FI129319B

FI129319B - A shipping container, a shelf arrangement for a shipping container and a shelf plate for the shelf arrangement

Info

Publication number: FI129319B
Application number: FI20205668A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Ari Lammi
Original assignee: Ari Lammi
Priority date: 2020-06-24
Filing date: 2020-06-24
Publication date: 2021-11-30
Also published as: FI20205668A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a modifiable shelf arrangement for a shipping container, wherein the shelf arrangement comprises at least a base (11), a frame structure (13), and a shelves, wherein the frame structure (13) is attached on the base (11) and comprises vertical bars (16a) and horizontal bars (16b), which are arranged and fixed together so that they form a rectangular form for supporting the shelves, wherein the shelves comprises at least two vertical shelf bars (16a), and at least one shelf plate (310), wherein the at least one shelf plate (310) is configured to be connected between two vertical shelf bars (16a) for supporting a shelf plate (310). The invention further relates to a shipping container and a shelf plate (310).

Description

A shipping container, a shelf arrangement for a shipping container and a shelf plate for the shelf arrangement Technical field The present invention relates to a modifiable shelf arrangement for a shipping container. The invention further relates to a shipping container comprising the modifiable shelf arrangement, a method for optimizing loading of a shipping container comprising the modifiable shelf arrangement, and a computer program product performing the method. Background A shipping container is a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping containers range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes. In the context of international shipping trade, "container" or "shipping container" corresponds with "intermodal freight container," a container designed to be moved from one mode of transport to another without unloading and reloading. Containers are a reusable transport and storage unit for moving products and raw materials between locations or countries. There are several million intermodal containers in the world, and a large proportion of the world's long-distance freight generated by international trade is transported in shipping containers. In addition, it is estimated that several million of these containers have now been discarded due to the shipping cost of sending them back to their port of origin.

N N Therefore, there is a need for a container, which shipping cost are more 3 economical for cargo payer i.e. customer, but at the same time bringing 2 30 revenue more efficiently to the transport company, and by which larger z amounts of cargo can be carried and/or by which cargo can be transmitted N more diversely and/or flexible. g S US2016101893 discloses a container rollout warehousing system including at | 35 least two inter-connectable modular platforms, each platform having at least one roller at one end, wherein two or more platforms are inter-connectable such that the central longitudinal axis of the platforms are collinear and wherein two or more platforms are also vertically stackable in a spaced apart relationship to receive cargo therebetween.

WO2010149985 discloses a support device for carrying an inner load holder in use within an outer transport and storage container. The device includes a base member for being secured to a floor of the container, having at least one formation for restraining lateral movements of the inner load holder relative to the device in a plane generally parallel to the floor.

US10479418 discloses a cargo pod for use with an autonomous vehicle. The cargo pod comprises a framework defining a cargo space, individually movable horizontal and vertical doors, and which doors together define an aperture that provides access to the cargo space, and are movable to vary the position and size of the aperture relative to the cargo space.

Summary Now there has been invented an improved method and technical equipment implementing the method, by which the above problems are alleviated. Various aspects of the invention include a method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer readable medium comprising a computer program stored therein, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a modifiable shelf arrangement for a shipping container, wherein the shelf arrangement comprises at least a N base, a frame structure, and a shelves, wherein the frame structure is attached N on the base and comprises vertical bars and horizontal bars, which are 3 arranged and fixed together in a rectangular form for supporting the shelves, 2 30 wherein the shelves comprises at least two vertical shelf bars, and at least one z shelf plate, wherein the at least one shelf plate is configured to be connected N between two vertical shelf bars for supporting a shelf plate.

O > S According to an example, the height of the shelf plate is adjustable based on | 35 dimensions of items to be transported by the container. According to an example, the shelf arrangement further comprises at least one horizontal shelf support configured to be connected between two vertical shelf bars and wherein a shelf plate is configured to be connected. According to an example, the base is movable and comprises rolls attached under the base so that the modifiable shelf arrangement is movable in and out from the container for loading and unloading of items to be transported by the container. According to an example, the rolls are connected under the base by lever arms and axles. According to an example, when the modifiable shelf arrangement is moved out from the shipping container, the rolls passed a doorstep of the container, are configured to swivel downwards by the lever arms so that the shelf arrangement remains in the same level as in the shipping container. According to an example, the shelf plate comprises an edge rim comprising rod fastening holes for rods of a pallet locking device and attachment member fastening holes on the surface of the shelf plate for attaching the attachment members of the pallet locking device to the shelf plate, and wherein the modifiable shelf arrangement further comprises a pallet locking device for locking a pallet to the shelf plate, wherein the pallet locking device comprises an end piece comprising horizontally protruding rods arranged to be inserted through a space inside the pallet and through the rod fastening holes of the shelf plate, and attachment members protruding downwards from the end piece an configured to be inserted through the attachment member fastening holes and connected in place under the shelf plate by at least one retaining pin. According to an example, the modifiable shelf arrangement further comprises a threaded rod fixing system operating correspondingly as two-pillar cranes of cars for adjusting height of shelf plates. According to a second aspect, there is provided a shipping container comprising a modifiable shelf arrangement according to the first aspect or any N of its examples. & S According to an example, the shipping container is an intermodal freight 2 30 container, or the shipping container is configured to be transported by a truck E or on a trailer of a truck. According to an example, the shipping container N further comprises a winch configured to move the modifiable shelf O arrangement comprising a movable base in and out from the container.

