A device for moving cargo tubs and a system for transferring and arranging cargo tubs

Abstract

A system for transferring and arranging cargo tubs (80) and a device (30) for horizontal translational movement of one or more cargo tubs (80) or stacks of stackable cargo tubs (80)on a cargo storage surface such as in a lane of a system of parallel lanes. The device (30) is suitable for tubs (80) that have pallet-like runners arranged on the bottom of the tubs (80). The device (30) comprises a longitudinal moving assembly with at least one first pair of joined transversely extending fingers (31, 31'), the fingers (31, 31') configured to pivot out in opposite directions to an extended position as the moving assembly moves in its transfer direction, such that the fingers (31, 31') can engage with a cargo tub (80) aligned on top of the device (30) and move the tub (80) in a transfer direction of the device (30). The device (30) preferably has a pair of rear fingers (33, 33') configured so that when the moving assembly of the device (30) is in an aft position with its rear end extending in the aft direction, the rear fingers (33, 33') can engage with openings in the runners of a tub (80) aft of and aligned with the device (30) to pull that tub (30) in the transfer direction of the device into a lane of the device (30).

Description

[0001] A DEVICE FOR MOVING CARGO TUBS AND A SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING AND ARRANGING CARGO TUBS

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a device for moving translationally one or more cargo tubs or stacks of cargo tubs on board on a cargo storage surface such as on a cargo deck of a vessel, or in an indoor or outdoor storage facility.

[0004] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0005] There is increased demand for automation and efficiency in the handling of fish catch onboard modern fishing vessels. In wet fish trawlers and similar fishing vessels the fish is kept in the cargo hold in boxes or tubs covered with ice. The fish is typically minimally processed (headed and gutted) on a process deck, laid in tubs with ice and then delivered to the cargo deck for storage. As there is limited room in the cargo it is of importance that the available space can be utilised efficiently.

[0006] Modern fish tubs are convenient for storing fresh fish and have become very popular in some geographical areas. Typical tubs have an internal volume of and have a bottom structure with runners similar to those on a cargo pallet, such the tub can be lifted by a forklift. The tubs are typically designed and configured such that they can be stacked one on top of another such that the bottom runners fit in slots on the opening of another tub.

[0007] Prior art systems are known that use sets of lifts and transport conveyors for delivering tubs filled with fish to the cargo deck, arranging the tubs in stacks, and arranging the stacks in rows along the cargo deck.

[0008] W02020170275A1 discloses a system for managing tubs in a cargo hold of a vessel. The system comprises a series of parallel lifts for delivering tubs into the cargo hold, to cargo lanes that run along the cargo decks from the lifts. A wagon aft of the cargo lanes can receive a stack of tubs from one of the cargo lanes and transport the stack in a transverse direction to the cargo lanes. In the arrangement, each cargo lanes has a lift at its end, so a large cargo deck requires many lifts.

[0009] A similar system has been provided by Klaki Stalsmidja ehf. and shown the company’s homepage www.klaki.is and discussed in fishing magazine Fiskifrettir on 11 December 2020.

[0010] An earlier version of an automatic loading system for tubs in a fishing vessel cargo deck was proposed in a report from Matis ohf. (Vinnsluferill linuveidiskipa / Processing in line boats Hafsteinsson et al. Matis report No. 33-10 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 1670-7192; https: / / matis.is / wp- content / uploads / skyrslur / 33-10-Vinnsluferill-Lokaskyrsla.pdf) A preliminary design shows a dual lift for feeding empty tubs up to the processing deck and delivering full tubs down to storage, and having conveyors along the hull walls of the cargo deck around lanes of tubs, for arranging (circulating) stacks of tubs.

[0011] SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is specified in the claims as well as in the below description. The invention provides a device for transferring and arranging tubs such as for example but not limited to in a cargo deck of a vessel, in particular fish tubs in a fishing vessel. The device can, however, be used in various other settings including on-land settings.

[0013] The device of the invention allows efficient transfer and arrangement of cargo tubs in cargo facilities of varying size. Also provided are systems using the device.

[0014] The device is not limited to cargo vessels but can also be used in various storage and / or process facilities, for goods suited for storing in tubs of the type suited for the invention, such as but not limited to wet fish (whole or gutted and headed) or salted fish, or other food products.

[0015] The invention provides in a first aspect a device for horizontal translational movement of one or more cargo tubs or stacks of stackable cargo tubs on a cargo storage surface, and is configured and suited for tubs that have lengthwise arranged pallet-like runners arranged on the bottom of the tubs adjacent to and parallel with the long edges of the bottom of the tubs, the tubs having an open bottom space extending lengthwise between the runners defining a tub bottom space width, the device comprising: a longitudinal moving assembly dimensioned to fit between the mentioned tub runners on tubs to be moved, the device having a moveable part and fixed part configured to be fixed to a cargo storage surface, and comprising at least one first pair of joined transversely extending fingers, the fingers are configured pivotable so that they can pivot out in opposite directions to a respective extended position, such that the fingers extend in the extended position beyond the tub bottom space width and can pivot back to a retracted position where the fingers do not extend beyond the tub bottom space width, such that when a cargo tub is placed above and aligned with the device, and as the moveable part of the longitudinal moving assembly moves in a transfer direction of the device, the fingers can push in their extended position a cargo tub as the fingers engage with tub runners of the cargo tub.

[0016] In an embodiment of the device, the longitudinal moving assembly comprises a jack such as a hydraulic jack, with a piston and tube, where one of said piston and tube acts as the moveable part and is connected to a support holding the mentioned fingers and the other of said piston and tube forms or is part of the mentioned fixed part and is connected to a fixture to be fixedly connected to the cargo storage surface where the device is arranged and operated.

[0017] In an embodiment, the device comprises at least one pair of rear fingers (or “pulling fingers”) configured so that when the moving assembly of the device is in an aft position with its rear end extending in the aft direction, the rear fingers can extend (if not blocked from doing so) beyond the tub bottom space width and are configured and arranged so that they will engage with openings in the runners of a tub aft of and aligned with the device to pull said tub (by engaging with and pushing on blocks of the runners connecting the runner boards to the tub) in the transfer direction of the device when the device moves from the aft position in its transfer direction. The “rear end” of the device is the end which is aft to the transfer direction of the device.

