Starting with an application in Pusan New Port (PNC), LASE GmbH has introduced a new system for detecting unremoved container cones
LaseUCD (Unremoved Cone Detection) detects whether twistlocks are still connected to the corner casting while containers are being lifted from terminal chassis by RMGs or RTGs. It also detects whether the container doors are open
Following successful implementation of one system, PNC has ordered a further 69 LaseUCDs to enhance safety in this terminal, retrofitting all its ARMGs. The system is highly recommended for automated yards, where there are no longer "on the spot" crane drivers to observe the process.
It is hardly surprising, notes LASE, that twistlocks are sometimes lifted with the container, when it is considered that more than 2B cones are removed annually worldwide. The cone will automatically interlock with the container on which it is landed, so when it comes to be lifted it can take the lower container with it and can cause serious collisions and accidents.
The scan data are processed in the system’s application software, which generates a 3D point cloud of the container in the first step. If any obstacle underneath the container protrudes from the container, it is an indicator that one or more cones are still connected to it.
LaseUCD comprises two 2D laser scanners, which are mounted at the sill beam of a yard crane at a height of around 5M above the truck lane. Both 2D laser scanners build a horizontal scan plane in direction to the truck lane. When a container is hoisted from the truck chassis by the yard crane it passes the scan plane where the profile of the container is scanned
The scan data are processed in the system’s application software, which generates a 3D point cloud of the container in the first step. If any obstacle underneath the container protrudes from the container, it is an indicator that one or more cones are still connected to it.
The software sends an alarm signal to the PLC in order to stop the crane hoist move and to undertake a visual inspection of the detected container issue. Hoist moves with skew, tilt or trim angles of the container under the spreader do not have any influence on reliability, or the type or size of container or different cone designs.
Jason Hwang, Engineering Team Leader at PNC Terminal, said: "LaseUCD is a well-engineered system and we are looking forward to reducing the safety risk in our terminal.”
The order underscore the point, said LASE’s CEO Lars Ambrosy, that LaseUCD is easy retrofittable to existing equipment. He added: "Due to the previous success of our system for truck lifting prevention PNC asked us to develop such a system in order to prevent double container lifts and to have a safe operation.”
Source: WorldCargo News
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