GB1192235A - Improvements in or relating to Cargo Handling Systems. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,192,235. Storage systems. KAISER INDUSTRIES CORP. 6 June, 1967 [25 July, 1966], No. 26119/67. Heading B8E. A system for storing and shipping cargo between remote points comprises containers 10 for the cargo, storage compartments 16 adapted to receive the containers, a gantry crane 20 for servicing the compartments 16, conveyer means 25 for moving the containers between the crane 20 and a cantilever crane 27, transport means such as a ship 26 for moving the containers between remote points, the ship being serviced by the crane 27, and a computer 23 for controlling the cranes 20 and 27. Containers are carried to or from the system by a train or a road vehicle through passageways 13 above which are the compartments 16 arranged in blocks 14, a crane 20 being provided for each pair of blocks 14. A signal is transmitted from the crane 20 to the computer 23, the signal representing the location of a container, and the latter's identification and contents. The signal may give confirmation that the container has been stored in a specific compartment according to a command from the computer. Each container may be identified by a magnetic plate or a punched card read by means associated with the crane 20 and transmitted to the computer. The latter may retrieve the information about a container from its memory and transmit a signal to the crane 20 to retrieve the container and deposit it on the conveyer means. When the ship 26 is to be loaded identity of the cargo required is fed to the computer which then controls the cranes 20 and 27, the crane 27 transmitting a signal to the computer identifying the location of the containers in the ship. The computer may select the location of the containers in the ship and command the crane 27 according- ly. The computer memory may then be removed from the computer and sent with the cargo so that the memory may be used in a similar system at the destination of the ship to unload the latter. Alternatively, a single computer may control the other system via transcontinental telephone lines. The unloading process is the reverse of the loading process although the containers may be loaded directly from the conveyer means 25 on to the train or road vehicle. The computer may inventory cargo, print bills of lading and other documents, balance the load on ships and measure the time limits for holding refrigerated or perishable cargo. The containers may be enclosed on all six sides, may have only a floor and side walls or may only be a pallet. The conveyer means 25 may be a belt or roller conveyer or electric cars running on rails. Instead of the ship 26 the transport means may be a train, a road vehicle or an aircraft.