Gantry Lift Sensor Layout for Clearance-Free Grid Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gantry lift devices equipped with sensor apparatus for grid navigation face restrictions during loading operations due to the sensor apparatus protruding into the clearance profile, preventing navigation and container handling.
Innovation Solution
The sensor apparatus is arranged outside the clearance profile, allowing it to read marking elements next to the clearance profile, enabling unrestricted navigation and loading operations by positioning sensors on running gear unit supports, reducing the need for increased grid density and minimizing the lifting height required for container transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the sensor apparatus is positioned inside the clearance profile to read marking elements during navigation, then grid navigation can be achieved, but the sensor apparatus interferes with container handling operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the sensor apparatus laterally outside the clearance profile rather than inside it, changing the spatial dimension of sensor placement. This allows the sensors to read marking elements that are positioned along the lane edges without interfering with containers passing through the clearance profile during handling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor apparatus is extracted from the clearance profile area and positioned in a separate lateral zone. This separation removes the interference between navigation sensors and container handling operations, allowing both functions to occur simultaneously without conflict.
2Extent of automation
If marking elements are positioned within the clearance profile for navigation, then grid navigation is enabled, but the density of marking elements must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The marking elements are repositioned from within the clearance profile to lateral positions along the lane edges. This dimensional relocation allows fewer marking elements to be used while still providing sufficient navigation information, as sensors can read multiple lane positions from the lateral arrangement.
3Productivity
If the sensor apparatus reads marking elements during loading operations, then navigation continues, but the lifting height must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor apparatus and marking elements are extracted from the vertical clearance profile space and positioned laterally outside it. This removes the need for increased lifting height to accommodate sensors during loading operations, as the sensors remain in a lateral position that does not conflict with container vertical movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables uninterrupted automatic navigation and loading operations by positioning sensors outside the clearance profile, reducing the complexity of grid navigation and minimizing the number of marking elements required, while maintaining efficient container handling capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the marking elements are passive transponders or magnets. If the marking elements are designed as transponders, the designation of transponder navigation is also common.
Implementation Method 2
The grid navigation is also defined as the FROG method (Free Ranging On Grid). The FROG method is described in greater detail in relation to driverless, floor-bound transport vehicles having rubber tyres
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement of a gantry lifting device for handling containers, in particular ISO containers, having a sensor device for the navigation of the gantry lifting device and having a clearance profile which is formed such that the gantry lifting device can move across a container, and of a row of spaced-apart marking elements such that the gantry lifting device can be moved along the row of marking elements by means of raster navigation, where the row of marking elements can be read by the sensor device of the gantry lifting device. The sensor device, in an operating position, is arranged outside the clearance profile on the gantry lifting device so as, in the operating position, to read the row of marking elements for the navigation of the gantry lifting device, where the row of marking elements is arranged next to the clearance profile of the gantry lifting device.