It can be assumed here that the containers coming from land, in adaptation to a conventional container storage space or to the bridge of a truck or to a railway wagon, are initially not equipped with intermediate coupling units, but must be equipped with them before they are deposited on the ship in order to be able to be secured there, be it on the deck of the container ship or on a container already attached and secured below.

The invention has for its object to shorten the transfer times in a method for transferring containers of the type mentioned, to limit the difficult and dangerous human work and also to make the transfer process cheaper.

To solve this problem it is proposed in a method of the type mentioned that the container to be moved is placed on its way from the first location to the second location on an intermediate coupling holder means which, according to a distribution image corresponding to the arrangement of upper container corner fittings Receptacles for the intermediate coupling units is equipped, the intermediate coupling units engaging with these receptacles, the intermediate coupling units are then uncoupled from the container positioned opposite the intermediate coupling holder means, and the container to be moved is then conveyed on to the intermediate coupling holder means, leaving the intermediate coupling units behind second stand.

As already indicated above, the invention also relates to a method for moving containers which have upper container corner fittings for coupling with coupling means of a spreader on the upper corner and lower container corner fittings for connection with upper container corner fittings in their lower corners each of a lower container or with corresponding carrier fittings of a container carrier, between a second stand and a first stand, at which the lower container corner fittings of the container to be moved are arranged by means of intermediate coupling units to upper container corner fittings of a lower container or corresponding carrier fittings of a container Carrier are to be coupled, the container to be moved being equipped with the intermediate coupling units on its way from the second location, where it was accommodated without intermediate coupling units, to the first location and then transported further to the first stand by means of a spreader and placed there on the lower container or the container carrier and connected to the upper container corner fittings of the lower container or the carrier fittings there by means of the intermediate coupling units. In this method, too, the object of the invention is to shorten the conversion times, to limit the amount of tedious and dangerous human work and to make the implementation work cheaper, also from the point of view of time expenditure.

To solve this problem, it is proposed that the container to be moved coming from the second position is first placed on intermediate coupling holder means which, according to a distribution pattern corresponding to the arrangement of upper container corner fittings or carrier fittings, have receptacles for intermediate coupling units and are equipped with intermediate coupling units in these receptacles that the container to be moved is connected to the intermediate coupling units during its positioning relative to the intermediate coupling holder means, and that the container to be moved is then brought from the intermediate coupling holder means to the first location, taking it down on the respective lower container or the container carrier, and mediating the Intermediate coupling units is secured.

In the procedures according to the invention, it is fundamentally possible to work semi-automatically in such a way that after positioning a container on the intermediate coupling holder means, the intermediate coupling units are released by hand or attached to the container by an operating team acting on the corresponding actuating means on the intermediate coupling units, which the Solution of or trigger the connection with the respective container. Even with such a semi-automatic mode of operation, a considerable advantage has already been achieved in that the lifting and threading work of the heavy intermediate coupling units has been removed from the operating team. At the same time, the operators still have to move into an endangered area, where containers are transported suspended, can be placed improperly and may also fall off the spreader or the carrier of the spreader. It is therefore a particular concern of the invention to transfer the intermediate coupling units from the intermediate coupling holder means to the containers fully automatically or to remove the intermediate coupling units from the containers fully automatically during transfer operation in both directions, so that the presence of the intermediate coupling holder means only occasionally for service purposes by staff is required. Then the use of human work in the hazardous area is reduced to a minimum. The transfer of the intermediate coupling units to the containers or to the intermediate coupling holder means takes place without the use of personnel. The containers can also be set down and anchored on the deck of the container ship without human effort by putting the intermediate coupling units in preparatory positions before putting them on the ship, in which they are inevitably lowered further by lowering surfaces in the upper corner fittings below Containers or in the carrier fittings on the deck and after threading through these fittings by spring preload in a locking position. So there is only the need to detach the containers in the import, ie when loading from the ship on land, from the container below or the carrier fittings on deck.

It is desirable that the intermediate coupling units are removed from the respective receptacle and fed to a memory. Care should be taken to ensure that the transfer of the intermediate coupling units from the respective receptacle to a storage location is carried out while maintaining the orientation of the intermediate coupling unit in space or with an orderly reorientation; this measure is particularly desirable because it allows the intermediate coupling units to be preserved or ordered corrected position can also be removed from the memory again using simple handling means.

Conversely, it is also provided that the intermediate coupling units are fed from a memory to the respective receptacle when a container is exported, ie. H. from a stand on land to a stand on ship. In both cases it is desirable that the intermediate coupling units are moved between their respective storage location and the respective receptacle while maintaining their orientation in space or with an orderly reorientation.

A problem now arises in that the corner fittings of containers, both the lower and the upper ones, are as a rule standardized, but on the other hand intermediate coupling units with different structural designs and different types of operation are used. It can be assumed that the same intermediate coupling units are used on the same ship. On the other hand, loading and unloading of ships from different shipping companies, which often use these different types of intermediate coupling units, can be expected in a port. In order to master the implementation according to the invention proposal, taking into account the different types of intermediate coupling units, one could think of transporting the intermediate coupling holder means on the ship in each case and positioning them on land at the start of a loading or unloading phase. This possibility should not be ruled out, but should also be considered as a measure essential to the invention. But one also has to reckon with the fact that shipping companies often start from the practice of attaching and detaching intermediate coupling units as part of loading and unloading work It is up to the respective port administration. If the port administration now has to put up with different types of intermediate coupling units, the implementation of the method proposed according to the invention is initially made more difficult.

It has now been recognized that the problem of handling intermediate coupling units of different structures can be overcome by starting with their handling at locations which are designed in accordance with the standardized corner fittings and therefore generally offer identical combinations of attack surfaces. It is therefore further proposed that when designing the intermediate coupling units with positioning surfaces which are designed and designed for engaging in openings of upper container corner fittings or corresponding support fittings and with downward-facing bearing surfaces which are intended for bearing on the top of upper container corner fittings or Carrier fittings are determined, the intermediate coupling units are positioned on the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means by means of these positioning and / or contact surfaces. In this way, the method according to the invention can be carried out in both directions with relatively minor conversion or conversion work on the intermediate coupling holder means, even if it is often necessary to change from one coupling type to another intermediate coupling type.

A further reduction in tedious and dangerous human work can be achieved in that the intermediate coupling units are transported from the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means by mechanical transport means to the respective storage location or are transported from the respective storage location to the respective accommodation location by mechanical transport means.

The situation in many ports is often as follows: The containers are lifted from the ship by a container loading crane that can be moved along the quay edge and are not brought directly to the final location, but are handed over to the transfer spreader of the ship loading crane at a transfer point and from a land transport vehicle, usually taken over again by means of a spreader. The shore-side transport vehicle then takes the rest of the way to a container stacking place or a shore-side means of transport, such as a truck or a train. If a transfer has to take place on the way from the ship-side stand to the shore-side final stand or vice versa, this is used according to a further development of the invention in such a way that the container is on the way between the first and the second stand is brought together at a point with the intermediate coupling holder means for delivering or receiving the intermediate coupling units, at which transfer takes place between different container transport means.

