Automatic wharf special container transportation and operation method

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic wharf special container transportation and operation method which is used for transportation and operation of special containers and comprises the steps that a TOS system front end sends a ship unloading operation plan, and the ship unloading operation plan comprises the shipping space, the box type size and the weight of the containers; the scheduling system obtains a special box type operation plan, and the special box type needs to be provided with a cargo carrying frame on the IGV; the dispatching system is matched with the special box type requirement of the IGV provided with the cargo carrying frame and distributes tasks to the IGV provided with the cargo carrying frame; and the vehicle management system controls the IGV with the cargo carrying frame to move to a designated position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of automated terminal management, and in particular to a special container transportation and operation method at an automated terminal. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, automated terminals have developed rapidly, and the automation level of port machinery and management systems has been continuously improved. Many automated terminals have realized the system's autonomous control of equipment to carry out ordinary container loading and unloading tasks. However, there are many types of containers, and there are certain differences in the structure and size of different types of containers. The general IGV body structure design only considers carrying ordinary containers, so it is impossible to transport (operate) some special containers, such as tank containers without bottom beams and extra-wide containers. When the automated terminal needs to load and unload special containers, the system operator needs to manually change the IGV transportation type in the system and manually remotely control the IGV to the operating location. The control systems of various equipment cannot interact with each other to complete the operation process, and the operator needs to intervene throughout the process. This solution undoubtedly increases labor costs and equipment costs and reduces the level of terminal automation. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to overcome at least one defect of the above-mentioned prior art and provide a special container transportation and operation method at an automated terminal to realize the transportation and operation of special containers.

[0004] The present invention provides a special container transportation and operation method for an automated terminal, the method comprising:

[0005] The TOS system front end sends a ship unloading operation plan, which includes the container space, container size, and weight;

[0006] The dispatching system obtains the operation plan for special container types, and the special container types need to be installed with a loading rack on the IGV;

[0007] The dispatching system matches the special box type requirements of the IGV equipped with the cargo rack and dispatches tasks to the IGV equipped with the cargo rack;

[0008] The vehicle management system controls the IGV equipped with the cargo rack to move to a designated position.

[0009] Further, the installation of the cargo rack on the IGV includes:

[0010] The vehicle management system receives the task of installing the IGV loading rack and controls the IGV to go to the designated yard bay;

[0011] The yard control management system interacts with the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system is authorized by the yard control management system to control the IGVs that need to be equipped with cargo racks;

[0012] The yard control management system receives the task of installing the cargo rack, controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay, controls the rail crane to lift the cargo rack and install it on the IGV;

[0013] After the loading rack is installed, the yard control management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system;

[0014] The vehicle management system updates the IGV attributes.

[0015] Furthermore, the unloading operation plan is synchronized to the task pool;

[0016] The quay crane control management system obtains the unloading task from the task pool, controls the quay crane spreader to grab the container in the designated cabin and move it to the front IGV transport lane;

[0017] The quay crane control management system interacts with the vehicle management system. The vehicle management system is authorized by the quay crane control management system to control the IGV that needs to receive the container. The IGV is equipped with a cargo rack.

[0018] The IGV moves to a designated position of the quay crane;

[0019] The quay crane control and management system controls the spreader to descend above the IGV;

[0020] The quay crane control and management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system;

[0021] The dispatching system feedbacks that the IGV box collection task is completed.

[0022] Furthermore, the method also includes an intelligent tallying process:

[0023] Identify the container type, ISO code, and container number of the container, and feed the information back to the quay crane control and management system, which checks and compares the identification information with the container information in the task;

[0024] If the information is consistent, the lifting device is unlocked and raised to a safe height;

[0025] If the information is inconsistent, the spreader cannot be unlocked and feedback is given to the dispatching system, which notifies the vehicle management system to drive away the IGV in the operating lane;

[0026] The vehicle management system controls the IGV to leave the quay crane operation area, and the dispatching system updates the IGV status to idle and without tasks;

[0027] The dispatch system simultaneously notifies TOS to restart vehicle selection.

[0028] Furthermore, TOS dispatches the IGV yard container delivery task to the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system controls the IGV to leave the front quay crane operation area and go to the designated yard bay;

[0029] TOS dispatches the task of the rail crane to collect containers and bring them into the yard to the yard control management system, which controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay.

