WO1994027894A1

WO1994027894A1 - Container transfer process and arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1994027894A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/001725
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Tax; Dieter Bauer; Klaus HÖSLER
Original assignee: Tax Ingenieurgesellschaft Mbh
Priority date: 1993-05-28
Filing date: 1994-05-27
Publication date: 1994-12-08
Also published as: EP0699164B1; SG47006A1; DE4317996A1; DE59401548D1; EP0699164A1; JPH08507033A

Abstract

A shipping container (26I, 26II) is transferred from a location A on the ship to a location B on shore. On its way between both locations A and B the container (26I, 26II) is transferred at a position C from a container loading crane (16) to conveyor means (40) on the shore. At this location (C), the container (26I, 26II) is laid on holders (34) for intermediate coupling units which have a recess (54) for each intermediate coupling unit (30). The intermediate coupling units (30) may then either be coupled to the container (26I, 26II), when the container is loaded on the ship (28) and must be locked there by means of the intermediate coupling units (30), or they may be uncoupled from the container (26I, 26II), when the container is leaving the ship (28) and is to be deposited on shore (12) without intermediate coupling units (30).

Description

Description "Method and device for moving containers" The invention relates to a method for moving containers which have upper container corner fittings for coupling with coupling means of a spreader on the spreader side in their upper corners and lower container corner fittings for connection in their lower corners with the upper corner fittings of a respective lower container or with corresponding carrier fittings of a container carrier, between a first stand at which the respective container with its lower container corner fittings by detachable intermediate coupling units on upper container corner fittings of a lower container or on corresponding Carrier fittings of a container carrier is secured, and a second location at which the container is to be accommodated without the intermediate coupling units, the intermediate coupling units initially being carried out by the lower Co ntainer or the container carrier are released, the container to be moved is then lifted from the lower container or the carrier by means of a spreader, taking the intermediate coupling units with it, the intermediate coupling units are then removed from the lower container corner fittings and that from the intermediate coupling units freed container to be moved is then brought to the named second location.

Such a method is used, for example, when containers are arranged on the deck of a container transport ship adjacent to a quay edge and these containers have to be brought from the deck to a land-side storage location by a ship loading crane or container loading crane. Please note the following: The containers are attached to the deck of the container transport ship on the deck floor by means of intermediate coupling

ERSÄΓZBLÄΓT (RULE 26) units secured. If the containers are arranged one above the other on deck, the upper container on the lower container is also secured by intermediate coupling units. The intermediate coupling units can be detached both from the lower container or from the deck and from the respective upper container. Up to now, the procedure has been as follows: The container to be relocated is detached from the container adjacent to the bottom or from the deck of the container ship, in that the intermediate coupling units, while maintaining their connection with the respective container to be relocated, the deck of the container ship can be solved. This is done by hand. The work crew on deck of the ship uses operating rods, insofar as the coupling points are not readily accessible, to access the coupling points, ie the respective actuators of the intermediate coupling units. Is a. container to be relocated is then lifted, after it has been connected to a spreader prior to the solution, it is lifted and transported in the direction of the new land-based stand. Now the intermediate coupling units are still available on the underside of the container to be moved; on the other hand, these intermediate coupling units are disruptive, undesirable and costly when the container to be moved is parked at a land-side storage location. There is therefore a need to uncouple the intermediate coupling units from the container to be moved, ie from its underside, while the container is being moved from the ship-side stand to the shore-side stand. This decoupling of the intermediate coupling units from the container currently on the way has so far been carried out in such a way that an operating team has been deployed in order to remove those which project downward from the respective container

ERSÄΓZBLÄΓT (RULE 26) Dismantle intermediate coupling units and then pass them on to a bearing for intermediate coupling units. This work required by the team is extremely arduous, since the intermediate coupling units have a weight in the range of 5-15 kg and have to be handled. In addition, the actuating means must be actuated, which bring about the loosening or coupling of the intermediate coupling units to the respective container.

The same problem naturally exists when containers have to be loaded onto a ship's deck from a land-based stand or from a road transport vehicle or from a railroad train. It can be assumed here that the containers coming from land, in adaptation to a conventional container storage location or to the bridge of a truck or to a railway wagon, are initially not equipped with intermediate coupling units, but must be equipped with them before they can be loaded onto the Ship can be dropped to be secured there, be it on the deck of the container ship or on. a container already attached and secured below.

The object of the invention is to shorten the transfer times in a method for transferring containers of the type described in the introduction, to limit the difficult and dangerous human work and also to make the transfer process cheaper.

To solve this problem it is proposed in a method of the type described at the outset that the container to be moved is placed on its way from the first position to the second position on an intermediate coupling holder means which, according to a distribution pattern corresponding to the arrangement of upper container corner fittings

REPLACEMENT BLADE (RULE 26) Receptacles for the intermediate coupling units is equipped, the intermediate coupling units engaging with these receptacles, the intermediate coupling units then being uncoupled from the container positioned opposite the intermediate coupling holder means, and the container to be moved then being conveyed further towards the intermediate coupling holder means, leaving the intermediate coupling units behind to the second stand.

As already indicated above, the invention also relates to a method for moving containers which have upper container corner fittings for coupling with coupling means of a spreader on the upper side in their upper corners and lower container corner fittings for connection with in their lower corners have upper container corner fittings of a respective lower container or with corresponding carrier fittings of a container carrier, between a second stand and a first stand, at which the lower container corner fittings of the container to be moved are connected by intermediary coupling units upper container corner fittings of a lower container or corresponding carrier fittings of a container carrier are to be coupled, the container to be moved on its way from the second location, where it was received without intermediate coupling units, to the first location with the intermediate coupling equipped and then transported by means of a spreader to the first stand and placed there on the lower container or the container carrier and connected to the upper container corner fittings of the lower container or the carrier fittings by means of the intermediate coupling units. According to the invention, this method also has the task of shortening the conversion times, to limit the amount of tedious and dangerous human work and to make the implementation work cheaper, also from the point of view of the time required.

To solve this problem, it is proposed that the container to be moved coming from the second position is first placed on intermediate coupling holder mitcel which, according to a distribution image corresponding to the arrangement of upper container corner fittings or carrier fittings, have receptacles for intermediate coupling units. and in these receptacles are equipped with intermediate coupling units that the container to be transferred is connected to the intermediate coupling units during its positioning relative to the intermediate coupling holder means and that the container to be transferred is then brought from the intermediate coupling holder means to the first location, taking the intermediate coupling units with them placed on the respective lower container or the container carrier and secured with the intermediary of the intermediate coupling units.