S N 35 According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for optimizing loading of a shipping container comprising a modifiable shelf arrangement according to the first aspect or any of its examples. The method comprises receiving data comprising information of items to be loaded to the shipping container, calculating for each item to be loaded to the container dimensions of a place in a shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement, and determining a location for each item to be loaded in the shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement.

According to an example, the method further comprises arranging horizontal shelf plates of the shelves based on the calculated dimensions and determined locations. According to an example, the method further comprises calculating a route for the shipping container based on received information of items to be loaded. According to an example, the method further comprises calculating a route for the shipping container based on received information of items to be loaded. According to an example, the method further comprises re-calculating a continuation route for the route of the shipping container based on the received information of items loaded to the shipping container at a loading location along the route of the shipping container. According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium and executable in a computing device, wherein the computer program product comprises instructions for an apparatus to perform the method according to the third aspect or any of its examples. Brief description of the drawings In the following, various embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which

N N Fig. 1a shows from a side a shipping container when a movable base of 3 a modifiable shelf arrangement is partially moved out from the 2 30 shipping container according to an example embodiment; Tr N Fig. 1b shows from above the shipping container and modifiable O shelf arrangement of figure 1a,

S N 35 Fig. 1c shows from a side the shipping container and the modifiable shelf arrangement of figure 1b;

Fig. 1d shows from a side the shipping container and the modifiable shelf arrangement of figures 1a-c, when the modifiable shelf arrangement is inside the shipping container according to an example embodiment; 5 Fig. 1e shows a cross-sectional view of the shipping container and the modifiable shelf arrangement of figure1d and along the line A-A; Fig. 2a shows, from a side, a shipping container comprising a winch for moving a modifiable shelf arrangement according to an example embodiment; Fig. 2b shows from above the shipping container and the winch of figure 2a without a roof of the shipping container; Figs. 3a-b show, from a side, a shipping container comprising a movable and modifiable shelf arrangement according to an example embodiment; Fig. 3c shows, from above, the shipping container with the movable and modifiable shelf arrangement of figures 3a-b according to an example embodiment; Fig. 3d shows, from above, the shipping container and the movable and modifiable shelf arrangement of figure 3c, but without ceiling bars of the frame structure;

N N Fig. 3e shows, from above, a part of a shelf plate of a modifiable shelf 3 arrangement according to an example embodiment; 2 30 E Fig. 3f shows from a side the shelf plate of figure 3e; 00 S Fig. 3g shows the shelf plate of figures 3e and 3f from a back i.e. from S the direction of C shown in figure 3f; & 35

Figs. 3h-i show different views of a pallet locking device according to embodiment configured to be attached to the shelf plate of figures 3e-3g; Figs 3j-k show from a back and from a side a pallet that is fixed to the shelf plate by the locking device shown in figures 3i-h according to example embodiment; Fig. 4 shows, from a side, a side loadable curtain sided truck and its trailer with a modifiable shelf arrangement according to an example embodiment; and Fig. 5 shows a method for optimizing loading of a shipping container according to an example embodiment.

Detailed description As already explained in the Background part, a shipping container may be a container with strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling. Shipping containers may have a wide size range from large reusable steel boxes used for intermodal shipments to the ubiquitous corrugated boxes. In example embodiments of the invention, the term "container" and "shipping container" covers intermodal freight containers or side loadable curtain sided trucks and trailers or any other transport containers suitable to comprise a modifiable shelf arrangement according to example embodiments of the N present invention and which are suitable to being transported from one place N to another whit items to be transported. Containers comprising the modifiable 3 shelf arrangement according to embodiments of the present invention are able 2 30 to be unloaded and reloaded along the way, meaning that they can be partly z unloaded and / or loaded by items to be transported at any loading locations N along a route of the shipping container, for example, so that a part of the cargo, O items, is loaded at the beginning of the route of the shipping container, a part S of the cargo is loaded to the shipping container at a loading location or place | 35 along the route, and so that a part of the cargo is unloaded at the loading location or places along the route of the container, and so on. This means that at the same time, in the container, there may be cargo from many different loading locations and that a part of the cargo may already have been unloaded at one or more loading locations. This kind of transporting of a shipping container is convenient, for example, because in a case of intermodal freight containers, the modifiable shelf arrangement is movable, and it can be moved out for loading and unloading so that even back shelf plates of a shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement can be easily loaded and unloaded. And, in a case of side loadable curtain sided trucks or trailers, all shelf plates of a shelves of a modifiable shelf arrangement, which are arranged so that as much as possible items fit, can be loaded and unloaded by removing the curtain for the time of loading or unloading. Loading locations may be any place suitable to be used for unloading and / or loading cargo i.e. items to be transported from / to the container. Loading locations may be, for example, a port, construction site, transportation terminal, airport etc. The term cargo covers herein any suitable items to be transported to a shipping container, for example, pallets, goods, packets etc. A modifiable shelf arrangement for a shipping container according to example embodiments of the invention is a modifiable “storage shelf’ system, which comprises a base, which may be movable or non-movable, a frame structure and a shelves. The frame structure is fixed on the base, for example, by welding. The frame structure comprises at least few horizontal bars and vertical bars, which are arranged so that they form a rectangular frame that fits inside the container and they are joined together by welding. It is also possible, that the frame structure further comprises other support structures, for example, additional bars between vertical bars or horizontal bars forming the rectangular formed frame structure. The rectangular frame structure is N configured to support the shelves.

