SE1150555A1 - Carrier and station for carrying container and procedure at such station - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY A carrier device (10) for carrying a container at and after delivery from a vehicle unit, a station for delivery of a container and a method for delivering a container from a vehicle unit. The carrier device (10) comprises a support element (11), one-pin holder (13) and a locking pin (12). The pin holder (13) is rotatably mounted at the support element (11) and rotatable relative support element about a vertical axis of rotation. The reading pin (12) is arranged to accompany the pin holder (13) when the pin holder rotates about said vertical axis of rotation. The carrier device (10) also comprises an adjusting mechanism, which adjusting mechanism is arranged to, under the action of the weight from a container resting against the loading pin (12), automatically move the pin holder (13) to a predetermined load rotational position about said vertical axis of rotation, when the pin holder is in a rotary position given angular range around the predetermined locked rotational position. Figure 2a

Description

10 15 20 25 30 35 ship transport is the standardized so-called ISO container.

Delivery and collection of goods transported with road traffic, such as different types of trucks and semi-trailers, can easily become a bottleneck in the transport chain when the vehicle unit as transporting the goods remains standing longer than necessary when loading and unloading of goods. To deliver a container that is shipped with a truck, a truck or similar is often used that lifts off the container from the truck. Such a procedure is associated with high operating costs in the form of both personnel and equipment costs. To instead use a station where the container easily and without the use of a truck or the like can be delivered and collected for unloading of goods or pending further transport, enables the truck driver to take care of himself the delivery. In this way, you can save operating costs at the same time as the transporting truck is released and can be used for other transports when the container has been delivered.

US 2008/0298939 A1 describes a station for carrying one container at and after delivery from a vehicle unit, to example a truck. The station comprises four carrier devices in form of posts with support for the container to rest on. The support can turned under the container when it is placed at the station, whereupon the truck lowers the container so that it rests on the supports.

The truck can then drive away and leave the container on the station. However, the carrier devices do not include a device to anchor the container as it rests on the supports, which can lead to safety problems at the station.

There are also carrier devices in the form of support posts with pins intended to be engaged with the brackets of a container.

The carrier devices are loose and put in place when the container is anchored to, for example, a truck. The truck is then lowered that the container rests on the pins, whereupon the truck can be driven away.

However, this system has the disadvantage of being very unstable. If the truck accesses a carrier device upon delivery or 10 15 20 25 30 35 retrieval of the container, the carrier device can tip over and take bring container and other carrier devices in the case. The system is therefore not suitable for rational goods handling.

SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to provide one carrier device and a station for carrying a container which in at least some aspect simplifies the management of containers for delivery from and collection on a vehicle unit and which is suitable for rational goods handling. One further object is to provide a method of delivery of a container which simplifies the retrieval of the container.

The first object is achieved by a carrier device according to claim 1 and a station for carrying a container according to claim 9. It the second object is achieved by a method according to claim 10.

The carrier device according to the invention comprises a support element anchored in a base, a pin holder supported by the support element and a locking pin intended to be brought into engagement with a bracket on the container and carry at least a part of it the weight of the container, which locking pin is supported by the pin holder and is displaceable relative to the pin holder from a retracted position to an advanced position. The carrier device is characterized by that the pin holder is rotatably mounted at the support element and rotatable relative to the support member about a vertical axis of rotation, the locking pin is arranged to accompany the pin holder when the pin holder is rotated around said vertical axis of rotation, and that the carrier device also comprises an adjustment mechanism, which adjustment mechanism is arranged to, under the action of the weight from one against the locking pin dormant container, automatically move the pin holder to a predetermined locked rotational position about said vertical axis of rotation, then the pin holder is in a rotational position within a given angular range around the predetermined locked rotation position. 10 15 20 25 30 35 Thanks to the fact that the carrier devices are fixed in a base can these are made stable enough to handle for example collisions with a vehicle unit or other incidents. The locking of the container at the carrier devices by means of the locking pins provides a secure system. Furthermore, the locking pins of the locking pins and it automatic adjustment mechanism that a certain flexibility can allowed when positioning the vehicle, as it can be brought a locking pin engaged with a bracket on the container even if the bracket is not in the exact position in the middle of the locking pin by the locking pin turned manually. Then the weight of the container is then transferred to the locking pins, these are automatically moved to a predetermined turning position.

