JP2813510B2 - Container multi-stage spreader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-stage spreader for containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a spreader 01 for stacking containers used in a container yard or the like, for example,
As shown in the side view of FIG. 9, a horizontal rectangular spreader body 03 suspended from a crane (not shown) by a hoisting line 02.
And a power supply and signal cable 04 connected thereto from a crane, a telescopic part 05 that is symmetrically expanded and contracted in the front-rear direction by a driving means of the main body part 03, and a cross beam that forms both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader 01 (hereinafter, referred to as a spreader) 0)
6, a twist lock pin 07 incorporated in each of the left and right corners thereof, and a container lifting corner flipper 08a pivotally mounted on the left and right side portions of both ends beams 06 via horizontal pins, respectively. Are known. In the figure, reference numeral 08 denotes an upper container connected to the spreader 01 by a twist lock pin 07, and reference numeral 09 denotes a lower container on which the upper container 08 is stacked on the ground GL.

However, in such an apparatus, since the upper container 08 is positioned and visually stacked on the lower container 09 and sequentially stacked, the upper container 08 stacked in several stages is shifted in the width direction or the length direction. Often
It has the following disadvantages. (1) The corner fitting of the upper container 08 is the lower container 09
On the top plate, which may be damaged. (2) Stacking of containers becomes unstable, which is not sufficient for safety measures. (3) The intervals between the container rows are not uniform, so that the work efficiency at the time of lifting using the spreader 01 is reduced. (4) As a countermeasure for the above (1) to (3), in addition to the conventional corner flipper 08a to the spreader 01, there is also a means for adding a corner flipper for a lower container having a long arm. There are operational problems such as the lower container flipper interfering with each other, and the lower container flipper interfering with the adjacent multi-stage stacking container during lifting or hanging, and have not been put to practical use.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and the positioning of a multi-stack container can be physically confirmed.
An object of the present invention is to provide a container multi-stage spreader excellent in safety. It is another object of the present invention to provide a container multi-stage spreader which can stably and quickly position a multi-stage container and therefore has excellent work efficiency. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container multi-stage spreader which is capable of aligning a multi-stage container without any interference with a lifting corner flipper, and thus has excellent work efficiency.

[0005]

To this end, the present invention is directed to a hollow elevating cross beam which is attached to each of the cross beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and which can move vertically along the end surface of the container on which the spreader is hung. A movable beam supported by the hollow elevating horizontal beam and slidable in the left-right direction along the end surface; and an upper portion fixed to inner surfaces of left and right ends of the movable beam and fitted into fitting holes of lower corner fittings of the container. And a corner flipper having a possible positioning projection.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow vertical guide pivotally supported by a horizontal pin at the center of the outer end surface of each of the lateral beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader, and the vertical portion is slidable below the hollow vertical guide. Inverted T-shaped hollow elevating and lowering horizontal beams inserted into the brackets, one end of which is pivotally supported by horizontal pins on brackets projecting from both ends of the horizontal beams, and the other end of which is fixed to the upper end of the hollow vertical guide. And a drive cylinder for pivoting the hollow vertical guide.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a longitudinal end of a lateral arm portion of an inverted L-shaped frame projecting from the upper surface of each of the lateral beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and extending inward. A movable sprocket slidably supported on the movable arm and a fixed sprocket fixed to a base end of the lateral arm, and one end locked to a lower portion of the frame and an intermediate part linked to the movable sprocket and the fixed sprocket in this order. A chain, the other end of which hangs down from the outer end side of the cross beam at each end, a hollow elevating cross beam whose central portion is supported at the lower end of the pair of chains, and a chain supported by the link of the chain, respectively. And a plurality of hollow blocks into which power supply and signal cables extending along the chain are inserted.

[0008]

