IT201900019994A1 - Self-propelled equipment for handling containers for the transport of goods - Google Patents

Description

Self-propelled equipment for handling containers for the transport of goods

Description

The object of the present invention is an apparatus for handling containers for the transport of goods, commonly known as "containers".

In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus which allows to carry out the loading and unloading of containers from a vehicle, to tilt the container to carry out loading and unloading operations of bulk material transported therein and to transport the container where required, for example from a loading position on a vehicle to a storage position and so on.

For the land or sea transport of goods, and in particular for the transport of bulk goods, metal box-like containers are known, commonly known as Ȓcontainerȓ, suitable for allowing the orderly accommodation of goods on the means of transport, the protection of the contents and the handling of the goods themselves in the storage, loading and sorting areas.

These containers have sizes and shapes defined by international regulations, such as ISO 1161: 2016 and ISO 3874: 2017.

Apparatus for unloading a container from a motor vehicle and for tipping a container from a horizontal position to a vertical position are known.

For example, an apparatus of this kind is described in patent EP2021268B1.

This equipment is a fixed equipment, solidly fixed to the ground, which defines a corridor within which the vehicle must fit precisely to align the container to the equipment attachment means. This operation is difficult and requires skill on the part of the driver who has to move a long vehicle within a confined space.

Furthermore, this fixed equipment only allows the container to be lifted and deposited in the position in which it is placed and constrained to the ground and does not allow the container to be placed in other positions.

In the event that the equipment is used to load or unload inconsistent material inside the container, by rotating the container itself in the vertical plane, this operation can only take place in the location where the equipment is located and constrained to the ground, without the possibility to deposit the load in an orderly manner in a selected position, nor the possibility of accessing a particular loading station.

All this makes container management operations complex and significantly constrains the logistics and arrangement of the container storage and loading / unloading area.

Further equipments are described in patents EP0835215B1; BE1014698A6, GB1494579A, WO2005030622A1, GB1485641A.

In particular, EP0835215B1 describes a device for unloading a container in which the container rests on a frame that can be rotated along one side.

BE1014698A6 describes a frame which can be tilted at one end, above which a container can be constrained.

GB1494579A describes an apparatus to which a container carried by a vehicle can be attached, which can be tilted by rotating around an axis at the end of the frame of the transport vehicle.

WO2005030622A1 describes a support to which a container carried by a vehicle is constrained, which can be raised to allow the vehicle to be removed and rotated into a vertical position.

GB1485641A describes an apparatus for lifting and overturning a container, which comprises a lateral coupling system in the lower part of the container which requires a complex maneuver to bring the coupling means closer to and engage the respective lower gripping holes of the container.

There are also known mobile cranes for lifting and transporting containers, commonly referred to with the term Ȓreach stackerȓ. These cranes support the container in a substantially horizontal position and are not able to perform vertical rotation operations of the container up to an oblique or vertical position, as for example required to perform the loading and unloading of loose or bulk material.

A problem that has been observed is loading / unloading a container from a vehicle, facilitating the relative alignment between the vehicle itself and the means of loading.

A further problem that has been observed is emptying / filling incoherent material from the container in a freely selectable position.

A further problem is to translate the container from a pick-up position to a deposition position, both in a horizontal, oblique or vertical position, ensuring the stability of the whole during all phases of handling.

There is the problem of improving the conditions for loading and unloading goods in containers. This problem is solved by an apparatus according to claim 1 and by a method according to claim 10; preferred characteristics are indicated in the dependent claims.

In a first aspect, the object of the present invention is a container handling apparatus which comprises a frame equipped with at least three wheels, at least one of which is motorized, equipped with at least one lifting arm having a first end hinged to the frame, and a second end to which a rocker arm is rotatably connected comprising hooking members to the upper surface of a container, in which the lifting arm can be oriented in the vertical plane by means of at least one lifting jack, and the rocker arm can be oriented in the vertical plane by means of at least one tilting jack, in which the center of gravity of the assembly consisting of the rocker arm and the container is substantially aligned vertically with the rotation axis of the assembly itself and is kept substantially median with respect to the frame in all the orientation positions of the frame and rocker arm.

