CARGO MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, CARGO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CARGO MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND CARGO MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

[Technical Field]

[0001]

The present invention relates to a cargo management apparatus, a cargo management system, a cargo management method, and a cargo management program.

[Background Art]

[0002]

Heretofore, as a crane for transporting cargo containers stored at a container yard, there has been known a self-propelled crane which self-propels along a traveling lane at a container yard. As an example of a method of cargo handling at a container yard where a self-propelled crane is arranged. Patent Document 1 discloses that each time when an operation for transporting containers from a container transport ship or an tracked chassis to a container yard occurs, a position for storing a container is decided based on the operating state of the self-propelled crane on a traveling lane, on which the self-propelled crane travels, and on the number of stack-levels of containers stacked on the traveling lane.

[0003]

Conventionally, a self-propelled crane is equipped with an engine power generator serving as a power source, and is driven by electric power supplied by the engine power generator to perform traveling and container hoisting operations. However, a self-propelled crane equipped with a rechargeable battery serving as a power source is drawing attention. In this type of battery-type self-propelled crane, recharging can be performed with external power feeding, and therefore the level of its impact on environment is low.

[Prior Art Documents]

[Patent Documents]

[004]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2005-75592

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[005]

However, if the cargo management method and the cargo handling system disclosed in Patent Document 1 are to be applied to a battery type self-propelled crane, even in a case where it is judged that a cargo handling operation can be performed based on the operating state of the self-propelled crane and the number of remaining containers assigned to cargo handling, the battery may in fact still be being recharged and a cargo operation may not be commenced immediately in some cases. Therefore, in the cargo management method and the cargo handling system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a period of waiting time may become present until a cargo handling operation is actually commenced, and consequently the level of cargo handling efficiency may be reduced in some cases.

[006]

The present invention takes into consideration the above circumstances, with an object of providing a cargo management apparatus, a cargo management system, a cargo management method, and a cargo management program capable, for a plurality of self-propelled cranes which operates on a battery power source, of reducing waiting time of a container to be carried-in to a container yard by a tracked chassis or by an onsite
-N trailer (hereunder, referred to as "containers to be carried-in"), to thereby improve the level of cargo-handling efficiency.

[Means for Solving the Problem]

[007]

The cargo management apparatus of the present invention is a cargo management apparatus which manages container cargo-handling operations within each traveling lane of a plurality of self-propelled cranes which respectively perform a cargo-handling operation using a rechargeable battery as a power source, wherein there are provided: an operation information obtaining device which obtains, from each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes, crane operation information which indicates whether the self-propelled crane is in a recharging operation state where the battery is recharged, or in a cargo-handling operation state where a cargo-handling operation can be performed; and a cargo-handling operation assigning device which makes reference to the crane operation information obtained by the operation information obtaining device, and selects one of the plurality of self-propelled cranes and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to the container yard.

[008]

In the cargo management apparatus of the present invention, the operation information obtaining device may have a working information obtaining section which obtains crane working information indicating a working status of the plurality of self-propelled cranes. The cargo-handling operation assigning device may have: an operation completion time obtaining section which makes reference to the crane working information obtained by the working information obtaining section and obtains an operation completion time of the self-propelled crane; and a crane assignment deciding section which makes reference to the operation completion time obtained by the operation completion time obtaining section, and selects a self-propelled crane having the shortest operation completion time and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to this selected self-propelled crane.

[009]

Moreover, in the cargo management apparatus of the present invention, the crane working information may contain: a number of remaining containers, for which cargo-handling operations have not been completed in a cargo-handling operation state, or a cargo-handling operation time required for the remaining containers; and a recharging level or recharging time of the battery in a recharging operation state.

The operation completion time obtaining section may have: a recharging time obtaining section which obtains the crane working information for the self-propelled crane, the crane operation information of which indicates a recharging state, to obtain a recharging requirement time; and a cargo-handling completion time obtaining section which obtains the crane working information for the self-propelled crane, the crane operation information of which indicates a cargo-handling operation state, to obtain a cargo-handling operation completion time.

