Container handler alignment system and method

摘要

A system and method for assisting drivers of Bomb Carts and Shuttle Carriers to position their vehicles appropriately for loading and unloading containers at a gantry crane. The system uses laser scanners mounted at various levels on the gantry crane sill beams to determine the type, position, orientation and skew angle of the vehicles as well as whether the vehicles are in a loaded or unloaded condition. In addition, the system provides indicator devices to direct drivers how to move their vehicles.

主权项

1. A method for assisting drivers of Bomb Cart and Shuttle Carrier vehicles in positioning a vehicle in one of several lanes located in the portal area and backreach area beneath a gantry crane, the vehicle either unloaded or loaded with one or more containers, for further loading or unloading of containers beneath the crane, the method comprising:
activating first laser scanners attached to both exterior and interior sides of a landside sill beam of a gantry crane at approximately longitudinal center thereof at a selected height above a landside rail and activating second laser scanners attached to both the exterior and interior sides of the landside sill beam at approximately longitudinal center thereof at a different height above the landside rail; sending emission return data from each of the first and second laser scanners to a computer, which data is received from first and second targets attached, respectively to a vehicle and container, disposed beneath the crane; determining from the emission return data vehicle position, container length of any container loaded on the vehicle, a number of containers loaded on the vehicle, position offset of each container from a centerline of the crane, and distance of each container from the waterside sill beam; and using a direction indicator, directing a driver of the vehicle on whether re-positioning of the vehicle and any container loaded on the vehicle is needed.