In the procedures according to the invention, it is fundamentally possible to work semi-automatically in such a way that after positioning a container on the intermediate coupling holder means, the intermediate coupling units are released by hand or attached to the container by an operating team on the corresponding actuating means on the intermediate coupling units acts, which trigger the solution of or the connection with the respective container. Even with such a semi-automatic mode of operation, a considerable advantage has already been achieved in that the lifting and threading work of the heavy intermediate coupling units has been removed from the operating team. At the same time, the operators still have to move into an endangered area, where containers are transported suspended, can be placed improperly

ERSÄΓZBLAΓΓ (RULE 26) and may also fall off the spreader or the carrier of the spreader. It is therefore a particular concern of the invention to transfer the intermediate coupling units from the intermediate coupling holder means to the containers fully automatically or to remove the intermediate coupling units from the containers fully automatically during transfer operation in both directions, so that in the area of the intermediate coupling holder means only occasionally for service - Purpose the presence of staff is required. Then the use of human work in the hazardous area is reduced to a minimum. The transfer of the intermediate coupling units to the containers or to the intermediate coupling holder means takes place without the use of personnel. The containers can also be set down and anchored on the deck of the container ship without human effort by putting the intermediate coupling units in preparatory positions before putting them on the ship, in which they are inevitably lowered further by lowering surfaces in the upper corner fittings below Containers or are threaded into the carrier fittings on deck and, after being threaded through these fittings, snap into a locking position by means of spring preload. There then remains only the need to release the containers during the import, ie when loading from the ship on land _/ from the respective container below or the carrier fittings on deck.

It is desirable that the intermediate coupling units are removed from the respective receptacle and fed to a memory. It should be ensured that the transfer of the intermediate coupling units from the respective receptacle to a storage location is carried out while maintaining the orientation of the intermediate coupling unit in space or with an orderly reorientation; this measure is particularly desirable because it allows the intermediate coupling units to be preserved or ordered

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) corrected position can also be removed from the memory again using simple handling means.

Conversely, it is also provided that the intermediate coupling units are fed from a memory to the respective receptacle when a container is exported, ie. H. from a stand on land to a stand on ship. In both cases it is desirable that the intermediate coupling units are moved between their respective storage location and the respective receptacle while maintaining their orientation in space or with an orderly reorientation.

A problem now arises in that the corner fittings of containers, both the lower and the upper ones, are generally standardized, but on the other hand intermediate coupling units of differing constructional design and different types of operation are used. It can be assumed that the same intermediate coupling units are used on the same ship. On the other hand, loading and unloading of ships from different shipping companies, which often use precisely these different types of intermediate coupling units, can be expected in a port. In order to be able to master the implementation according to the invention proposal also taking into account the different types of intermediate coupling units, one could think of transporting the intermediate coupling holder means on the ship in each case and positioning them on land at the beginning of a loading or unloading phase . This possibility should not be excluded, but should also be considered as a measure essential to the invention. However, one also has to reckon with the fact that shipping companies often start from the practice of attaching and detaching intermediate coupling units as part of loading and unloading work It is the responsibility of the respective port administration. If the port administration now has to accept different types of intermediate coupling units, the implementation of the method proposed according to the invention is initially made more difficult.

It has now been recognized that the problem of handling intermediate coupling units of different constructions can be overcome by using them at locations which are designed in accordance with the standardized corner fittings and therefore generally offer identical combinations of attack surfaces. It is therefore further proposed that when designing the intermediate coupling units with positioning surfaces which are designed and designed for engaging in openings in upper container corner fittings or corresponding carrier fittings and with downward-facing bearing surfaces which are intended for bearing on the upper side of upper container Corner fittings or support fittings are determined, the intermediate coupling units are positioned on the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means by means of these positioning and / or contact surfaces. In this way, the method according to the invention can be carried out in both directions with relatively minor conversion or retrofitting work on the intermediate coupling holder means, even if it is often necessary to change from one type of coupling to another type of intermediate coupling.

A further reduction in tedious and dangerous human work can be achieved in that the intermediate coupling units are transported from the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means by mechanical transport means to the respective storage location or are transported from the respective storage location to the respective reception location by mechanical transport means. The situation in many ports is often as follows: The containers are lifted from the ship by a container loading crane that can be moved along the quay edge and not brought directly to the final position, but delivered to the transfer spreader of the ship loading crane at a transfer point and from a land transport vehicle, usually taken over again by means of a spreader. The shore-side transport vehicle then takes the rest of the way to a container stacking place or a shore-side means of transport, such as a truck or a train. So if a transfer has to take place on the way from the ship-side stand to the shore-side final stand or vice versa, this is used according to a further development of the invention in such a way that the container on the way between the first and the second stand is brought together with the intermediate coupling holder means for delivering or receiving the intermediate coupling units at a point of transfer between different container transport means.

It has already been stated that the container loading cranes can often be moved along a quay edge in order to be able to operate different longitudinal sections of a ship lying against the quay edge one after the other. If the trolley running on the bridge girder of such a container loading crane now reaches different longitudinal positions along the quay edge with the container loading crane, it is advantageous according to a development of the method according to the invention if the intermediate coupling holder means with a container - Loading crane to be taken to various workplaces of this container loading crane. Then every time the container loading crane has changed its position along the quay edge, the intermediate coupling is in the new location. holder is already available in the correct position in order to receive a container floating on the trolley of the bridge girder in the correct position.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a device for moving containers between two stands.

The basic component of such a device are intermediate coupling holder means with receptacles for intermediate coupling units, these intermediate coupling holder means having receptacles for intermediate coupling units according to a distribution pattern corresponding to the arrangement of lower container corner fittings.

In order to be able to carry out the coupling or detachment of the containers to or from the intermediate coupling holder means without the use of human labor, it is preferably provided that mechanical actuation means for releasing or coupling a respective intermediate coupling unit from or to a respective receptacle of the intermediate coupling holder means are assigned to a container.

In order to overcome the problem of the different designs of commercially available intermediate coupling units, it can be provided that the mechanical actuating means for different types of intermediate coupling units are designed to be convertible and / or interchangeable. In this way, there is at least the chance to be able to use at least the heavy and difficult-to-transport parts of the intermediate coupling holder means not only for one type of intermediate coupling unit, but for a large number of types, if possible all types available on the market.

RSÄΓZBLÄΓT (RULE 26) The retrofitting of the intermediate coupling holder means to different types of intermediate coupling units can be facilitated in particular in that the mechanical actuating means have at least one holder-side power device in spatial association with a respective receptacle and that this holder-side power device is adapted to different intermediate coupling units different means of attack for attacking intermediate coupling units and / or force transmission means can be coupled. In this way, the conversion work can often be reduced to a part of the specific resources for individual intermediate coupling units.

Among the intermediate coupling units of different designs, which can be used, there are those with a base and an adjustable engagement head above and below the base, as well as those in which the base is only equipped with a lower engagement head that can be rotated relative to the base is and the connection with the respective lower corner fitting of an upper container is made or solved in that the entire base is rotated with a base-fixed engaging head attached to the respective lower corner fitting. In this case, as part of the mechanical actuation means, a rotary unit will be assigned to a respective receptacle, this rotary unit being designed and designed to interact with lower coupling subunits of intermediate coupling units, namely those subunits which are intended for engagement in upper container corner fittings or carrier fittings and are designed so that this rotating unit can loosen or lock the intermediate coupling unit with respect to a respective lower container corner fitting by rotating the intermediate coupling unit as a whole within the respective receptacle. In other embodiments of intermediate coupling units, each with a rotatable engagement head above and below a base, it is provided that the actuating means are designed for engagement with adjusting means of the intermediate coupling unit, which release the respective intermediate coupling unit from or lock it on a respective lower container - effect corner fitting.