The crane assignment deciding section, between the self-propelled crane having the shortest recharging requirement time obtained by the recharging time obtaining section and the self-propelled crane having the shortest cargo-handling operation completion time obtained by the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section, may compare the recharging requirement time and the cargo-handling operation completion time of each other, and select the self-propelled crane having a shorter time.

[0010]

The cargo management system of the present invention is provided with; the cargo management apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of self-propelled
V cranes, the traveling lanes on which the self-propelled cranes are arranged, and a carrying-in communication terminal which transmits container information related to the container to be carried-in, to the cargo management apparatus. The cargo management apparatus, based on the container information, transmits information related to the self-propelled crane, to which a cargo-handling operation of a corresponding container has been assigned, to the carrying-in communication terminal.

[0011]
The cargo management method of the present invention is a cargo management method for managing container cargo-handling operations within each traveling lane of a plurality of self-propelled cranes which respectively perform a cargo-handling operation using a rechargeable battery as a power source, wherein there are provided: an operation information obtaining step in which an operation information obtaining device obtains, from each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes, crane operation information which indicates whether the self-propelled crane is in a recharging operation state where the battery is recharged, or in a cargo-handling operation state where a cargo-handling operation can be performed; and a cargo-handling operation assigning step in which a cargo-handling operation assigning device makes reference to the obtained crane operation information, and selects one of the plurality of self-propelled cranes and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to the container yard.

[0012]

The cargo management program of the present invention is a cargo management program for a cargo management apparatus which manages container cargo-handling operations within each traveling lane of a plurality of self-propelled cranes which respectively perform a cargo-handling operation using a rechargeable battery as a power source, wherein the cargo management program causes the cargo management apparatus
to function as: an operation information obtaining device which obtains, from each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes, crane operation information which indicates whether the self-propelled crane is in a recharging operation state where the battery is recharged, or in a cargo-handling operation state where a cargo-handling operation can be performed; and a cargo-handling operation assigning device which makes reference to the operation information obtained by the operation information obtaining device, and selects one of the plurality of self-propelled cranes and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to the container yard.

[Effect of the Invention]

[0013]

According to the cargo management apparatus, the cargo management system, the cargo management method, and the cargo management program of the present invention, a cargo-handling operation can be assigned to a self-propelled crane in a cargo-handling operation state, based on crane operation information obtained from a plurality of self-propelled cranes. Therefore, for the plurality of self-propelled cranes which use a battery as a power source, the amount of waiting time of a container to be carried in can be reduced and the level of cargo-handling efficiency can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram showing a container terminal where a cargo management system of a first embodiment of the present invention is provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the cargo management
system

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a self-propelled crane in the cargo management
system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the self-propelled crane in the cargo management system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a carrying-in communication terminal in the cargo management system.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cargo management apparatus in the cargo management system.

FIG. 6B is a block diagram showing a configuration of a part of the cargo management apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a cargo management method of the embodiment which uses the cargo management system.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an on-vehicle terminal provided on an on-site trailer in the cargo management system.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cargo management system of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a cargo management method of the embodiment which uses the cargo management system.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a cargo management method of the embodiment which uses the cargo management system.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015]

(First embodiment)

A cargo management system 10, a cargo management apparatus 70, a cargo
management method, and a cargo management program of a first embodiment of the present invention are described, with an example of the cargo management system 10 provided with the cargo management apparatus 70.
FIG. 1 is an overall diagram showing a container terminal I where the cargo management system 10 of the present embodiment is provided. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the cargo management system 10. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a self-propelled crane 20 in the cargo management system 10. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a crane control computer 30 provided in the self-propelled crane 20. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a carrying-in communication terminal 61 in the cargo management system 10. FIG. 6A is a block diagram showing a configuration of the cargo management apparatus 70 in the cargo management system 10. Moreover, FIG. 6B is a block diagram showing a configuration of a part of the cargo management apparatus 70.