This solution allows to load / unload a container from a vehicle, facilitating the relative alignment between the vehicle itself and the loading means, to empty / fill incoherent material from the container in a freely selectable position and to translate the container from a pick-up position. to a deposition position, either with a horizontal or an oblique or vertical position, ensuring the stability of the whole during all the handling phases.

In one embodiment, the frame comprises a pair of sides connected at the top by a cross member and comprises a pair of lifting arms, each hinged at a respective first end to one of the sides of the frame.

In one embodiment, each lifting arm is connected to a respective lifting jack.

In one embodiment, the balance wheel comprises at least one saddle having a pivotal connection joint to the second end of the arm.

Preferably, the rocker comprises two saddles each having a joint for connection which can be rotated to the second end of an arm.

In one embodiment, each arm comprises a first tipping jack and a second tipping jack.

Preferably, in order to move containers of different sizes, the rocker arm can be extended longitudinally.

In one embodiment, the container handling equipment comprises at least one pair of steering wheels.

Preferably, the equipment includes two pairs of steering wheels.

Preferably, each of the wheels comprises a support fixed to the frame.

Preferably, the equipment includes load measuring devices.

Preferably, the equipment comprises stabilizing hydraulic cylinders associated with the wheel supports.

Preferably, the hooking members of the rocker arm are remotely controlled for constraint and release of the container.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a container handling method which comprises binding coupling members on the upper surface of a container to a rocker arm, lifting the assembly formed by the rocker arm and the container and rotating the assembly itself in a vertical plane, around an axis substantially coinciding with the center of gravity of the complex itself.

Preferably, the container handling method comprises translating the rocker arm horizontally while keeping the container rotated in an oblique position.

More details can be identified from the following description of an example of embodiment, with reference to the attached figures, which show:

in figure 1 a side view of the container handling equipment according to the present invention;

in figure 2 a front view of the container handling equipment according to the present invention;

in figure 3 a perspective view of the container handling equipment according to the present invention; in figure 4 a perspective view of the container handling equipment in the lifting position of a container;

in figure 5 a perspective view of the container gripping rocker arm;

in figures 6, 7, 8 a side view of the container gripping rocker in the container lifting and rotation position;

in Figures 9 and 10 a perspective view of a detail of the container coupling device, respectively in the insertion position and in the coupling position;

in figure 11 a perspective view of the control device for the opening of the container doors;

in figure 12 a perspective view of a translation wheel of the container handling equipment;

in figures 13, 14, 15 a view from below of the equipment with the possible orientations of the wheels;

in figure 16 a perspective view of the container handling equipment approaching a vehicle carrying a container;

in figure 17 a perspective view of the container handling equipment during the coupling phase of a container;

in figure 18 a perspective view of the container handling equipment in the phase of removal from the vehicle;

in figure 19 a perspective view of the container handling equipment in the vertical rotation phase of the container;

in figure 20 a perspective view of the equipment with the container in a vertical position;

in figure 21 a perspective view of the equipment in the process of moving away from the container abandoned in a vertical position;

in figure 22 a perspective view of the container handling equipment during the stacking of a container on top of another container;

in figure 23 a perspective view of the equipment in a first phase of unloading material from the container;

in figure 24 a perspective view of the equipment in a second phase of unloading material from the container.

As shown in figures 1, 2, 3, the equipment includes a frame 1, formed by two sides 1a, connected to each other by an upper crosspiece 1b.

The two sides are preferably shaped in the shape of an inverted U and the relative lower ends 1c are connected by respective stiffening arms 1d.

The wheel units 2, better visible in figure 12, are connected to the lower ends of the sides 1a.

The wheel groups 2 each comprise a support 3 to which a wheel 4 is connected. A protective frame 5 connected to the support 3 prevents any contact with the wheel during use.

At least one pair of wheel assemblies 2 is motorized, by means of a gearmotor 2a, comprising a planetary reduction gear and an oleodynamic motor, or, alternatively, an electric motor.

The support 3 of each wheel assembly is constrained to the respective lower end 1c of the sides 1a by means of a fifth wheel 3a, equipped with a worm screw driven by an hydraulic motor 3b, so as to be rotatable around the respective vertical rotation axis Ȓaȓ . Alternatively, the rotation of the fifth wheel can be obtained by systems of hydraulic cylinders and connecting rods. The correct rotation of the wheel units with different angles is obtained by means of an encoder and electronic control to guarantee the different types of steering.