[0018] In an embodiment the at least one first pair of fingers (base fingers) and the at least one pair of rear fingers are configured and joined to the device such that when the device moves opposite to its transfer direction the fingers can fold back to a retraced position if they meet resistance.

[0019] In one embodiment, each of said fingers comprises a distal part extending beyond the tub bottom space width in the extended position (that is, the “extending” part of the finger), and a proximal part, located on the opposite side of the pivoting pin of the finger relative to the distal part, the proximal part being connected to a tension spring which is connected to the moving part, such that folding of the finger in to a retracted position stretches the tension spring, and upon release of resistance to movement opposite to the device transfer direction, the tension spring returns the finger back to the extended position. In the extended position, the proximal part of the finger is preferably arranged to meet a supporting surface rigidly fixed to the moveable part of the device that preferably has a dampener for noise reduction when the fingers pivot to the extended position (preventing a “hammering” effect when the proximal part of the finger stops on the supporting surface).

[0020] The at least one first pair of fingers (lower fingers) are preferably arranged at a height so that they will engage with and push on bottom boards of the runners of tubs that are arranged on top of the device, and the at least one rear pair of fingers (“pulling” fingers) is arranged at a height so that they will engage with fork lift openings of the runners. The “base fingers” can also be referred to as lower fingers and the “rear fingers” can also be referred to as “upper fingers”. In some embodiments the device comprises multiple pairs of upper fingers, this has the advantage that a tub inside the lane can be pulled forward by both a set of lower fingers (pushing on the runner boards aft of the transfer direction) and at least one pair of upper fingers that extend into fork lift openings of the rube and push on blocks of the runners (the blocks connecting the runner boards to the tub).

[0021] In one embodiment of the device, the longitudinal moving assembly comprises parallel inner members along the axis of the device which are fixedly arranged with the moveable part of the device. These inner members have affixed to them a pair of arm attachments to which are joined jointed arms to which the fingers are connected, and the device also comprising outer panels with slits that are aligned with said arm attachments, which allow a degree of translational movement of the arm attachments within and with respect to the slits. The outer panels are fixed to a finger holder (for each pair of arm attachments), said each finger holder carrying the above mentioned pivot pins on which fingers of respective jointed arms pivot as the inner members move relative to the outer panels. This means that if the device starts from a starting position with the inner members and outer panels in an aft-most position and then the moving assembly is activated to move in the forward transfer direction, as the moveable member of the device first moves in its transfer direction, it pulls along the inner members and the arm attachments attached thereto but the finger holder stays in place, and thus the arms move with the arm attachments and the arms which are connected to the fingers move the fingers into an extended position. When the inner members have moved along the slits and to the ends of the slits, then the outer panels are also pulled along with the inner members in the transfer direction causing a translational movement of the extended fingers. When the movement is reversed, then first the inner members move and pull on the arms, which pull the fingers to a folded position and when the arm attachments have reached the end of their slits they pull along other members, the finger holder and the folded fingers, in a translational movement.

[0022] In some embodiments, the device may be arranged in a linear lane on a cargo storage surface, the lane comprising aligned parallel lane rails and guide profiles such that a line of one more of said tubs can be arranged in the lane such that the runners of said tubs stand on the lane rails and the guide profiles extend along and parallel to the lane rails to limit lateral movement of the tubs in the lane.

[0023] In another aspect the invention provides a system for transferring and arranging tubs on a cargo storage surface comprising: a plurality of devices as described herein, in at least one set of linear lanes which are aligned in parallel and with a transverse transfer lane adjacent and transverse to said set of lanes, a transfer carriage for transferring tubs or stacks of tubs along the transfer lane, in a transverse direction to said set of lanes, said carriage configured for receiving a tub or stack of tubs from an aligned lane and for allowing a stack of tubs to be removed from the transfer carriage and into an aligned lane, each said device configured so that it can engage with a lowermost tub in a stack on said transfer carriage in the transverse transfer lane aft of the device’s transfer direction when the stack is aligned with said lane, and pull said stack into the lane as the device moves its stacks in its transfer direction.

[0024] The system may comprise more than one set of lanes, where such plurality of sets would typically be divided by transverse transfer lanes with respective transfer carriages inbetween the sets of lanes.

[0025] In an embodiment, the or each such mentioned transverse transfer lane is arranged in a ditch to accommodate the transfer carriage, the transfer carriage having a platform for receiving a tub or stack of tubs, said platform being at substantially the same height as said lane rails of lane adjacent to the transverse transfer lane.

[0026] The system preferably further comprises support dividers arranged in between adjacent lanes.

[0027] Preferably, each said carriage comprises a cage that provides vertical support to long sides of a stack of tubs in said carriage.

[0028] The lanes (also mentioned cargo lanes or cargo lines) refer to designated spaces / lanes in the respective storage surface where the devices operate to transfer and arrange tubs; each lane can hold one or more tubs in a line, which tubs may have other tubs stacked on top of them to form stacks of tubs. The lanes are typically dimensioned to hold a certain number of stacks of tubs, e.g. having a length of one tub, two tubs, five tubs, ten tubs, etc. In the description herein, for simplicity lines of tubs (or lines of stacks) refer to lines along the direction of parallel lanes, whereas rows refer to tubs arranged in a row transversely across the lanes.

[0029] Thus, in a system with two sets of lanes a first and a second transverse transfer lane are arranged aft of, respectively, each set of lanes. There may also be an additional transverse transfer lane in the front of the system, as illustrated in the Examples and figures.

[0030] The device and systems of the invention are arranged and configured to operate with tubs as described above having lengthwise arranged pallet-like runners arranged on the bottom of the tubs adjacent to and parallel with the long edges of the bottom of the tubs, having an open bottom space extending lengthwise between the runners. As understood from this, unlike typical cargo pallets such tubs used in the system preferably have no center runner and the system is thus preferably configured accordingly. The bottom space of such preferred tubs can be defined with a tub runner width which is the width of the space between the runners. In some embodiments each device is unidirectional so that in a system of a plurality of devices each device is accordingly arranged to move tubs in a transfer direction which is either a front direction or the aft direction in a set of lanes (for example, with respect the fore and aft direction of a vessel on which the system is arranged).