N 3 The shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement is formed at least from vertical 2 30 shelf bars and shelf plates. A shelf plate may be fixed between two vertical z shelf bars directly or by some supporting structure, for example, by a horizontal N shelf support. The fixing height of a shelf plate can be selected, for example, O based on size i.e. dimensions of items of cargo arranged to be transported by S the container or alternatively, in some cases, the fixing height may be fixed (it is no adjustable) i.e. places for shelf plates are selected already at the time of manufacturing the shelve. Items, pallets, or other cargo to be transported are configured to be arranged on the shelf plates of the shelves at the time of loading the shipping container.

It is possible to use any suitable means for fixing shelf plates to shelf bars at desired height, but one example of a fixing system is a threaded rod fixing system, wherein threaded rod, notched plates and a locking rod are used for supporting horizontal shelf supports, and shelf plates are configured to be fixed to shelf supports.

This is explained more detailed below.

The shelves may have a size of the whole container, but it is also possible that a part of the container comprises a shelves and a part is free space from a floor to ceiling of the shipping container.

In this threaded rod fixing system, a shelves may comprise, for example, at least four, but usually few or more, for example 6 to 20 vertical shelf bars in two rows and fixed inside the frame structure, substantially along the longitudinal center line of the frame structure and the container.

Each vertical shelf bar pair i.e. two adjacent vertical shelf bars of one row form a fixing place between them, for at least one horizontal shelf support of a shelf plate.

As above said, two adjacent vertical shelf bars are configured to support at least one horizontal shelf support fixed to them, which in turn then supports a shelf plate fixed to it.

In this threaded rod fixing system, the first shelf bar is arranged between two elongated vertical threaded rods and two elongated vertical notched locking plates.

The second shelf bar is arranged between two adjacent elongated vertical notched locking plates.

A first threaded rod, and first notched locking plate of the first vertical shelf bar and a first notched locking plate of the second vertical shelf are then be used for fixing a first shelf N support that is movable in vertical direction along the first threaded rod on N desired height.

The second threaded rod, and the second notched locking 3 plate of the first vertical shelf bar and the second notched locking plate of the 2 30 second vertical shelf are then be used for fixing the second shelf support that z is movable in vertical direction along the second threaded rod on desired N height.

The first vertical bar of two adjacent bars may further comprise locking S means for locking the shelf supports on desired height.

The locking means S may be a long locking rod, which is arranged to notches, which are at the same N 35 height in both the first and second notched locking plate for locking the shelf support on place.

The number of locking means depends on the number of shelf supports configured to be fixed between the two adjacent vertical shelf bars.

There are two locking means, if two shelf support are configured to be fixed between those two adjacent vertical shelf bars.

The shelf plate, itself, may be fixed to horizontal shelf support by bolts or by any other suitable fixing means.

The operation of this threaded rod fixing system corresponds to an operation of two-pillar cranes of cars.

But the weight on the shelf plates rests, in this system on the locking means, not, for example, on the threaded rod, as in two-pillar cranes of cars.

Thus, height of a shelf plate can be individually adjusted and determined based on the height of the item to be placed/loaded therein.

Thus, the modifiable shelf arrangement according to example embodiments of the present invention may be built and modified as needed.

It may comprise just a non-movable base or a movable base.

In addition to the base, the modifiable shelf arrangement may comprise a frame structure with a solid shelves or a modifiable shelves.

In the modifiable shelves, fixing heights of its horizontal shelf supports and/or shelf plates may be adjusted based on dimensions of items to be transported i.e. dimensions of goods and/or pallets and/or packets etc. configured to be loaded to the shipping container.

And because the height of shelf plates can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the goods and pallets configured to be transported by the shipping container or shelf plates can be removed from the shelves or moved to the top or bottom part of the shipping container, the shipping container may be filled to the maximum.