It has already been stated that the container loading cranes can often be moved along a quay edge in order to be able to operate different longitudinal sections of a ship lying against the quay edge one after the other. If the trolley running on the bridge girder of such a container loading crane with the container loading crane successively reaches different longitudinal positions along the quay edge, then according to a development of the method according to the invention it is advantageous if the intermediate coupling holder means with a container loading crane are different Jobs of this container loading crane are taken. Then, every time the container loading crane has changed its position along the quay edge, the intermediate coupling bracket is located at the new location already available in the correct position to receive a container floating on the trolley of the bridge girder in the correct position.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a device for moving containers between two stands.

The basic component of such a device is intermediate coupling holder means with receptacles for intermediate coupling units, these intermediate coupling holder means having receptacles for intermediate coupling units according to a distribution picture corresponding to the arrangement of lower container corner fittings.

In order to be able to connect or detach the containers to or from the intermediate coupling holder means without the use of human labor, it is preferably provided that mechanical actuation means for detaching or coupling a respective intermediate coupling unit from or to a container is provided for each respective holder of the intermediate coupling holder means assigned.

In order to overcome the problem of the different designs of commercially available intermediate coupling units, it can be provided that the mechanical actuation means for different types of intermediate coupling units can be configured and / or exchanged. In this way, there is at least the chance to be able to use at least the heavy and difficult-to-transport parts of the intermediate coupling holder means not only for one type of intermediate coupling unit, but for a large number of types, if possible all types available on the market.

The retrofitting of the intermediate clutch holder means to different types of intermediate clutch units can be facilitated in particular by the fact that the mechanical actuation means have at least one holder-side power device in spatial association with a respective receptacle and that on this holder-side power device in adaptation to different intermediate clutch units different attack means for attacking intermediate clutch units and / or power transmission means can be coupled. In this way, the conversion work can often be reduced to a part of the specific resources for individual intermediate coupling units.

Among the intermediate coupling units of different designs, which can be used, there are those with a base and an adjustable engagement head above and below the base, as well as those in which the base is only equipped with a lower engagement head that can be rotated relative to the base is and the connection with the respective lower corner fitting of an upper container is made or solved in that the entire base is rotated with a base-fixed engaging head attached to the respective lower corner fitting. In this case, as part of the mechanical actuation means, a rotary unit will be assigned to a respective receptacle, this rotary unit being designed and designed to interact with lower coupling subunits of intermediate coupling units, namely those subunits which are designed and designed for engagement in upper container corner fittings or carrier fittings are so that this rotating unit can loosen or lock the intermediate coupling unit against a respective lower container corner fitting by rotating the intermediate coupling unit as a whole within the respective receptacle.

In other embodiments of intermediate coupling units, each with a rotatable engaging head above and below a base, it is provided that the actuating means are designed to engage with adjusting means of the intermediate coupling unit, which effect the release of the respective intermediate coupling unit from or its locking on a respective lower container corner fitting.

If the intermediate coupling units are to be transported between the intermediate coupling holder means and a storage device without substantial human labor, it is provided that the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means are each connected via a transport path to a storage unit for intermediate coupling units, this transport path being used for maintaining orientation or orderly reorientation of the intermediate coupling units is trained.

In the event that the handling of different types of intermediate coupling units is provided, the memories can be designed in such a way that different intermediate coupling units can be received and released in one and the same memory, for example in different compartments or areas.

One can provide a central memory for the generally four receptacles of an intermediate coupling holder; but it is also conceivable and even preferred that a special memory for intermediate coupling units is provided for each receptacle of the intermediate coupling holder means. The memory can be removed from the intermediate coupling holder means, so that a full memory can be replaced by an empty one and vice versa if necessary.

It is recommended that the transport route and / or the respective storage location for an intermediate coupling unit is provided with orientation preservation or correction means which are coordinated with positioning surfaces of intermediate coupling units, in particular with positioning surfaces of lower sub-units of intermediate coupling units which are adapted to standardized upper container corner fittings . With this measure one makes use again of the fact that most of the commercially available intermediate coupling units, due to their adaptation to the corner fittings of containers, have certain surfaces which appear in all embodiments in their position and assignment.

It is further proposed that the orientation preservation or correction means of the transport path or the storage locations are formed by mutually facing edges and / or upward contact surfaces by slot delimitation strips. This measure makes use of the fact that, in most intermediate coupling units, filler pieces for engaging in upper corner fittings of containers are available, which are suitable for guiding between the slot delimiting strips and also surfaces which are suitable for bearing on the upwardly directed bearing surfaces.

The memory or the memories can be an areal or spatial memory; accordingly, the transport routes to and within the store must be designed in a variety of ways.

It has already been pointed out that there are containers of different dimensions, in particular different longitudinal dimensions. For this reason, it is further proposed that the intermediate clutch holder means be made of there are boxes which are movable relative to one another and which allow the recordings to be adjusted to different distribution images in accordance with the arrangement of upper and lower container corner fittings on containers of different dimensions.

The stores may have to accommodate significant numbers of intermediate coupling units. This can lead to housing problems for the intermediate coupling units and thus also for the correspondingly large storage units. Assuming again that the intermediate coupling holder means are arranged on or just above a driving lane and that piste-accessible container transport vehicles are used to position containers in relation to the intermediate coupling holder means, it can be difficult to accommodate these stores in such a way that the piste-accessible container transport vehicles can still approach the intermediate coupling holder means undisturbed. One possible solution to this problem is that the memory or individual receptacles assigned to individual receptacles for intermediate coupling units are arranged at least in part within a width dimension of the intermediate coupling holder means defined by the receptacles. The piste-accessible container transport vehicles can then approach or move away from the intermediate coupling holder means at least along one lane in two directions, and there is still the possibility of bringing the storage to corresponding capacity by extending in this lane direction.

In order to be able to use the intermediate coupling holder means in the area of a port at various points, it is proposed that the intermediate coupling holder means together with actuating means assigned to the receptacles and / or a memory or individual storage of the recordings are designed as a transportable unit, which can preferably be detected and implemented by a spreader, if necessary also after disassembly into sub-units.

The important aspect of the direct taking of the intermediate coupling holder means by a container loading crane has already been pointed out above. In order not to allow the entrainment means necessary for this to inhibit the movement of the container transport means accessible to the slopes, it is further proposed that the intermediate coupling holder means are connected by connecting means to a part of a container loading crane which can be passed over by a rail-less container transport vehicle approaching in the container transfer position and, if necessary Include power and control lines for the intermediate clutch holder means. The connecting means can either grind on the piste or be guided by very low rollers or balls on the piste.