When picking up, the driver can go to the vehicle unit thanks to this construction be sure of the exact position of the container is relative to the carrier devices. This makes it easier the pick-up, when the container is to be attached to the vehicle unit fasteners. If the vehicle unit fasteners do not end up in the exact position directly below the downward-facing openings of the container brackets when picked up, the rotatability of the locking pins, at the transfer of the weight of the container to the vehicle unit, to allow that the container is displaced slightly in the horizontal direction when the brackets of the container are brought into engagement with the lining of the vehicle unit container intended fasteners.

According to one embodiment, the adjusting mechanism comprises pairs of cooperating guide surfaces of the pin holder and of an i the support element fixed seat part, wherein the guide surfaces are arranged to steer the pin holder to said predetermined locked rotational position then the pin holder is in a rotational position within a given angular intervals around the predetermined locked rotational position. In this embodiment, the adjustment mechanism is provided in a simple manner way.

According to one embodiment, each pair comprises of each other cooperating guide surfaces at least one guide surface which is angled in relation to the vertical axis of rotation, whereby the pin holder guide surface under the action of the weight from a resting against the locking pin 10 15 20 25 30 35 container is arranged to slide along the guide surface of the seat part, whereby the pin holder performs a simultaneous vertical and rotating movement downwards towards the seat part, until the predetermined locked rotation position is reached. The simultaneously rotating and vertical the movement makes the adjustment mechanism as well as the locked rotational position extra stable and allows some flexibility when positioning in horizontal as well as vertical.

According to a further embodiment, a safety support is designed to be able to carry the weight of the container arranged on the support element under the locking pin. This increases security, because the safety support can support the container in the event of a breakage on the locking pin of the carrier device.

According to another embodiment, the pin holder is slidable downwards in vertical joint against the action of a spring when the pin holder is in a position separate from the predetermined locked rotation position. In this embodiment, rotation of the locking pin and pin holder is facilitated, because the spring force helps to lift the pin holder out of it locked turning position in the absence of load from a container.

According to a further embodiment, a locking means is arranged at the front part of the locking pin and one fixedly connected to the locking member handle arranged at the rear part of the locking pin, the locking means by means of the handle is rotatable relative to the locking pin about one shaft in the longitudinal direction of the locking pin to a locked position in the container bracket respectively to an open position, and wherein the locking means by means of the handle is lockable in said positions. This embodiment provides a easy and safe locking of the container at the carrier device.

According to one embodiment, the carrier device comprises a light-reflecting positioning surface for positioning the container in conjunction with a light source arranged on the vehicle unit and a light sensor arranged on the vehicle unit. This simplifies for the driver of the vehicle unit to position it in the correct position relative to the carrier device when delivering and retrieving container. 10 15 20 25 30 35 According to another embodiment, the support element comprises a lifting member. device and one with the aid of the lifting device in the vertical direction bare part, which movable part carries the pin holder. In this embodiment, it is possible to move the container down to ground level by means of the carrier device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the accompanying drawings, a detailed one now follows description of embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 shows an overview of a support station of a container at and after delivery; Figure 2a shows a first embodiment of a carrier device according to the invention; Figure 2b shows a cross section along a vertical axis straight through the upper part of the same carrier device; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a pin holder obliquely from below; Figures 4a-d show a pin holder and a seat part in different shapes rotary positions in perspective view and in cross section along one vertical axis; Figures 5a-b show a locking pin with a locking member illustrated in two o fi kalägen; Figures 6a-b show a second embodiment of a carrier device according to the invention in two different positions; Figure 7a shows a pin holder and a seat part in the other the embodiment; Figure 7b shows a detail from Figure 7a; and Figure 8 shows a guide ring and a seat part in the other embodiment. 10 15 20 25 30 35 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A station 1 for carrying a container 2 at and after delivery from a vehicle unit 3 is shown in Figure 1. Four carrier devices 10 according to the invention are positioned to be able to support a container 2 by attachment to the container brackets 4 in the form of corner fittings in the container. An embodiment of the carrier device 10 for supporting a container 2 is shown in Figure 2-4. The current embodiment of the carrier device 10 is shown in perspective in Figure 2a and a cross section through its upper part shown in Figure 2b. The carrier device 10 comprises a support element 11 in the form of a hollow post, which is anchored in a base.

The carrier device 10 further comprises a locking pin 12, which is intended to be brought into engagement with a bracket 4 of the container 2.