[0031] The devices are generally designed and arranged on a cargo surface so that they fit in between the runners of tubs placed in the cargo lanes. Each device comprises a longitudinal moving assembly for providing translational movement, which can be based on a hydraulic jack or the like, with a moving part and a fixed part. That is, e.g. in the case of using a jack, either the piston or the tube is fixed to the floor or deck on which the system is arranged and the other of the piston and tube is part of a moveable part of the moving assembly. The device comprises at least one pair of transversely extending fingers joined to the moveable part. The fingers are configured to pivot out transversely to the movement direction (cargo lane direction), in opposite directions, to an extended position when the moving assembly is in a position referred to as extended position, and in the extended position the fingers extend beyond the tub bottom space width defined above. Thus, they can interact with the runners of a tub in the lane and move (push) the tub in the transfer direction of the device.

[0032] The longitudinal moving assembly is in some embodiments arranged with inner members such as inner side panels extending along the axis of the device, the inner members (side panels) have affixed arm attachments to which are joined jointed arms to which are joined respective pair of fingers from said at least one pair of fingers. Outer panels, which can be part of a boxlike structure enclosing the inner members / panels, are aligned with the inner members / panels, the outer panels having on them slits or windows that are aligned with the arm attachments of the inner members (which can be inner panels), allowing a degree of translational movement of the arm attachments within the slits / windows. The outer panels are fixed to an finger holder for each pair of arm attachments, where each finger holder comprises vertical pivot pins on which fingers of the respective jointed arms pivot as the inner members move relative to the outer panels. In this way, the longitudinal moving assembly provides two movement phases, in a first phase (typically the first approx. 10-15 cm movement of the inner members) the inner members move but not the outer panels and the finger holders fixed thereto, and the fingers of the device thus pivot out to an extended position as the arm attachments move but not the finger holders. In the second phase of movement, the inner and outer panels move together and the fingers move translationally together with the outer panels and the finger holders of the device.

[0033] Rear fingers are preferably included in the embodiment just described, and can be arranged with its and arm attachments attached to the inner members described above, and a finger holder referred to as distal finger holder or rear most finger holder. The distal finger holder may hold both a pair of rear fingers and a pair of base fingers which pairs can be arranged on the same finger holder, where the pair of rear fingers may be joined thereto with a pair of added arms joined to the jointed arms.

[0034] The rear fingers are configured so that when the device is in an aft position with its distal end (which can be the distal finger holder) extending out of its designated lane space and into an eventual transverse transfer lane aft of the device transfer direction and then moves to extend its fingers, the rear fingers also extend beyond the tub runner width and are designed so that they will engage with openings in the runners of a tub aft of the lane (relative to the movement direction) in an adjacent transverse transfer lane and aligned with the lane. Thus, the rear fingers can pull the engaged tub into the respective lane when the device moves from the aft position in its movement direction.

[0035] In preferred embodiments of this type, the at least one first pair of fingers (i.e. the one or more pairs of fingers other than the rear fingers, these other fingers referred to as base fingers) are configured to be at a height from the lane floor, or, more specifically, relative to the floor or optional lane rails under the tub runners (further discussed below) so that they will engage with and push on bottom boards of the runners of tubs in the lane. For this purpose, it is preferred that the lane rails provide a height of about 3-6 cm above the lane floor, that is, raising the tubs from the floor by this height. This creates desired added space making more room for the device, as the height of the space underneath conventional tubs suitable for the invention as those specifically mentioned herein is only about 10,5 cm. This further means that the base fingers can move and engage with the bottom boards of the runners of tubs without the base fingers having to be very close to the floor. In such embodiments base fingers can be referred to as lower fingers.

[0036] The at least one pair of rear fingers is preferably arranged at a height so that they will engage with forklift openings of said runners. In this way the rear fingers are preferably arranged to pull a tub, whereas the at least one first pair of fingers (base fingers) will move tubs by pushing them. Thus, in such embodiment the pair of rear fingers are positioned higher up than are the pair(s) of base fingers. An embodiment of this type is shown in FIGS 1a-b.

[0037] Either or both of said one or more pair of base fingers and said at least one pair of rear fingers may preferably be configured so that when the device moves opposite to its transfer direction the fingers can fold back if they meet resistance, or such that they actively fold back when the device moves rearward.

[0038] These embodiments, with the device dimensioned to fit underneath the tubs between the tub runners, have a great advantage over prior art solutions with conveyors underneath tubs to be moved, in that no or very little additional space is needed to accommodate the devices (only the height of eventual lane rails which can be as little as 3-5 cm), whereas conveyors would typically require 40 to 50 cm space between the actual cargo deck floor and the bottom level of the lowermost tubs being arranged and stored in a conveyor- based system.

[0039] In the mentioned embodiments of the present invention the devices can be placed directly on a cargo deck floor and the tubs can simply stand on the floor itself but typically, however, the main floor of a ship cargo deck would typically be painted and it is not desirable to move the tubs back and forth directly on the painted floor, therefor preferably the floor is configured with low-friction material such as stainless steel underneath the paths of runners of tubs in the system. In preferred embodiments, as discussed above, the lanes may be equipped with flat bars, strips or raised profiles of strong low-friction surface (typically stainless steel) that run underneath the runners of the tubs. These are referred to as lane rails. The lane rails can be configured to raise the tubs from the lane floor, by e.g. a height in the range 3-10 cm, e.g. in the range of about 3-6 cm, such as about 3 cm, about 4 cm or about 5 cm, as this will provide additional space underneath the tubs in lanes to accommodate the devices and their mechanism and operation. In some embodiments the lane floors have arranged in them lane rails with rollers on which the runners of tubs move along. This would of course add some extra space requirements underneath the tubs but not more than a total of e.g. in the range 6- 12 cm, i.e. a few more cm in addition to the desired 3-10 cm extra height discussed above. Such rollers can be e.g. from steel but may have a rubber surface and preferably have bearings.