According to such a configuration, the following operation is performed. According to the invention of claim 1, a hollow elevating cross beam which is attached to each of the longitudinal beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and is capable of moving up and down along the end surface of the container suspended by the spreader, and supported by the hollow elevating cross beam A movable beam slidable in the left-right direction along the end face; and a positioning projection having an upper portion fixed to the inner surface of the left and right end of the movable beam and capable of being fitted into a fitting hole of a lower corner fitting of the container. Since the corner flipper is provided, the positioning of the multi-stack container can be physically confirmed. According to the invention of claim 2, a hollow vertical guide pivotally supported by a horizontal pin at the center of the outer end surface of each of the lateral beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader, and the vertical portion is slidably fitted to a lower portion of the hollow vertical guide. An inserted T-shaped hollow elevating cross beam, and a horizontal pin fixed at one end to a bracket protruding on both ends of the cross beam with a horizontal pin and the other end fixed to the upper end of the hollow vertical guide. Since the above-described drive cylinder for tilting the hollow vertical guide is provided, the positioning of the multi-stage container can be performed stably and quickly. According to the invention of claim 3,
A movable sprocket that is slidably supported in the longitudinal direction at the distal end of the lateral arm of an inverted L-shaped frame that protrudes from the upper surface of each of the lateral beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and extends inward; A fixed sprocket fixed to the base end of the lateral arm, one end locked to the lower part of the frame, and an intermediate part chained around the movable sprocket and the fixed sprocket in sequence, and the other end connected to the both ends A chain that hangs down from the outer end of the cross beam, a hollow elevating cross beam whose central portion is supported at the lower end of the pair of chains, and a power supply that is supported along the link of the chain and extends internally along the chain. Since there are multiple hollow blocks through which signal cables are inserted, there is no interference with the lifting corner flipper when positioning multi-stage containers. It can be carried out.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a known spreader shown in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9 denote the same members as those in FIG. Numeral 1 denotes a vertical hollow vertical guide having a rectangular cross-section pivotally supported by a horizontal fulcrum pin 3 at a portion near the upper end on a bracket 2 protruding from the center of the outer end surface of each of the lateral beams 06 at both ends. It consists of a T-shaped horizontal part and a vertical part. The vertical part is telescopically inserted into the lower end of the vertical guide 1, and the horizontal fulcrum pin 3 of the vertical guide 1 and the horizontal pin 5 fixed in the vertical part are vertically driven. A hollow inverted T-shaped elevating cross beam having a rectangular cross section connected by a cylinder 6 is telescopically inserted into both ends of a horizontal portion of each elevating cross beam 4, and a pair of left and right horizontal driving systems on the elevating cross beam 4 is provided. The movable cantilever 9 is connected to the horizontal beam 11 and is slidably supported in the extending direction from both ends of the lifting and lowering beam 4. The movable cantilever 9 faces the horizontal pin 11 on the bracket 10 erected at the center of the both-side beam 06. The vertical cylinders 1 are tilting cylinders that are connected between the horizontal guides 12 at the upper ends of the vertical guides 1 and tilt the vertical guides 1 around their fulcrum pins 3. Subsequently, in the partial enlarged front view of FIG.
The projection 13 is fixedly attached to the side of the movable cantilever 7 near the tip, and can be fitted into the side fitting hole 011 of the lower corner fitting 010 of the upper container 08 suspended by the spreader 14.
5 is a lower corner flipper for the lower container 09 provided with the lower corner 5.

In such an apparatus, the spreader 1
1, the movable cantilever 7 is moved to the extended position by the horizontal driving cylinder 8 to widen the interval between the lower corner flippers 13, 13 and the vertical driving cylinder 6 is contracted in FIG. Drive up and down cross beam 4
Is raised to the upper limit, and the lower portion of the vertical guide 1 is inclined outward around the horizontal fulcrum pin 3 by the contraction drive of the tilting cylinder 9, and the lifting corner flipper 08a is raised upward as shown by the chain line. And This state is
At the same time, the suspended upper container 08 is placed on the lower container 09 (FIG. 9), the upper container 08 is released, and the spreader 14 is raised.

When the spreader 14 in this state is moved to the container lifting position and descends onto the upper container 08 to be lifted, the lifting corner flipper 08a is used.
Is swung down in the direction of the dashed line arrow and lowered to the upper container 08. As the spreader 14 descends, the lower corner flipper 13 first guides around the upper container 08 as a first guide, and then the lifting corner flipper 08a engages with the upper corner of the upper container 08 to form the upper surface of the upper container 08. And spreader 1
4 The outer lines on the lower surface are in contact with each other. At this time, since the lower corner flipper 13 is located above the bottom surface of the upper container 08 due to the lifting of the elevating cross beam 4 by the vertical drive cylinder 6, collision with the floor surface or the like does not occur. Here, the twist lock pin 07 is connected to the upper container 0
8, the spreader 14 is raised, and the upper container 08 is moved to its destination.

The upper container 0 thus transferred
When lowering 8 on the floor surface, the spreader 14 is lowered only by rotating the lifting corner flipper 08a to the swinging position, the upper container 08 is grounded, and the twist lock pin 07 is released from the upper container 08. Raise the spreader 14. When lowering the transported upper container 08 onto another lower container 09, the lifting corner flipper 08a is rotated to the swinging position, and the vertical guide 1 is moved to the vertical position by the tilting cylinder 9, and the vertical driving cylinder is rotated. The movable beam 7 is moved to a predetermined retracted position by the horizontal drive cylinder 8 and the spreader 1 is moved to the predetermined position.
4 down. At this time, the lower corner flipper 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a convex portion 15 protruding from the inward surface and the upper container 0
8 is fitted into the side fitting hole 011 of the lower corner fitting 010, is restrained by the upper container 08, and is set to a position that acts as a regular corner flipper with respect to the lower container 09.