If the intermediate coupling units are to be transported between the intermediate coupling holder means and a storage unit without substantial human labor, it is provided that the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means are each connected via a transport path to a storage unit for intermediate coupling units, this transport path for Orientation maintenance or ordered reorientation of the intermediate coupling units is formed.

In the event that the handling of different types of intermediate coupling units is provided, the memories can be designed such that different intermediate coupling units can be received and released in one and the same memory, for example in different subjects or areas.

One can provide a central memory for the generally four receptacles of an intermediate coupling holder; but it is also conceivable and even preferred that a special memory for intermediate coupling units is provided for each receptacle of the intermediate coupling holder means. The memory can be removed from the intermediate coupling holder means, so that a full memory can be replaced by an empty one and vice versa if necessary. It is recommended that the transport route and / or the respective storage location for an intermediate coupling unit is provided with orientation maintenance or correction means which are coordinated with positioning surfaces of intermediate coupling units, in particular with positioning surfaces of lower sub-units of intermediate coupling units which are adapted to standard upper container corner fittings. With this measure, use is again made of the fact that most commercially available intermediate coupling units, due to their adaptation to the corner fittings of containers, have certain surfaces which appear in all embodiments in terms of their position and assignment.

It is further proposed that the orientation maintenance or correction means of the transport path or of the storage locations are formed by mutually facing edges and / or upward contact surfaces by slot delimitation strips. This measure makes use of the fact that in most intermediate coupling units there are filler pieces for engaging in upper corner fittings of containers, which are suitable for guiding between the slot delimiting strips and also surfaces which are to be placed on the upwardly directed ones Contact surfaces are suitable.

The memory or the memories can be a flat or spatial memory; accordingly, the transport routes to and within the store must be designed in a variety of ways.

It has already been pointed out that there are containers of different dimensions, in particular of different longitudinal dimensions. For this reason it is further proposed that the intermediate coupling holder means be made of there are boxes which are movable relative to one another and which permit the recordings to be adjusted to different distribution images in accordance with the arrangement of upper and lower container corner fittings on containers of different dimensions.

The stores may have to accommodate significant numbers of intermediate coupling units. This can result in housing problems for the intermediate coupling units and thus also for the correspondingly large storage units. Assuming again that the intermediate coupling holder means are arranged on or just above a driving lane and that runway-accessible container transport vehicles are used to position containers in relation to the intermediate coupling holder means, it can be difficult to accommodate these stores in such a way that the piste-accessible container transport vehicles can still approach the intermediate coupling holder means undisturbed. A possible solution to this problem is that the memory or individual receptacles assigned to individual receptacles for intermediate coupling units are arranged at least in part within a width dimension of the intermediate coupling holder means defined by the receptacles. The piste-accessible container transport vehicles can then approach or move away from the intermediate coupling holder means at least along one lane in two directions, and there is still the possibility of bringing the storage to corresponding capacity by extending in this lane direction.

In order to be able to use the intermediate coupling holder means in the area of a port at various points, it is proposed that the intermediate coupling holder means together with the actuation associated with the receptacles. Mittein and / or a memory or individual storage of the recordings are designed as a transportable unit, which can preferably be detected and implemented by a spreader, if necessary also after disassembly into sub-units.

It has already been pointed out above the important aspect of the direct taking of the intermediate coupling holder means by a container loading crane. In order not to allow the entrainment means required for this to inhibit the movement of the container transport means accessible to the slopes, it is further proposed that the intermediate coupling holder means are connected by connecting means to a part of a container loading crane which is connected to a rail-less container transport vehicle approaching in the container transfer position can be driven over and optionally contain energy and control lines for the intermediate coupling holder means. The connecting means can either grind on the piste or be guided by very low rollers or balls on the piste.

If operating and monitoring personnel are no longer regularly present at the transfer point and therefore at the location of the intermediate clutch holder means, the problem of automatically eliminating breakdowns arises. A possible breakdown could be that a spreader, which is in connection with a container positioned on the intermediate coupling holder means, is raised under the erroneous condition that the container with the intermediate coupling units coupled to it is detached from the receptacles of the two ¬ coupling coupling holder means is decoupled. Here the lifting of the container could result in extensive destruction of the intermediate coupling holder means or at least one of their receptacles. To counteract this it is further provided that securing means are provided which prevent a receptacle and associated functional parts from being taken along when a container is lifted relative to the intermediate coupling holder means if, despite issuing a release command to release the respective intermediate coupling unit from the container, this release command with respect to one or more intermediate coupling units has not been executed or has been carried out incorrectly. It can be provided that the securing means emit a warning or control signal to an operator or to a lifting mechanism which serves to remove the container from the intermediate coupling holder means.

In the case of certain types of intermediate coupling units, namely those in which the upper engagement head is rigidly connected to the base, the case may arise that the intermediate coupling unit is detached from a lower container corner fitting or for coupling to a lower container. Corner fitting the intermediate coupling unit as a whole must be rotated under the load of the container above it. For this, as already indicated above, a rotating unit on the intermediate coupling holder means is necessary. In order to allow this turning unit to take effect in good time while avoiding the installation of excessive drive power, the turning unit can be assigned a pretensioning device which is pre-tensioned in the release or coupling direction in such a way that when the intermediate coupling unit is relieved of the weight of the Containers a rotation in the release or coupling sense takes place during the relief phase.

With regard to the adaptation to different container dimensions, it is provided that the intermediate coupling holder means consist of a base frame and at least one movement frame that is adjustable relative to the base frame, by means of whose adjustment the distribution picture of the receptacles to the respective container format is adaptable.

In order to make the positioning program of a container loading crane independent of the dimensions of the container, two movement frames can be provided on the base frame, which can be adjusted symmetrically in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the container relative to the base frame and possibly one or two stores (68) take up.

In order to be able to implement the intermediate coupling holder means in a simple manner within a port area, engagement fittings for spreading-side coupling means, which can be adapted to different container formats on the spreader, can be provided on the intermediate coupling holder means.

A simple displacement of the intermediate clutch holder means can also be achieved if the intermediate clutch holder means are designed as a roadworthy unit or can be converted into such a unit and, if necessary, can be coupled to a towing vehicle.

Since the presence of service personnel in the area of the receptacles of the intermediate coupling holder means must be reckoned with, it is recommended that protective roof means are arranged on the intermediate coupling holder means in the area of the respective receptacles, on the one hand so that they overlap with a properly approaching one or raised containers, on the other hand so that they provide immediate protection or a short escape route for service personnel working at the respective reception. Additional security for service personnel can also be achieved in that the protective roof means is assigned a barrier which, when the service personnel leave the protective roof area, approaches road-going container transport vehicle in the stay area of the service personnel.