Conveniently, the stabilizing hydraulic cylinders 3c are also connected to the supports 3, which allow the apparatus to be rigidly placed on the ground, increasing the stability of the assembly, for example during the tilting of the container and leveling the apparatus to compensate for any undulations of the ground.

The stabilizing cylinders 3c are also associated with weighing members, for example by measuring the pressure of the hydraulic fluid fed into each cylinder, or, alternatively, consisting of load cells, which allow to detect the weight of the container and its load in all phases, both transport and loading and unloading, in order to ensure that the project operating conditions are always respected.

Figures 13, 14, 15 show some possible configurations of rotation of the wheel units, both by steering a single pair of wheel units 2, both by steering both pairs of wheel units 2 in the same direction, and by steering both pairs of wheel units 2 in opposite directions, which allow the desired maneuverability of the apparatus, both in advancement in the direction D1, both in lateral translation in the direction D2, and in rotation in the direction D3.

An drive and control unit 6, comprising an endothermic engine, for example diesel, connected to a relative hydraulic unit is connected to one of the sides 1a of the frame, to provide the energy necessary for the required drives. A remote control equipment, both wired and for example of the "wireless" type, allows the drives to be operated while keeping the operator in a safe position.

Alternatively, the hydraulic control unit can also be operated by an electric motor, driven by rechargeable accumulators on board the machine, charged by mains electricity. In this case, the gearmotors 2a can comprise respective electric motors and analogous electric drives can be used for the various elements, instead of the hydraulic ones.

The sides 1a each carry an arm 7 hinged at a first end 7a to a rotation pin 8 and rotated in the vertical plane around the axis Ȓoȓ by a hydraulic jack 9, constrained at one end to a handkerchief 10 connected to one end 1c of the respective side 1a, and constrained at the other end to a plate 11 integral with the second end 7b of the arm 7.

In proximity to the second end 7b of the arm 7 there is a rotation pin 12, to which an extendable rocker 13 is constrained, shown in detail in figure 5, which rotates around the "r" axis.

The extensible rocker arm 13 is substantially constituted by a body 14, comprising two tubular seats 15, inside which the telescopic arms 16 are slidably inserted. The telescopic arms 16 can be operated in their respective sliding inside the tubular seats 15 by respective opposite hydraulic jacks. , one of which is shown in figure 5 with dashed lines with the reference 17.

The ends of the telescopic arms 16 each carry a crosspiece 18 carrying the gripping members of the container 19, illustrated in Figures 9, 10.

The gripping members 19 are devices capable of engaging in corresponding seats of the corner blocks 101 located at the upper surface of a container 100, and can be remotely controlled to be bound and released from the container itself.

They are generally known with the name Ȓtwist lockȓ hooking devices to the corner blocks of a container; these known members can be engaged in seats present on the upper surface or on the side surfaces of the corner blocks of the container and are generally operated manually. In the case of using the lateral seats of the lower corner blocks of the container, pins with smaller dimensions than those usable at the top are generally used.

The extension of the arms 16 allows you to adapt the mutual distance of the crosspieces 18 to the size of the container to be hooked, bringing the gripping members 19 into alignment with the corresponding seats of the container.

As figures 9 and 10 show, the gripping members 19 comprise a body 19a carrying a pin 20 with a vertical axis, equipped with a mushroom head 20a. The pin 20 can be rotated by 90 ° between a release position, shown in figure 9, in which the head 20a can be freely inserted and extracted from a respective seat of the corner blocks 101 of a container 100, and a constraint position shown in Figure 10, in which the head 20a is bayonet-coupled in the respective seat of the container (indicated by dashed lines).

The rotation of the pins 20 is controlled by two hydraulic cylinders (not shown) which operate a pair of pins 20 each, through a mechanism formed by levers integral with the pins and by a connecting rod 20b.

Conveniently, an alignment plate 19b is connected to each body 19a which guides the correct positioning of the rocker arm above the container, thanks to the possibility of lateral translation of the equipment, allowed by the steering of the wheel units 2.