[0030] The yard control management system interacts with the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system is authorized by the yard control management system to control container entry operations;

[0031] After the operation is completed, the yard control and management system returns the control to the IGV and feeds back to the dispatching system that the container has entered the yard.

[0032] Furthermore, after the IGV completes the container yard operation, it is controlled by the vehicle management system to return to the special container area.

[0033] Furthermore, the method includes setting up a special container dedicated lane on the front IGV transport lane, the dedicated lane is close to the coast side, and the dedicated lane is dynamically set by time period and lane according to the operation task.

[0034] Further, the unlocking includes:

[0035] A detection device is installed at the locking position of the cargo rack and the container to check whether the container and the cargo rack are locked;

[0036] After the detection device confirms the locking, the rail crane is controlled to unlock and separate from the container.

[0037] Further, the method includes that the carrier can be automatically disassembled, and the automatic disassembly method includes:

[0038] The yard control management system receives the task of disassembling the cargo rack, controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay, and controls the rail crane to lift the disassembled cargo rack;

[0039] The cargo rack is placed at a specific location;

[0040] After the disassembly is completed, the yard control management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system;

[0041] The vehicle management system updates the IGV attributes.

[0042] Furthermore, the method includes setting up a temporary parking area in the loading and unloading area, wherein the temporary parking area is used for temporarily parking special containers.

[0043] The technical effects produced by the present invention include:

[0044] 1. The loading rack is easy to install and disassemble, which enables IGV to freely switch the loading type and improve the utilization rate of IGV;

[0045] 2. The installation of the loading rack and the loading and unloading of special containers do not require human intervention, reducing labor costs and safety risks;

[0046] 3. The IGVs equipped with cargo racks are still under the fleet management of the system. The dispatching system controls the equipment resources of the entire site, realizes the dispatching of the entire site, and improves the resource utilization and operation efficiency of the terminal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Figure 1 The present invention is a flow chart of a special container transportation and operation method for an automated terminal.

[0048] Figure 2 The present invention is a flow chart of installing a loading platform.

[0049] Figure 3 The present invention is a ship unloading flow chart.

[0050] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of special container transportation and operation at an automated terminal of the present invention.

[0051] The accompanying drawings of the present invention are marked as follows: 1: automated quay crane; 2: front automated loading and unloading area; 3: front IGV transport lane; 4: container ship; 5: upper and lower gear channels; 6: container yard area; 7: special cargo rack yard area; 8: automated rail crane; 9: yard IGV transport lane. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The drawings of the present invention are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In order to better illustrate the following embodiments, some parts of the drawings may be omitted, enlarged or reduced, and do not represent the size of the actual product; it is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions in the drawings may be omitted.

[0053] This embodiment provides a special container transportation and operation method for an automated terminal, such as Figure 1 , the method comprising:

[0054] S100: The TOS system front end sends a ship unloading operation plan, which includes the container space, container size, and weight;

[0055] S102: The dispatching system obtains a special container operation plan, where the special container needs to be installed with a loading rack on the IGV;

[0056] S104: The dispatching system matches the special box type requirements of the IGV equipped with the cargo rack and dispatches tasks to the IGV equipped with the cargo rack;

[0057] S106: The vehicle management system controls the IGV equipped with the cargo rack to move to a designated position.

[0058] In automated terminals, especially large terminals, the distribution of operating areas is relatively complex, such as Figure 4 The frontier automated loading and unloading area 2 is provided with an automated quay crane 1, and the container ship 4 is located at one side of the dock shoreline and opposite to the frontier automated loading and unloading area 2.

[0059] The frontier IGV transport lane 3 is designed with multiple lanes and is responsible for the transportation of containers at the frontier. IGVs can freely transfer into and out of the frontier automated loading and unloading area 2 through the frontier IGV transport lane 3.

[0060] The upper and lower gear channels 5 are responsible for connecting the frontier and the yard, and can be freely switched to the upper gear channel or the lower gear channel according to business needs. The IGV goes to the frontier through the upper gear channel and returns to the yard through the lower gear channel.

[0061] The container yard area 6 is mainly responsible for the loading, unloading and storage of containers in the yard, and the special rack yard area 7 is mainly responsible for the installation and removal of special racks. The yard area attributes can be freely switched according to business needs, that is, the container yard area 6 can be switched to the special rack yard area 7, and the container yard area 6 is equipped with an automated rail crane 8.