In order to facilitate the positioning of containers with respect to the intermediate coupling holder means, in particular also in the case of oscillating cable suspensions of the spreaders, it is provided that the intermediate coupling holder means are provided with instruction means for a container.

The accompanying figures explain the invention using an exemplary embodiment. It represent

1 shows a view of a quay system in the longitudinal direction of the quay edge with a container ship, a container loading crane and a container transfer device below the container loading crane;

Fig. La an upper corner fitting of a container for interacting with one of the twistlocks of a spreader in plan view;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an intermediate coupling holder of FIG. 1 in the direction of arrow II of FIG. 1;

2a shows a side view of the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 2 in the telescopically extended position;

FIG. 2b shows a view of the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 2 in a further extended position;

3 shows a plan view of the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 2b;

4 shows an intermediate coupling unit in engagement with an upper corner fitting of a lower container and at the same time in engagement with a lower corner fitting of an upper container;

4a schematically shows the state of engagement of the intermediate coupling unit with the lower corner fitting of the upper container in the direction of the arrow Vla-IVa of FIG. 4;

4b schematically shows the engagement of the intermediate coupling unit with the upper corner fitting of the lower container in the direction of arrow IVb-IVb of FIG. 4; 5 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 4 in a phase in which the upper container with the intermediate coupling unit locked to it can be lifted off the lower container;

5a and 5b representations corresponding to FIGS. 4a and 4b, but corresponding to the state according to FIG. 5;

6 shows the corner fitting of the upper container after the upper container has been moved onto an intermediate coupling holder;

6a and 6b are schematic representations accordingly

4a and 4b, with FIG. 6a schematically representing the state of engagement of the intermediate coupling unit with the moved upper container and FIG. 6b the engagement state of the intermediate coupling unit with the intermediate coupling holder;

Fig. 7 shows the arrangement of FIG. 6 after the changeover

Intermediate coupling unit in a position in which the upper container can be lifted off the intermediate coupling holder leaving the intermediate coupling unit behind;

7a and 7b are schematic engagement states of the intermediate coupling unit with the container to be moved and with the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 7 in viewing directions corresponding to FIGS. 4, 4a and 4b;

8 shows the intermediate coupling holder with an intermediate coupling unit in the relative position according to FIG. 7, but after the container to be moved has been lifted off;

REPLACEMENT BUTT (RULE 26) 8a shows the position of the upper part of the intermediate coupling unit according to FIG. 8;

8b shows the state of engagement between the lower part of the intermediate coupling unit and the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 8;

9 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 8 after separation of an actuating tool attached to the intermediate coupling holder from an actuating lever of the intermediate coupling unit;

9b shows the state of engagement between the lower part of the intermediate coupling unit and the intermediate coupling holder according to FIG. 9;

10a shows the diagram of the transfer of an intermediate coupling unit from the intermediate coupling holder to a magazine;

10b shows an intermediate phase in the transfer of an intermediate coupling unit from the intermediate coupling holder to the magazine and

11 is a front view of the magazine in the direction of arrow XI of FIG. 10b.

1, a quay edge is designated by 10; this runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. On the land side, the quay edge 10 is followed by a runway 12 for rubber-tired vehicles. Rails 14 for a container loading crane 16 are also laid parallel to the quay edge 10 on this quay runway 12. The crane scaffold 16 consists of a portal with portal columns 16a and a trolley bridge girder 16b. A trolley 18 travels on the trolley bridge support 16b, which carries a so-called spreader via lifting cables 20, ie a container receiving frame 22 which corresponds approximately to the horizontal cross-section of a container and is provided with so-called twistlocks 24 in its four corners, which are designed for coupling to upper corner fittings 26a of a container 261 to be moved. The two containers 261 and 2611 are stacked on the deck of a container loading ship 28. The lower container 2611 is firmly coupled to the lower corner fittings 26b by means of intermediate coupling units 30 on carrier fittings 32 of the ship 28. On the other hand, the upper container 261 with its lower corner fittings 26b is in turn coupled to the upper corner fittings 26a of the lower container 2611 by intermediate coupling units 30.

It is now assumed that the container 261 is to be moved from its position A shown in FIG. 1 to a position B, whereby the position B can be located anywhere on the quay runway 12, for example within a container warehouse.

To do this, proceed as follows:

The spreader 22 is lowered onto the upper container 261 and connected to it by actuating the twistlocks 2.4. The Twistlocks 24 must be imagined as a hammer-shaped structure, the hammer handle of which is rotatable about a vertical axis. When the spreader 22 is lowered onto the upper container 261, the hammer heads of the twistlocks 24 reach through elongated holes 26al of the upper corner fittings 26a (FIG. 1 a); if they have passed through the elongated holes 26al, the hammer handles are rotated about their vertical axes, so that the hammer heads 24a engage under the upper corner fittings 26a. Then the spreader 22 can lift the upper container 261 as soon as it is detached from the lower container 2611. To release the upper container 261 from the lower container 2611, the intermediate coupling units 30 are uncoupled from the lower container 2611, while these intermediate coupling units 30 remain connected to the upper container 261. The upper container 261 can now be moved by the spreader 22 along a path abc into a position C on an intermediate coupling holder 34. Please note: on the way abc, the intermediate coupling units 30 are still coupled to the container 261. Now you want to bring the container 261 ultimately into position B and, for example, park it on the quay slope 12, the intermediate coupling units 30 having to be uncoupled from the container 261 beforehand in order to park on the quay slope 12 in position B.

For this purpose, it is provided that the container 261 is placed on the intermediate coupling holder 34 with the intermediate coupling units 30, that the intermediate coupling units 30 are then detached from the container 261 while the container 261 is on the intermediate coupling holder 34, and that then the container 261 is removed again from the intermediate coupling holder 34 and brought into position B, the intermediate coupling units 30 being intended to remain on the intermediate coupling holder 34 and are to be introduced from there into a memory for intermediate coupling units. After the intermediate coupling units 30 have been released from the container 261 in the region of the intermediate coupling holder 34, the container 261 is gripped by a further spreader 36 by means of twistlocks 24 also provided on this spreader 36. The spreader 36 is suspended by means of hoisting ropes 38 from a gantry pallet truck 40, which can run on the quay piste 12 by means of wheels 42 which are preferably steerable, in order to bring the container 261 from position C to position B and open it there to drop off the quay slope 12. Remain as before

SPARE BLADES (RULE 26) indicated that the intermediate coupling units 30, which have moved from the position A to the position C with the container 261, return to the intermediate coupling carrier 34 and are stored there in a memory to be described in more detail.