The conformation of containers and related corner blocks is standardized, for example in ISO 1161: 2016 and ISO 3874: 2017, and is not further described.

The body 14 of the extensible rocker 13 comprises a pair of saddles 23, substantially in the shape of a V, in the lower part of which there is a plate 24 equipped with a hole 25 suitable for receiving the rotation pin 12 of the arm 7. The coupling between the arms 7 and the saddles 23 allow the rotation of the rocker arm 13 around a horizontal axis r.

For reasons of mechanical rigidity, the plate 24 is preferably made in a double-walled box-like shape.

The saddles 24 are equipped with a lower attachment 26 and an upper attachment 27, also in box form, to which the respective movable arms 28a and 29a of the lower jacks 28 and of the upper jacks 29, hinged to the attachments 30 and 29, are connected. 31 placed near the first end 7a of each arm 7.

Each crosspiece 18 also carries a pair of orientable arms 32, shown in Figure 11, which can rotate around the relative pins 33 by means of movement members not shown. The swiveling arms 32, which can be connected to the doors 102 of the container, allow the opening and closing of the doors themselves to be controlled.

The equipment is designed to operate with three different types and sizes of containers: 20ft, 30ft and 40ft, (20ft, 30ft, 40ft) whose measurements are shown in the table below.

The size of the saddles 23 is preferably selected so as to maintain the rotation axis Ȓrȓ of the rocker 13 substantially in proximity to the center of gravity G of the assembly consisting of the rocker 13 and the container 100, and above it as schematically illustrated in Figure 6.

The center of gravity G of the assembly consisting of the rocker 13 and the container 100 can vary in relation to the degree of filling of the container 100, the characteristics of the filling material and possible movements of the material itself inside the container. In view of this, by Ȓsubstantially in proximityȓ it is meant that, even in the presence of variable load conditions, the position of the Ȓrȓ axis is selected so that it does not deviate from the real center of gravity of the assembly by a quantity such as to significantly affect the equilibrium of the masses of the equipment.

This is of particular importance given the weight of the load carried by the container, which, for example for a 40ft (40ft) container, can vary from an empty weight (tare) of about 3.7 tons up to a full weight. load exceeding 36 tons. In the presence of such loads, it is essential to ensure stability in all operational configurations, both with containers with a horizontal position, and with containers with an inclined or vertical position, and in all phases of handling and transport. In particular, during the loading or unloading phases of the material from the container, the material itself moves and occupies variable positions within the container itself, causing oscillations and vibrations that must not compromise the stability and structural strength of the equipment.

To operate the gripping of a container carried by a vehicle, for example the semi-trailer of an articulated vehicle, the equipment is arranged with the rocker 13 in a horizontal position.

As shown in Figure 16, the apparatus can move above the container 100 carried by the articulated vehicle 103, or, alternatively, the articulated vehicle 103 can translate inside the frame 1. In both cases, the wheel units 2 they ensure precision alignment between the equipment and the articulated vehicle, both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction.

Once the correct position has been reached, the rocker arm 13 is lowered, under the guide of the alignment plates 19b, until the gripping elements or Ȓtwist lockȓ 19 are inserted in the corresponding holes of the corner blocks 101 of the container 100 and then the rotation of the pins 20 is activated. determining the solid coupling of the rocker 13 to the container.

If required, during this phase the telescopic arms 16 are extended or retracted to bring the gripping members 19 into the position corresponding to the size of the container to be hooked (for example 20ft, 30ft or 40ft). These operations are performed remotely, ensuring the safety of the operating personnel in all conditions.

Firmly bound to the container, the hydraulic jacks 9, which control the height of the container, are activated by activating the rotation of the arms 7, as illustrated in figure 7, while at the same time the lower and upper jacks 28 and 29 keep the rocker horizontal, thus lifting container 100 from the semi-trailer of the articulated lorry 1 ”3. As shown in figure 18, the equipment can then translate and move the container away from the articulated vehicle.

At this point it is possible to transport the container to a desired position, stack it on another container resting on the ground, as shown in figure 22, and rotate the container, in an oblique position, as shown in figure 19, or in a vertical position, as shown in figure 20.