If operating and monitoring personnel are no longer regularly present at the transfer point and therefore at the location of the intermediate coupling holder means, the problem of automatically eliminating breakdowns arises. A possible breakdown could be that a spreader which is in connection with a container positioned on the intermediate coupling holder means is raised, under the erroneous assumption that the container with the intermediate coupling units coupled to it is decoupled from the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means. Here the lifting of the container could result in extensive destruction of the intermediate coupling holder means or at least one of their receptacles. To counteract this it is further provided that securing means are provided which prevent a receptacle and associated functional parts from being taken along when a container is lifted relative to the intermediate coupling holder means if, despite issuing a release command to release the respective intermediate coupling unit from the container, this release command with respect to one or more intermediate coupling units has not been carried out or has been carried out incorrectly . It can be provided that the securing means emit a warning or control signal to an operator or to a lifting mechanism which serves to remove the container from the intermediate coupling holder means.

In certain types of intermediate coupling units, namely those in which the upper engaging head is rigidly connected to the base, the case may arise that the intermediate coupling unit is used to release the intermediate coupling unit from a lower container corner fitting or for coupling to a lower container corner fitting whole must be rotated under the load of the container above it. For this, as already indicated above, a rotating unit on the intermediate coupling holder means is required. In order to allow this rotating unit to take effect in good time while avoiding the installation of excessive drive power, the rotating unit can be assigned a pretensioning device which is pre-tensioned in the release or coupling direction in such a way that when the intermediate coupling unit is relieved of the weight of the container, a rotation in the Release or coupling sense takes place during the relief phase.

With regard to the adaptation to different container dimensions, it is provided that the intermediate coupling holder means consist of a base frame and at least one movement frame that is adjustable relative to the base frame, by adjusting the distribution image of the receptacles to the respective container format is adaptable.

In order to make the positioning program of a container loading crane independent of the dimensions of the containers, two movement frames can be provided on the base frame, which can be adjusted symmetrically in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the container relative to the base frame and possibly accommodate one or two stores (68) .

In order to be able to implement the intermediate coupling holder means in a simple manner within a port area, engagement fittings for spreading-side coupling means, which can be adapted to different container formats on the spreader, can be provided on the intermediate coupling holder means.

A simple displacement of the intermediate coupling holder means can also be achieved if the intermediate coupling holder means are designed as a roadworthy unit or can be converted into such a unit and optionally coupled to a towing vehicle.

Since the presence of service personnel in the area of the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means is to be expected, it is recommended that protective roof means are arranged on the intermediate coupling holder means in the area of the respective receptacles, on the one hand in such a way that they overlap with a properly approaching or raised expecting containers, on the other hand, so that they provide immediate protection or a short escape route for service personnel working at the respective reception. Additional security for service personnel can also be achieved in that the protective roof means is assigned a barrier which, when the service personnel exit the protective roof area, approaches road-going container transport vehicle in the lounge area of the service personnel.

In order to facilitate the positioning of containers in relation to the intermediate coupling holder means, in particular also in the case of oscillating cable suspensions of the spreaders, it is provided that the intermediate coupling holder means are provided with instruction means for a container.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht einer Kai-Anlage in Längsrichtung der Kai-Kante mit einem Container-Schiff, einem Container-Verladekran und einer Container-Umsetzvorrichtung unterhalb des Container-Verladekrans;

Fig. 1a

einen oberen Eckbeschlag eines Containers zum Zusammenwirken mit einem der Twistlocks eines Spreaders in Draufsicht;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht auf einen Zwischenkupplungshalter der Fig. 1 in Pfeilrichtung II der Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a

eine Seitenansicht auf den Zwischenkupplungshalter gemäß Fig. 2 in teleskopisch verlängerter Stellung;

Fig. 2b

eine Ansicht auf den Zwischenkupplungshalter gemäß Fig. 2 in einer nochmal verlängerten Stellung;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf den Zwischenkupplungshalter gemäß Fig. 2b;

Fig. 4

eine Zwischenkupplungseinheit im Eingriff mit einem oberen Eckbeschlag eines unteren Containers und gleichzeitig im Eingriff mit einem unteren Eckbeschlag eines oberen Containers;

Fig. 4a

schematisch den Eingriffszustand der Zwischenkupplungseinheit mit dem unteren Eckbeschlag des oberen Containers in Pfeilrichtung VIa-IVa der Fig. 4;

Fig. 4b

schematisch den Eingriff der Zwischenkupplungseinheit mit dem oberen Eckbeschlag des unteren Containers in Pfeilrichtung IVb-IVb der Fig. 4;

Fig. 5

die Anordnung nach Fig. 4 in einer Phase, in welcher der obere Container mit der an ihm verriegelten Zwischenkupplungseinheit von dem unteren Container abgehoben werden kann;

Fig. 5a und 5b

Darstellungen entsprechend Fig. 4a und 4b, jedoch entsprechend dem Zustand gemäß Fig. 5;

Fig. 6

den Eckbeschlag des oberen Containers nach erfolgtem Umsetzen des oberen Containers auf einen Zwischenkupplungshalter;

Fig. 6a und 6b

schematische Darstellungen entsprechend Fig. 4a und 4b, wobei Fig. 6a den Eingriffszustand der Zwischenkupplungseinheit mit dem umgesetzten oberen Container und Fig. 6b schematisch den Eingriffszustand der Zwischenkupplungseinheit mit dem Zwischenkupplungshalter darstellt;

Fig. 7

die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 6 nach Umstellung der Zwischenkupplungseinheit in eine Stellung, in welcher der obere Container unter Zurücklassung der Zwischenkupplungseinheit von dem Zwischenkupplungshalter abgehoben werden kann;

Fig. 7a und 7b

schematische Eingriffszustände der Zwischenkupplungseinheit mit dem umzusetzenden Container und mit dem Zwischenkupplungshalter entsprechend Fig. 7 in Betrachtungsrichtungen entsprechend Fig. 4, 4a und 4b;

Fig. 8

den Zwischenkupplungshalter mit einer Zwischenkupplungseinheit in der Relativposition gemäß Fig. 7, jedoch nach Abheben des umzusetzenden Containers;

Fig. 8a

die Stellung des oberen Teils der Zwischenkupplungseinheit gemäß Fig. 8;

Fig. 8b

den Eingriffszustand zwischen dem unteren Teil der Zwischenkupplungseinheit und dem Zwischenkupplungshalter gemäß Fig. 8;

Fig. 9

die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 8 nach Trennung eines am Zwischenkupplungshalter angebrachten Betätigungswerkzeugs von einem Betätigungshebel der Zwischenkupplungseinheit;

Fig. 9b

den Eingriffszustand zwischen dem unteren Teil der Zwischenkupplungseinheit und dem Zwischenkupplungshalter gemäß Fig. 9;

Fig. 10a

das Schema der Übergabe einer Zwischenkupplungseinheit von dem Zwischenkupplungshalter an ein Magazin;

Fig. 10b

eine Zwischenphase bei der Übergabe einer Zwischenkupplungseinheit von dem Zwischenkupplungshalter an das Magazin und

Fig. 11

eine Frontansicht des Magazins in Pfeilrichtung XI der Fig. 10b.