Since the trolley bridge girder 16b container loading crane 16 can be moved parallel to the quay edge 10, that is to say perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1, in order to successively move containers from different parking spaces of the ship which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the ship. To be able to lift off, it is also necessary to be able to move the intermediate coupling holder 34 with the crane scaffold 16 in its various positions. For this purpose, the intermediate coupling holder 34 is connected to the portal column via a driver connection 44. 16a of the crane scaffold connected to be carried along. The driver 44 lies directly on the quay runway 12 so that the gantry pallet truck 40 can be run over by the wheels 42 of the gantry pallet truck 40 from position C when approaching the takeover position for taking over the container 261 from position C. All the supply lines which are necessary for controlling and actuating moving parts in the region of the intermediate coupling holder 34 can be laid in the driver 44.

It must also be pointed out that the intermediate coupling holder 34 must be adapted to different container formats, the adaptation generally being able to be restricted to the longitudinal direction of the containers; the containers in question are standardized across the board; in the longitudinal direction there are different formats, e.g. B. 40-foot containers, 45-foot containers and 20-foot containers.

2 shows the intermediate coupling holder 34 in one position coordinated with a 20-foot container. The Zwischen¬ clutch retainer 34 comprises two boxes 46, which under development Vermitt¬ overall of intermediate telescopic pieces 48 in a base frame 50 fühirt ^'. are. The boxes 46 and the intermediate telescopic pieces 48 can be adjusted synchronously with respect to the base frame 50, so that one can optionally achieve the longitudinal dimensions according to FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b. Guide plates 52 for the respective container to be moved are attached to the boxes 46.

In Fig. 3 you can again see the driver structures 44, which the base frame 50 with the portal column. 16a of the crane scaffold 16 at quay runway level 12. A receptacle 54 for the four intermediate coupling units 30 of a container 261 is provided on the boxes 46 in the four upper corners.

To prepare the transfer of the container 261 from the position A to the position C, the intermediate coupling units 30 are removed from the. Container . 2611 released by hand. The same applies if the container 2611 is to be detached from the carrier fittings 32 on the deck of the ship 28 at a later time.

4 shows an upper corner fitting 26a of the lower container 2611 and a lower corner fitting 26b of the upper container 261 and an intermediate coupling unit 30 between them. The intermediate coupling unit 30 comprises a base 30a which consists of an intermediate plate 30al, one lower filler 30a2 and an upper filler 30a3. The lower filler piece 30a2 essentially completely fills the elongated hole 26al of the upper corner fitting 26a. The upper filler 30a3 essentially completely fills a corresponding elongated hole 26bl of the lower corner fitting 26b of container 261. The longitudinal axis LX extends Elongated holes 26al and 26bl in Fig. 4 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The intermediate plate 30al, which has an approximately square outline and lies with its square sides parallel to the rectangular sides of the elongated holes 26al and 26bl, has a downwardly directed contact surface 30al2 and an upwardly directed wing 30al3. The downward bearing surface 30al2 lies on the upper side 26a2 of the upper corner fitting 26a container 2611, while the lower side 26b2 of the lower corner fitting 26b of container 261 rests on the upward supporting surface 30al3 of the intermediate plate 30al. A shaft 30b is rotatably mounted in the center of the base 30a. This shaft 30b carries an upper hammer head 30c at its upper end and a lower hammer head 30d at its lower end.

4a and 4b that in the state according to FIG. 4 the shaft 30b assumes an angular position with respect to the base 30a, in which the hammer head 30d engages under the upper corner fitting 26a and the hammer head 30c engages over the lower corner fitting 26b, so that the two corner fittings 26a and 26b of the two containers 2611 and 261 are locked together and secured against vertical lifting from one another. An adjusting lever 30e is attached to the base 30a, which allows the shaft 30b to be rotated and fixes various angular positions of the shaft 30b in different positions.

5, 5a and 5b, the intermediate coupling unit 30 is released from the upper corner fitting 26a of the container 261, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 5b, namely from the parallel position of the hammer head 30d and the elongated hole 26al. On the other hand, the intermediate coupling unit 30 is still locked to the lower corner fitting 26b of the upper container 261, as can be seen from FIG. 5a, where the upper hammer head 30c is transverse to the elongated hole 26bl.

SPARE BLADE (RULE 26) Note the new position of the control lever 30e. 5, the container 261 can be lifted off by the spreader 22 and brought into the position C of FIG. 1 in order to be placed there on the intermediate coupling holder 34.

6 shows that the container 261 with its lower corner fitting 26b has been brought into alignment to an intermediate coupling receptacle 54 of the intermediate coupling holder 34. 6, the angular position of the shaft 30b is unchanged from the angular position in FIG. 5, so that the upper hammer head 30c still hangs on the lower corner fitting 26b and the lower hammer head 30b can enter an elongated slot 54a of the receptacle 54 without hindrance. The filler 30a2 corresponds in width to the width of the slot 54a. The upper hammer head 30c still overlaps the lower corner fitting 26b.

7 that an actuating device for the adjusting lever 30e is attached to the intermediate coupling holder 34 in the region of the intermediate coupling receptacle 54. This actuator is designated 56. It comprises an actuating fork 56a on an actuating shaft 56b, which passes through a pivot shaft 56c diametrically, can be displaced in the longitudinal direction within the actuating shaft 56c in the direction of arrow 56d and can be rotated with the actuating shaft 56c in the direction of arrow 56e. By means of this actuating device 56, the setting lever 30e can be brought into the position according to FIG. 7. In this position, the upper hammer head 30c assumes a parallel position to the slot 26bl of the lower corner fitting 26b of the container 261, so that the container 261 can be lifted off the intermediate coupling holder 34, leaving the intermediate coupling unit 30 in the receptacle 54 of the intermediate coupling holder 34. The whereabouts of the intermediate coupling unit 30 on the intermediate coupling The holder 34 is secured by the setting of the lower hammer head 30d, which, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 7b, engages under the intermediate coupling receptacle 54.

If the container 261 is now removed from the intermediate coupling holder 34 by means of the spreader 36 of the straddle carrier 40, the state according to FIGS. 8, 8a and 8b occurs.

9 and 9b differ from FIGS. 8 and 8b only in that the actuating device 56 has been withdrawn from the actuating lever 30e.

In FIG. 9, as in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a transport slide 58 is shown, which can be moved along a linear guide rail 58a. The transport slide 58 is fork-shaped and rests with its two fork legs 58b, 58c on the front and rear boundary surfaces of the intermediate plate 30al which are parallel to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 9. By means of this transport slide 58, the intermediate coupling unit 30 according to FIG. 9b can be pushed out of the elongated slot 54a in the direction of arrow 60. The two side surfaces 30a21 of the filler piece 30a2 slide along the slot delimiting surfaces 54al of the elongated slot 54a. In this way, the orientation of the intermediate coupling unit 30 about its vertical axis is obtained.

