Eco-friendly smart container capable of measuring cargo weight

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container designed to prevent cargo corrosion, the container having corrugated valleys disposed on the bottom and scales capable of measuring cargo weight installed in rectangular recesses of the bottom. The device can measure from several tons up to tens of tons, while also having a communications function for automatically transmitting the measured information to a remote server. Therefore, the weight of cargo transported by the container can be measured and managed, thus enabling monitoring of the weight data. In addition, plates for weight measurement further comprise lashing rings for securing cargo and thus can be used to secure cargo.

Description

Eco-friendly smart containers capable of measuring cargo weight

[0001] The present invention relates to an eco-friendly smart container equipped with a means for measuring the weight of cargo accommodated inside the container, and more specifically, to a technology for calculating the weight of cargo loaded inside the container by placing a plate for measuring the weight of cargo on the bottom of the container and measuring the load applied by a forklift wheel transporting the cargo.

[0002] The transportation sector accounts for 24% of global industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Of this, 29.4% comes from freight trucks, 10.6% from ships, 11.6% from aircraft, and 45.1% from passenger cars. The European Union (EU) has decided to implement the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) starting in January 2026. This system requires the purchase of emission credits (CBAM certificates) for carbon emissions exceeding EU standards during the manufacturing process of exported goods.

[0003] While the EU is actively working to prevent global warming by introducing strict carbon emission restrictions, the remaining challenge is to calculate the carbon emissions associated with transporting raw materials needed to manufacture export goods. To quantify this, the weight of the cargo must be known. In other words, the weight of cargo transported in containers must be measured.

[0004] Therefore, the weight of cargo loaded inside containers transported by ships must be measured and a technology capable of monitoring this is required. Currently, some forklifts can measure the weight while the forklift fork is inserted into the pallet and lifting the cargo. However, there is a shortage of forklifts equipped with this function, and it is very difficult to calculate and manage the total weight of cargo loaded inside a container by measuring the weight of each cargo using a forklift. Furthermore, there is a method of measuring the weight of cargo by installing a weighbridge at the entrance or exit of a dock or container storage yard where containers are stored. However, these weighbridges are installed in specific areas, such as docks, making it difficult to measure the weight of cargo in areas without a weighbridge.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device capable of measuring the weight of cargo in a container itself and automatically transmitting the measured weight information to a remote server.

[0006] The present invention relates to an eco-friendly smart container in which the weight of cargo loaded inside is automatically measured, and its specific structure is as follows.

[0007] The container of the present invention is formed so that the inner bottom has a folded portion made of steel material, and a measuring device for measuring weight is placed in this folded portion. That is, a folded portion (154) in the shape of a square groove is formed in the longitudinal direction at a certain interval on the bottom surface (150) on which the cargo to be loaded is placed, and a weight measuring module (200) is placed in the groove of the folded portion so as to detect the load applied to the weight measuring module by the cargo to be loaded.

[0008] A plate (250, 260) is further included, which is placed in contact with the upper surface of the weight measurement module and is placed at a certain distance from the plane of the bottom surface of the container, so that the weight measurement module detects the load applied to the plate by cargo loaded inside the container.

[0009] Here, the weight measurement module (200) may include a lower body (242) arranged in contact with the bottom of the bending portion, an upper body (244) arranged in contact with the lower surface of the plate on the upper side of the lower body, a load cell (246) positioned between the lower body and the upper body and detecting a load applied by the upper body, and a communication module (260) that stores and transmits load data detected by the load cell to the outside.

[0010] The above plates (250, 260) are composed of a first plate (250) positioned adjacent to the container door and a second plate (260) positioned inside the container than the first plate, and the weight measurement module (200) can be configured to be composed of a first weight measurement module (200-1) positioned below the first plate (250) and a second weight measurement module (200-2) positioned below the second plate (260).

[0011] The container may further include a lashing ring (252) provided on the upper surface or side surface of the plate (250, 260) and formed to be foldable to the side for securing cargo loaded inside the container, and a ring groove (253) formed on the upper surface of the plate for receiving the lashing ring when folded.

[0012] The present invention enables the weight of cargo to be automatically measured during the process of a forklift loading and unloading cargo into a container through the above configuration, and the measured weight information can be automatically transmitted to a remote server, thereby enabling cargo weight measurement and monitoring.

[0013] The present invention also enables accurate checking of not only the weight of individual cargo loaded into a container but also the weight of all containers loaded onto a ship by the above method, thereby increasing the operational efficiency of containers transported by the ship and enabling appropriate distribution of the weight of all containers loaded onto the ship, thereby improving ship stability.

[0014] Figure 1 is an overall view of a container according to the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 is a view showing a weight measuring device installed on the bottom base of a container according to the present invention.

[0016] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a plate and a weight measuring module as part of a container weight measuring device according to the present invention, respectively.

[0017] Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of a container weight measuring device according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the principle of measuring the weight of cargo while a forklift loads cargo into a container using a container weight measuring device according to the present invention.