The accompanying figures explain the invention using an exemplary embodiment. It represent

Fig. 1

a view of a quay system in the longitudinal direction of the quay edge with a container ship, a container loading crane and a container transfer device below the container loading crane;

Fig. 1a

an upper corner fitting of a container for interacting with one of the twistlocks of a spreader in plan view;

Fig. 2

a side view of an intermediate coupling holder of Figure 1 in the direction of arrow II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2a

a side view of the intermediate coupling holder of Figure 2 in the telescopically extended position.

Fig. 2b

a view of the intermediate coupling holder according to Figure 2 in a renewed position.

Fig. 3

a plan view of the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 2b;

Fig. 4

an intermediate coupling unit in engagement with an upper corner fitting of a lower container and at the same time in engagement with a lower corner fitting of an upper container;

Fig. 4a

schematically the state of engagement of the intermediate coupling unit with the lower corner fitting of the upper container in the direction of arrow VIa-IVa of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4b

schematically the engagement of the intermediate coupling unit with the upper corner fitting of the lower container in the direction of arrow IVb-IVb of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5

the arrangement of Figure 4 in a phase in which the upper container can be lifted from the lower container with the intermediate coupling unit locked to it.

5a and 5b

4a and 4b, but according to the state of FIG. 5;

Fig. 6

the corner fitting of the upper container after the upper container has been moved onto an intermediate coupling holder;

6a and 6b

schematic representations corresponding to FIGS. 4a and 4b, FIG. 6a schematically representing the state of engagement of the intermediate coupling unit with the converted upper container and FIG. 6b schematically representing the state of engagement of the intermediate coupling unit with the intermediate coupling holder;

Fig. 7

the arrangement of Figure 6 after switching the intermediate coupling unit into a position in which the upper container can be lifted off the intermediate coupling holder leaving the intermediate coupling unit behind;

7a and 7b

schematic engagement states of the intermediate coupling unit with the container to be moved and with the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 7 in viewing directions corresponding to FIGS. 4, 4a and 4b;

Fig. 8

the intermediate coupling holder with an intermediate coupling unit in the relative position according to FIG. 7, but after lifting off the container to be moved;

Fig. 8a

the position of the upper part of the intermediate coupling unit according to FIG. 8;

Fig. 8b

the engagement state between the lower part of the intermediate coupling unit and the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 8;

Fig. 9

the arrangement of Figure 8 after separation of an operating tool attached to the intermediate clutch holder from an operating lever of the intermediate clutch unit.

Fig. 9b

the engagement state between the lower part of the intermediate clutch unit and the intermediate clutch holder according to FIG. 9;

Fig. 10a

the diagram of the transfer of an intermediate coupling unit from the intermediate coupling holder to a magazine;

Fig. 10b

an intermediate phase in the transfer of an intermediate coupling unit from the intermediate coupling holder to the magazine and

Fig. 11

a front view of the magazine in the direction of arrow XI of Fig. 10b.

1, a quay edge is designated by 10; this runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. On the land side, the quay edge 10 is followed by a runway 12 for rubber-tired vehicles. Rails 14 for a container loading crane 16 are also laid parallel to the quay edge 10 on this quay runway 12. The crane frame 16 consists of a portal with portal columns 16a and a trolley bridge girder 16b. A trolley 18 drives onto your trolley bridge support 16b, which carries a so-called spreader via lifting cables 20, ie a container receiving frame 22 which corresponds approximately to the horizontal cross section of a container and is provided with so-called twistlocks 24 in its four corners, which are designed for coupling to upper corner fittings 26a of a container 26I to be moved. The two containers 26I and 26II are stacked on the deck of a container loading ship 28. The lower container 26II is coupled with lower corner fittings 26b by means of intermediate coupling units 30 to support fittings 32 of the ship 28. On the other hand, the upper container 26I with its lower corner fittings 26b is in turn coupled to the upper corner fittings 26a of the lower container 26II by intermediate coupling units 30.

It is now assumed that the container 26I is to be moved from its position A shown in FIG. 1 to a position B, where the position B can be located anywhere on the quay runway 12, for example within a container warehouse.

To do this, proceed as follows:

The spreader 22 is lowered onto the upper container 26I and connected to it by actuating the twistlocks 24. The Twistlocks 24 must be imagined as a hammer-shaped structure, the hammer handle of which can be rotated about a vertical axis. When the spreader 22 is lowered onto the upper container 26I, the hammer heads of the twistlocks 24 reach through elongated holes 26a1 of the upper corner fittings 26a (FIG. 1a); if they have passed through the elongated holes 26a1, the hammer handles are rotated about their vertical axes, so that the hammer heads 24a engage under the upper corner fittings 26a. Then the spreader 22 can lift the upper container 26I as soon as it is detached from the lower container 26II.

In order to release the upper container 26I from the lower container 26II, the intermediate coupling units 30 are uncoupled from the lower container 26II, while these intermediate coupling units 30 remain connected to the upper container 26I. The upper container 26I can now be moved by the spreader 22 along a path a-b-c into a position C on an intermediate coupling holder 34. Please note: on the route a-b-c, the intermediate coupling units 30 are still coupled to the container 26I. Now you want to bring the container 26I ultimately into position B and, for example, park it on the quay slope 12, the intermediate coupling units 30 having to be uncoupled from the container 26I beforehand in order to park on the quay slope 12 in position B.

For this purpose, it is provided that the container 26I is placed on the intermediate coupling holder 34 with the intermediate coupling units 30, that then, while the container 26I is on the intermediate coupling holder 34, the intermediate coupling units 30 are detached from the container 26I and that the container 26I is then removed from the Intermediate clutch holder 34 is removed again and brought into position B, the intermediate clutch units 30 are intended to remain on the intermediate clutch holder 34 and are to be inserted from there into a memory for intermediate clutch units. After the intermediate coupling units 30 have been released from the container 26I in the region of the intermediate coupling holder 34, the container 26I is gripped by a further spreader 36 by means of twistlocks 24 also provided on this spreader 36. The spreader 36 is suspended by means of lifting ropes 38 on a gantry pallet truck 40, which can run on the quay piste 12 by means of wheels 42 which can be steered and preferably steerable, in order to bring the container 26I from position C to position B and place it there on the quay - Take off runway 12. Remain as before indicated that the intermediate coupling units 30, which have moved from the position A to the position C with the container 26I, return to the intermediate coupling carrier 34 and are stored there in a memory to be described in more detail.

Since the trolley bridge girder 16b container loading crane 16 can be moved parallel to the quay edge 10, that is to say perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1, in order to be able to successively lift containers from different parking spaces of the ship which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the ship , it is necessary to be able to also move the intermediate coupling holder 34 with the crane scaffold 16 in its different positions. For this purpose, the intermediate coupling holder 34 is connected via a driver connection 44 to the portal column 16a of the crane scaffold for driving. The driver 44 lies directly on the quay runway 12, so that the gantry truck 40 can be run over by the wheels 42 of the gantry truck 40 from position C when approaching the takeover position for taking over the container 26I. All supply lines which are necessary for the control and actuation of moving parts in the region of the intermediate coupling holder 34 can be laid in the driver 44.