In this state, the lower stage corner flipper 13 is provided.
Is engaged with the upper corner of the lower container 09, so that the upper surface of the lower container 09 and the lower surface outline of the descending upper container 08 coincide with each other to land on the floor. Next, the movable cantilever 7 is moved to the extended position by the horizontal drive cylinder 8 to remove the lower corner flipper 13 from the lower corner fitting 010 of the upper container 08, and the vertical drive cylinder 6 raises the elevating horizontal beam 4 to the upper limit position. Then, when the lower portion of the vertical guide 1 is tilted outward by the tilting cylinder 9, the twist lock pin 07 is released from the upper container 08 and the spreader 14 is raised, the state returns to the empty load moving state.

According to the above configuration, the spreader 14
Corner flipper 08a for lifting on horizontal beams 06 at both ends
The operation of the lower-stage corner flipper 13 and the vertical guide 1 can operate independently without interfering with each other. In addition, when the upper container 08 is lifted, the upper container 08 is gripped and lifted, the upper container 08 is lowered to the floor surface, and the lower container 09 is stacked and unloaded on the other lower containers 09. Therefore, the drive pattern for each operation can be automated, and the lower corner flipper 13 can be operated by remote control from the cab of the crane.

Next, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment. Reference numeral 16 denotes an inverted L-shaped frame fixed on both ends of a horizontal beam 06. Reference numeral 17 denotes a fixed sprocket 18 and a movable sprocket mounted on the frame 16. One end of a chain hoisting means 20 comprising a 19 and a movement driving means 37 (FIG. 6) to be described later is attached to the locking metal fitting 21 at the lower part of the frame 16, and an intermediate part is linked to the movable sprocket 19 and the fixed sprocket 18. A pair of chains 22 guided so as to hang outside the horizontal beams 06 at both ends, 22 is a lifting / lowering horizontal beam having a hollow structure connected to the hanging ends of the chains 20 and 20 and supported on the outside of the horizontal beams 06, and 23 is a lifting / lowering horizontal beam 22. Telescopically inserted into both ends of the horizontal portion, connected to a pair of left and right horizontal driving cylinders 8 on the lifting / lowering cross beam 22, and extending from both ends of the lifting / lowering cross beam 22, respectively. Slidably supported to the direction the a movable cantilever beam. Reference numeral 24 denotes a corner flipper integrally supported on a side portion near the tip of the movable cantilever 23. Reference numeral 26 denotes a corner flipper integrally supported on the link of the chain 20 in a continuous array having the same cross-sectional shape as the cross section of the center rising portion of the lifting / lowering cross beam 22, A hollow block 28 having a power supply and signal cable 27 inserted therein;
Is a fixed size fitting hole of the horizontal beam 06 at both ends of the spreader 25, and 29 is a fixed size fitting hole of the lower corner fitting of the container, which is used for setting the corner flipper 24.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view and FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chain hoisting means 17. In FIG. 5, a pair of movable sprockets 19
6 is rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 32 extending over sliding pieces 31, 31 engaged with a long hole guide 30 provided in a longitudinal direction of the motor 6, and a nut portion 33 provided at the center of the horizontal shaft 32 is connected to a motor 34. By engaging with the driving screw shaft 35 and reciprocating in the range indicated by the arrow 36, the chain 20 is extended and pulled up, and the lifting / lowering cross beam 22 is moved up and down to the height position indicated by the chain line and the solid line in FIG. I have. The movement driving means 37
Long hole guide 30, sliding piece 31, motor 34, screw shaft 3
5

The corner flipper 24 has, as shown in the partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, a convex portion 15 that fits loosely into the fitting hole 29 or 28 of the lower corner metal fitting of the container 08 or the cross beam 06 at both ends of the spreader 25. The directional drive cylinder 8 is extended and retracted to be connected to the spreader 25 or the lower corner of the container for guiding the lifting container 08 and guiding the lower container 09 at the height positions indicated by the solid and chain lines in FIG. 3, respectively. Hollow block 26
As shown in the partial front view of FIG. 8, convex and concave overlapping portions are formed at opposing ends, and are supported on both sides of the link pieces of the chains 20, 20, so that power supply and signal passing therethrough are formed. Feeds and guides the cable 27 for use in lifting and lowering the cross beam 2
2 reduces its swing motion as it moves up and down.