[0016]

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cargo management system 10 of the present embodiment is provided within the container terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1. The container terminal I is provided with a dock 2, at which a container ship S transporting containers C is docked, an apron 3 provided so as to face the dock 2, and a container yard 5 positioned on the landward side of the apron 3.

[0017]

The apron 3 is an area for loading or unloading the containers C onto or from the container ship S which docks at the dock 2. At the apron 3, there are provided container cranes 4 for delivering or receiving the containers C between the container ship S and the container terminal 1.

[0018]

The container yard 5 is a facility for stacking and storing (hereunder, described as storing) a plurality of the containers C in multiple stack levels, and it is provided with the cargo management system 10 above.

[0019]

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cargo management system 10 is provided with: a plurality of self-propelled cranes 20 which perform an operation of cargo-handling of the containers C; traveling lanes 40 each having the self-propelled crane 20 arranged thereon; on-site trailers 50 which transport the containers C within the container terminal 1; a gate 60 which manages the state of the containers C being carried-in or carried-out from the container terminal 1 to the outside; and the cargo management apparatus 70 which manages cargo-handling operations of the self-propelled cranes 20.

[0020]

As shown in FIG. 3, the self-propelled crane 20 of the present embodiment is a tire type gantry crane which travels, using tires. The self-propelled crane 20 has: a crane main body 21 formed in a gantry shape; traveling devices 22 attached at the lower section of the crane main body 21; a hoisting mechanism 23 attached at the upper section of the crane main body 21; the crane control computer 30 which controls operations of the self-propelled crane 20; and a rechargeable battery 24 which supplies driving electric power to the traveling devices 22, the hoisting mechanism 23, and the crane control computer 30.

[0021]

The traveling device 22 has a motor (not shown in the drawing) for rotating the tire, and is driven by electric power supplied from the battery 24. With the traveling
devices 22, the self-propelled crane 20 is capable of freely traveling within the container yard 5.

[0022]

The hoisting mechanism 23 hoists and holds the container C stored at the container yard 5, and is capable of moving backwards and forwards at the upper section of the crane main body 21. The hoisting mechanism 23 operates by electric power supplied from the battery 24.

[0023]

As shown in FIG. 4, the crane control computer 30 is provided with: a main control section 31; a traveling device control section 32 which is electrically connected to the traveling devices 22 (refer to FIG. 3) and controls the traveling devices 22; a crane driving control section 33 which is electrically connected to the hoisting mechanism 23 (refer to FIG. 3) and controls the hoisting mechanism 23; a battery control section 34 which controls recharging and discharging of the battery 24 (refer to FIG. 3); a wireless device 35 which wirelessly communicates with the cargo management apparatus 70 (refer to FIG. 2); and an input-output section 36 which inputs and outputs information between the wireless device 35 and the main control section 31.

[0024]

The main control section 31 is provided with: a crane operation information generation-retention section which generates and retains crane operation information, which indicates whether the self-propelled crane 20 shown in FIG. 3 is in a recharging operation state in which the battery 24 is recharged, or is in a cargo-handling operation state in which a cargo-handling operation can be performed; an operation information transmitting section which transmits crane operation information to the cargo management apparatus 70 so as to respond to a query signal described later transmitted
from the cargo management apparatus 70 shown in FIG. 2; and a job receiving section which receives a cargo schedule (job) about a cargo operation target container C from the cargo management apparatus 70.

The main control section 31 transmits a driving signal to the traveling device control section 32 and the crane driving control section 33 respectively, according to the job received in the job receiving section.

[0025]

The battery control section 34 is provided with: a remaining level detecting section which detects the remaining level of the battery 24 shown in FIG. 3; and a recharging operation instructing section which issues an instruction, based on the remaining level detected in the remaining level detecting section, to perform a recharging operation for recharging the battery 24.