[0040] The device preferably has one pair of base fingers for each tub (stack of tubs) in a full line of tubs / stacks in its respective designated lane. Thus, as an example, in a lane of a length of four tubs, a suitable device has four pairs of base fingers, preferably each with its associated spring system as described above, or jointed arms and finger holder, as discussed above, so that each pair of base fingers can push each respective tub in a line of four tubs. The most distal pair of base fingers can be arranged in the same finger holder as a pair of rear fingers of the device, this would be the distal finger holder (rear finger holder), which may also be referred to as the distal head of the device. As mentioned above, the device may also be configured with more than one pair of “rear” fingers, in these embodiments those fingers are more appropriately referred to as upper fingers, as they are arranged higher up than the base fingers (lower fingers).

[0041] As explained above, each device is typically arranged in its respective designated lane so that its distal end with the pair of rear fingers can extend out into a transverse transfer lane aft of the transfer direction of the device. The other end of the device, the front end, should preferably not extend beyond the front end of its lane, when the device is in a most forward extended position, but some embodiments of the system can accommodate this and allow the front end of the device to extend beyond the end of its lane. Thus, in preferred embodiments the device is configured so it moves forward in its transfer direction a line of tubs (or stacks of tubs) by about one tub length at the time, and then it would have to return back by a tub length in order to move the line of tubs by another tub length.

[0042] Preferably, a system with devices and lanes of the invention comprises support dividers arranged in between adjacent lanes. The support dividers may comprise, e.g., fence-type structures or cage-like dividers, e.g. meshes of horizontal and vertical or diagonal bars or rods. The support dividers provide vertical support for stacks of tubs within the lanes, which is very beneficial to prevent the stacks from falling over sideways. The support dividers preferably have on them gatekeeper flaps configured to hold back a stack of tubs from sliding or tipping over in the lane direction out of the lane into an adjacent transverse transfer lane. The gatekeeper flaps are configured to allow transfer of a stack of tubs past the flaps when desired. Accordingly, the flaps may be controlled from a control unit in synchronisation with the control of the devices, such that the flaps are “closed” when tub stacks should be prevented from tipping in the direction of the lanes but flip to an open position when a stack is to be moved in to or out of the lane.

[0043] In a system of the invention, each of the mentioned transverse transfer lanes is preferably configured in a ditch at a level below the height of the lane floor, forming a lower-level ditch floor with sufficient height to accommodate a transfer carriage as mentioned, such that the carriage of each said transverse transfer lane can move in said ditch without interfering with movement of the devices when they extend into an adjacent transverse transfer lane.

[0044] Each carriage in transverse transfer lanes preferably comprises a platform with a platform floor or frame for receiving and supporting a tub or stack of tubs. It follows that the carriage should be arranged so that the level (height) of the platform floor / frame should be substantially similar to the height of the lane floors or lane rails (flat bars, strips, profiles or rollers of the lanes, etc.) if they are equipped with such, so that the devices can move into the transverse transfer lane without interference from the carriage and so that a stack of tubs can be moved from the carriage floor and into a lane, without the stack meeting resistance from an edge of the lane floor or lane rails, or an edge of the carriage when moved on to the carriage. The edges of the lane rails and carriage platform or frame may be rounded to ease this movement.

[0045] Each carriage preferably is configured with at least one vertical support member and preferably vertical support members supporting both sides of stacks in the transfer lane (the exposed sides of stacks when in the transfer lane). Thus, in some embodiments the carriage is equipped with a cage-like structure providing support frames on each side (the sides facing the direction of the transverse transfer lane) of the carriage.

[0046] Each carriage is preferably configured to engage with one or more rail running along the floor or walls of its ditch, to guide the movement of the carriage. In some embodiments wheels of the carriage engage with side rails running along the walls of the respective ditch. When equipped with a vertical support member, which may be a cage, the vertical support member or cage is in some embodiments extended to a top connector that engages with and moves along a guide arranged above said transverse transfer lane. In some embodiments the carriage is thus guided with both bottom guides (rails) and a top guide fixed on the ceiling of the cargo deck.

[0047] The movement of each carriage can be operated by any of various movement means which are as such known in the art, such as but not limited to a chain drive or belt drive, which may be arranged in the ditch running underneath the platform floor of the carriage, or from above cooperating with the mentioned optional top connector, or both.

[0048] In another aspect, the invention sets forth a system for transferring and arranging tubs in a cargo deck of a vessel, in particular but not limited to fish tubs in a fishing vessel, comprising: a front cargo section with at least two lanes that lie in a direction of the vessel and that have a length of at least one tub; an aft cargo section with more than two lanes that lie in a direction of the ship and that have a length of at least two tubs; a pair of loading and supply lifts configured to load the cargo deck with tubs into stacks of tubs to the front of the front cargo section, and to supply a processing deck above the cargo deck with tubs; a first transverse transfer lane with a first transfer carriage for transferring stacks of tubs along the transfer lane, in a transverse direction to the cargo deck, aft of the front cargo section and front of the aft cargo section; a second transverse transfer lane with a second transfer carriage for transferring stacks of tubs along the transfer lane in a transverse direction, aft of the aft cargo section; for each lane at least one device as described above herein referred to as a device, to move stacks along said lane in a transfer direction towards the front or rear of the lane, such that in each cargo section there is at least one lane with a device that moves stacks in the front direction and at least one lane with a device that moves stacks in the rear direction; said first and second transfer carriages are configured for receiving a stack of tubs from an aligned lane and for allowing a stack of tubs to be removed from the transfer carriage and into an aligned lane.

[0049] It is an advantage of the invention that the cargo deck can be divided into at least two sections, a front cargo section and an aft section, where the aft cargo section has larger width than the front cargo section. This way, the cargo deck can be more efficiently used, as a regular fishing vessel has a hull that is narrower near the bow. This by necessity means that the available space in the cargo deck is narrower closer to the bow. Thus, having a front cargo section with less width (fewer rows of tubs) can give more efficient use of the available space of the cargo deck.

[0050] DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0051] The present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings using reference numbers in the drawings to identify the individual components of the invention. The skilled person will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

[0052] FIG. 1a and 1 b show a device of the invention arranged in lane rails, with the bottom part of a transfer carriage seen aft of the lane rails. I 1a the device is in a rear position and in FIG. 1 b the device has moved forward.

[0053] FIG.2 shows a top view of the device in FIGS. 1.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device.