[0062] A yard IGV transport lane 9 is provided between the container yard areas 6. The longitudinal yard IGV transport lane 9 is designed with an up lane and a down lane, and the transverse yard IGV transport lane 9 is designed with a left flow lane and a right flow lane.

[0063] Specifically, when the container ship 4 docks and meets the unloading conditions, the TOS system will receive an unloading operation plan from the terminal operator. In order to arrange the unloading more effectively, the customer needs to provide detailed information when submitting the unloading, including the space, box size, weight, etc. of the containers loaded on the ship. If there are special goods, such as bottomless tank containers, extra-wide containers, etc., the terminal needs to perform targeted operations. After the TOS system sends the unloading operation plan, the scheduling system obtains the plan and then dispatches vehicles according to the agreed rules. For conventional containers, conventional IGVs are dispatched to collect the containers, and for special containers, specific IGVs are arranged to collect the containers. The scheduling system checks whether there is a special container unloading task. If there are special containers that need to be loaded and unloaded, it will determine whether there is an IGV with a configured cargo rack. The IGV with a cargo rack described in this embodiment is to install a cargo rack on a conventional IGV so that it can meet the loading and unloading requirements of special containers. Specifically, Figure 2 , the installation of the carrier on the IGV includes:

[0064] S200: The vehicle management system receives the task of installing the loading rack on the IGV and controls the IGV to go to the designated yard position;

[0065] S202: The yard control management system interacts with the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system is authorized by the yard control management system to control the IGV that needs to be installed with the cargo rack;

[0066] S204: the yard control management system receives the task of installing the cargo rack, controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay, controls the rail crane to lift the cargo rack and install it on the IGV;

[0067] S206: After the loading rack is installed, the yard control management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system;

[0068] S208: The vehicle management system updates the IGV attributes.

[0069] In some embodiments, the carrier can be automatically disassembled, and the automatic disassembly method includes:

[0070] The yard control management system receives the task of disassembling the cargo rack, controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay, and controls the rail crane to lift the disassembled cargo rack;

[0071] The cargo rack is placed at a specific location, which is a special cargo rack yard area 7.

[0072] After the disassembly is completed, the yard control management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system;

[0073] The vehicle management system updates the IGV attributes.

[0074] As an extension of ordinary containers, the cargo rack can be used to load and unload special containers of various sizes and specifications. In this embodiment, if there is a special container task in the unloading operation, the vehicle management system will receive the dispatch of the IGV equipped with the cargo rack. In practice, whether there is an idle IGV equipped with a cargo rack will trigger different tasks. When there is an idle IGV equipped with a cargo rack, the vehicle will be dispatched to perform the operation task; when there is no idle IGV equipped with a cargo rack, it needs to be installed. First, the vehicle management system receives the task of installing the cargo rack, and the vehicle management system controls the IGV that needs to install the cargo rack to go to the designated container yard area 6. Because the IGV cannot be controlled by multiple systems at the same time, after arriving at the container yard area 6, the control of the IGV needs to be transferred to the yard control management system. After the yard control management system is authorized, it can further control the IGV to reach the designated position. At the same time, the yard control management system controls the rail crane to lift the cargo rack, and then moves it to the destination yard position, controls the rail crane to lift the cargo rack and install it on the IGV. The installation process is fully automated. Through precise alignment and automated installation tools, the cargo rack is installed on the IGV. After that, the yard control management system returns the control of the IGV to the vehicle management system. At this time, the IGV with the cargo rack installed has not been included in the vehicle management system for scheduling. In order to realize the automation of the entire unloading operation, all IGVs will be scheduled to perform appropriate tasks.

[0075] In some embodiments, when the special container operation task is completed or the ordinary IGV is too busy, the vehicle management system can trigger the disassembly of the cargo rack. This process is completed through the cooperation of the vehicle management system and the yard control management system. The vehicle management system is responsible for driving the IGV equipped with the cargo rack to the designated container yard area 6. After the yard control management system obtains control of the IGV, it automatically removes the cargo rack from the IGV through the disassembly tool on the track, and places it in the special cargo rack yard area 7. At the same time, it updates the IGV status of the dismantled cargo rack, which can be used for ordinary container operations.