In such an apparatus, the spreader 2
When the load 5 is empty, the corner flipper 24 holds the convex portion 15 at a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 3 so as to be fitted into the fitting hole 28 of the horizontal beam 06 at both ends of the spreader 25. In place of the up-and-down lifting type corner flipper 08a provided in the above. Spreader 25
Is used in accordance with the length of the upper container 08 by expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction portion 05. The container 08 is lifted by lowering the spreader 25 onto the container 08 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The spreader 25 is landed on the container 08 by the engagement guide between the container 4 and the container 8, and the twist lock pin 07 is connected to the upper corner fitting of the container. When lowering the container 08 on the flat ground on the destination, the container 08 is lifted and transported as described above and lowered on the ground to release the twist lock pin 07.

When stacking on another lower container 09, the twist lock pin 0
7 together with the corner flipper 24 in the order of the extension drive of the horizontal drive cylinder 8, the unwinding drive of the chain hoisting means 17, and the contraction drive of the horizontal drive cylinder 8.
Is moved to the lower corner metal fitting position of the container shown in FIG. 4, the container 08 is lifted and conveyed, and the other lower container 09 is moved.
Drop down and land. Next, twist lock pin 0
7 is released, and the corner flipper 24 is moved from the position shown by the broken line to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, and then the spreader 25 is lifted up to receive the next transport container. The vertical movement and replacement of the corner flipper 24
Only when stacking and transporting, twist lock pin 07
Or in combination with the release, the vertical movement distance is detected by a limit switch or a sensor, or the like.
9 can be detected and controlled remotely from the crane cab.

According to the above configuration, the corner flipper 24 is moved to the upper container 08 at the height of the spreader 25.
It can also be used as a gripping guide and as a positioning guide for the lower container 09 at the lower corner fitting height of the upper container 08 coupled to the spreader 25,
There is no need to provide separate corner flippers for container gripping and lower container alignment.

According to the apparatus of the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) According to the first embodiment, a hollow elevating cross beam that is attached to each longitudinal beam at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and that can move up and down along the end surface of the container suspended by the spreader, A movable beam supported and slidable in the left-right direction along the end face; and a positioning projection having an upper portion fixed to inner surfaces of left and right ends of the movable beam and capable of being fitted into a fitting hole of a lower corner fitting of the container. A hollow vertical guide with upper parts pivotally supported at the center of the outer surface of both ends of the cross beams, on which the corner flippers for lifting are pivotally mounted on the left and right sides, respectively, and a lower part of this A slidably supported hollow inverted T-shaped elevating cross beam, a movable cantilever slidably inserted and supported at the left and right ends of a horizontal portion thereof, and a lower corner of the container attached to the inner surface of the left and right ends thereof A positioning corner flipper with a projection that can be fitted to the metal fitting is provided, so that the positioning of the multi-tiered container can be physically confirmed, and the positioning can be performed quickly and stably. Maintainability, safety and work efficiency are improved.

(2) According to the second embodiment, a hollow elevating and lowering beam that is attached to each of the horizontal beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and that can move up and down along the end surface of the container suspended by the spreader, A movable beam that is supported by the elevating horizontal beam and that is slidable in the left and right direction along the end surface;
A corner flipper having an alignment projection that has an upper part fixed to the inner surfaces of the left and right ends of the movable beam and that can be fitted into the fitting hole of the lower corner fitting of the container,
A movable sprocket supported at a tip end and a base end of an inverted L-shaped frame projecting inward from a known spreader except for a lifting corner flipper and extending inward from a center of an upper surface of a cross beam at both ends; A fixed sprocket, left and right 1 whose one ends are locked to the lower part of the frame, the intermediate part is sequentially linked to the movable sprocket and the fixed sprocket, and the other end is guided so as to hang down to the outer ends of the cross beams at both ends. A pair of chains, a hollow elevating cross beam connected to the hanging end of the pair of chains, and a continuous line having the same cross-sectional shape as the cross section of the center rising portion of the hollow elevating cross beam. And a plurality of hollow blocks into which power and signal cables are inserted, so that the positioning of the multi-tier container can be physically confirmed. Without developing interference with hanging above for corner flipper at all, thus the integrity of the container multistage product, thereby improving the safety and work efficiency.