[0055] FIG 4. shows a close-up view of a finger holder with upper and lower fingers in retracted position and blocks of runners of tubs.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows another close-up view showing an upper finger and a lower finger engaging with tub parts.

[0057] FIG 6. shows a layer view exposing the lower fingers, where everything above (including the upper fingers) is not shown.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows an end-view of the device and an aligned tub, on lane rails.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows the same view as FIG. 7, with lower fingers shown in extended position.

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a part of an embodiment of the device of the system. FIG. 10 shows the same view as 9 except without enclosing box and finger holder lids, to expose the inner parts.

[0061] FIGS. 11a-c show perspective view of another embodiment of the device.

[0062] FIG: 12a shows end view of a tub and device on lane rails.

[0063] FIG. 12b shows the same view as 3a but with fingers in folded position.

[0064] FIG. 13a shows bottom view of device fully extended to its front-most position.

[0065] FIG. 13b shows same view as 13a but the device in an aft-most position.

[0066] FIG. 14 shows a perspective aft view of the device from FIGS13a-b.

[0067] FIGS. 15a and 15b show perspective views of the embodiment of the device from FIGS. 13 and 14, arranged between lane rails.

[0068] FIG. 16 shows a top view of a system with the devices of the invention.

[0069] FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the system from FIG. 16.

[0070] FIG. 18 shows the system from FIGS. 16 and 17, fully loaded with cargo tubs.

[0071] FIG. 19 shows a transfer carriage of the system, with a carriage cage.

[0072] FIG. 20 shows a top-view of a system.

[0073] FIG. 21 shows a side view of the system from FIG. 20.

[0074] FIG. 22a shows a carriage in a transverse transfer lane of a system of the invention.

[0075] FIG. 22b shows the transfer carriage by itself.

[0076] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described, referring to the figures. These examples are provided to provide further understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope. List of numbered features: system (1) ditch (50) cargo deck (2) ditch floor (51) front cargo section (3) ditch rails (52) aft cargo section (4) carriage platform (54) lanes (5) wheels (55) lane rails (6) carriage cage (56) loading and supply lifts (7,8) top connector (58) first transverse transfer lane (11) ditch walls (59) second transverse transfer lane (12) upper rail (57) first transfer carriage (13) support dividers (60) second transfer carriage (14) guide profile (65) third transverse transfer lane (15) divider slot (66) third transfer carriage (16) bottom rail (67) motor (17) tub (80) device (30) long ends (81) first pair of lower fingers (31 ,31’) short ends (82) second pair of lower fingers (32,32’) runner boards (83) rear fingers / upper fingers(33,33’) forklift openings (84) longitudinal moving assembly (34) fastening support (85) jointed arms (35,35’) end runner block (86) jointed arms (36,36’) center runner block (87) added arms (37,37’) upper torsion spring (88) box (38) lower torsion spring (89) inner members (39) modular frame (90) slits (40) frame connector (91) outer panels (41) spring bolt (92) rear finger holder (42) adjustment nut (93) piston (43) support surface (94) tube (44) distal part of finger (95) arm attachments (45) proximal part of finger (96) finger holder (46) steel wire (97) transfer direction (47) wire fixture (98) pivot pins (48) support (49) Examples of suitable fish tubs are those provided by SAEPLAST Iceland ehf. (Dalvik, Iceland) in different sizes, such as Saeplast 460, which has a length of 123 cm, width of 103 cm and 58 cm height, and an internal volume of 448 L. The company also provides tubs of different height but with the same footprint, which are inter stackable. Another provider of useful tubs for the system of the invention is Borgarplast ehf. (Mosfellsbaer, Iceland), which provides tubs of similar size, such as the Borgarplast 460 PE Insulated Fish, Meat & Poultry Container, having a length of 122 cm, width of 103 cm, 58 cm height and 430L volume.

[0078] FIGS. 1a and 1 b show a device (30) comprising a longitudinal moving assembly which is based on a hydraulic jack that has a piston (43) and a tube (44), the tube being secured to the cargo floor with a fastening support (85) whereas the piston is fixedly attached to a modular frame (90) of the assembly, with attached finger holders (42). Each finger holder (46) holds a pair of lower fingers (31 , 3T) and a pair of upper fingers (31. Each finger is held by a pivoting pin that is fastened to the finger holder. A proximal part of each finger is joined to a tension spring, thus the lower fingers are joined to lower tension springs (89) and the upper fingers joined to upper tension springs (88), with steel wires (97). The tension springs interact with the fingers so that their default position is an extended position, with the fingers extending transversely to the device, beyond the tub bottom space width of tubs (80) suited for the device. The figures show the lowermost parts of tubs, i.e. parts of the runners of the tubs but the main part of the tubs are not shown. Thus, there are shown runner boards (83) and the blocks connected the runner boards to the tub, end runner blocks (86) and center runner blocks (87), where the indications a, b, c refer to different tubs (i.e. 83a, 86a 87a are parts of the same tub). The tub runner boards sit on lane rails (6), along which the tubs can be moved by the device.

[0079] In FIG. 1a the jack of the device is contracted so that the device is in its most aft position. In this position the rear end of the device, i.e. part of rear finger holder (42) extends aft of the lane rails (6) to a tub (a) which is placed rear of the device and aligned with the device. The rear fingers (33) extend into forklift openings of the tub a and can thereby pull the tub, by pushing on its end blocks (86a), in the direction into the lane of the device (to the right, in the figure), as the jack is extended. In FIG. 1b the device has moved, by extending the piston (43) of the jack and now the tub a is fully in the lane. Aft of the lane is a transfer carriage (13) (its lower parts), with a carriage platform (54) and wheels (55).

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a device, configured with two finger holders, a rear finger holder (42) and one finger holder (46) front of the rear finger holder. The finger holder (46) has two pivot pins, one for a lower finger (31 ,32) and one for an upper finger (33). The modular frame (90) is connected to the piston (44) of the jack with a frame connector (91). The jack is fixed to the cargo floor via a fastening support (85.)

[0081] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device and shows how the device is arranged between parallel lane rails (6).

[0082] FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of a finger holder (46) and how it interacts with blocks (86,87) of tubs. Both the upper finger (33) and the lower finger (32) are in a retracted position. Upper tension spring (88) is joined via a steel wire (91) to a proximal part (90) (not visible in this fig.). The tension spring (88) is fastened ti the modular frame (90) with a bolt (92).