The base, with a frame structure and a non-modifiable shelve or modifiable shelve or without a frame structure and a shelve or modifiable shelve, may be a movable base, for example, in a case of intermodal freight N containers, for example, sea containers.

The movable base could then be N hydraulically moved out from the container for loading and unloading and back 3 into the container for transporting or storing.

The movable base may be pulled 2 30 out of the container and pushed back into the container, for example with a z forklift or any other suitable work machine.

Alternatively, an electric or hydraulic N winch can be fixed to the container and used for moving the movable base.

S But in a case of side loadable curtain sided trucks and trailers, the base is non- S movable, but it is fixed on a truck or a trailer, and it may comprise a frame structure and a non-modifiable shelve or a modifiable shelve.

The shelf plates configured to be connected/fixed directly to the vertical shelf bars or by shelf supports to the vertical shelf bars may be different from each other, some may be, for example, flat shelf plates and others may comprise rod locking devices for pallets, but any other type of shelf plate suitable to be fixed on a shelf support fixed between two vertical shelf bars or directly between two vertical shelf bars may be used. A chassis comprising turnable rolls or at least one set of rolls connected under a chassis through lever arms may be fixed under the movable base. Alternatively, rolls or at least one set of rolls may be fixed directly to the bottom of the base through lever arms without chassis or other structure. When the shelf arrangement is moving out from the container through an opened front side/wall of the container and pulled over the doorstep of the container, those rolls passed past the doorstep swivels, turns, downwards with the help of small lever arms, keeping the height of the base the same as it was inside the container. The farther the shelf arrangement is moved out from the container, the more rolls swivels downwards with the help of small lever arms. When the shelf arrangement is moving back into the container, the doorstep of the container swings the rolls upwards back under the base, when they passes it. The farther the shelf arrangement is moving into the container, the more rolls swivel upwards with the help of small lever arms. The rolls with lever arms of the modifiable shelf arrangement work on the same principle as, for example, a stretcher of an ambulance.

The modifiable shelf arrangement may further comprise side guide rollers N between the it and inner walls of the container keeping the it straight and N preventing the shelf arrangement to be hit to the inner walls of the container. 3 The side guide rollers may be attached i.e. fixed, for example, to the upper 2 30 horizontal bars of the frame structure of the shelf arrangement, on both sides E of the shelf arrangement. 00 O Once the modifiable shelf arrangement with the movable base has been S moved out or at least partially moved out of the container, the container can be loaded / unloaded easily and quickly on both sides and even from the rear end, either completely or partially.

Figure 1a shows a sideview of a shipping container 10 comprising a movable base 11 of a modifiable shelf arrangement according to an example embodiment. A frame structure or a shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement are not part of the example embodiment of figure 1a. The movable base 11 is moved out from the container 10 by a suitable work machine or by using an electric or hydraulic winch. There may be a chassis fixed under the base 11. The chassis may comprise turnable rolls 12 or sets of turnable rolls 12, wherein rolls 12 or sets of rolls 12 are turnably connected under the chassis by lever arms (not shown). Lever arms are turnably connected to axels 15 so that when the base is moved out and the base 11 is pulled over the doorstep 14 of the container 10, those rolls 12 or set of rolls 12 that are out of the container 10 i.e. passed the doorstep 14 swivel downwards with the help of lever arms thus keeping the height of the base 11 from the ground the same as it was inside the container 10. When the base 11 is moved back into the container 10, the doorstep 14 of the container 10 swings the rolls or sets of rolls 12 upwards back under the base 11 by the lever arms. However, it is also possible that the rolls 12 or sets of rolls 12 are fixed directly under the base 11 i.e. to the bottom of the base 11 through lever arms and axels 15 without chassis.

Figure 1b shows the shipping container 10 and the moving base 11 of figure 1a from above. But in this example embodiment, the modifiable shelf arrangement further comprises a frame structure 13 and a shelves (not shown) in addition to the moving base 11. The frame structure 13 moves together with the base 11 into and out from the container 10. N Figure 1c shows from a side the shipping container 10 and the modifiable shelf N arrangement of figure 1b. The modifiable shelf arrangement comprises again 3 the base 11, the frame structure 13 and the shelves. The shelf arrangement 2 30 further comprises side guides, for example, guiding rollers between the shelf =E arrangement and inner walls of the container 10 guiding the shelf arrangement N straight inside the container 10 and preventing the shelf arrangement from S hitting to the inner walls of the container 10. The guiding rollers may be fixed, S for example, to the upper horizontal bar of the frame structure 13. The frame structure 13 comprises vertical bars 16a and horizontal bars 16b connected and welded into form of a rectangular. The shelves is arranged and fixed inside the frame structure 13 and it comprises vertical shelf bars 17 and horizontal shelf supports 18. Figure 1d shows from a side the shipping container 10 of figure 1c with the modifiable shelf arrangement when the base 11, the frame structure 13 and the shelves of the shelf arrangement are inside the container 10 according to an example embodiment and the container 10 is closed. The shelf arrangement can be locked inside the container 10 for the transportation of the container 10, for example, by means of locking pins attached to the base 11 and the doorstep of the container 10 or by any other suitable locking means. Figure 1e shows a cross-sectional view of the shipping container 10, the base 11, the vertical bars 16a and horizontal bars 16b of the frame structure 13 and vertical shelf bars 17 and horizontal shelf supports 18 of the shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement of figure1d along the line A-A. In figure 1e, it is also shown parts of an axle 15 and rolls 12 connected under the base 11 by lever arms (not shown). Figure 2a shows from a side and figure 2b shows from above a shipping container 20 comprising a winch 23, in addition to a modifiable shelf arrangement 21 comprising a movable base 22, a frame structure 26, and a shelves 27 according to an example embodiment. In figure 2a a part of a side wall and in figure 2b a roof of the container 20 are removed for a sake of an additional information.