It must also be pointed out that the intermediate coupling holder 34 must be adapted to different container formats, the adaptation generally being able to be restricted to the longitudinal direction of the containers; the containers in question are standardized across the board; in the longitudinal direction there are different formats, e.g. B. 40-foot containers, 45-foot containers and 20-foot containers.

2 shows the intermediate coupling holder 34 in one position coordinated with a 20-foot container. The intermediate coupling holder 34 consists of two boxes 46 which are guided in a base frame 50 by means of intermediate telescopic pieces 48. The boxes 46 and the intermediate telescopic pieces 48 can be adjusted synchronously with respect to the base frame 50, so that one can optionally achieve the longitudinal dimensions according to FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b. Guide plates 52 are attached to the boxes 46 for the respective container to be moved.

3 shows the driver constructions 44, which connect the base frame 50 to the portal column 16a of the crane scaffold 16 at the quay runway level 12. A receptacle 54 for the four intermediate coupling units 30 of a container 26I is provided on the boxes 46 in the four upper corners.

To prepare the transfer of the container 26I from the position A to the position C, the intermediate coupling units 30 are released from the container 26II by hand. The same applies if the container 26II is to be detached from the carrier fittings 32 on the deck of the ship 28 at a later point in time.

In Fig. 4, an upper corner fitting 26a of the lower container 26II and a lower corner fitting 26b of the upper container 26I is shown and between them an intermediate coupling unit 30. The intermediate coupling unit 30 comprises a base 30a, which consists of an intermediate plate 30a1, a lower filler 30a2 and an upper filler 30a3. The lower filler 30a2 fills the slot 26a1 of the upper corner fitting 26a substantially completely. The upper filler 30a3 essentially completely fills a corresponding elongated hole 26b1 of the lower corner fitting 26b of container 26I. The longitudinal axis LX extends Elongated holes 26a1 and 26b1 in Fig. 4 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The intermediate plate 30a1, which has an approximately square outline and lies with its square sides parallel to the rectangular sides of the elongated holes 26a1 and 26b1, has a downward bearing surface 30a12 and an upward wing 30a13. The downward bearing surface 30a12 rests on the upper side 26a2 of the upper corner fitting 26a of the container 26II, while the lower side 26b2 of the lower corner fitting 26b of container 26I rests on the upward supporting surface 30a13 of the intermediate plate 30a1. A shaft 30b is rotatably mounted in the center of the base 30a. This shaft 30b carries an upper hammer head 30c at its upper end and a lower hammer head 30d at its lower end.

4a and 4b that in the state according to FIG. 4 the shaft 30b assumes an angular position with respect to the base 30a, in which the hammer head 30d engages under the upper corner fitting 26a and the hammer head 30c engages over the lower corner fitting 26b, so that the two corner fittings 26a and 26b of the two containers 26II and 26I are locked together and secured against vertical lifting apart. An adjusting lever 30e is attached to the base 30a, which allows the shaft 30b to be rotated and fixes various angular positions of the shaft 30b in different positions.

5, 5a and 5b, the intermediate coupling unit 30 is released from the upper corner fitting 26a of the container 26I, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 5b, namely from the parallel position of the hammer head 30d and the elongated hole 26a1. On the other hand, the intermediate coupling unit 30 is still locked to the lower corner fitting 26b of the upper container 26I, as can be seen from FIG. 5a, where the upper hammer head 30c is transverse to the elongated hole 26b1.

Note the new position of the control lever 30e. In the state of FIG. 5, the container 26I can be lifted off by the spreader 22 and brought into the position C of FIG. 1 in order to be placed there on the intermediate coupling holder 34.

6 shows that the container 26I with its lower corner fitting 26b has been brought into alignment with an intermediate coupling receptacle 54 of the intermediate coupling holder 34. In Fig. 6, the angular position of the shaft 30b is unchanged from the angular position in Fig. 5, so that the upper hammer head 30c still hangs on the lower corner fitting 26b and the lower hammer head 30b can enter an elongated slot 54a of the receptacle 54 unhindered. The filler 30a2 corresponds in width to the width of the slot 54a. The upper hammer head 30c still overlaps the lower corner fitting 26b.

7 that an actuating device for the actuating lever 30e is attached to the intermediate coupling holder 34 in the region of the intermediate coupling receptacle 54. This actuator is designated 56. It comprises an actuating fork 56a on an actuating shaft 56b, which passes through a pivot shaft 56c diametrically, is displaceable in the longitudinal direction within the actuating shaft 56c in the direction of arrow 56d and can be rotated with the actuating shaft 56c in the direction of arrow 56e. By means of this actuating device 56, the setting lever 30e can be brought into the position according to FIG. 7. In this position, the upper hammer head 30c assumes a parallel position to the slot 26b1 of the lower corner fitting 26b of the container 26I, so that the container 26I can be lifted off the intermediate coupling holder 34, leaving the intermediate coupling unit 30 in the receptacle 54 of the intermediate coupling holder 34. The location the intermediate clutch unit 30 on the intermediate clutch holder 34 is secured by the setting of the lower hammer head 30d, which, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 7b, engages under the intermediate coupling receptacle 54.

If the container 26I is now removed from the intermediate coupling holder 34 by means of the spreader 36 of the straddle carrier 40, the state according to FIGS. 8, 8a and 8b occurs.

9 and 9b differ from FIGS. 8 and 8b only in that the actuating device 56 has been withdrawn from the actuating lever 30e.

In FIG. 9, as in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a transport slide 58 is shown, which can be moved along a linear guide rail 58a. The transport slide 58 is fork-shaped and rests with its two fork legs 58b, 58c on the front and rear boundary surfaces of the intermediate plate 30a1 which are parallel to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 9. By means of this transport slide 58, the intermediate coupling unit 30 can be pushed out of the elongated slot 54a in the direction of arrow 60 according to FIG. 9b. The two side surfaces 30a21 of the filler 30a2 slide along the slot delimiting surfaces 54a1 of the elongated slot 54a. In this way, the orientation of the intermediate coupling unit 30 about its vertical axis is obtained.

In FIG. 10a, the position of the intermediate coupling unit 30 according to FIG. 9 can be seen in a section along line Xa-Xa of FIG. 9. The filling piece 30a2 is still located within the elongated slot 54a between its two slot delimiting surfaces 54a1, while the intermediate plate 30a1 rests on the upper side 54b of the receptacle 54. In Fig. 10a it can be seen that a transport table 62 is in position opposite the intermediate coupling receptacle 54 is in such a way that the upper sides 62a of the transport table 62 lie flush with the upper side 54b of the receptacle 54 and that a slot 62b with slot boundary edges 62b1 of the transport table 62 is in alignment with the elongated slot 54a of the receptacle 54. In this assignment Now the transport slide 58 can move the intermediate coupling unit 30 from the position according to FIG. 10a to the position according to FIG. 10b.