[0083] FIG. 5 shows a view where an upper plate of the finger holder (46) is removed exposing the fingers, which are in extended position. The upper finger (33) has a distal part (extended part) (95) and a proximal part (96). The proximal part meets a support surface (94). The steel wire (91) from the tension spring (88) is bent around the finger to a wire fixture (98) on the finger. Thus, when the device moves forward (to the right in the fig.) the distal part (95) of the finger pushes on the end block (86a) and the support surface (96) stops the finger from turning further clockwise. The support surface (96) is preferably arranged with a dampener to reduce noise when the fingers pivot from retracted position to extended position. The lower finger has a corresponding fastening arrangement with a lower tension spring (89). Both tension springs (upper and lower) are each fastened with a bolt (92) and has an adjustment nut (93). The lower finger (31) interacts with the runner board (83b) of the next adjacent tub.

[0084] FIG. 6 exposes a lower layer to show more clearly the lower finger and its interaction with the tub, the parts of the device in the height of the upper fingers and above are not shown. The lower finger (31 ) distal part (95) meets the end of the runner board (83b) that rests on lane rail (6). The finger can pivot on pivot pin (48). The lower tension spring (89) is joined via steel wire (91) to the proximal part (96) of the finger, such that when the dive moves in the rear direction (to the left in the fig.) and the finger meets resistance, it can pivot to a retracted position, stretching the tension spring, when the resistance is removed, the spring pulls the finger ot the extended position, until the proximal part meets the support surface (94) that stops the finger.

[0085] FIG. 7 shows an end-view of a tub (80) placed in a lane with lane rails (6) on top of and engaged with a device (30). Upper fingers (33,33’) are positioned at a height to engage with forklift openings (84) of the tub (80) whereas lower fingers (31 , 3T) can engage with runner boards (83) of a tub. It is shown how the lane rails (6) in this embodiment lift the tubs off the lane floor. The runner boards (83) of the tub sit on the lane rails (6) and the same steel profile form bottom rails (67) that are fastened to the cargo deck. Supports (49) support the finger holders. In this view the upper fingers (33) are in extended position whereas the lower fingers (31) (behind the upper fingers in this view) are folded to retracted position.

[0086] The device is fastened to the lane floor by means of a fastening support (85) that is fixed to the tube (44) of the jack of the moving assembly of the device.

[0087] FIG. 8 shows the same view as FIG. 7 but now showing the lower fingers (31 , 3T) in extended position, engaging with runner boards (83) of the tub (80). fingers in a folded (not extended) position.

[0088] FIGS. 9 and 10 shows an alternative embodiment without tension springs. Outer panels (41) are fixed to the outside of inner members (39), where the outer panels (41) are preferably from nylon or the like strong plastic material to give low friction movement relative to outer panel walls of box (38) (shown in FIG. 9, removed in FIG. 10) that encloses the inner members and outer panels. Jointed arms (35,35’) are attached to the inner members (39) with arm attachments (45) that are aligned with slits (40) on the box (38). As the piston (43) of the jack extends in its movement direction (47) it moves the inner members (39) along with the arm attachments (45) fixed thereto. With the first approx. 10 cm of movement of the rod (43) and inner members, the jointed arms (35, 35’, 36, 36’) act to make the lower fingers (31 , 3T, 32, 32’) pivot around their pivot pins (48) so that the fingers pivot into extended position, as will the upper fingers (rear fingers) (33,33’). When the arm attachments (45) have moved with the inner members (39,41) to reach the end of the slits (40) the box (38) moves along together with the finger holders (42,46). During this second phase of movement the fingers will push tubs that they interact with. FIG. 10 shows the device without the box (38) and the lids of the finger holder (46) and distal finger holder (42), to show the interior of the device.

[0089] The FIGS. 9 and 10 further show the different height of the lower fingers (“base fingers”) (31 , 3T, 32,32’) and upper fingers (“rear fingers”) (33,33’), as the lower fingers are positioned to push the bottom boards of the runners of tubs and the height of the upper fingers, , positioned to engage with forklift openings in the runners of tubs and push (pull) a tub that way, just as in the embodiment depicted in FIGS 1-8.

[0090] FIGS. 11a-c show an alternative embodiment of the device, where FIG 11a shows fingers in a retracted position, FIG 11 b shows fingers in an extended position and in FIG. 11c the lids of the rear most finger holder and its next finger holder and part of a lid of the modular frame have been removed to expose the interior of this embodiment.

[0091] FIG. 12a shows an end-view of a tub (80) placed in a lane with lane rails (6) on top of and engaged with a device (30). The upper fingers (33,33’) are positioned at a height to engage with forklift openings (84) of the tub (80) whereas lower fingers (32,32’) engage with runner boards (83) of a tub. In this view, the tub (80) that is shown is rear of the device (closer to the viewer) and both the lower fingers (32,32’) and upper fingers (33,33’) are in extended position. In FIG. 12b the device has been moved in the rear direction (towards the viewer) so that the fingers have foled to a retracted position. the lane rails (6) lift the tubs off the lane floor. The runner boards (83) of the tub sit on the lane rails (6). In this embodiment the lane rails (6) are made from the same shaped steel plate as the next lane rail (6) in the next adjacent lane, and bottom rails (67) fix the lane rails to the cargo deck. Supports (49) which can be from nylon or other strong plastic lie along the bottom rails (67). Guide profiles (65) ensure correct alignment of the tubs. Divider slots (66) are for placing the dividers (60) (not shown here).

[0092] The device is fastened to the lane floor by means of a fastening support (48) that is fixed to the tube (44) of the jack of the movement assembly (34) of the device.

[0093] FIG. 12b shows the same view as 6a but the fingers in a folded (not extended) position.

[0094] The device in this embodiment is typically configured with a pair of lower fingers for each tub length of its lane, for example, if a lane has a length of five tubs, its device has five pair of pushing fingers, and the additional pair of upper fingers fingers, that act as pulling fingers to pull in to the lane a tub or stack of tubs aft of the lane and aligned with the lane.