[0076] In some embodiments, Figure 3 , the IGV equipped with the cargo rack goes to the automated quay crane 1, enters the front automated loading and unloading area 2, and then starts the unloading operation:

[0077] S300: The ship unloading operation plan is synchronized to the task pool;

[0078] S302: The quay crane control management system obtains the unloading task from the task pool, controls the quay crane spreader to grab the container in the designated cabin and move it to the front IGV transport lane 3;

[0079] S304: The quay crane control management system interacts with the vehicle management system. The vehicle management system is authorized by the quay crane control management system to control the IGV that needs to receive the container. The IGV is equipped with a cargo rack.

[0080] S306: The IGV moves to a designated position of the quay crane;

[0081] S308: The quay crane control management system controls the spreader to descend above the IGV;

[0082] S310: The quay crane control management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system;

[0083] S312: The dispatching system feedbacks that the IGV box collection task is completed.

[0084] Preferably, the method further comprises an intelligent tally process:

[0085] Identify the container type, ISO code, and container number of the container, and feed the information back to the quay crane control and management system, which checks and compares the identification information with the container information in the task;

[0086] If the information is consistent, the lifting device is unlocked and raised to a safe height;

[0087] If the information is inconsistent, the spreader cannot be unlocked and feedback is given to the dispatching system, which notifies the vehicle management system to drive away the IGV in the operating lane;

[0088] The vehicle management system controls the IGV to leave the quay crane operation area, and the dispatching system updates the IGV status to idle and without tasks;

[0089] The dispatch system simultaneously notifies TOS to restart vehicle selection.

[0090] In some embodiments, after receiving the container, the IGV will pass through the upper and lower gear channels 5 and enter the container yard area 6. Specifically, the TOS dispatches the IGV yard container delivery task to the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system controls the IGV to leave the front quay crane operation area and go to the designated yard bay;

[0091] TOS dispatches the task of the rail crane to collect containers and bring them into the yard to the yard control management system, which controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay.

[0092] The yard control management system interacts with the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system is authorized by the yard control management system to control container entry operations;

[0093] After the operation is completed, the yard control and management system returns the control to the IGV and feeds back to the dispatching system that the container has entered the yard.

[0094] In some embodiments, when a special container enters the yard area from the quay crane, a special container dedicated lane is set in the front IGV transport lane 3. The dedicated lane is close to the coast side. The dedicated lane is dynamically set according to the work task, time period and lane. When the special container enters the up and down gear channel 5 through the front IGV transport lane 3, it needs to make a large turn. At this time, if the container is wider, it is very easy to cause collision and other impacts on the passing IGV, or it cannot be completed when turning. From the distribution of lanes, it is easiest to enter the down gear channel in the lane close to the coast side, so this lane is set as a special container dedicated lane. There are also some problems in this way. For example, the lanes are limited and the operation volume of special containers is not large. Long-term occupation of independent lanes may cause pressure on other work tasks. Therefore, different lanes can be adjusted according to specific busy and idle periods, and different lanes are not necessarily fixed. The lanes close to the coast side are dedicated.

[0095] In some embodiments, after the IGV completes the container yard operation, it is controlled by the vehicle management system to return to the special container area. Because the special container task volume is small and the parking space occupied is different from that of ordinary IGVs, after the operation is completed, it is parked in a specific location and can wait for the next task at any time.

[0096] In some embodiments, the unlocking includes installing a detection device at the locking position of the carrier and the container for checking whether the container and the carrier are locked;

[0097] After the detection device confirms the locking, the rail crane is controlled to unlock and separate from the container.

[0098] When loading and unloading containers onto an IGV equipped with a cargo rack, because special containers are generally of higher value and have a different structure from ordinary containers, when the special container and the cargo rack are locked and unlocked, a detection device is used to determine whether the locking is firm and the separation is complete.

[0099] In some embodiments, the method includes setting a temporary parking area in the loading and unloading area, and the temporary parking area is used to temporarily park special containers. Terminal operation tasks have busy times and idle times. If the IGV with special containers needs to collect containers during busy times, it may affect other ordinary containers. At this time, the special container can be parked in the idle up and down gear channel 5 first, and then transported to the yard when the terminal is idle.

[0100] In some embodiments, the method for unloading an ultra-wide container from a ship comprises the following steps:

[0101] The business operator sends the instruction for the unloading of the ultra-wide container, and the IGV goes to the special loading rack yard area 7 to install the bracket. After the task is completed, the IGV goes through the yard IGV transport lane 9 and the upper gear channel to the front IGV transport lane 3, and then arrives at the destination automated quay crane 1 and then goes to the front automated loading and unloading area 2;

[0102] The automated quay crane 1 lifts the container from the container ship 4 and delivers it to the IGV already in place in the automated quay crane 1;

[0103] The IGV is transferred from the front automated loading and unloading area 2 to the front IGV transport lane 3, and arrives at the destination container yard area 6 via the downstage channel and the yard IGV transport lane 9.