As soon as the intermediate coupling unit 30 has reached its position according to FIG. 10b on the transport table 62, the transport slide 58 can be withdrawn in a manner not shown, so that by means of the transport table 62 the intermediate coupling unit 30 in two mutually orthogonal directions corresponding to the direction symbols 64 and 66 parallel to Front wall 68a of a memory 68 can be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions. By means of the transport table 62, the intermediate coupling unit 30 can then be brought into alignment with one of the storage compartments 68I1-68I4 or 68II1-68II4 arranged in columns 68I and 68II. Once the escape position to such a storage compartment has been established, the intermediate coupling unit 30 can be transported from the transport table 62 into the respective storage compartment. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the storage compartment 68II1 is loaded. The transition from the transport table 62 into the storage compartment 68II1 can be taken over by a saw-like transport rod 70. This transport rod 70 can be placed in the working position opposite each of the storage compartments and is located below the storage compartment to be loaded; 11, the storage compartment 68II1 is being loaded. Accordingly, the saw-shaped transport rod 70 is located in the storage compartment 68II2 underneath. The transfer of the intermediate coupling unit 30 from the transport table 62 10b into the storage compartment 68II1 takes place by saw teeth 70a of the transport rod 70. The distance between two saw teeth 70a which belong together in pairs is matched to the length of the filler 30a2, which is designated by 1 in FIG. 10a. The transport rod 70 is movable and leads according to the direction symbols 72 and 74; viewed in viewing direction V of FIG. 10b, a periodic movement along a rectangular path in the vertical plane. According to FIG. 10b, two saw teeth 70a are in register position with the filler 30a2, but according to FIG. 11 below and out of engagement with the intermediate coupling unit 30. If the transport rod 70 now goes up in the direction 74 from the position according to FIG. 11, the fork filler 30a2 into both saw teeth 70a with the filler 30a2 in register position. If the transport rod 70 then moves in the direction of the arrow 72 (upwards in FIG. 10b), the intermediate coupling unit 30 is pushed into the storage compartment 68II1 by the stroke h of the transport rod 70 in the direction of the arrow 72. In this case, the intermediate coupling unit 30 is prevented from rotating about its vertical axis by the longitudinal edges 30a21 of the filler 30a2 resting on the longitudinal edges of support strips 68b of the storage compartment 68II1. At the same time, the intermediate plate 30a1 rests on the strips 68b. As soon as the transport rod 70 has completed its stroke h in the direction of arrow 72, it moves downwards again along its rectangular path in the direction of the arrow 74, so that the teeth 70a, which had previously forked the filling piece 30a2, come out of engagement with the filling piece 30a2 again . The transport rod 70 can then carry out a reverse stroke in the direction of arrow 72 and after executing this reverse stroke along the arrow 74 according to FIG. 11 go up again in order to take over a further intermediate coupling unit 30 presented by the transport table 62 and to bring it into the storage compartment 68II1. The ones already contained in the storage compartment 68II1 Intermediate clutch units 30 are brought to further storage locations in the storage compartment 68II1 by the next following pairs of teeth each by a stroke length h. This ensures that the intermediate coupling units 30 in the storage compartment 68II1 assume defined positions in the longitudinal direction of this storage compartment, so that they can also be gripped by the transport rod 70 for the purpose of return transport on the transport table 62. When a storage compartment is filled, the transport table 62 sets itself in alignment with another storage compartment etc. At the same time, the transport rod 70 is brought into position opposite the storage compartment to be loaded, ie inserted into the storage compartment located under the storage compartment to be loaded.

A special memory can be provided for each of the four intermediate coupling receptacles 54 of the intermediate coupling holder 34 according to FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b and 3. In particular, it is advisable to provide two stores in each of the boxes 46 for the two receptacles 54 assigned to the respective box 46. The memories 68 according to FIGS. 10a, 10b and 11 can be set loosely in the boxes 46 so that they can be removed from them and replaced, for example with a forklift.

It is readily apparent that container 26I can also be moved from position B via position C to position A on the deck of ship 28. In this case, the container 26I arriving from position B without intermediate coupling units 30 in position C on the intermediate coupling holder 34 is equipped with intermediate coupling units 30, these being locked to it. Then the spreader 22 can again pick up the container 26I and bring it on the path cba in the direction of the arrow to position A, where it is again on the lower one Container 26II can be placed. After mounting, the intermediate coupling units 30 are locked again with the upper corner fittings 26a of the lower container 26II.

It is now provided that the lower hammer heads 30d are automatically locked in the upper corner fittings 26a of the lower container 26II or in the fittings 32 on the deck of the ship 28. For this purpose, the hammer heads 30d are brought into an intermediate position, from which they can be rotated when they are immersed in the respective elongated hole 26a1 by instruction bevels of the hammer head in parallel position to the respective elongated hole 26a1, in order to pass the respective upper corner fitting after passing through the respective elongated hole 26a1 26a to reach under.

The transfer of the respective hammer head 30d into a standby position, from which, when immersed in an elongated hole 26a1, automatically positions itself parallel to the elongated hole 26a1 against the spring action, is effected before or during the extension of the hammer head 30d from the elongated slot 54a of the receptacle 54. This bringing about the standby state can in turn take place by acting on the actuating lever 30e.

It should also be noted here that there are different designs of intermediate coupling units 30. An alternative embodiment provides that the upper hammer head 30c of an intermediate coupling unit 30 cannot be rotated relative to the base 30a. In this case, the receptacle 54 must be designed so that the entire intermediate coupling unit 30 can rotate in it. A rotary drive is then assigned to the receptacle 54, which causes the intermediate coupling unit 30 to rotate. This rotary drive can then on the lower filler 30a2 Attack base 30a. The following problem now arises: As long as an upper container 26I rests on the intermediate coupling unit 30 or more precisely on the intermediate coupling plate 30a1, which in turn rests on the upper side 54b of a receptacle 54, the base 30a is twisted for the purpose of unlocking or Locking with the lower corner fitting 26b of the container 26I is only possible against great frictional resistance. In order to avoid this frictional resistance, it is provided that the base 30a is engaged by a rotary pretensioner, which stores the actuating force for rotating the base 30a and causes the rotation as soon as the intermediate plate is relieved.

The construction according to the invention described so far allows the containers to be moved faster. In contrast to the previous mode of operation, it is no longer necessary to manually disconnect and save the intermediate coupling units 30, which were initially carried along by the lifted container, after lifting a container from a container underneath. This saves a very tedious, dangerous and expensive manual work. The same savings also occur if a container must be equipped with intermediate coupling units with which it is then to be attached to an underlying container or on the deck before being placed on a container ship. This attachment of the intermediate coupling units 30 to the container to be loaded on the ship has previously also been carried out by hand and is now being replaced by the mechanical means in the region of the intermediate coupling holder. Manual work is still necessary on the deck of the ship if a container is to be uncoupled from an underlying container or from fittings on the deck.