[0095] FIG. 13a shows a bottom view of a device with five pairs of the lower fingers and a pair of upper fingers, in this view the device is in its frontmost position. The tub to the far left represents a tub in the transverse transfer lane aft of this lane of five tubs.

[0096] FIG 13b shows the same device now in its aft most position, where the distal end (aft end) of the device extends into the transverse transfer lane and underneath the tub which is seen there so that the pair of upper fingers (rear fingers) can engage with forklift openings in the runners of that tub and pull it into the lane as the device would at the same time push the rightmost tub / stack out of the lane.

[0097] Thus, FIG. 13a shows a bottom view of a device engaged with a line of tubs (80) where the jack piston (43) and movement assembly (34) is in a most extended front position. The rear finger holder (42) holds arm (not visible) for upper fingers (rear fingers) that would engage with forklift openings and a distalmost pair of lower fingers (base fingers), whereas other finger holders (46) hold central lower finger pairs through their respective jointed arms. The fastening support (48) is fixed to the lane floor.

[0098] FIG. 13b shows the same view as 13a but with device now in an aft-most position, i.e. the piston (43) of the jack is fully retracted. In this position the fingers are all folded back, but as the jack extends to move the device in the front direction (its transfer direction) the inner members of the movement assembly would first move (first movement phase) and thereby the fingers pivot to an extended position, and as the arm attachments (45) have moved along the slits on the outer panels / box (38) the box and finger holders move along thus moving the fingers in a translational movement and thereby also the engaged line of tubs are moved in the transfer direction.

[0099] FIG. 14 shows a perspective end-view of the device sitting in lane rails (6).

[0100] FIGS. 15a and 15b show perspective views of the embodiment of the device from FIGS. 11 and 13, sitting in lane rails.

[0101] FIG.16 shows a top-view overview of a system (1) of devices (30) of the invention arranged in lanes (5) onboard a cargo deck (2) of a fishing vessel. The system as shown comprises a front cargo section (3), which is the section to the right (towards the bow) which has four lanes (5). Aft of the front cargo section is an aft cargo section (4) with eight lanes (5) which are longer and each have a length corresponding to five tubs. For simplicity the system is shown empty of any tubs. The system includes a first transverse transfer lane (11) aft of the front cargo section and a second transverse transfer lane (12) aft of the aft cargo section and a third transvers transfer lane in front of the front cargo section. Two lifts (loading and supply lifts) (7,8) are arranged in the front section of the system. The transverse transfer lanes each have a transfer carriage (13,14,15) for transferring tubs transversely across the system and for bringing tubs to a lane and aligning it with the lane so that a device (30) of an aligned lane can pull the tub from the carriage and into the lane, or, in the lanes with oppositely arranged devices (that transfer tubs in the opposite direction), the carriage can receive a tub pushed by the device and into the transverse transfer lane.

[0102] FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the cargo deck in FIG. 16, this view also includes (for the front cargo section (3)) support dividers between lanes. It also shows a carriage cage (56) mounted on the transfer carriage (13) for supporting a stack of tubs from falling sideways in the transverse transfer lane. Motors (17) are shown that drive chains (not shown) to move the transfer carriages.

[0103] FIG. 18 shows the same system as in FIG 17 but fully loaded with tubs.

[0104] FIG. 19 depicts the transfer carriage (11 ,13,14) with a carriage cage (56). The carriage cage has open sides towards the lanes, parallel to its wheels (55). On top of the cage are to connectors (58), configured in this embodiments as rollers, that help keep the carriage top part aligned as the rollers engage with an upper rail (57) that is seen in FIG. 17. FIG. 20 shows a top-view overview of a similar system (1) onboard a cargo deck (2) of a fishing vessel. This system also comprises a front cargo section (3), which is the section to the right (towards the bow) which has four lanes (5) with a length corresponding to four tubs. Aft of the front cargo section is an aft cargo section (4) with eight lanes (5) and a length of five tubs. For simplicity the system is shown empty of any tubs and devices are not shown.

[0105] In the lower right corner of the front cargo section (3) (starboard side, towards bow) is a pair of loading and supply lifts (7,8). The loading and supply lifts in this configuration each has a fork or platform for lifting a tub or stack of tub from beneath. Between the front cargo section and aft cargo section is a first transverse transfer lane (11) with a first transfer carriage (13). Aft of the aft cargo section (4) is a second transverse transfer lane (12) with a second transfer carriage (14). In the front of the front cargo section on the port side of the loading and supply lifts (7,8) is a short third transverse transfer lane (15) with a third transfer carriage (16), only across the two lanes (5c, 5d) next to the lanes with the lifts (5a, 5b). Between adjacent lanes are support dividers (60). On the floor of the lanes (5) are lane rails (6) extending along the lanes, dimensioned to fit under runner boards (83) of tubs (80). In the starboard side lane (5) of the aft cargo section (4) is arranged a cargo shaft (70) with a cargo cage (71) for unloading from the cargo deck stacks of tubs by lifting the cargo cage (71) with an external crane. The transfer carriages (13,14,15) comprise a platform (54) which can comprise, as shown here, runners dimensioned to receive and fit under the runner boards (83) of tubs (80) or alternatively a plate. The carriages further each comprise a cage (56) to provide vertical support for stacks of tubs Running above and along the transverse transfer lanes (11 ,12) are upper rails (57) that engage with top connectors (58) of cages (56) of the transfer carriages (13,14,15).

[0106] FIG. 21 shows a sideview of the system from FIG. 20. This figure illustrates how the transverse transfer lanes (11 ,12) are placed in ditches (50) that extend below the main floor of the cargo deck, typically by about 20-25 cm. Along the walls (59) of the ditches are ditch rails (52) in which wheels (55) of the respective carriage fit and are guided by.

[0107] FIGS. 22a and 22b show a transfer carriage (13) in the first transverse transfer lane (11) between the front (3) and aft (4) cargo sections of the system from figs. 20 and 21 n. The carriage (13) has wheels (55) that fit in and are guided by ditch rails (52) that run along the walls (59) of the ditch (50) of the transverse transfer lane (11). The carriage (13) has a carriage platform (54) on which the lower-most tub would sit and a carriage cage (56) that provides vertical support for a stack of tubs in the carriage. On the top of the carriage cage (56) is a top connector (58) that engages with an upper rail (57) fastened to the ceiling (not shown) of a cargo deck. As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0108] Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to” and are not intended to exclude other components.