The winch 23 may be an electric winch or a hydraulic winch. The winch 23 is N attached to the rear i.e. back part of the container 20, for example, to the rear N wall of the container 20, which is the wall of the container 20 that is opposite 3 to the front wall that is opened when the shelf arrangement is configured to be 2 30 moved in and out from the container 20. The winch 23 may comprise a pulley z 24, two drums 29 for a pulley strap 25 to be wrapped around and a motor N between drums 29. The pulley trap 25 is connected between the first drum 29 O of the winch 23, a connecting place 28 for the pulley trap 25 in the base 22, S the pulley 24 and the second drum 29 of the winch 23. The winch 23 may be N 35 used for moving the shelf arrangement 21 loaded with possible cargo into and out from the container 20, wherein the moving direction of the shelf arrangement 21 depends on the drum 29 around which the pulley strap 25 is wrapped. The pulley strap 25 may be, for example a belt, a rope, a wire, or a chain etc. The frame structure 26 comprises again horizontal and vertical bars connected together as a rectangular form for supporting the shelves 27 comprising vertical shelf bars and shelf plates and possibly also shelf supports if used for fixing the shelf plates to the vertical shelf bars. However, it may be possible, that in some cases the frame structure is no connected in the form of a rectangular but, for example, in the form of a semi-arc or triangle, for some reason. Figures 3a and 3b show from a side a shipping container 300 comprising a modifiable shelf arrangement 301 according to an embodiment. The shelf arrangement 301 comprises a movable base 302 with rollers underneath it and a frame structure 303 that comprises horizontal and vertical bars, and a shelves comprising horizontal shelf supports 304 and vertical shelf bars 305. Shelf plates are not shown, but they are configured to be fixed to shelf supports

304. The frame structure 303 is indicated in figures 3a-3c by a thicker black line. The frame structure 303 is connected/fixed on the base 302, for example, by welding. The shelf arrangement 301 is partly moved out from the container 300 through a front wall of the container 300, which is opened for the time of loading and un-loading. As can be seen, the shelf supports 304 of the shelves of the shelf arrangement 301 in the figures 3a and 3b are arranged differently i.e. the shelf supports 304 are arranged at different heights. They are arranged differently due to the items configured to be transported by the container 300 i.e. supports 304 are arranged to the container 300 based on the dimension N and/or weight and possibly also based on address information of the N destination of items to be transported. Thus, the shelf arrangement 301 of both 3 figures 3a and 3b comprises corresponding frame structures 303 and shelves, 2 30 but horizontal shelf supports 304 are arranged differentially in the figures 3a z and 3b. However, the number of the supports 304 can change, for example, N based on items to be transported, one or more support 304 can be taken off O from the shelves, for example, temporarily due to a large item to be S transported. N 35 Thus, as can be seen, the height of shelf supports 304 i.e. the space between overlapping shelf supports 304 or the space above each shelf support 304 of the shelves of the shelf arrangement 301 is adjustable. Each vertical bar 305 may comprise locking means for locking shelf supports 304 on a place and on a desired height. The number of locking means may depend, for example, on the number of shelf supports 304 configured to be fixed to the bars 305 in question. There may be, for example, two locking means, one for both shelf supports 304 of two shelf supports 304. Thus, each pallet/item location may be determined and adjusted separately, whereby the height of space for each pallet/item can be individually adjusted based on the height of the pallet/item to be placed/loaded therein. The locking means may be, for example, a threaded rod system or electric motor, for example, 24VDC. The operation of these control / locking units corresponds to an operation of two-pillar cranes of cars. Figure 3c shows from above the shipping container 300 comprising the modifiable shelf arrangement 301 according to an embodiment. As can be seen, the frame structure 303 comprises two parallel vertical ceiling bars 303’ in the upper part of the frame structure 303. Two parallel rows of vertical shelf rods 305°, 305” are configured to be connected between the base and these vertical bars 303’, for example, by welding.