So far, it has been assumed that the containers are delivered to the intermediate coupling holder 34 on the land side by a container transport vehicle, for example a straddle carrier, of the type shown at 40 in the drawings. It is also conceivable that a container is brought up to the intermediate coupling holder, for example on a platform carriage, and is to be placed there in position relative to the respective receptacles for the intermediate coupling units. In this case, an auxiliary crane can be assigned to the intermediate coupling holder in a stationary manner, which lifts the respective container from the platform truck and places it on the intermediate coupling holder.

However the container 26I is transported from position C in the import operation, the following advantage results:

As soon as the container 26I is placed on the intermediate coupling holder 34, the spreader 22 can already be lifted off the container and driven back to the ship by means of the trolley 18 for receiving another container without having to wait until the intermediate coupling units 30 have been removed from the container 26I are decreased.

The ring cycle is therefore not influenced by the removal and attachment of the intermediate coupling units and in particular is not extended.

It should also be mentioned that the intermediate coupling holder 34 can also be used where, in the case of a container loading crane with two or more trolleys, the transfer from a spreader of one trolley to a spreader of another trolley takes place.

Claims (39)

1. Method of transferring containers (26I, 26II) having upper container corner fittings (26a) at their upper corners for coupling with counterpart coupling means (24) of a spreader (22) and lower container corner fittings (26b) at their lower corners for connection to the upper corner fittings (26a) of a respective lower container (26II) or to matching mount fittings (32) of a container mount (28), as the case may be, between a first location (A) where the respective container (26I) is secured at its lower container corner fittings (26b) by means of releasable intercoupling units (30) to upper container corner fittings (26a) of a lower container (26II) or to matching mount fittings (32) of container mount (28), as the case may be, and a second location (B) where the container (26I) is to be accommodated without the intercoupling units (30), within the scope of which method the intercoupling units (30) are first released from the lower container (26I) or container mount (28), the container (26I) to be transferred is then lifted off from the lower container (26II) or mount (28) by means of a spreader (22), the intercoupling units (30) being taken along, the intercoupling units (30) are then detached from the lower container corner fittings (26b), and the container (26I) to be transferred, freed from its intercoupling units (30), is then conveyed to the said second location (B),
   characterized
   in that the container (26I) to be transferred, on its way from the first location (A) to the second location (B), is deposited on intercoupling holder means (34) equipped, according to a pattern of distribution matching the arrangement of upper container corner fittings (26a), with receptacles (54) for the intercoupling units (30), the intercoupling units (30) entering into engagement with said receptacles (54), in that the intercoupling units (30) are then uncoupled from the container (26I) positioned in relation to the intercoupling holder means (34), and in that the container (26I) to be transferred is then further conveyed towards the second location (B), leaving the intercoupling units (30) behind at the intercoupling holder means (34).
2. Method of transferring containers (26I, II) having upper container corner fittings (26a) at their upper corners for coupling with counterpart coupling means (24) of a spreader (22) and lower container corner fittings (26b) at their lower corners for connection to upper container corner fittings (26a) of a respective lower container (26II) or to matching mount fittings (32) of a container mount (28), as the case may be, between a second location (B) and a first location (A) where the lower container corner fittings (26b) of the container (26I) to be transferred are to be coupled, with intermediacy of intercoupling units (30), to upper container corner fittings (26a) of a lower container (26II) or matching mount fittings (32) of a container mount (28), the container (26I) to be transferred being fitted on its way from the second location (B), where it had been accommodated without intercoupling units (30), to the first location (A), with its intercoupling units (30) and then further conveyed by means of a spreader (22) to the first location (A) and there deposited on the lower container (26II) or container mount (28), as the case may be, and connected to the upper container corner fittings (26a) of the lower container (26II) or the mount fittings (32), with intermediacy of the intercoupling units (30),
   characterized
   in that the container (26I) to be transferred, coming from the second location (B), is first deposited on intercoupling holder means (34), which means, according to a distribution pattern corresponding to the arrangement of upper container corner fittings (26a) or mount fittings (32), has receptacles (54) for intercoupling units (30) and is fitted with intercoupling units (30) in said receptacles (54), in that the container (26I) to be transferred, during its positioning in relation to the intercoupling holder means (34), is connected to the intercoupling units (30), and in that the container (26I) to be transferred is then conveyed from the intercoupling holder means (34) to the first location (A), taking the intercoupling units (30) along, is there deposited on the respective lower container (26II) or container mount (28), as the case may be, and secured with intermediacy of the intercoupling units (30).
3. Method according to claim 1,
   characterized
   in that the intercoupling units (30) are taken from the respective receptacle (54) and supplied to a magazine (68).
4. Method according to claim 3,
   characterized
   in that the transport of the intercoupling units (30) from the respective receptacle (54) to a magazine station (68I1, 68II1...) is performed with preservation of the orientation of the intercoupling unit (30) in space or with ordered reorientation thereof.
5. Method according to claim 2,
   characterized
   in that the intercoupling units (30) are supplied from a magazine (48) to the respective receptacle (54).
6. Method according to claim 5,
   characterized
   in that the intercoupling units (30) are supplied from their respective magazine station (68I1, 68II1 ...) to the respective receptacle (54) with preservation of their orientation in space or with ordered reorientation.
7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized
   in that, the intercoupling units (30) being fabricated with positioning surfaces (30a21, 30a22) intended and configured for engagement in apertures (26a1) of upper container corner fittings (26a) or matching mount fittings (32) and with downward-directed bearing surfaces (30a12) intended for placement on the top of upper container corner fittings (26a) or matching mount fittings (32), the intercoupling units (30) are positioned at the receptacles (54) of the intercoupling holder means (34) by said positioning surfaces (30a21, 30a22) and/or bearing surfaces (30a12).
8. Method according to any one of claims 3 to 7,
   characterized
   in that the intercoupling units (30) are transported from the receptacles (54) of the intercoupling holder means (34) by mechanical transport means (62, 70) to the respective magazine station (68I1, 68-II1 ...) or from the respective magazine station (68I1, 68II ...) to the respective receptacle station (54) by mechanical transport means (62, 70).
9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterized
   in that the container (26I), en route between the first location (A) and the second (B), is brought together at a station (C) with the intercoupling holder means (34) for delivery and/or pick-up of the intercoupling units (30), at which station a transfer between different container transport means (18, 22, 40, 36) takes place.
10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holder means (34) are carried along by a container loading crane (14, 18) to various operating stations of said container loading crane (16, 18).
11. Device for practicing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
    characterized by intercoupling holder means (34) having receptacles (54) for intercoupling units (30), said intercoupling holder means (34) having receptacles (54) for intercoupling units (30) in accordance with a distribution pattern matching the arrangement of lower container corner fittings (26a).
12. Device according to claim 11,
    characterized
    in that with a given receptacle (54) of the intercoupling holder means (34), mechanical actuating means (56) are associated for releasing or coupling a given intercoupling unit (30) from or to a container (26I).
13. Device according to claim 12,
    characterized
    in that the mechanical actuating means (56) are configured to be convertible and/or interchangeable for different types of intercoupling units (30).