[0109] The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e. , "about 3" shall also cover exactly 3 or "substantially constant" shall also cover exactly constant).

[0110] The term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.

[0111] It will be appreciated that variations to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0112] All of the features and / or steps disclosed in the specification can be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of the features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. In particular, preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any combination.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device (30) for horizontal translational movement of one or more cargo tubs (80) or stacks of stackable cargo tubs on a cargo storage surface, which tubs have lengthwise arranged pallet-like tub runners arranged on the bottom of the tubs adjacent to and parallel with the long edges of the bottom of the tubs, the tubs having an open bottom space extending lengthwise between the tub runners defining a tub bottom space width, the device is characterised by comprising: a longitudinal moving assembly (34) dimensioned to fit between said tub runners, having a moveable part and fixed part configured to be fixed to the cargo storage surface, with at least one first pair of joined transversely extending fingers (31 ,31’) connected to the moveable part, the fingers configured pivotable so that they can pivot out in opposite directions to an extended position around respective pivot pins which are arranged in a fixed location to the moveable part, such that the fingers extend in the extended position beyond the bottom space width, and can pivot back to a retracted position where the fingers do not extend beyond the tub bottom space width, such that when a cargo tub is placed above and aligned with the device, and as the moveable part of the longitudinal moving assembly (34) moves in a transfer direction the fingers (31 ,31’) can push in extended position in said direction a cargo tub (80) as the fingers engage with the tub runners of the cargo tub.

2. The device (30) of claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal moving assembly (34) comprises a jack such as a hydraulic jack, with a piston (43) and tube (44), one of said piston and tube acting as the moveable part and being connected to a support holding said fingers and the other of said piston or tube being connected to a fastening support (85) forming said fixed part, to be fixedly connected to said cargo storage surface.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein said fingers are configured such that when the moving assembly (34) moves in the transfer direction, the device acts to position the fingers (31 , 3T) in the extended position, and when the moving assembly (34) moves in the opposite direction, the fingers (31 , 3T) can fold to the retracted position, or at least in case they meet resistance when moved in the opposite direction.

4. The device (30) of any claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one pair of rear fingers (33,33’) configured so that when the longitudinal moving assembly (34) of the device (30) is in an aft position with its rear end extending in the aft direction, the rear fingers (33,33’) can extend beyond the tub runner width and are configured and arranged so that they will engage with openings in the runners of a tub aft of and aligned with said device to pull said tub in thetransfer direction of the device (30) when the device (30) moves from the aft position in its transfer direction.

5. The device (30) of claim 4, wherein said at least one first pair of fingers (31 ,31 ’) and said at least one pair of rear fingers (33,33’) are configured and joined to the device such that when the device moves opposite to its transfer direction the fingers (31 , 3T, 33, 33’) can fold back to the retracted position if they meet resistance.

6. The device (30) of claim 5, wherein each of said fingers comprises a distal part extending beyond the bottom space width in the extended position, and a proximal part located on the opposite side of the pivoting pin of the finger relative to the distal part, the proximal part being connected to a tension spring which is connected to the moving part, such that folding of the finger in to a retracted position stretches the tension spring, and upon release of resistance to movement opposite to the device transfer direction, the tension spring returns the finger back to the extended position.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said longitudinal moving assembly (34) comprises a modular frame fixedly connected to the moveable part, the fingers (31 , 3T) being connected via their pivot pins that are rotatably connected to a finger holder which is fixedly connected to the modular frame, the distal parts of the fingers are each connected respectively to the modular frame via a respective wire or hook extending to its respective tension spring which is connected to the modular frame.

8. The device (30) of any of the claims 4 to 7, wherein said at least one first pair of fingers (31 , 3T) are arranged at a height so that they will engage with and push on bottom boards of the runners of a tub (80) arranged on top of the device, and said at least one pair of rear fingers (33,33’) is arranged at a height so that they will engage with fork lift openings of said runners and can pull the tub by pushing on blocks of the runners that connect the bottom boards to the tub.

9. The device of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said longitudinal moving assembly (34) comprises parallel inner members (39) along the axis of the device with affixed pair of arm attachments (45) to which are joined jointed arms (35,35’, 36,36’) to which the fingers (31 , 3T) are connected, and outer panels (41) with slits (40) aligned with said arm attachments (45) which allow a degree of translational movement of the arm attachments (45) within and with respect to the slits (40), the outer panels (41) being fixed to an finger holder (46) for each pair of arm attachments (45), said each finger holder (46) having pivot pins (48) on which fingers of respective jointed arms pivot as the inner members (39) move relative to the outer panels10. A system (1) for transferring and arranging cargo tubs (80) as defined in claim 1 on a cargo storage surface comprising: a plurality of devices (30) according to claim 1 , in at least one set of linear lanes, with at least one device (30) in each lane, the lanes are aligned in parallel and with a transverse transfer lane adjacent and transverse to each set of said at least one set of lanes; for each transverse transfer lane a transfer carriage (13,14) for transferring tubs (80) or stacks of tubs along the transverse transfer lane, in a transverse direction to said set of lanes, said transfer carriage (13,14) configured for receiving a tub (80) or stack of tubs from a lane which the transfer carriage is aligned with and for allowing a stack of tubs to be removed from the transfer carriage (13,14) and into an aligned lane; each said device (30) configured so that it can engage with a lowermost tub in a stack on said transfer carriage in the transverse transfer lane aft of the device’s transfer direction when the stack is aligned with its lane, and pull said stack into the lane as the device moves its stacks or stacks in its transfer direction.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said transverse transfer lane is arranged in a ditch (50) to accommodate the transfer carriage (13,14), the transfer carriage having a carriage platform (54) for receiving a tub or stack of tubs, said carriage platform being at substantially the same height as lane rails which are arranged in each of the lanes and fit under runner boards of cargo tubs aligned in the lanes.

12. The system of claim 10 or 11 , further comprising support dividers arranged in between adjacent lanes.

13. The system of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein each said transfer carriage (13,14) comprises a carriage cage (56) that provides vertical support to long ends of a stack of tubs in said transfer carriage.

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