The rotation of the rocker arm 13 and of the container carried by it is obtained by operating the hydraulic jacks 28 and 29 in a combined manner, as shown in Figures 8 and 19.

To activate the rotation, the presence of a single pair of lower 28 or upper 29 jacks is kinematically sufficient.

However, in particular in the case of high loads, the presence and combined operation of both the lower and upper jacks is preferable as it allows a more complete control of the movement of the rocker arm 13 and of the load carried by it, avoiding positions of instability. or oscillations, for example in case of movements of the load inside the container.

By keeping and locking the container in an oblique position, for example with an inclination of about 48 degrees, as shown in figures 23, 24, it is possible to unlock the doors 102 of the container, which open under the weight of the material 105 contained in the container, and start unloading the material itself (schematically represented in the figures), according to the arrow S.

During unloading, the equipment can autonomously translate, as indicated by arrow T, and unload the material 105 along a trajectory, thus arranging the material in the desired location in the unloading area. This allows, for example, to unload loose material, such as agricultural products, gravels and the like, even in the absence of a compartment below the walking surface capable of receiving and transferring the product to the next destination.

As Figure 20 illustrates, the rocker 13 can be rotated until the container 100 is placed in a vertical position.

This position allows, for example, to bring an empty container 100 below a loading position, where it can be filled by gravity, as shown in Figure 20. The weight control elements, present in the equipment in correspondence with the groups wheel 2, allow you to control the loading, for example to stop loading when the maximum loadable weight has been reached.

Once the loading is complete, the doors 102 are closed and the rocker 13 is rotated to return the container to a horizontal position for transport or stacking.

The container, full or empty, can also be placed on the ground in a vertical position and released from the rocker, as shown in figure 21.

This is made possible thanks to the fact that the gripping members 19 of the rocker arm act only on the upper face of the corner blocks 101, thus allowing the terminal face of the container to rest on the ground without interference with the gripping members 19, which can therefore be freely released from corner blocks 101.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS 1. Container handling equipment comprising a frame (1) equipped with at least three wheels (2, 4) at least one of which is motorized, equipped with at least one lifting arm (7) having a first end (7a) hinged to the frame, and a second end (7b) to which a rocker arm (13) is rotatably connected, comprising hooking members (19) to the upper surface of a container (100), in which the lifting arm (7) is orientable in the vertical plane by means of at least one lifting jack (9), and the rocker arm (13) can be oriented in the vertical plane by means of at least one overturning jack (28, 29), characterized by the fact that the center of gravity (G) of the set constituted by the rocker arm (13) and by the container (100) it is substantially vertically aligned with the rotation axis of the assembly itself and is kept in a substantially median position with respect to the frame (1) in all the orientation positions of the frame and of the rocker arm. Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (1) comprises a pair of sides (1a) connected at the top by a cross member (1b) and comprises a pair of lifting arms (7), each hinged at a respective first end (7a) to one of the sides (1a) of the frame (1). Container handling equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that each lifting arm (7) is connected to a respective lifting jack (9). Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the rocker arm (13) comprises at least one saddle (23) having a joint (12) for rotating connection to the second end (7b) of the arm (7). 5. Container handling equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that the rocker arm (13) comprises two saddles (23) each having a joint (12) for rotating connection to the second end (7b) of an arm (7). Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that each arm (7) comprises a first tipping jack (28) and a second tipping jack (29). Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the rocker arm (13) is longitudinally extendable. Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of steering wheels (2, 4). Container handling equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of steering wheels (2, 4). Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the wheels (2, 4) comprises a support (3) fixed to the frame. 11. Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises load measuring members. Container handling equipment according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises stabilizing hydraulic cylinders (3c) associated with the supports (3) of the wheels (2, 4). 13. Container handling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling members (19) are remote controlled for constraint and release of the container (100). 14. Container handling method which comprises binding coupling members on the upper surface of a container to a rocker arm, lifting the assembly formed by the rocker arm and the container and rotating the assembly itself in a vertical plane, around an axis substantially coincident with the center of gravity of the complex itself. 15. Method of handling containers according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises translating the rocker arm horizontally while keeping the container rotated in an oblique position.