The locking pin 12 is supported by a pin holder 13, which in turn is rotatably mounted at an upper part 11a of the support element 11.

The pin holder 13 is rotatable relative to the support element 11 about one vertical axis of rotation A. The locking pin 12 is rotatable together with the pin holder 13 about the vertical axis of rotation A, the pin the holder and the locking pin can assume different rotational positions around it vertical axis of rotation. The carrier device 10 also comprises a adjustment mechanism for automatically moving the pin holder 13 to a predetermined rotational position when the locking pin 12 is loaded with weight from a container 2.

As shown in Figures 3-4, the pin holder 13 comprises a lower one guide part 14 designed as a hollow circular cylinder. Tap holder guide part 14 extends in vertical direction inside the support element 11.

The pin holder 13 also comprises an upper holder part 15 formed as a hollow circular cylinder which extends horizontally.

The locking pin 12 is slidably mounted at the pin holder holder part 15. Below the pin holder's guide part 14 is a wide one the support element 11 fixed seat part 16. The seat part 16 and the guide part 14 of the pin holder has guide surfaces 18, 19, which together constitute an adjustment mechanism. The seat part 16 consists of this embodiment of a round washer, in which a groove 17 is 10 15 20 25 30 35 arranged. The edges of the groove here constitute the guide surfaces 18 of the seat part.

The guide surfaces 18 run parallel to each other and are angled relative to the vertical axis of rotation A so that the groove widens in the direction up. The guide part 14 of the pin holder is formed with two guide surfaces 19 on diametrically opposite sides of the vertical axis of rotation A.

The guide surfaces 19 are designed so that they are delimited by parallel continuous lines on each side of the axis of rotation A and are angled relatively the axis of rotation so that they converge in the downward direction. The distance between the pin surfaces 19 of the pin holder 13 is adapted so that the pin holder in a locked rotary position, as shown in Figure 4c, can rest in the seat part 16. The two guide surfaces 18 of the seat part 16 are in that position against the pin holder 13 and guide surfaces 19, respectively.

The guide part 14 of the pin holder 13 is rotatable and axially displaceable mounted at the upper part 11a of the support element 11 by two rings 33 which encloses the control part of the pin holder. Inside the control part 14 of the pin holder and adjacent the seat portion 16 is a loosely mounted spring support 20 and above this a coil spring 21, which with its lower end abuts the spring support and with its upper end abuts against a ledge 22 on the inside of the guide part 14 of the pin holder.

The locking pin 12 is shown in detail in Figures 5a and 5b and here consists of one circular cylindrical tube, with a longitudinal direction in the horizontal direction.

The locking pin 12 is displaceable relative to the pin holder 13 in the longitudinal direction of the locking pin from a retracted position to a advanced position. At the front end of the locking pin is a locking member 23 arranged with a length and a width orthogonal to the locking pin longitudinal direction. The locking member 23 is through a rod which runs through the locking pin 12, fixedly connected to a handle 24 mounted on the bar at the rear end of the locking pin. The locking member 23 is designed with the width less than the length and is using the handle 24 rotatable relative to the locking pin 12 about a horizontal, longitudinal shaft B. By means of the handle 24, the locking member 23 can also fixed in a locked and open position by attaching the handle in an end plate 25 fixedly connected to the locking pin. The open position, where the locking means 23 can be inserted into and out of the holder 4 of the container 2, 10 15 20 25 30 35 is shown in Figure 5a and the locked position, in which the locking means is locked container bracket, in Figure 5b.

The carrier device 10 according to this embodiment is also equipped with a safety support 30, which is located under the locking pin 12.

The safety support 30 is rotatably mounted at the support element 11 and has four rotational positions about a vertical axis, in which rotational positions the safety support can be locked using a plug 32. On the side of the safety support is a light-reflecting positioning surface 31 arranged. In this embodiment, the positioning surface is 31 designed as an upside down U with two parallel legs and a roof.

A station 1 for carrying a container 2 at and after delivery from a vehicle unit 3 consists of at least four carrier devices 10 according to the invention, as shown in figure 1.

The carrier devices 10 are positioned so that their respective locking pins 12 must be able to be brought into engagement with the brackets 4 of the container 2 when the vehicle unit 3 including the container has been placed at station 1. Station 1 can also have edges 5 in the carriageway to facilitate positioning of the vehicle unit 3. A loading dock 6 can be arranged at the rear end of the loading bay.