In FIG. 10a, the position of the intermediate coupling unit 30 according to FIG. 9 can be seen in a section along line Xa-Xa of FIG. 9. The filler 30a2 is still located within the elongated slot 54a between its two slot boundary surfaces 54al, while the intermediate plate 30al rests on the upper side 54b of the receptacle 54. In Fig. 10a it can be seen that a transport table 62 in position against

ERSÄΓZBLÄΓT (RULE 26) stands above the intermediate coupling receptacle 54 in such a way that the upper sides 62a of the transport table 62 lie flush with the upper side 54b of the receptacle 54 and that a slot 62b with slot boundary edges 62bl of the transport table 62 is in alignment with the elongated slot 54a of the receptacle 54. In this Assignment, the transport slide 58 can now shift the intermediate coupling unit 30 from the position according to FIG. 10a to the position according to FIG. 10b.

As soon as the intermediate coupling unit 30 has reached its position according to FIG. 10b on the transport table 62, the transport slide 58 can be withdrawn in a manner not shown, so that by means of the transport table 62 the intermediate coupling unit 30 can be moved in two mutually orthogonal directions according to the direction symbols 64 and 66 can be moved parallel to the front wall 68a of a memory 68 in the vertical and horizontal directions. By means of the transport table 62, the intermediate coupling unit 30 can then be brought into alignment with one of the storage compartments 6811-6814 or 68IIl-68II4 arranged in columns 681 and 6811. Once the escape position to such a storage compartment has been established, the intermediate coupling unit 30 can be transported from the transport table 62 into the respective storage compartment, in the example according to FIG. 11 the> storage compartment 68111 is loaded. The transition from the transport table 62 into the storage compartment 68II1 can be carried out by a saw-like transport rod 70. This transport rod 70 can be placed in the working position opposite each of the storage compartments and is located below the storage compartment to be loaded; 11, the storage compartment 68II1 is being loaded. Accordingly, the saw-shaped transport rod 70 is located in the storage compartment 68II2 underneath. The transfer of the intermediate coupling unit 30 from the transport table 62 10b into the storage compartment 68II1 takes place by saw teeth 70a of the transport rod 70. The distance between two saw teeth 70a which belong together in pairs is matched to the length of the filler 30a2, which is designated by 1 in FIG. 10a. The feed bar 70 is entspre¬ accordingly the Richtungssyjnbolen 72 and 74 movable and leads ^"in the viewing direction V of FIG considered 10b, ^• • a periodic movement along ': a <-Rechtecksbahn:;. I ^ _- vertical-.Ebene: According from 10b there are two saw teeth 70a in register position with respect to the filling piece 30a2, but according to FIG. 11 below and out of engagement with the intermediate coupling unit 30. If the transport rod 70 now rises in the direction 74 from the position according to FIG. 11, fork the two saw teeth 70a, which are in register with the filler piece 30a2, insert the filler piece 30a2 when the transport rod 70 then moves in the direction of arrow 72 (upwards in FIG. 10b), the intermediate coupling unit 30 is moved by the stroke h of the transport rod 70 is pushed into the storage compartment 68II1 in the direction of the arrow 72. The intermediate coupling unit 30 is thereby pushed against the longitudinal edges of Au by the contact of the longitudinal edges 30a21 of the filler 30a2 Flag strips 68b of the storage compartment 68II1 are prevented from rotating about their vertical axis. At the same time, the intermediate plate 30al lies on the strips 68b. As soon as the transport rod 70 has completed its stroke h in the direction of arrow 72, it moves down again along its rectangular path in the direction of the arrow 74, so that the teeth 70a, which had previously forked the filling piece 30a2, come out of engagement with the filling piece 30a2 again . The transport rod 70 can then execute a reverse stroke in the direction of the arrow 72 and after executing this reverse stroke along the arrow 74 according to FIG. 11 go up again in order to take over a further intermediate coupling unit 30 presented by the transport table 62 and into the storage compartment 68II1 bring in. The data already in storage compartment 68II1 Intermediate coupling units 30 held by the next following pairs of teeth are each brought by a stroke length h to further storage locations in the storage compartment 68II1. In this way it is ensured that the intermediate coupling units 30 by. Storage compartment 68II1 assume defined positions in the longitudinal direction of this storage compartment, so that they can also be gripped by the transport rod 70 for the purpose of return transport on the transport table 62. When a storage compartment is filled, the transport table 62 sets itself in alignment with another storage compartment, etc. At the same time, the transport rod 70 is brought into position opposite the storage compartment to be loaded, ie in the one below the storage compartment to be loaded Storage compartment introduced.

A special memory can be provided for each of the four intermediate coupling receptacles 54 of the intermediate coupling holder 34 according to FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b and 3. In particular, it is advisable to provide two stores in each of the boxes 46 for the two receptacles 54 assigned to the respective box 46. The memories 68 according to FIGS. 10a, 10b and 11 can be set loosely in the boxes 46 so that they can be removed from them and replaced, for example with a forklift.

It is readily apparent that container 261 can also be moved from position B via position C to position A on the deck of ship 28. In this case, the container 261 arriving from position B without intermediate coupling units 30 in position C on the intermediate coupling holder 34 is equipped with intermediate coupling units 30, these being locked to it. Then the spreader 22 can again pick up the container 261 and bring it on the path cba in the direction of the arrow to position A, where it is again on the lower one Container 2611 can be placed. After mounting, the intermediate coupling units 30 are locked again with the upper corner fittings 26a of the lower container 2611.

It is now provided that the lower hammer heads 30d are automatically locked in the upper corner fittings 26a of the lower container 2611 or in the broom surfaces 32 on the deck of the ship 28. For this purpose, the hammer heads 30d are brought into an intermediate position, from which they can be rotated in parallel position to the respective elongated hole 26al when immersed in the respective elongated hole 26al by instruction bevels of the hammer head, in order to spring the respective through after passing through the respective elongated hole 26al to reach under the upper corner fitting 26a.

The transfer of the respective hammer head 30d into a standby position, from which, when immersed in an elongated hole 26al, automatically sets itself parallel to the elongated hole 26al against the spring action, is effected before or during the extension of the hammer head 30d from the elongated slot 54a of the receptacle 54. This bringing about the standby state can in turn take place by acting on the actuating lever 30e.

It should also be noted here that there are different constructions of intermediate coupling units 30, and an alternative embodiment provides that the upper hammer head 30c of an intermediate coupling unit 30 cannot be rotated relative to the base 30a. In this case, the receptacle 54 must be designed such that the entire intermediate coupling unit 30 can rotate in it. A rotary drive is then assigned to the receptacle 54, which causes the intermediate coupling unit 30 to rotate. This rotary drive can then on the lower filler 30a2

SPARE BLADE (RULE 26) Attack base 30a. The following problem now arises: As long as an upper container 261 rests on the intermediate coupling unit 30 or more precisely on the intermediate coupling plate 30al, which in turn rests on the upper side 54b of a receptacle 54, the base 30a is twisted for the purpose of Unlocking or locking with the lower corner fitting 26b of the container 261 is only possible against great frictional resistance. To avoid this frictional resistance, it is provided that on the base 30a. Attacking rotary biasing device, which stores the actuating force for rotating the base 30a and causes the rotation as soon as the intermediate plate is relieved.