[0104] The automated rail crane 8 picks up the container on the IGV and lifts it into a designated container position in the container yard area 6 .

[0105] The business operator can send the IGV a bracket disassembly task to let the IGV enter the disassembly task process, or let the IGV continue to perform the next ultra-wide container loading and unloading task.

[0106] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the technical solution of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the specific implementation methods of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the claims of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A special container transportation and operation method for an automated terminal, characterized in that: The method comprises: The TOS system front end sends a ship unloading operation plan, which includes the container space, container size, and weight; The dispatching system obtains the operation plan for special container types, and the special container types need to be installed with a loading rack on the IGV; The dispatching system matches the special box type requirements of the IGV equipped with the cargo rack and dispatches tasks to the IGV equipped with the cargo rack; The vehicle management system controls the IGV equipped with the cargo rack to move to a designated position.

2. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The installation of the carrier on the IGV includes: The vehicle management system receives the task of installing the IGV loading rack and controls the IGV to go to the designated yard bay; The yard control management system interacts with the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system is authorized by the yard control management system to control the IGVs that need to be equipped with cargo racks; The yard control management system receives the task of installing the cargo rack, controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay, controls the rail crane to lift the cargo rack and install it on the IGV; After the loading rack is installed, the yard control management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system; The vehicle management system updates the IGV attributes.

3. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The unloading operation plan is synchronized to the task pool; The quay crane control management system obtains the unloading task from the task pool, controls the quay crane spreader to grab the container in the designated cabin and move it to the front IGV transport lane; The quay crane control management system interacts with the vehicle management system. The vehicle management system is authorized by the quay crane control management system to control the IGV that needs to receive the container. The IGV is equipped with a cargo rack. The IGV moves to a designated position of the quay crane; The quay crane control and management system controls the spreader to descend above the IGV; The quay crane control and management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system; The dispatching system feedbacks that the IGV box collection task is completed.

4. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that: The method also includes an intelligent tally process: Identify the container type, ISO code, and container number of the container, and feed the information back to the quay crane control and management system, which checks and compares the identification information with the container information in the task; If the information is consistent, the lifting device is unlocked and raised to a safe height; If the information is inconsistent, the spreader cannot be unlocked and feedback is given to the dispatching system, which notifies the vehicle management system to drive away the IGV in the operating lane; The vehicle management system controls the IGV to leave the quay crane operation area, and the dispatching system updates the IGV status to idle and without tasks; The dispatch system simultaneously notifies TOS to restart vehicle selection.

5. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further comprises: TOS dispatches the IGV yard container delivery task to the vehicle management system, which controls the IGV to leave the front quay crane operation area and go to the designated yard bay; TOS dispatches the task of the rail crane to collect containers and bring them into the yard to the yard control management system, which controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay. The yard control management system interacts with the vehicle management system, and the vehicle management system is authorized by the yard control management system to control container entry operations; After the operation is completed, the yard control and management system returns the control to the IGV and feeds back to the dispatching system that the container has entered the yard.

6. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that: After the IGV completes the container yard operation, it is controlled by the vehicle management system to return to the special container area.

7. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that: The method comprises setting a special container dedicated lane on the front IGV transport lane, wherein the dedicated lane is close to the coast side, and the dedicated lane is dynamically set by time period and by lane according to the operation task.

8. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that: The unlocking includes: A detection device is installed at the locking position of the cargo rack and the container to check whether the container and the cargo rack are locked; After the detection device confirms the locking, the rail crane is controlled to unlock and separate from the container.

9. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method includes that the carrier can be automatically disassembled, and the automatic disassembly method includes: The yard control management system receives the task of disassembling the cargo rack, controls the rail crane to move to the destination yard bay, and controls the rail crane to lift the disassembled cargo rack; The cargo rack is placed at a specific location; After the disassembly is completed, the yard control and management system returns the authorization to control the IGV to the vehicle management system; The vehicle management system updates the IGV attributes.

10. The method for transporting and operating special containers at an automated terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method comprises setting a temporary parking area in a loading and unloading area, wherein the temporary parking area is used for temporarily parking special containers.

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