Figure 3d shows from above the shipping container 300 comprising the modifiable shelf arrangement 301 of figure 3c, but without vertical ceiling bars 303 of the frame structure 303. As can be seen, when ceiling bars 303 are not show, two parallel rows of shelf plates 304°, 304” connected to shelf supports 304 (shown e.g. in figure 3b), which are connected to two parallel rows of vertical shelf rods 305’, 305”, are shown. Shelf plates 304” of the upper N row are fixed to shelf supports 304, which are fixed to upper vertical rods 305”, N whereas shelves 304' of the lower row, in turn, are fixed to shelf supports, 3 which are fixed to lower vertical rods 305". Height of all shelf plates of said two 2 30 parallel rows of shelf plates 304’, 304” may be independently adjustable. But, z if 2 or more adjacent shelf plates are fixed to the same height, a longer vertical N shelf/place for a longer item may be obtained.

O > S Figure 3e shows from above a part of a shelf plate 310 of the modifiable shelf | 35 arrangement 300 of figures 3a-3c according to an embodiment. The shelf plate 310 is configured to be fastened to the shelf support 304 of the shelf arrangement 300 horizontally. The shelf plate 310 comprises pallet fastening holes, for example, for EUR pallets 311 and pallet fastening holes, for example, for FIN pallets 312. Attachment members 322 of a pallet locking device 320 (shown e.g. in figure 3h) are configured to be inserted through these holes 311. The shelf plate 310 further comprises an edge rim 314, which when the shelf plate 310 is attached the shelf bar 304, faces to the center of the container and prevents the load, pallet etc. from slipping off the shelf plate 310. The edge rim 314 is also configured to receive bars of the pallet locking device 320, because it comprises rod fastening holes 315 for rods 321 of a pallet locking device 320 of pallets shown in figures 3h-j.

Figure 3e shows the shelf plate 310 of figure 3e from a side. Figure 3g shows the shelf plate 310 of figures 3e and 3f from the front side i.e. when the shelf plate 310 is attached to the shelf bar 304, from the direction of the side wall of the container 300 corresponding to the direction of C shown in figure 3f.

Figures 3h and 3i show from a side and above a pallet locking device 320 configured to lock a pallet to the shelf plate 310 of the shelf arrangement 301 according to embodiment. The pallet locking device 320 comprises an end piece, which comprises those horizontally protruding rods 321 arranged to be inserted through a space inside the pallet and further through the rod fastening holes 315 of the edge rim 314 of the shelf plate 310 towards the center of the container corresponding to the direction of D shown in figure 3f for locking the pallet to the shelf plate 310, and attachment members 322 protruding downwards from the end piece 330 and which are configured to be inserted through the attachment member fastening holes, 311, 312 of the shelf plate 310 from the top of the shelf plate 310 to the bottom of the shelf plate 310 and N connected in place under the shelf plate 320 by at least one retaining pin 324. N In this example embodiment there are three bars 321 and parallel attachment 3 members 322 in the locking device 320, but there may be also be, for example, 2 30 two or four or more bars 321 or parallel attachment members 322 in the locking z device 320. In figure 3i, places of attachment members 322 of the locking N device 320 are shown by circles 323.

O > S Figure 3j shows a back side view of a pallet 370 locked to the shelf plate 310 | 35 by two pallet locking devices 320 shown in figures 3h and 3i. Back side is the side seen from the direction of the outer side wall of the container 300 towards the center of the container 300 and corresponding to the direction of D shown in figure 3f.

Rods 321 are inserted through a space inside the pallet 327 and through the rod fastening holes 315 of the edge rim 314. Places of rods 321 of the locking device 320 are shown by circles 325. The attachment members 322 are locked to the shelf plate 310 from the bottom side of the shelf plate 310 by retaining pins 324. Figure 3k shows from a side of the pallet 370 (dashed line) locked to the shelf plate 310 by the pallet locking device 320 shown in figure 3j.

Rods 321 are inserted through space inside the pallet 327 and partly through rod fastening holes 315 of the edge rim 314 of the shelf plate 310. Places of rod fastening holes 315 are shown by circles 329’. Places of attachment members 322 of the locking device 320 inserted through the pallet fastening holes 311 or 312 of the shelf plate 310 are shown by circles 329”. The attachment members 322 is locked to the shelf plate 310 from the bottom side of the shelf plate 310 by a retaining pin 324. Figure 4 shows from a side a side loadable curtain sided truck 40 and trailer 41 as containers with a modifiable shelf arrangements 42, 43, correspondingly, according to an example embodiment.

The curtain sided truck 40 and trailer 41 are shown without side curtains for the sake of additional information.

The modifiable shelf arrangements 42, 43 comprises a base, a frame structure, and a shelves.

The base of the modifiable shelf arrangements 42, 43 may be, in a case of a truck or a trailer, the bottom of the truck or trailer.

There may be no need to provide an additional base on the bottom of the truck 40 or trailer 41, but a frame structure and a shelves can be formed directly on the bottom of the truck 40 or trailer 41 acting as the base.