When delivering a container 2, a vehicle unit 3 enters station 1. Container 2 rests on a loading surface of the vehicle unit and is attached to it by fasteners. The fasteners are constituted according to ISO standard of swivel locks on the vehicle unit 3, which are brought in intervention with downward openings of corner fittings on container 2. The driver of the vehicle unit positions the vehicle the unit 3 in the horizontal and vertical direction for the container 2 to end up in delivery mode, ie with the container brackets 4 in the middle of the locking pins 12 of the carrier devices 10. The brackets of the container 4 here consists of side openings in the corner fittings of the container.

Horizontal positioning can be done by the vehicle unit 3 reversing or advancing while emitting a light signal from a light source located on the vehicle unit. The light signal is reflected on the light reflecting positioning surface 31 of the respective 10 15 20 25 30 35 10 carrier device 10 and is detected by a light sensor on vehicle unit 3. When the light signal hits a point between them both parallel legs of the positioning surface 31 are the container 2 in correct horizontal position. Container 2 can then be raised or lowered, for example by means of the suspension of the vehicle unit, for to get in the right position in the vertical joint. Container 2 is right position when the light signal hits the ceiling of the positioning surface 31.

When the container 2 has been positioned in the delivery position, the front one is moved the part of the locking pins 12 into the container brackets 4. This is done partly by displacing the locking pins 12 in the horizontal direction in their longitudinal direction, partly by the pin holder 13 and thus if necessary, the locking pin 12 is rotated about the vertical axis of rotation A. I Figure 4a shows a pin holder 13 which is rotated relative to it predetermined locked rotation position. Figure 4b shows a cross section through the pin holder 12 and the seat part 16 in figure 4a taken in parallel with rotary shaft A and orthogonal to the groove 17 of the seat part. The spring 21, which in this embodiment is located inside the pin holder rotating member 14, acts with its spring force to lift the pin holder 13 and prevent this from, in the absence of the action of the weight from a container 2, slide down into the locked pivot position. The spring 21 thus facilitates manual rotation of locking pin 12 and pin holder 13 about the vertical axis of rotation A by the pin holder does not have to be lifted manually from the locked swivel position.

The spring 21 can be selected so that its spring force is sufficient to lift the pin holder 13 so much that its guide surfaces 19 are completely in place above the guide surfaces 18 of the seat part 16, in which case the carrier device 10 is provided with a stop means for preventing the pin holder is freely rotatable about the axis of rotation A. The spring 21 can also be selected as such that the spring force lifts the guide surfaces 19 of the pin holder 13 to a position there the free rotation of the pin holder about the axis of rotation A is hindered by the guide surfaces 18 of the seat part 16. In both cases the pin holder 13 is rotatable in a certain angular range, which means that the container 2's bracket 4 does not have to lie exactly in the middle of the locking member 23, but can lie something in front of or behind this. The distance between both legs of the positioning surface 31 are adapted to correspond to it said angular range. 10 15 20 25 30 35 11 When the locking pins 12 are inserted into the brackets 4 of the container, they are locked in respective fastening by the locking member 23 with the handle 24 help is rotated around the horizontal longitudinal axis B. The handle 24 is fixed in the locked position in the end plate 25 and the container 2 is thereby attached to the carrier devices 10. When the container 2 is attached at the four carrier devices 10 of the station 1, its weight can be transferred to these. In the embodiment according to Figures 1-4, this is done by the load surface of the vehicle unit 3 is lowered relative to the container 2, either by means of the suspension of the vehicle unit or by a separate device for raising and lowering the load surface. Then the container weight is transferred to resting on the locking pins 12 of the carrier devices, these are automatically adjusted to the predetermined locked rotation position.

This adjustment takes place by the pin surfaces 19 of the pin holder 13, then the 2 weight of the container pushes the pin holder downwards against the action of the spring 21, comes into contact with the guide surfaces 18 of the seat part 16. Then the pin holder 13 as shown in Figures 4a and 4b is rotated relatively the predetermined locked rotational position, the guide surfaces 19 of the pin holder slide along the guide surfaces 18 of the seat part 16 in a rotating movement downwards towards the seat part until the predetermined locked turning position is reached.

Figures 4c and 4d show a perspective view and a cross section, respectively taken along the vertical axis of rotation A and orthogonally to the track 17 of the pin holder 13 and the seat part 16 in the predetermined locked rotary position. In this position, the pin holder 13 can no longer slide down and thus also not rotated further under load from the container 2.

