IP Library Granted Patent US 11,999,597
Granted Patent B2
US 11,999,597 · App. 16/617,964 · Granted Jun 4, 2024

Control system for container crane and control method for container crane

Inventors: Yasuji Yamakawa (Oita, JP); Takashi Ito (Oita, JP); Yohei Suzuki (Oita, JP)
Assignee: Mitsul E&S Co., Ltd
B66C13/48B66C13/46B66C19/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,999,597
App. No.
16/617,964
Granted
Jun 4, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a control system for a container crane and a control method for a container crane in which the time necessary for position adjustment between the spreader and the landing surface is reduced and the cargo handling efficiency is improved. A control system of a container crane has a camera, a display device, position acquisition devices, and a control device. Based on the plane positions of a spreader and a landing surface acquired by the position acquisition devices, the control device superimposes, on an image captured by the camera, an indication display from which it is understood that the positions of the spreader and the landing surface have agreed with each other in plan view, and the control device displays a resultant image with the image and the indication display superimposed on the display device.

Claims (24)

1. A control system for a container crane including a girder extending in one direction, a trolley that is supported by the girder and moves in the one direction in which the girder extends, and a spreader suspended from the trolley with wire, characterized in that

the control system comprises:

a camera that is disposed on the trolley and sequentially captures an image of the spreader and a portion below the spreader;

a display device that sequentially displays the image captured by the camera;

a position acquisition device that acquires three-dimensional positions of the spreader and a landing surface on which the spreader is to land; and

a control device connected to the camera, the display device, and the position acquisition device, and

based on the three-dimensional positions of the spreader and the landing surface acquired by the position acquisition device, the control device calculates two-dimensional coordinates, in the image, of a projection point at which a spreader center point, which is the center of the spreader in plan view, is vertically projected on a horizontal plane including the landing surface and a landing-surface center point which is the center of the landing surface in plan view, and superimposes, on the image, a projection mark indicating the projection point and a landing-surface mark indicating the landing-surface center point, an indication display from which it is understood that the positions of the spreader and the landing surface have agreed with each other in plan view, and the control device displays a resultant image with the image and the indication display superimposed on the display device.

2. The control system for a container crane according to claim 1 , wherein

as the indication display, the control device sequentially superimposes, on the image, change over time from a state where the positions of the spreader and the landing surface are not in agreement in plan view to a state where the positions of the spreader and the landing surface are in agreement in plan view.

3. The control system for a container crane according to claim 1 , wherein

based on the three-dimensional positions of the spreader and the landing surface acquired by the position acquisition device, the control device calculates two-dimensional coordinates of the spreader center point in the image and superimposes the spreader center point on the image as the indication display.

4. The control system for a container crane according to claim 1 , wherein

the camera is disposed on an outer side of the trolley, and an optical axis of the camera passing through a camera center point which is the center of a lens of the camera is inclined relative to the vertical direction such that the upper portion of the optical axis is directed on a side farther from the center of the trolley and the lower portion of the optical axis is directed on a side closer to the center of the trolley, and

based on the three-dimensional positions of the spreader and the landing surface acquired by the position acquisition device, the control device calculates a projection-point-formed angle formed by the optical axis and a line segment connecting the camera center point and the projection point and a landing-surface-formed angle formed by the optical axis and a line segment connecting the camera center point and the landing-surface center point, and the control device calculates the two-dimensional coordinates of the projection point and the landing-surface center point in the image using the calculated projection-point-formed angle and the calculated landing-surface-formed angle.

5. The control system for a container crane according to claim 2 , wherein

the position acquisition device is capable of acquiring three-dimensional positions including height positions of the spreader and the landing surface in addition to the plane positions of the spreader and the landing surface, and

based on the three-dimensional positions of the spreader and the landing surface acquired by the position acquisition device, the control device calculates two-dimensional coordinates, in the image, of a projection point at which a spreader center point which is the center of the spreader in plan view is vertically projected on a horizontal plane including the landing surface and a landing-surface center point which is the center of the landing surface in plan view, and the control device superimposes, on the image, a projection mark indicating the projection point and a landing-surface mark indicating the landing-surface center point, as the indication display.

6. The control system for a container crane according to claim 3 , wherein

the camera is disposed on an outer side of the trolley, and an optical axis of the camera passing through a camera center point which is the center of a lens of the camera is inclined relative to the vertical direction such that the upper portion of the optical axis is directed on a side farther from the center of the trolley and the lower portion of the optical axis is directed on a side closer to the center of the trolley, and

based on the three-dimensional positions of the spreader and the landing surface acquired by the position acquisition device, the control device calculates a projection-point-formed angle formed by the optical axis and a line segment connecting the camera center point and the projection point and a landing-surface-formed angle formed by the optical axis and a line segment connecting the camera center point and the landing-surface center point, and the control device calculates the two-dimensional coordinates of the projection point and the landing-surface center point in the image using the calculated projection-point-formed angle and the calculated landing-surface-formed angle.

7. A control method of controlling a container crane, including lowering a spreader suspended with wire from a trolley that is supported by a girder extending in one direction and travels in the one direction in which the girder extends, and landing a lower end of the spreader or a lower end of a container held by the spreader on a landing surface, characterized in that the control method comprises:

sequentially capturing an image of the spreader and a portion below the spreader with a camera disposed on the trolley;

acquiring three-dimensional positions of the spreader and the landing surface on which the spreader is to land with a position acquisition device; and

with a control device, calculating two-dimensional coordinates, in the image, of a projection point at which a spreader center point, which is the center of the spreader in plan view, is vertically projected on a horizontal plane including the landing surface and a landing-surface center point which is the center of the landing surface in plan view, and creating a projection mark indicating the projection point and a landing-surface mark indicating the landing-surface center point, as an indication display from which it is understood that the positions of the spreader and the landing surface have agreed with each other in plan view based on the acquired three-dimensional positions of the spreader and the landing surface, superimposing the created indication display on the image, and sequentially displaying a resultant image with the image and the indication display superimposed on a display device.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2024
From: MITSUI E&S MACHINERY CO., LTD.; MITSUI E&S CO., LTD.
To: MITSUI E&S CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066384/0537 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2019
From: YAMAKAWA, YASUJI; ITO, TAKASHI; SUZUKI, YOHEI
To: MITSUI E&S MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051132/0413 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-106955 · May 30, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200109036A1 · Apr 9, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,692,069