The construction according to the invention described so far allows the containers to be moved faster. In contrast to the previous mode of operation, it is no longer necessary to manually disconnect and save the intermediate coupling units 3.0 initially taken from the container after lifting a container from a container underneath. This saves a very tedious, dangerous and expensive manual work. The same savings also occur if a container must be equipped with intermediate coupling units with which it is then to be attached to an underlying container or on the deck before being placed on a container ship. This attachment of the intermediate coupling units 30 to the container to be loaded on the ship has previously also been carried out by hand and is now being replaced by the mechanical means in the region of the intermediate coupling holder. Manual work is at most still necessary on the deck of the ship if a container is to be uncoupled from a container below or from fittings on the deck. , So far, it has been assumed that the containers are delivered to the intermediate coupling holder 34 on the land side by a container transport vehicle, for example a straddle carrier, of the type shown at 40 in the drawings. It is also conceivable for a container to be moved to the intermediate coupling holder, for example on a platform carriage, and to be placed there in position relative to the respective receptacles for the intermediate coupling units. In this case, the auxiliary coupling holder can be assigned a stationary auxiliary crane, which lifts the respective container from the platform truck and places it on the intermediate coupling holder.

However the container 261 is moved from position C in import mode, the following advantages result:

As soon as the container 261 is placed on the intermediate coupling holder 34, the spreader 22 can already be lifted off the container again and driven back to the ship by means of the trolley 18 to accommodate another container, without having to wait until the intermediate coupling units 30 are removed from the container 261.

The ring cycle is therefore not influenced by the removal and attachment of the intermediate coupling units and in particular is not extended.

It should also be mentioned that the intermediate coupling holder 34 can also be used where, in the case of a container loading crane with two or more trolleys, the transfer from a spreader of one trolley to a spreader of another trolley takes place.

Claims

1. Method for moving containers (261, 2611) which have upper container corner fittings (26a) in their upper corners for coupling with coupling means (24) of a spreader (22) on the side of the spreader and lower containers in their lower corners Have corner fittings (26b) for connection to the upper corner fittings (26a) of a respective lower container (2611) or with corresponding carrier fittings (32) of a container carrier (28), between a first stand (A) at which the respective container (261) with its lower container corner fittings (26b) by detachable intermediate coupling units (30) on upper container corner fittings (26a) of a lower container (2611) or on corresponding carrier fittings (32) of a container carrier ( 28) and a second stand (B) at which the container (261) is to be received without the intermediate coupling units (30), the intermediate couplings being part of this method inhei¬ ten (30) are first detached from the lower container (261) or the container carrier (28), the container (261) to be moved is then removed from the lower container (2611) by means of a spreader (22), taking the intermediate coupling units (30) with it ) or the carrier (28) is lifted off, the intermediate coupling units (30) are then removed from the lower container corner fittings (26b) and the container (261) to be moved, which is freed from the intermediate coupling units (30), is then moved to the second stand (B), characterized in that the container (261) to be relocated is deposited on intermediate coupling holder means (34) on its way from the first stand (A) to the second stand (B) which, according to a distribution picture corresponding to the arrangement of upper container corner fittings (26a), is equipped with receptacles (54) for the intermediate coupling units (30), the intermediate coupling units (30) engaging with these receptacles (54) such that the intermediate coupling units ( 30) are then uncoupled from the container (261) positioned opposite the intermediate coupling holder means (34) and that the container (261) to be moved is then conveyed further towards the intermediate coupling holder means (34), leaving the intermediate coupling units (30) the second stand (B)

2. Method for moving containers (261, II) which have upper container corner fittings (26a) in their upper corners for coupling with coupling means (24) of a spreader (22) and lower container corner fittings in their lower corners (26b) for connection to upper container corner fittings (26a) of a respective lower container (2611) or with corresponding carrier fittings (32) of a container carrier (28), between a second stand (B) and a first stand (A) , on which the lower container corner fittings (26b) of the container (261) to be moved are arranged by means of intermediate coupling units (30) to upper container corner fittings (26a) of a lower container (2611) or corresponding carrier fittings (32) of a container carrier (28 ) are to be coupled, the container (261) to be moved being on its way from the second location (B) at which it was received without intermediate coupling units (30) to the First stand (A) equipped with the intermediate coupling units (30) and then transported by means of a spreader (22) to the first stand (A) and there on the lower container (2611) or the container carrier (28) put on and connected to the upper container corner fittings (26a) of the lower container (2611) or the carrier fittings (32) by means of the intermediate coupling units (30), characterized in that the container (261) to be moved Coming from the second location (B), first of all is placed on intermediate coupling holder means (34) which, according to a distribution image corresponding to the arrangement of upper container corner fittings (26a) or carrier fittings (32), has receptacles (54) for intermediate coupling units (30) and in these receptacles (54) is equipped with intermediate coupling units (30) that the container (261) to be moved is connected to the intermediate coupling units (30) during its positioning relative to the intermediate coupling holder means (34) and that the container (261) to be moved is then taking the intermediate coupling units (30) from the intermediate coupling holder means (34) to the first stage brought to place (A), placed there on the respective lower container (2611) or the container carrier (28) and with the intermediary of the intermediate coupling units

(30) is secured.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate coupling units (30) from the respective receptacle (54) removed and fed to a memory (68).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the transfer of the intermediate coupling units (30) from the respective receptacle (54) into a storage location (6811, 68II1 ...) while maintaining the orientation of the Intermediate coupling unit (30) is carried out in the room or with orderly reorientation.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate coupling units (30) from a Spei¬ cher (48) of the respective receptacle (54) are supplied.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the intermediate coupling units (30) from their respective storage location (6811, 68II1 ...) of the respective receptacle (54) while maintaining their orientation in space or with orderly reorientation are supplied.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when executing the intermediate coupling units (30) with positioning surfaces (30a21, 30a22) for fitting into openings (26al) of upper Container Eck¬ fittings (26a) or corresponding Carrier fittings (32) are determined and designed and, with support surfaces (30al2) directed downwards, which are intended for support on the upper side of upper container corner fittings (26a) or carrier fittings (32), the intermediate coupling units (30) on the receptacles (54) of the intermediate coupling holder means (34) are positioned by these positioning (30a21, 30a22) and / or contact surfaces (30al2).

8. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the intermediate coupling units (30) from the Aufnah¬ men (54) of the intermediate coupling holder means (34) by mechanical transport means (62, 70) to the respective Storage location (6811, 68-111 ...) are transported or transported from the respective storage location (6811, 6811 ...) to the respective receiving location (54) by mechanical transport means (62, 70).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the container (261) on the way between the first (A) and the second (B) stand at one point (C) with the intermediate coupling holder means (34) for delivery or accommodating the intermediate coupling units (30) is brought together, at which a transfer between different container transport means (18, 22, 40, 36) takes place.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holder means (34) with a container loading crane (14, 18) to various working places this container loading crane (16, 18) are taken along.