When the container 2 rests on the locking pins 12, the vehicle unit 3 can leave station 1 without a container. The safety supports 30 are now turned in under the container 2 and locked in position by means of the plug 32, so that the container in the event of a breakage of any of the locking pins 12 is supported by the security support on the person in question the support device 10. The safety support 30 may also have others designs, for example be foldable or extendable underneath container 2. 10 15 20 25 30 35 12 When picking up the container 2 from the station 1, position it the vehicle unit 3 at the station in the same way as during delivery of the container. Thanks to the relative position of the container the carrier devices 10 on delivery have been adjusted by means of the adjustment mechanism now knows the driver of the vehicle unit exactly in what position the container 2 is in. Vehicle unit 3 fasteners are moved towards the downwardly directed openings of the container 2 corner fittings by raising the load area of the vehicle unit. If the vehicle unit 3 did not end up with the fasteners directly below them downward-facing openings of the corner fittings of the container 2, will the locking pins 12 and the pin holders 13 to rotate slightly around it vertical axis of rotation A when the weight of the container is redistributed to the vehicle unit 3 and the pin holder are lifted out of their predetermined position locked rotary position. The locking pins 12 can then be detached from the container brackets 4 and the vehicle unit 3 can leave station 1 with container 2.

Positioning of the vehicle unit 3 at the station 1 can also take place in other ways than those described above. For example, a geographical positioning system (GPS) is used. A transpon- are mounted on the vehicle unit 3 and by means of this can the vehicle unit is controlled at station 1 with very high precision Zion. In this case no edge 5 is needed as positioning aid, nor any positioning surface 31 on the carrier devices 10.

Figures 6-8 show a second embodiment of the invention, where the support elements 11 of the carrier device 10 also comprise a lifting device and a movable part 11b, on which the pin holder 13 and the locking pin 12 is mounted. The lifting device is mounted here inside a stationary part 11c of the support element 11 and is connected with the movable part 11b. The movable part 11b is movable in vertical joint by means of the lifting device. The pin holder 13 is in this embodiment mounted on the outside of the support element 11 and its guide part 14 extends vertically along this. The pin holder 13 is rotatable relative to the support member 11 about a vertical axis of rotation A.

The holder part 15 of the pin holder is mounted below the guide part 14 and the locking pin 12 is received therein in the same manner as 10 15 20 25 30 35 13 previously described. The pin holder 13 includes in it embodiment also an outer guide ring 25, on which guide ring four guide surfaces 26 are provided. The guide surfaces 26 of the guide ring 25 are adapted to abut against four guide surfaces 27 arranged on one seat part 28 on the movable part 11b of the support element 11. De a total of eight guide surfaces are designed to cooperate with each other in pairs about a guide surface 26 of the pin holder 13 and a guide surface 27 of the seat part 28. The four guide surfaces 26 of the guide ring 25 the four guide surfaces 27 of the seat part 28, respectively, are arranged two and two on opposite sides of the vertical axis of rotation A and angled relative to this. When loading the locking pin 12 with the weight off a container 2, the pin holder 13 is pressed downwards and two off the guide surfaces 26 on the guide ring 25 will then slide along two of the guide surfaces 27 of the seat part 28 until a locked rotational position is reached and all four guide surfaces 26 of the guide ring abut against the seat part guide surfaces 27. Also in this embodiment, the carrier device 10 provided with a coil spring 21 to facilitate lifting of locking pin 12 and pin holder 13 relative to the seat part 28.

In the last described embodiment illustrated in Figures 6-8 can the container 2, when it is attached to the locking pins of the carrier devices 10 12, is lifted up and down by means of the lifting device such as shown in Figures 6a and 6b. Container 2 can then be moved down to the ground. In addition, the lifting device of the carrier device 10 can be used to raise and lower the movable part of the support element 11 11b when redistributing the weight of the container 2 from and to vehicle unit 3 and carrier device 10, respectively, so that the vehicle unit does not need to raise or lower its load area.

The lifting device can, for example, be hydraulically driven and consists of a hydraulic cylinder.

In the above-described embodiments of the carrier device, the design of the guide surfaces is varied. For example, it is not it is necessary that all guide surfaces are angled relative to one vertical axis of rotation, without a guide can be achieved by only one of the seat part and the pin holder have angled guide surfaces. 14 The main thing is that a control towards a predetermined locked rotational position achieved.