This kind of base is non-movable, N but the truck 40 and trailer 41 are still easy to load and unload, because the N curtains can be moved aside for that time.

The shelves may be modifiable, for 3 example, based on dimensions of cargo i.e. items to be loaded and transported 2 30 by the container or its shelf plates may be fixed in their place so that their height E cannot be vertically adjusted based on cargo configured to be transported. 00 S The material of a container, a frame structure, a shelves, a pallet locking device S may be steel, for example, stainless steel. & 35 In order to determine, how to arrange horizontal shelf supports and/or shelf plates of a shelves inside a frame member of a shipping container i.e. how to modify a shelf arrangement for items to be loaded and transported by the shipping container so that the container could be loaded and filled as efficiently as possible without unnecessary empty spaces, there is a need for a method for optimizing loading of a container.

The method and its embodiments may be implemented with the help of computer program code that resides in a memory and causes the relevant apparatuses to carry out the invention.

For example, a personal computer may comprise circuitry and electronics for handling, receiving, and transmitting data, computer program code in a memory, and a processor that, when running the computer program code, causes the computer to carry out the features of the method according to the invention and its example embodiments.

Yet further, a server may comprise circuitry and electronics for handling, receiving, and transmitting data, computer program code in a memory, and a processor that, when running the computer program code, causes the server to carry out the features of the method according to the invention and its example embodiments.

The method for optimizing loading of a container receives data comprising information of items to be loaded to the container, for example, from loading locations or customers transmitting items.

The information of items to be transmitted comprises, for example, at least dimensions of the items, their weights, and address information of their destinations.

When this computer program product i.e. software is used in all loading locations i.e. ports, cargo terminals etc. and the data of all loading locations is on the same server or available by some other way for the computer, the computer may calculate and determine, for each item to be loaded to that container, dimensions of a place, which it needs in the shelves i.e. it may calculate and determine how the N shelves i.e. its horizontal shelf bars and/or shelf plates need to be arranged so N that each item to be loaded to that container fits to the container and so that 3 as many as possible items to be loaded fits to that container.

In addition to 2 30 calculating and determining dimensions of places for items, the method z comprises calculating and determining a shelf location for each item to be N loaded.

It is also acknowledged, when determining shelf locations, that items O going to the same destination (or loading locations along the same route) are S loaded to the same container. & 35 The idea of the method is to load each shipping container as fully as possible but considering at the same time the distribution of the weight of the cargo in the container, so that the weight is evenly and correctly distributed in the container. For example, heaviest items are arranged in the bottom row of the container, thus keeping the container in balance. The distribution of weight within the container may be taken into account regardless of whether the items are loaded to the container at one or more loading places, as long as the items are going to the same destination or at least in the same direction. Empty shelf spaces may be left for items that are loaded at the later loading locations of the route of the container. The method may also determine the route of the container based on items to be transported i.e. it may, for example, select the route based on suitable loading locations that are along the route of the container so that items could be loaded or unloaded at several different loading locations. And the method may further determine a continuation for the route of the container based on later loaded items i.e. it may be determined new loading locations based on items that are loaded to the container along its route so that there is no need to store the container anywhere, but it could be in transport all the time. This method for optimizing loading of a container can be used in ship traffic, truck traffic, air transport and in a combination thereof, if suitable, for speeding up and simplifying the delivery of items and integrating sea, road, and air transport into a single system.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide, for example, following benefits. In container traffic, when containers are filled to the maximum, the number of containers in the port will be reduced, which speeds up cargo traffic, shortens loading and unloading times of ships, lowers cargo rates for customers, because items can be loaded on top of each other, and there is no need to always buy or rent a whole container for transporting, but the items of N several customers can be loaded in the same shipping container. Further, a N shipping container comprising a modifiable shelf arrangement according to 3 embodiments of the invention that is shipped, for example, to a construction 2 30 site, can act as a user-friendly warehouse, because any item can be always z picked up from there when they are needed. Due to the moving base, all items N in the container are always available without the need for emptying the whole S container, even those items, which are at the back part of the container. S Furthermore, costs may be saved in road transport, because it is possible to load goods on top of each other when the modifiable shelf arrangement is in use, and also because loading and unloading is possible from the sides of side loadable curtain sided trucks and trailers along their way, which means that there is no need to drive empty trucks or trailers anymore as the items can be loaded and unloaded to the truck and trailer along its way. And furthermore, because the container can always be loaded as full as possible, the fuel costs will reduce, since the use of a shipping container according to the invention avoids even simultaneous driving of several containers to the same destination.