The remaining level detecting section of the battery control section 34 obtains the level of an electric current flowing into the battery 24 and the level of an inter-terminal voltage, and calculates a recharging amount based on these levels. Then, it detects the remaining level according to the calculated recharging amount and the battery capacity, and performs an output to the recharging operation instructing section.

The recharging operation instructing section of the battery control section 34 outputs a command signal to the main control section 31 for shifting the state to the recharging operation state, based on the remaining level of the battery 24 detected by the remaining level detecting section, being at a prescribed lower remaining level limit or lower. Moreover, the recharging operation instructing section of the battery control section 34 outputs a command signal to the main control section 31 for shifting the state from the recharging operation state to the cargo-handling operation state, in which a V cargo-handling operation can be performed, based on the remaining level of the battery 24 detected as being at a prescribed fully-recharged state.

[0026]

Moreover, for the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20, there is provided an identifying device for respectively identifying the self-propelled cranes 20. In the present embodiment, as the identifying device, an auxiliary storage device of the crane control computer 30 stores an identifier which is different between the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20. Specifically, for example, as the identifier of the identifying device, a number which corresponds to a traveling lane number described later may be stored in the auxiliary storage device as a crane number (1, 2, 3,..., n,..., N (where n and N are integers)) of the self-propelled crane 20, so as to serve as an identifier.

[0027]

In the self-propelled crane 20, the crane control computer 30 outputs driving signals to the traveling devices 22 and the hoisting mechanism 23 according to a job. The traveling devices 22 and the hoisting mechanism 23 transport the container C according to the driving signals. As a result, the self-propelled crane 20 performs operations of cargo handling such as storing the containers C within the container yard 5, using the battery 24 as a power source. Furthermore, the self-propelled crane 20 is, under control of the crane control computer 30, capable of halting a cargo-handling operation and performing a recharging operation when the remaining level of the battery 24 becomes less than the prescribed lower remaining level limit of the battery 24.

[0028]

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the traveling lanes 40 is provided in the container yard 5 in such a way that the ground surface is divided into a rectangular shape which extends in one direction. In the present embodiment, a plurality of the traveling lanes 40 are provided so as to be adjacent to each other in the crosswise width direction. Moreover, on the traveling lane 40, there is provided a recharging station 41 for supplying electric power to the battery 24 of the self-propelled crane 20. As shown in FIG. 3, in the inner side region of the traveling lane 40, there is provided a storage region 42 for storing a plurality of the containers C.

Furthermore, different traveling lane numbers (1, 2, 3, ..., n, ..., N (n and N are integers)) are assigned respectively to the plurality of traveling lanes 40. As a result, it is possible, with the traveling lane numbers, to identify the plurality of traveling lanes 40 in the container yard 5.

[0029]

The on-site trailer 50 transports the container C, which has been transferred from the container ship S to the container terminal 1 by the container crane 4, to the container yard 5, and it also transports the container C to the container crane 4 in order to load the container C stored at the container yard 5 onto the container ship S.

[0030]

As shown in FIG. 1, the gate 60 receives the container C which is carried into the container yard 5 by the tracked chassis 100. At the gate 60 there is provided the carrying-in communication terminal 61, to which information about the weight, quantity, and contents of the container C (container information) is inputted for example.

[0031]

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the carrying-in communication terminal 61 is provided with: a wireless device 62 which wirelessly communicates with the container management apparatus 70; a main control section 63; an input-output section 64 which inputs and outputs information between the main control section 63 and the wireless device 62; an input device 65 which inputs container information of the container C carried in by the tracked chassis 100 to the main control section 63; and an output device 66 which receives, through the main control section 63, transport destination information, which indicates the destination of transportation of the container C carried into the container yard 5, and outputs it. As a result, the carrying-in communication terminal 61 can transmit container information related to the container C which is carried into the container yard 5, to the cargo management apparatus 70, and it can receive the transportation destination information of this container C from the cargo management apparatus 70 and output it.