[0019] The purpose, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the terms used are defined based on the functions of the present invention and may vary depending on the user's intentions or practices. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be based on the overall content of this specification.

[0020] Furthermore, when describing components of the present invention, components with the same name may be given different reference numerals depending on the drawing, and the same reference numerals may be given even in different drawings. However, even in such cases, this does not mean that the components have different functions depending on the embodiment, or that they have the same function in different embodiments, and the function of each component should be determined based on the description of each component in the embodiment.

[0021] Additionally, unless specifically defined otherwise herein, the technical terms used herein should be interpreted in the same manner as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and should not be interpreted in an overly comprehensive or overly narrow sense. Furthermore, singular expressions used herein include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0022] In this application, terms such as “comprises” or “comprising” should not be construed to necessarily include all of the components or steps described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or some of the steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a general view of a container according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view of a weight measuring device installed on a bottom base of a container according to the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 each illustrate a plate and a weight measuring module as part of a container weight measuring device according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a container weight measuring device according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the principle of measuring the weight of cargo while a forklift loads cargo into a container using a container weight measuring device according to the present invention.

[0024] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings below.

[0025] Referring to Fig. 1, the container (100) of the present invention has a front surface (120), an upper surface (140), and both sides (160) formed of metal plates, and a rear surface formed to be openable and closable by a door (180). In addition, the bottom surface (150) of the container is a steel base formed of a steel material and having a bend, and is composed of a flat surface (152) forming a bottom portion that is in contact with the loaded cargo, and a square groove-shaped groove (154) formed between the flat surfaces.

[0026] The container of the present invention has a structure that is completely sealed, as there is no passage for air to enter the upper surface, lower surface, and side walls. In other words, the container of the present invention has an inner bottom welded to the side, and the entire bottom is formed of a steel base (the existing container has a wooden floor), thereby blocking the path for external air to enter, thereby maintaining the humidity inside the container at a necessary level. In Fig. 1, 170 is a frame member located at the rear of the container body, which is a portion of the container body that faces the door (180) when it is closed, and is a square frame. In the present invention, a weight measuring device according to the present invention is placed in the groove of the folded bottom of the container illustrated in Fig. 1, which will be described below with reference to Fig. 2.

[0027] The present invention is an eco-friendly smart container that automatically measures the weight of cargo loaded inside, and a folded portion (154) is formed along the longitudinal direction of the container on the inner bottom surface (150) of the container. The folded portion is formed by folding a steel material in the longitudinal direction and is spaced apart from each other at a certain interval in the transverse direction to have a plurality of folded portions. In the drawing of the present invention, the folded portions are three in the longitudinal direction, but are not limited to three. A measuring device for measuring the weight of the cargo is placed on this folded portion (154).

[0028] In other words, the cargo to be loaded is placed on the bottom surface (150) of the container, similar to the existing method, but by embedding a weight measuring module (200) for weight measurement in the above-mentioned bending groove, the weight of the cargo inside the container becomes very simple.

[0029] Rather than the cargo directly pressing the weight measurement module (200), it is configured to apply a load through a plate. That is, the weight measurement module (200) is embedded so as to be accommodated in the bending portion (154), and a plate (250, 260) is arranged on the upper surface of the weight measurement module (200). Since the cargo loaded inside the container is positioned on the plate, the load applied by the cargo is detected by the weight measurement module through the plate. Through this, the load applied by the cargo is evenly distributed and detected by the weight measurement module. By further including plates (250, 260) arranged at a certain interval on the bottom surface (150) of the container, the load applied by the cargo loaded inside the container to the plate is detected by the weight measurement module.

[0030] Here, the weight measurement module (200) is composed of a lower body (242) arranged in contact with the bottom of the bending portion, an upper body (244) provided on the upper side of the lower body, and a load cell (246) located within between them. The upper body (244) is arranged in contact with the lower surface of the plate, so that the upper body receives the load applied by the cargo. In addition, the upper body is formed to be able to move relative to the lower body in the up-and-down direction to a certain extent, so that the up-and-down movement is possible due to the weight of the cargo. In this process, the internal load cell (246) detects the load of the cargo.

[0031] In addition, the present invention may include a communication module (260) that stores and externally transmits load data detected by the load cell. Through this, cargo weight measurement and monitoring are enabled, such as by automatically transmitting the weight information measured by the load cell to a remote server, and the weight of all containers loaded on the ship can be appropriately distributed, thereby improving ship stability.

[0032] The above plates (250, 260) are composed of a first plate (250) arranged adjacent to the container door and a second plate (260) arranged inside the container rather than the first plate, and the weight measurement module (200) can be configured to be composed of a first weight measurement module (200-1) arranged below the first plate (250) and a second weight measurement module (200-2) arranged below the second plate (260). That is, the plates (250, 260) are composed of two plates that are separated from each other.