Figure 5 shows a method 500 for optimizing loading of a container comprising a modifiable shelf arrangement according to an example embodiment. In step 510, data comprising information of items to be transported by the container is received. In step 520, dimensions of a place in a shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement is calculated for each item to be transported. In step 530, a location for each item to be loaded in the shelves of the modifiable shelf arrangement is determined, for example, by calculating. The method may further comprise, arranging horizontal shelf plates of the shelves based on the calculated dimensions and determined locations. The method may further comprise calculating a route for the container based on received information of items to be transported and the method may even further comprise re- calculating a continuation route for the route for the container based on the received information of items loaded to the container at a loading location along the route of the container. The various embodiments of the invention can be implemented with the help of computer program code that resides in a memory and causes an apparatus to carry out the invention. For example, the apparatus that is a computing device, for example, a pc or a sever may comprise circuitry and electronics for N receiving, analysing, and transmitting data relating to items to be loaded and N transmitted, a computer program code in a memory, and a processor which, 3 when running the computer program code, causes the apparatus to carry out 2 30 the features of an embodiment. The processor, when running the computer z program code may cause the apparatus to carry out all the steps of the N following method: receiving data comprising information of items to be loaded O to the container and to be transported, calculating for each item dimensions of S a place in a modifiable shelf arrangement according to the embodiments of the N 35 invention, calculating a location for each item in the shelves. The processor, when running the computer program code may further cause the apparatus to carry out the following steps: calculating a route for the container based on data comprising information of items to be transported and optionally also re- calculating a continuation route for the route for the container based on data comprising information of items to be transported at a loading location along the route.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited solely to the above- presented embodiments, but it can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims

Claims:

1. A modifiable shelf arrangement for a shipping container, wherein the shelf arrangement comprises at least a base (11), a frame structure (13), and a shelves, wherein the frame structure (13) is attached on the base (11) and comprises vertical bars (16a) and horizontal bars (16b), which are arranged and fixed together so that they form a rectangular form for supporting the shelves, wherein the shelves comprises at least two vertical shelf bars, and at least one shelf plate, wherein the at least one shelf plate is configured to be connected between two vertical shelf bars (16a) for supporting a shelf plate (310), characterized in that the at least one the shelf plate (310) comprises an edge rim (314) comprising rod fastening holes (315) for rods of a pallet locking device (320) and attachment member fastening holes on the surface of the shelf plate (310) for attaching the attachment members (322) of the pallet locking device (320) to the shelf plate (310), and wherein the modifiable shelf arrangement further comprises a pallet locking device (320) for locking a pallet to the shelf plate (310), wherein the pallet locking device (320) comprises an end piece comprising horizontally protruding rods (321) arranged to be inserted through a space inside the pallet and through the rod fastening holes of the shelf plate (310), and attachment members (322) protruding downwards from the end piece and being configured to be inserted through the attachment member fastening holes (311, 312) and connected in place under the shelf plate (310) by at least one retaining pin (324).

2. A modifiable shelf arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the height of the shelf plate (310) is adjustable based on dimensions of items to be N transported by the container.

N 3 3. A modifiable shelf arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shelf 2 30 arrangement further comprises at least one horizontal shelf support (304) E configured to be connected between two vertical shelf bars (16a) and wherein N a shelf plate (310) is configured to be connected.

O > S 4. A modifiable shelf arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the N 35 base (11) is a movable base and comprises rolls (12) attached under the base (11) so that the modifiable shelf arrangement is movable in and out from the container for loading and unloading of items.

5. A modifiable shelf arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the rolls are connected under the base by lever arms and axles.

6. A modifiable shelf arrangement according claim 5, wherein when the modifiable shelf arrangement is moved out, the rolls (12) passed a doorstep of the container, are configured to swivel downwards by the lever arms so that the shelf arrangement remains in the same level as in the container.

7. A modifiable shelf arrangement according to any of preceding claims, wherein the modifiable shelf arrangement further comprises a threaded rod fixing system operating correspondingly as two-pillar cranes of cars for adjusting heights of shelf plates (310).

8. A shipping container comprising a modifiable shelf arrangement according to any of the claims 1 to 7.

9. A shipping container according to claim 8, wherein the container is an intermodal freight container, or the container is configured to be transported by a truck or on a trailer of a truck.

10. A shipping container according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the container further comprises a winch (23) configured to move the modifiable shelf arrangement comprising a movable base (11) in and out from the container.

11. A shelf plate, characterized in that the shelf plate (310) comprises an edge N rim (314) comprising rod fastening holes (315) for rods of a pallet locking N device (320) and attachment member fastening holes on the surface of the 3 shelf plate (310) for attaching the attachment members (322) of the pallet 2 30 locking device (320) to the shelf plate (310), and wherein the modifiable shelf z arrangement further comprises a pallet locking device (320) for locking a pallet N to the shelf plate (310), wherein the pallet locking device (320) comprises an O end piece comprising horizontally protruding rods (321) arranged to be S inserted through a space inside the pallet and through the rod fastening holes N 35 of the shelf plate (310), and attachment members (322) protruding downwards from the end piece and being configured to be inserted through the attachment member fastening holes (311, 312) and connected in place under the shelf plate (310) by at least one retaining pin (324).

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