14. Device according to claim 13,
    characterized
    in that the mechanical actuating means (56) comprise at least one power unit at the holder end in spatial relation to a given receptacle (54), and in that, in adaptation to different intercoupling units (30), different purchase means (56a) may be coupled to said power unit for purchase of intercoupling units, (30) and/or power transmission means (56b).
15. Device according to any one of claims 12 to 14,
    characterized
    in that the mechanical actuating means (56) of a given receptacle (54) comprise a rotary unit, said rotary unit being intended and configured to cooperate with lower coupling part units (30a2, 30d) of intercoupling units (30), namely with those part units (30a1, 30d) which are intended and configured for engagement in upper container corner fittings (26d) and/or mount fittings (32), said rotary unit being capable of releasing or locking the intercoupling unit (30) vis-à-vis a given lower container corner fitting (26b) by rotating the intercoupling unit (30) as a whole within the given receptacle.
16. Device according to any one of claims 12 to 15,
    characterized
    in that the actuating means (56) are configured for engagement with setting means (30e) of the intercoupling unit (30), which setting means effect the release of the given intercoupling unit (30) from, or its locking to, a given lower container corner fitting (26b).
17. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 16,
    characterized
    in that the receptacles (54) of the intercoupling holder means (34) are connected by one transport path in each instance with a magazine (68) for intercoupling units (30), said transport path being configured for preservation of orientation or ordered reorientation of the intercoupling units (30).
18. Device according to claim 17,
    characterized
    in that for each receptacle (54) of the intercoupling holder means (34), a special magazine (68) for intercoupling units (30) is provided.
19. Device according to claim 17 or 18,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling magazine (68) is configured to accommodate various electively employable types of intercoupling units (30).
20. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 19,
    characterized
    in that the transport path and/or the given magazine station for an intercoupling unit (30) is provided with orientation-maintaining or correcting means (54a1, 62b1, 68b) gauged to positioning surfaces (30a21, 30a22) of intercoupling units (30), in particular to positioning surfaces (30a21, 30a22) of lower part units (30a2, 30d) of intercoupling units (30) adapted to standardized upper container corner fittings (26a).
21. Device according to claim 20,
    characterized
    in that the orientation-preserving or correcting means (54a1, 62b1, 68b) of the transport path or of the magazine stations (68I1, 68II1 ...) are formed by mutually facing edges (62b1, 68b) and/or upward- directed bearing surfaces (62a, 68b) of slit boundary strips.
22. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 21,
    characterized
    in that the magazine (68) is an areal or spatial magazine, and accordingly comprises transport paths in at least two or at least three mutually perpendicular directions of transport respectively.
23. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 22,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holder means (34) consist of boxes (46) movable relative to each other, permitting an adjustment of the receptacles (54) to various distribution patterns corresponding to the arrangement of upper and lower container corner fittings (26a, 26b) on containers (26I) of various dimensions.
24. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 23,
    characterized
    in that the magazine (68), or individual magazines (68) associated with single receptacles (54) for intercoupling units (30), are arranged at least in part within a measure of breadth, defined by the receptacles (54), of the intercoupling holder means (34).
25. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 24,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holder means (34) together with the actuating means (56) associated with the receptacles (54) and/or a magazine or individual magazines (68) of the receptacles (54) are configured as a transportable unit (34), capable of being picked up and transferable preferably by means of a spreader (22, 36), likewise after subdivision into part units, if required.
26. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 25,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holding means (34) are so arranged in the neighborhood of a runway (12) for trackless container transport vehicles (40) that they afford them (40) the possibility of bringing up and depositing or taking off and carrying away containers (26I) respectively to and from the intercoupling holder means (34).
27. Device according to claim 26,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holder means (34) are connected by connecting means (44) to a part (16a) of a container loading crane (16), which means are conveyable by a trackless container transport vehicle (40) being brought up into container transfer position (C) and, if required, contain energy and control lines for the intercoupling holder means (34).
28. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 27,
    characterized
    in that securing means are provided which prevent a receptacle (54) and associated functional parts (56) from being carried along upon lifting of a container (26I) relative to the intercoupling holder means (34) if, despite issuance of a release command to release the given intercoupling unit (30) from the container (26I), said release command has failed to be executed or been faultily executed with respect to one or more intercoupling units (30) or if no release command was issued.
29. Device according to claim 28,
    characterized
    in that the securing means emit a warning or control signal to an operator and/or to a mechanism (38) serving to remove the container (26I) from the intercoupling holder means (34).
30. Device according to any of claims 11 to 29,
    characterized
    in that, in the case of an intercoupling unit (30) required to be rotated as a whole under the load of the container (26I) for release from a lower container corner fitting (26b) or for coupling to a lower container corner fitting (26b), a rotary unit intended for the purpose is prestressed at the intercoupling holder means (34) in the direction of release or coupling, as the case may be, by a prestress means, in such manner that upon relief of the intercoupling unit (30) from the weight of the container (26I), a rotation in the direction of release or coupling takes place during the relieving phase.
31. Device according to any one of claims 17 to 30,
    characterized
    in that the magazine or magazines (68) are exchangeable.
32. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 31,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holder means (34) consist of a base frame (50) and at least one moving frame (46, 48) capable of being shifted relative to the base frame (50), by the shifting whereof the distribution pattern of the receptacles (54) may be adapted to the given container format.
33. Device according to claim 32,
    characterized
    in that, on the base frame (50), two moving frames (46) are present, which are shiftable symmetrically in a direction corresponding to the lengthwise direction of the container relative to the base frame (50) and possibly each accommodate one or two magazines (68).
34. Device according to any one of claims 32 and 33,
    characterized in that, on the intercoupling holder means (34), engagement fittings are provided for coupling means at the spreader end, which fittings are adaptable to spreaders for various container formats.
35. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 34,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holder means (34) are configured as a mobile road unit or are refittable as such and capable of being coupled to a tractor vehicle if required.
36. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 35,
    characterized
    in that, at the intercoupling holder means (34), in the region of the given receptacles (54), protective roof means are arranged, firstly so that they lie out of superposition with a container (26I) approaching or being lifted in proper order, and secondly so as to afford direct protection and prompt escape for service personnel working at the given receptacle (54).
37. Device according to claim 36,
    characterized
    in that, with the protective roof means, a barrier is associated, which upon exiting of the service personnel from the protective roof area will bar approach of a container transport road vehicle (40) into the area of occupancy by service personnel.
38. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 37,
    characterized
    in that the intercoupling holder means are provided with guide-in means (52) for a container (26I).
39. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 37,
    characterized
    in that a stationary handling crane is associated with the intercoupling holder means.

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