[0032]

As shown in FIG. 6A, the cargo management apparatus 70 is provided with: a container carrying-in receiving section 71; an operation information query instructing section 72; a wireless device 73; an operation information receiving section 75; a list creating section 76; a memory section 77; and a crane assignment deciding section 78 (cargo-handling operation assigning section).

[0033]

The container carrying-in receiving section 71 receives container information transmitted from the carrying-in communication terminal 61, and it is connected to the operation information query instructing section 72. The container carrying-in receiving section 71 outputs the container information to the operation information query instructing section 72 upon receiving the container information.

[0034]

The operation information query instructing section 72 is connected to the wireless device 73, and it outputs a query signal which requests each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20 (refer to FIG. 2) to transmit crane operation information, to the wireless device 73, based on the input of the container information from the container
carrying-in receiving section 71. The query signal output from the operation information query instructing section 72 is transmitted through the wireless device 73 to the crane control computer 30 of the self-propelled crane 20 shown in FIG. 3. Moreover, the operation information query instructing section 72 is connected to the crane assignment deciding section 78. The operation information query instructing section 72 outputs a crane assignment instructing signal to the crane assignment deciding section 78, based on the fact that creation of a cargo-handling possible list il described later has been notified from the list creating section 76.

[0035]

The wireless device 73 communicates with each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20, the container ship S, the on-site trailer 50, and the gate 60, using radio waves.

[0036]

The operation information receiving section 75 is connected to the wireless device 73, and it receives the crane operation information which is transmitted from the crane control computer 30 of the self-propelled crane 20 and received on the wireless device 73. The operation information receiving section 75 is capable of outputting the received crane operation information to the list creating section 76.

[0037]

As shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the list creating section 76 is connected to the operation information receiving section 75. The list creating section 76 receives the crane operation information from the operation information receiving section 75, and it determines whether the self-propelled crane 20 corresponding to the crane operation information is in a recharging operation state or in a cargo-handling operation state, based on the crane operation information. Furthermore, it rewrites a part of the cargo-handling possible list il, which is a list of the self-propelled cranes 20 in the cargo-handling operation state, and updates the cargo-handling possible list il.

The list creating section 76 generates information which updates the cargo-handling possible list il based on the crane operation information, and transmits it to the memory section 77. Moreover, the list creating section 76 is connected to the operation information query instructing section 72, and it transmits a registration completion notification which notifies the operation information query instructing section 72 that the self-propelled crane 20 has been registered to the cargo-handling possible list il.

[0038]

In the present embodiment, the operation information obtaining device 74 comprises the operation information receiving section 75 and the list creating section 76. With the operation information obtaining device 74, in the crane control computer 30 shown in FIG. 4, the crane operation information retained in the crane operation information generation-retention section can be obtained from each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20.

[0039]

The crane assignment deciding section 78 is connected to the memory section 77. The crane assignment deciding section 78 makes reference to the cargo-handling possible list il stored in the memory section 77, and it selects, from the self-propelled cranes 20 registered on the cargo-handling possible list il, a self-propelled crane 20 to perform the cargo-handling operation of the container C received at the gate 60 shown in FIG. 1.
Based on the fact that the crane assignment instructing signal has been inputted from the operation information query instructing section 72, the crane assignment
deciding section 78 can select the crane number of the self-propelled crane 20 from the cargo-handling possible list il and can transmit the selected crane number to the carrying-in communication terminal 61 as transportation destination information, which indicates the transportation destination of the container C. The method of selecting the crane number of the self-propelled crane 20 is described in detail later.

[0040]
Furthermore, the crane assignment deciding section 78 generates a job for cargo-transporting the container C, and transmits the job to the selected self-propelled crane 20 through the wireless device 73.

