Chassis alignment system

1. A method for aligning a truck chassis with a required position relative to a crane, in which the truck is scanned by a sensor, the method comprising:

locating the sensor on the crane in such a way that it will be able to scan at least one of a plurality of loading/unloading lanes,

scanning the truck, when it enters into one of the loading/unloading lanes, in order to detect/identify at least one edge of the truck,

measuring a distance between the identified edge of the truck and a fixed point on the crane, and

generating a signal that enables a truck driver to drive the truck into a required position in the loading/unloading lane for accurately receiving or delivering a container.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

scanning the truck, when it enters into one of the loading/unloading lanes, in order to detect/identify at least one edge of the truck in a crane direction, and one edge in a trolley direction.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a truck chassis type,

selecting a load position for the truck chassis type,

signaling that a truck chassis may drive into position towards said required position to receive a load.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

signaling when a first target on the truck chassis has been located.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:

signaling when the truck chassis is within a first predetermined distance of said required position.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

signaling when the truck chassis is within an ideal window position relative to said required position.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

signaling when the truck chassis has over-traveled beyond an ideal window position relative to said required position.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

signaling when the truck chassis has greatly over-traveled beyond an ideal window position relative to said required position.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

waiting a predetermined time when said truck chassis is determined to be in said required position.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

after a predetermined time has elapsed of signaling a measured position of the truck chassis in trolley direction, gantry direction, and height, to a crane control system.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor means comprises a laser scanner.

12. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the crane direction is a direction from the rear and/or front end of the truck and the trolley direction is from side to side of the truck.

13. The method according to claim 3 , wherein signaling that a truck chassis may drive into position towards said required position to receive a load comprises illuminating a light.

14. The method according to claim 4 , wherein signaling when a first target on the truck chassis has been located comprises intermittent illumination of a light.

15. The method according to claim 5 , wherein signaling when the truck chassis is within a first predetermined distance of said required position comprises steady illumination of a light.

16. The method according to claim 6 , wherein signaling when the truck chassis is within an ideal window position relative to said required position comprises illuminating a light.

17. The method according to claim 7 , wherein signaling when the truck chassis has over-traveled beyond an ideal window position relative to said required position comprises steady illumination of a light.

18. The method according to claim 8 , wherein signaling when the truck chassis has greatly over-traveled beyond an ideal window position relative to said required position comprises intermittent illumination of a light.

19. A system for aligning a truck chassis in relation to a crane, including a sensor means for identifying the truck position, a computer for processing measurements made by the sensor means and a signal lamp array for signalling to a driver of the truck, wherein

the sensor means is a laser scanner arranged on the crane and covering at least one of a plurality of loading/unloading lanes and, wherein the laser scanner is arranged to scan the truck when it enters into one of the loading/unloading lanes in order to detect/identify at least one edge of the truck, and wherein the computer is arranged to calculate a distance between the identified edge of the truck and a fixed point on the crane and thereby generate a signal that enables a truck driver to drive the truck into a required position in the loading/unloading lane for accurately receiving or delivering a container.

20. The system according to claim 19 , further comprising:

a truck chassis selector comprising selection means for selecting one of several predetermined types of truck chassis from a plurality of known truck chassis types stored in the computer.

21. The system according to claim 20 , further comprising:

a load position selector comprising selection means for selecting one of several predetermined load positions available on different types of truck chassis from a plurality of known load positions stored in the computer.

22. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the laser scanner is a 3-D laser camera.

23. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the laser scanner comprises a Class A laser.

24. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the system provides a measurement signal so as to load/unload a container onto/from a pre-selectable load position.

25. The use according to claim 24 , wherein the pre-selectable load position comprises a front, middle or rear load position of a truck chassis.

26. A computer program code element, comprising computer code means for enabling a a processor to carry out one or more of a series of steps of:

locating a sensor on a crane in such a way that it will be able to scan at least one of a plurality of loading/unloading lanes,

scanning a truck, when it enters into one of the loading/unloading lanes, in order to detect/identify at least one edge of the truck,

measuring a distance between the identified edge of the truck and a fixed point on the crane, and

generating a signal that enables a truck driver to drive the truck into a required position in the loading/unloading lane for accurately receiving or delivering a container.

27. A computer program contained at least in part in a computer readable medium, comprising computer program code means to make a processor carry out the steps of:

locating a sensor on a crane in such a way that it will be able to scan at least one of a plurality of loading/unloading lanes,

scanning a truck, when it enters into one of the loading/unloading lanes, in order to detect/identify at least one edge of the truck,

measuring a distance between the identified edge of the truck and a fixed point on the crane, and

generating a signal that enables a truck driver to drive the truck into a required position in the loading/unloading lane for accurately receiving or delivering a container.

28. A method of aligning a truck chassis with a predetermined position relative to a crane, the method comprising:

scanning the truck chassis with a sensor to identify at least one edge of the truck chassis;

measuring a distance between the at least one edge of the truck chassis and a point on the crane with the sensor; and

generating signals indicating a position of the truck chassis based on the measured distance.