11. Device for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by intermediate coupling holder means (34) with receptacles (54) for intermediate coupling units (30), said intermediate coupling holder means (34) according to one of the arrangement of upper container corner fittings (26a) Corresponding distribution image have receptacles (54) for intermediate coupling units (30).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that a respective receptacle (54) of the Zwischenkupplungs¬ holder means (34) mechanical actuating means (56) for Solution or coupling of a respective intermediate coupling unit (30) from or to a container (261) are assigned.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the mechanical actuating means (56) for different types of intermediate coupling units (30) are convertible and / or interchangeable.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the mechanical actuating means (56) have at least one holder-side power device in spatial association with a respective receptacle (54) and that on this holder-side power device in adaptation to different intermediate coupling units (30) differ Liche attack means (56a) can be coupled to attack on intermediate coupling units (30) and / or force transmission means (56b).

15. Device according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the mechanical actuating means (56) of a respective receptacle (54) comprise a rotary unit, this rotary unit is intended and designed with lower coupling part units (30a2, 30d) of intermediate clutch units (30) interact, namely those partial units (30a2, 30d) which are designed and designed for engagement in upper container corner fittings (26d) and / or carrier fittings (32), this rotating unit being rotated by rotating the intermediate coupling unit ( 30) as a whole loosen or lock the intermediate coupling unit (30) against a respective lower container corner fitting (26b) can apply.

16. Device according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the actuating means (56) for engaging with adjusting means (30e) of the intermediate coupling unit (30) are formed which are the solution of the respective intermediate coupling unit (30) by or locking them to a respective lower container corner fitting (26b).

17. Device according to one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the ^' receptacles (54) of the intermediate coupling holder means (34) are each connected via a transport path with a memory (68) for intermediate coupling units (30), this transport path for maintaining orientation or orderly reorientation of the intermediate coupling units (30) is formed.

18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that a special memory (68) for intermediate coupling units (30) is provided for each receptacle (54) of the intermediate coupling holder means (34).

19. Device according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the intermediate clutch memory (68) is designed to accommodate different, optionally usable types of intermediate clutch units (30).

20. Device according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the transport route and / or the respective storage location for an intermediate coupling unit (30) is provided with orientation maintenance or correction means (54al, 62bl, 68b) which are coordinated with positioning surfaces (30a21, 30a22) of intermediate coupling units (30), in particular with positioning surfaces (30a21, 30a22) from below Sub-units (30a2, 30d) of intermediate coupling units (30) which are adapted to standardized upper container corner fittings (26a).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the orientation preservation or correction means (54al, 62bl, 68b) of the transport path or the storage locations (6811, 68II1 ...) of mutually facing edges (62bl, 68b) and / or upward contact surfaces (62a, 68b) are formed by slot delimiting strips.

22. Device according to one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that the memory (68) is a two-dimensional or spatial memory and accordingly Transportwegein has at least two or at least three mutually perpendicular transport directions.

23. Device according to one of claims 11 to 22, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holder means (34) consist of boxes (46) which are movable relative to one another and which allow the receptacles (54) to be adjusted to different distribution images in accordance with the arrangement of upper and lower containers - Allow corner fittings (26a, 26b) on containers (261) of different dimensions.

24. Device according to one of claims 17 to 23, characterized in that the memory (68) or individual receptacles (54) associated individual storage (68) for intermediate coupling units (30) at least partially within one through the receptacles (54) defined width dimension of the intermediate coupling holder means (34) are arranged.

25. Device according to one of claims 11 to 24, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holder means (34) together with the receptacles (54), associated actuating means (56) and / or a memory or individual memories (68) of the receptacles (54) as a transportable unit (34) is formed, which can preferably be detected and implemented by a spreader (22, 36), if necessary also after disassembly into subunits.

26. Device according to one of claims 11 to 25, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holding means (34) in the vicinity of a runway (12) for railless Containertransport¬ vehicles (40) are arranged such that they (40) the possibility of bringing them up and placing or removing and transporting containers (261) to and from the intermediate coupling holder means (34).

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holder means (34) are connected by a connecting means (44) to a part (16a) of a container loading crane (16), which comes up from a rail in a container transfer position (C) loose container transport vehicle (40) can be driven over and optionally include power and control lines for the intermediate clutch holder means (34).

28. Device according to one of claims 11 to 27, characterized in that securing means are provided which prevent entrainment of a receptacle (54) and associated functional parts (56) when a container (261) is raised relative to the intermediate coupling holder means (34), if, despite issuing a release command to release the respective intermediate coupling unit (30) from the container (261), this release command with respect to one or more intermediate coupling units (30) has not been executed or has been carried out incorrectly, or if a release command has not been issued.

29. The device according to claim 28, characterized in that the securing means emit a warning or control signal to an operator or to a lifting mechanism (38) serving for removing the container (261) from the intermediate coupling holder means (34).

30. Device according to one of claims 11 to 29, characterized in that in the case of an intermediate coupling unit (30) which for releasing a lower container corner fitting (26b) or for coupling to a lower container corner fitting (26b) as a whole under the load of the container

(261) must be rotated, a rotation unit intended for this purpose is pretensioned on the intermediate coupling holder means (34) by a pretensioning device in the release or coupling direction in such a way that when the intermediate coupling unit (30) is relieved of the weight of the container

(261) a rotation in the release or coupling direction during the relief phase takes place.

31. Device according to one of claims 17 to 30, characterized in that the memory (68) or the memory (68) are interchangeable.

32. Device according to one of claims 11 to 31, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holder means (34) consist of a base frame (50) and at least one movement frame (46, 48) which is adjustable relative to the base frame (50), by the adjustment of which the distribution pattern of the Recordings (54) can be adapted to the respective container format.

33. Device according to claim 32, characterized in that on the base frame (50) there are two movement frames (46) which are symmetrically adjustable in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the container relative to the base frame (50) and possibly one or two stores (68 ) take up.

34. Device according to one of claims 32 and 33, characterized in that on the intermediate coupling holder means (34) engagement fittings for spreader-side coupling means are provided, which can be adapted to spreaders for different container formats.

35. Device according to one of claims 11 to 34, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holder means (34) formed as a street-going unit or converted into such a

SPARE BLADE (RULE 26) bar and, if necessary, can be coupled to a towing vehicle.

36. Device according to one of claims 11 to 35, characterized in that on the intermediate coupling holder means (34) in the area of the respective receptacles (54) protective roof means are arranged, on the one hand so that they overlap with a properly approaching or being raised Containers (261) lie, on the other hand, in such a way that they provide immediate protection or a short escape route to service personnel working at the respective receptacle (54).

37. Device according to claim 36, characterized in that the protective roof means is assigned a barrier which prevents the approach of a road container transport vehicle (40) into the area where the service personnel exit when the service personnel leave the protective roof area.

38. Device according to one of claims 11 to 37, characterized in that the intermediate coupling holder means are provided with Einweisungs¬ means (52) for a container (261).

39. Device according to one of claims 11 to 37, characterized in that a stationary handling crane is assigned to the intermediate coupling holder means.