[0041]

Next, a cargo management method of the present embodiment is described with an example of managing cargo-handling of the container C with the self-propelled crane 20 in the cargo management system 10 described above. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the cargo management method of the present embodiment.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the container C is transported to the container terminal 1 by the tracked chassis 100. When the container C arrives at the container terminal 1, first, at the gate 60, the container information of the container C to be carried-in is inputted to the input device 65 of the carrying-in communication terminal 61. Consequently, the carrying-in communication terminal 61 transmits the inputted container information to the cargo management apparatus 70 (refer to FIG. 2).

[0042]

As shown in FIG. 6A, the cargo management apparatus 70 receives, with the wireless device 73, the container information transmitted from the wireless device 62 of the carrying-in communication terminal 61. Furthermore, the container information received by the wireless device 73 is received by the container carrying-in receiving
section 71. Consequently, the container carrying-in receiving section 71 outputs the container information to the operation information query instructing section 72. The operation information query instructing section 72, first, transmits a query signal which requests transmission of the crane operation information to the self-propelled crane 20 having the smallest crane number, to thereby inquire the crane operation information of the self-propelled crane 20 (step SI shown in FIG. 7).

[0043]

The main control section 31 provided in the crane control computer 30 of the self-propelled crane 20 retains crane operation information which contains indication of being in a recharging operation state in the crane operation information generation-retention section if the self-propelled crane 20 is in a recharging operation, and it retains crane operation information which contains indication of being in a cargo-handling operation state in the crane operation information generation-retention section if the self-propelled crane 20 is able to perform a cargo-handling operation. The main control section 31 of the crane control computer 30 which has received the query signal from the cargo management apparatus 70 responds to the query signal and transmits the crane operation information to the cargo management apparatus 70 through the wireless device 35.

[0044]
The wireless device 73 of the cargo management apparatus 70 receives the crane operation information transmitted from the wireless device 35 of the crane control computer 30. The crane operation information received by the wireless device 73 is received in the operation information receiving section 75 and is output to the list creating section 76.

[0045]

The list creating section 76 makes reference to the crane operation information to determine whether the information contained in the crane operation information is in a cargo-handling operation state or in a recharging operation state (step S2 shown in FIG.7).

The list creating section 76, in a case where the crane operation information contains an indication of being in a cargo-handling operation state, registers the crane to the cargo-handling possible list il as a candidate for cargo handling operation (job) assignment (step S3 shown in FIG. 7). The cargo-handling possible list il is stored in the memory section 77. Moreover, in a case where the crane operation information contains indication of being in a recharging operation state, this crane operation information is discarded (step 84 shown in FIG. 7). Subsequently, a registration completion notification is output to the operation information query instructing section 72.

[0046]

The operation information query instructing section 72 receives the registration completion notification outputted from the list creating section 76, and compares the crane number n of the self-propelled crane 20, for which the operation information has been enquired, with the number N of the cranes. If n = N does not hold, the flow proceeds to step S6, and if n = N holds, the flow proceeds to step S7 (step S5 shown in FIG. 7).
In the operation information query instructing section 72, "1" is added to the crane number used in step SI, and the flow proceeds to step SI (step S6 shown in FIG. 7). As a result, a query of the crane operation information of the second self-propelled crane 20 is performed.

[0047] In this way, by repeating step SI to step S6, crane operation information queries
to all of the self-propelled cranes 20 are sequentially performed. As a result, the crane operation information can be obtained from the plurality of respective self-propelled cranes 20, and a list of the self-propelled cranes 20 which are in a cargo-handling operation state among all of the self-propelled cranes 20 is stored as the cargo-handling possible list il in the memory section 77.

[0048]

When a registration completion notification about the self-propelled crane 20 of crane number N (the self-propelled crane 20 with the highest crane number assigned thereto) has been output from the list creating section 76 to the operation information query instructing section 72, the flow proceeds from step S5 to step S7, and step S7 shown in FIG. 7 is commenced.

