Method and apparatus of automated optical container code recognition with positional identification for a transfer container crane

Abstract

A method and system providing a transfer container crane with container code recognition of a container identified by a container code to a container inventory management system is disclosed. The system and method are capable of performing these tasks without the use of non-standard container tagging.

1 . A method comprising the step of:
 providing recognition from a transfer container crane of a container identified by a container code to a container inventory management system, with said transfer container crane being a rubber tire gantry crane configured to travel over at least two stacks of said containers while manipulating said container in a container storage area of a container shipping yard, comprising the steps of:   recognizing said container code based upon at least one device coupled to said transfer container crane;   generating on said transfer container crane a positional identification of said container,   with said positional identification based upon at least one of a loading-operation designation, a storage-location designation, and a terminal location, each for said container,   with said loading-operation designation based upon at least one of a locking indication and a container hoist position based upon sensing at least one of a gray-coded hoist shaft and an ultrasonic transponder, and   with said locking indication from at least one of a programmable logic controller and a relay network, each within said transfer container crane; and   sending said recognition of said container code and said positional identification of said container from said transfer container crane to said container inventory management system to track a movement of said container in said container shipping yard.