[0033] And, cargo loaded inside a container is secured with a suitable means to prevent movement during transportation. In the present invention, a lashing ring is arranged on the upper surface or the side of the plate. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a lashing ring (252) for securing cargo is positioned on the upper surface or the side of the plate (250, 260) and is formed to be foldable sideways. In order for the lashing ring that folds sideways to be accommodated inside the plate in a folded state, a ring groove (253) into which the lashing ring is inserted while lying down can be formed on the upper surface of the plate. Through this, the lashing ring is inserted into the ring groove in a sideways folded state so as not to impede the movement of the cargo or the movement of a forklift. The lashing ring located on the upper surface of the plate can be inserted into the ring groove (253), and the lashing ring located on the side of the plate can rotate sideways of the plate even without the ring groove. The illustrated lashing ring (252) and ring groove (253) are drawn somewhat larger for convenience of explanation, and the size of the lashing ring and ring groove can be changed to an appropriate size. In addition, the position and number of the lashing ring and ring groove can also be selected as appropriate positions by taking into account the size of the plate.

[0034] Hereinafter, with reference to Fig. 6, a method for measuring the weight of cargo inside a container is described.

[0035] As described above, the plates (250, 260) are composed of a first plate (250) positioned adjacent to the container door and a second plate (260) located inside the first plate. A first weight measurement module (200-1) is positioned below the first plate (250), and a second weight measurement module (200-2) is positioned below the second plate (260).

[0036] The cargo (W1, W2) loaded inside the container is loaded using a forklift as illustrated in Fig. 6. At this time, the total weight of the cargo loaded inside the container can be calculated from the change in weight data measured by the first weight measurement module (200-1) and the second weight measurement module (200-2).

[0037] An example of calculating the weight of loaded cargo is as follows:

[0038] A forklift carrying cargo W1 enters a container and first passes through the first weight measurement module (200-1) and then the second weight measurement module (200-2). Therefore, the weight data appears in the order of the first weight measurement module (200-1) -> second weight measurement module (200-2). When the cargo W1 is put down inside the container and exited, the order is reversed from the entry, so the forklift weight appears first in the second weight measurement module (200-2), and then the weight data appears in the first weight measurement module (200-1).

[0039] This confirms that the cargo W1 is fully loaded inside the container, and the net weight of the cargo W1 can be calculated by considering the values ​​measured by the first weight measurement module (200-1) and the second weight measurement module (200-2) and the load of the forklift itself. In other words, the weight information can be calculated from the temporal change of the weight data obtained from the two weight measurement modules. The weight information that appears within the simultaneous range in the two weight measurement modules is calculated as the net weight. Then, the weight of the subsequent cargo W2 is measured in the same manner.

[0040] In this way, the weight accumulated inside the container is expressed as W1 + W2. From then on, the weights of W3, W4, etc. are detected in the same way, and through this process, the accumulated weight is finally expressed as the total weight of the cargo loaded in the container. This is an example of a method for detecting the weight loaded inside the container, and other methods may be used while utilizing the weight measuring device of the present invention. When unloading cargo inside the container, the weight can be calculated by various logical combinations performed in a similar reverse order.

Claims

1. A plurality of rectangular groove-shaped bends formed in a longitudinal direction parallel to the bottom surface (150) made of steel material; and It includes a weight measuring module (200) placed in the above bending section; An eco-friendly smart container that can measure the weight of cargo by detecting the load applied to the weight measurement module by cargo loaded inside the container.

2. In paragraph 1, It further includes a plate (250, 260) which is placed in contact with the upper surface of the weight measurement module and is placed at a certain distance from the bottom surface of the container; An eco-friendly smart container capable of measuring the weight of cargo, characterized in that the weight measuring module detects the load applied to the plate by cargo loaded inside the container.

3. In the second paragraph, the weight measurement module (200) A lower body (242) arranged in contact with the bottom of the above-mentioned bending portion; An upper body (244) arranged so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the plate on the upper side of the lower body; and An eco-friendly smart container capable of measuring the weight of cargo, characterized by including a load cell (246) positioned between the lower body and the upper body and detecting the load applied by the upper body.

4. In the third paragraph, the weight measurement module (200) An eco-friendly smart container capable of measuring the weight of cargo, characterized in that it further includes a communication module (260) that stores the load data detected by the load cell and transmits it to the outside.

5. In paragraph 2, The above plates (250, 260) are composed of a first plate (250) positioned adjacent to the container door and a second plate (260) positioned further inside the container than the first plate. An eco-friendly smart container capable of measuring the weight of cargo, characterized in that the above weight measurement module (200) comprises a first weight measurement module (200-1) arranged below the first plate (250) and a second weight measurement module (200-2) arranged below the second plate (260).

6. In paragraph 2, A lashing ring (252) provided on the upper or side surface of the plate (250, 260) for securing cargo loaded inside the container and formed to be foldable to the side; and An eco-friendly smart container capable of measuring the weight of cargo, characterized in that it further includes a ring groove (253) formed on the upper surface of the plate to accommodate the ring for lashing when folded.

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