[0049]

In step S7, the operation information query instructing section 72 outputs a crane assignment instructing signal to the crane assignment deciding section 78. Consequently, the crane assignment deciding section 78 makes reference to the cargo-handling possible list il stored in the memory section 77, and it selects a single self-propelled crane 20 from the self-propelled cranes 20 registered on the cargo-handling possible list il.

[0050]
As a method of selecting a self-propelled crane 20 from the self-propelled cranes 20 registered on the cargo-handling possible list il, for example, a single self-propelled crane 20 may be selected by selecting the smallest crane number among the crane numbers registered on the cargo-handling possible list il. As another method of selecting a self-propelled crane 20 from the self-propelled cranes 20 registered on the
cargo-handling possible list il, there may be employed a method of randomly selecting a
single crane number from the crane numbers registered on the cargo-handling possible list il.

[0051]

The crane assignment deciding section 78 transmits the crane number of the selected self-propelled crane 20 as transportation destination information to the carrying-in communication terminal 61 at the gate 60, generates a job for the selected self-propelled crane 20, and transmits the job to the crane control computer 30 of the self-propelled crane 20. This completes step S7.

[0052]

At the gate 60 shown in FIG. 1, the carrying-in communication terminal 61 receives the transportation destination information from the cargo management apparatus 70 shown in FIG. 2. At the gate 60, the output device 66 outputs the transportation destination information, and the received crane number is delivered to the carrying-in operator of the container C (the operator of the tracked chassis 100). In the present embodiment, the crane number contained in the transportation destination information is a number which matches with the traveling lane number. Therefore, the operator of the tracked chassis 100 can know the traveling lane number, which serves as a transportation destination of the container C by receiving the transportation destination information.

[0053]

The carrying-in operator who carries in the container C to the container yard 5, based on the crane number contained in the transportation destination information, transports the container C to the traveling lane 40 corresponding to this crane number.

[0054]

The crane control computer 30 of the self-propelled crane 20 selected by the
crane assignment deciding section 78 receives the job transmitted from the crane assignment deciding section 78 through the wireless device 35 and the input-output section 36 shown in FIG. 4. When the container C arrives on the traveling lane 40, the self-propelled crane 20 transports the container C to the storage region 42 according to the job. As a result, the container C carried into the container yard 5 is stored at the storage region 42 by the self-propelled crane 20 in the cargo-handling operation state (refer to FIG. 3).

[0055]

As described above, according to the cargo management system 10, the cargo management apparatus 70, and the cargo management method of the present embodiment, a job can be assigned to a self-propelled crane 20 which can perform a cargo-handling operation among the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20. Consequently, no job will be assigned to a self-propelled crane 20 which is in a recharging state, and a container C can be stored without having to wait for the completion of the recharging operation of the self-propelled crane 20. As a result, the amount of waiting time of the container C to be carried in can be reduced and the level of cargo-handling efficiency can be improved.

[0056]

(Modified Example 1)

Hereunder, a modified example I of the cargo management system 10 of the present embodiment is described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an on-vehicle terminal 51 installed on the on-site trailer 50 in the present modified example.

In the present modified example, for the container crane 4, there is provided a carrying-in communication terminal 61A similar to the carrying-in communication
terminal 61 at the gate 60, and for the on-site trailer 50, there is provided the on-vehicle terminal 51 which is capable of performing wireless communication with the cargo management apparatus 70 (refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8).

In the present modified example, an output device 66A of the carrying-in communication terminal 61A is capable of performing wireless communication with the wireless device 53 described later of the on-vehicle terminal 51, and transportation destination information can be transmitted to the wireless device 53. Other configuration components of the carrying-in communication terminal 61A have configurations the same as those of the carrying-in communication terminal 61, and descriptions thereof are therefore omitted.