[0023]

In summary, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow elevating cross beam which is attached to each of the cross beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and which can move up and down along the end surface of the container suspended by the spreader. A movable beam supported by the hollow elevating horizontal beam and slidable in the left-right direction along the end face; and an upper portion fixed to inner surfaces of left and right ends of the movable beam and capable of being fitted into a fitting hole of a lower corner fitting of the container. By providing a corner flipper having a convex portion for positioning, it is possible to physically confirm the positioning of the container for multistage stacking, and to obtain a spreader for container multistage stacking with excellent maintainability and safety. Is extremely useful in industry.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a hollow vertical guide pivotally supported by a horizontal pin is provided at the center of the outer end surface of each of the cross beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader, and a vertical portion is provided below the hollow vertical guide. An inverted T-shaped hollow elevating cross beam slidably inserted, and one end pivotally supported by a horizontal pin on a bracket protruding from both ends of the cross beam, and the other end fixed to the upper end of the hollow vertical guide. With the provision of the drive cylinder for tilting the hollow vertical guide pivotally supported by the horizontal pin, the positioning of the multi-stack container can be performed quickly and stably, and therefore a container multi-stack spreader excellent in work efficiency can be obtained. Therefore, the present invention is extremely useful in industry.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the tip of the lateral arm portion of the inverted L-shaped frame projecting from the center of the upper surface of each of the cross beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and extending inward is provided. The movable sprocket slidably supported in the longitudinal direction and the fixed sprocket fixed to the base end of the lateral arm portion, and the movable sprocket and the fixed sprocket having one end locked at the lower portion of the frame and the intermediate portion. A chain that is sequentially chained and wrapped around, and the other end of the chain hangs down from the outer end of the cross beam at each end, and a link between the chain and the hollow elevating cross beam whose central portion is supported at the lower end of the pair of chains. A plurality of hollow blocks, each of which is supported and extends inside the power supply and signal cables extending along the above-mentioned chain, are provided, so that the position of the multi-stage container can be adjusted. As possible not generated interference between the upper for corner flipper at all, thus from obtaining a container multistage product spreader with excellent work efficiency, the present invention is extremely useful industrially.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the known spreader shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a front view along VIII-VIII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a known container multi-stage spreader.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vertical guide 2 Bracket 3 Horizontal fulcrum pin 4 Inverted T-shaped elevating horizontal beam 5 Horizontal pin 6 Vertical drive cylinder 7 Movable cantilever 8 Horizontal drive cylinder 9 Tilt cylinder 10 Bracket 11 Horizontal pin 12 Horizontal pin 13 Lower corner flipper DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Spreader 15 Convex part 16 Frame 17 Chain hoisting means 18 Fixed sprocket 19 Movable sprocket 20 Chain 21 Locking fitting 22 Elevating cross beam 23 Movable cantilever 24 Corner flipper 25 Spreader 26 Hollow block 27 Power supply and signal cable 28 Fitting hole 29 Fitting hole 30 Slot guide 31 Sliding piece 32 Horizontal axis 33 Nut part 34 Motor 35 Screw axis 36 Arrow 37 Movement driving means 02 Hoisting cable 03 Main part 04 Power supply and signal cable 05 Telescopic part 06 Telescopic part 06 07 twist-lock pin 08 upper container 09 lower container

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B66C 1/00-1/68

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hollow elevating cross beam that is attached to each of the cross beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and that can move up and down along the end surface of the container suspended by the spreader;
A movable beam supported by the hollow elevating horizontal beam and slidable in the left-right direction along the end face; and an upper portion fixed to inner surfaces of left and right ends of the movable beam and capable of being fitted into a fitting hole of a lower corner fitting of the container. A spreader for stacking containers, comprising: a corner flipper having a projection for positioning. 2. A hollow vertical guide pivotally supported by a horizontal pin at the center of the outer end surface of each of the lateral beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader, and an inverted vertical member slidably fitted under the hollow vertical guide. A T-shaped hollow elevating cross beam and one end of which is pivotally supported by a horizontal pin fixed to an upper end of the hollow vertical guide, with one end pivotally supported by a horizontal pin on a bracket protruding from both ends of the cross beam. 2. The spreader according to claim 1, further comprising a drive cylinder for tilting the vertical guide. 3. An inverted L which protrudes from the center of the upper surface of each of the lateral beams at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the spreader and extends inward.
A movable sprocket slidably supported in the longitudinal direction at the distal end of the lateral arm of the U-shaped frame, a fixed sprocket secured to the base end of the lateral arm, and one end locked to the lower portion of the frame The middle part is chained around the movable sprocket and the fixed sprocket one after the other, and the other end hangs down from the outer ends of the cross beams at both ends. The middle part is supported by the lower ends of the pair of chains. 2. The hollow lifting beam according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hollow blocks, each of which is supported along a link of the chain, and a plurality of hollow blocks into which a power supply and a signal cable extending along the chain are inserted. Spreader for multi-tiered containers.