The above-described embodiments of the invention are of course, to be considered only as an example. It goes without saying that these can be modified within the scope of the invention and that the invention is thus not limited to the mentioned embodiments. the forms.

Claims (10)

15 PATENT REQUIREMENTS Carrying device (10) for supporting a container (2) at and after delivery from a vehicle unit (3), comprising: a support element (11) anchored in a base; a pin holder (13) supported by the support member (11); a locking pin (12) intended to be engaged with a bracket (4) of the container (2) and to carry at least a part of the weight of the container, which locking pin (12) is supported by the pin holder (13) and is displaceable relative to the pin holder from a retracted position to an extended position, characterized in that the pin holder (13) is rotatably mounted at the support element (11) and rotatable relative to the support element about a vertical axis of rotation (A), the locking pin (12) being arranged to accompany the pin holder (13) at the pin holder rotation about said vertical axis of rotation (A), and that the carrier device (10) also comprises an adjusting mechanism, which adjusting mechanism is arranged to, under the action of the weight from a container (2) resting against the locking pin (12), automatically move the pin holder (13). ) to a predetermined locked rotational position about said vertical rotary axis (A), when the pin holder (13) is in a rotational position within a given angular range around the predetermined locked rotational position. Carrier device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism comprises pairs of mutually cooperating guide surfaces (18, 19, 26, 27) of the pin holder (13) and of a seat part (16, 28) fixed in the support element (11). , the guide surfaces (18, 19, 26, 27) being arranged to guide the pin holder (13) to said predetermined locked rotational position when the pin holder is in a rotational position within a given angular range around the predetermined locked rotational position. Carrier device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that each pair of mutually cooperating guide surfaces (18, 19, 26, 27) comprises at least one guide surface which is angled relative to the vertical axis of rotation (A). , wherein the guide surface (19, 26) of the pin holder (13) is arranged under the action of the weight of a container (2) resting against the locking pin (12) along the guide surface (18, 27) of the seat part (16, 28), whereby the pin holder (13) ) performs a simultaneous vertical and rotating movement downwards towards the seat part (16, 28), until the predetermined locked rotational position is reached. Carrier device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a safety support (30) designed to be able to support the weight of the container (2) is arranged on the support element (11) below the locking pin (12). Carrier device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pin holder (13) is displaceable downwards in a vertical direction against the action of a spring (21) when the pin holder (13) is in a position separate from the predetermined locked rotational position. Carrier device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking member (23) is arranged at the front part of the locking pin (12) and a handle (24) fixedly connected to the locking member (23) is arranged at the rear part of the locking pin (12). , the locking member (23) being rotatable by means of the handle (24) relative to the locking pin (12) about an axis (B) in the longitudinal direction of the locking pin to a locked position in the holder (2) bracket (4) and to an open position, respectively, and the locking means (23) by means of the handle (24) is lockable in said positions. Carrier device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier device (10) comprises a light-reflecting positioning surface (31) for positioning the container (2) in cooperation with a light source arranged on the vehicle unit (3) and one on the vehicle unit (3). arranged light sensor. 10 15 20 25 30 17 Carrier device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (11) comprises a lifting device and a vertically movable part (11b) by means of the lifting device, which movable part (11b) carries the pin holder (13). . Station (1) for carrying a container (2) during and after delivery from a vehicle unit (3), characterized in that it comprises four carrier devices (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, which carrier devices (10) are arranged to carry together a container (2). A method for unloading a container (2) supported by a vehicle unit (3) at a station (1) according to claim 9, comprising the steps of: positioning the vehicle unit (3) in the horizontal direction so that four brackets (4) of the container (2) lies within a predetermined distance range from the locking pins (12) of the carrier devices (10); if necessary, move the container (2) in height by means of a lifting device arranged in the vehicle unit (3) until said brackets (4) are level with said locking pins (12); engaging the locking pins (12) with said brackets (4) by displacing the locking pins (12) in the horizontal direction relative to the pin holders (13) of the carrier devices (10) and, if necessary, rotating the pin holders (13) relative to the support elements (11) around respective pin holders (13). ) vertical axis of rotation (A); transfer the weight of the container (2) to the locking pins (12), whereupon the rotational position of each locking pin is automatically adjusted to the predetermined locked rotational position by the adjusting mechanism of the respective carrier device (10) under the action of the weight of the container (2) resting against the locking pin (12).