[0057]
As shown in FIG. 8, the on-vehicle terminal 51 is provided with: a main control section 52; a wireless device 53 which performs wireless communication with the carrying-in communication terminal 61A of the container crane 4; an input-output section 54 which performs input and output of information between the main control section 52 and the wireless device 53; and a display device 55 which has a display screen which displays a crane number contained in the transportation destination information transmitted from the carrying-in communication terminal 61A of the container crane 4.

[0058]

In the present modified example, the container crane 4 unloads a container C from the container ship S and loads it onto the on-site trailer 50. At this time, container information is inputted to the input device 65 of the carrying-in communication terminal 61A provided in the container crane 4, and the container information is transmitted by the wireless device 62 to a container information receiving section 70 of the cargo management apparatus 70.

[0059]

The cargo management apparatus 70 selects a self-propelled crane 20 which performs a cargo-handling operation with respect to the container C as with the case of the first embodiment described above, transmits a job to the selected self-propelled crane 20, and transmits the transportation destination information containing the crane number to the wireless device 62A of the carrying-in communication terminal 61A of the container crane 4.

[0060]

The wireless device 62A of the carrying-in communication terminal 61A of the container crane 4 receives the transportation destination information, and outputs it to an input-output section 64A. The input-output section 64A outputs the received transportation destination information to a main control section 63A. The main control section 63A outputs the received transportation destination information to the output device 66A. The output device 66A transmits the transportation destination information to the wireless device 53 of the on-vehicle terminal 51.

[0061]

The wireless device 53 of the on-vehicle terminal 51 receives the transportation destination information, and outputs it to the main control section 52 through the input-output section 54. The main control section 52 outputs the crane number contained in the transportation destination information to the display device 55. The display device 55 which has received an input of the crane number, displays the crane number on the display screen. As a result, as with the case of the first embodiment described above, the operator of the on-site trailer 50 can know the traveling lane 40 at the transportation destination of the container C.

[0062]

In the present modified example, the carrying-in communication terminal 61 is provided on the container crane 4, and the on-vehicle terminal 51 is provided on the on-site trailer 50. As a result, also as for the container C to be carried in from the container ship S to the container yard 5, as with the first embodiment described above, there can be achieved such an effect that the container C can be transported to the traveling lane 40 where the self-propelled crane 20 in the cargo-handling operation state is positioned.
The carrying-in communication terminal 61 may be provided on the container ship S, and moreover, it may also be temporarily rent from the container terminal 1 to the container ship S.

[0063]

(Second embodiment)

Next, a cargo management apparatus 80, a cargo management system l0A, and a cargo management method of a second embodiment of the present invention are described. In each embodiment described below, components having the same configuration as those of the first embodiment described above are given the same reference symbols, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that there are provided a crane control computer 30A instead of the crane control computer 30 described in the first embodiment (refer to FIG. 3), and a cargo management apparatus 80 instead of the cargo management apparatus 70 described in the first embodiment.

[0064]

The crane control computer 30A differs from the crane control computer 30 described above in that there is provided a main control section 31A instead of the main control section 30 (refer to FIG. 3). The main control section 31A is such that for the main control section 31 described in the first embodiment, there is further provided a crane working information generation-retention section which generates and retains crane operation information which contains the number of remaining containers to be cargo-handling-operated with the self-propelled crane 20 based on a job transmitted from the cargo management apparatus 80, and the remaining level of the battery 24 detected by the remaining level detecting section. Further, the operation information transmitting section described in the first embodiment transmits crane operation information, a part of which contains crane operation information, to the cargo management apparatus 80 through the wireless device 35.

[0065]

In the present embodiment, crane working information is information which indicates the working status of each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20. The crane working information of the present embodiment is source information for calculating the amount of time required until the self-propelled crane 20 is released from a recharging operation and cargo-handling operation.

[0066]

As shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the cargo management apparatus 80 differs from the configuration of the cargo management apparatus 70 described above in that the cargo management apparatus 80 is provided with an operation state determining section 81, a recharging time calculating section 82, a working information obtaining section 83, a cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85, and a recharging completion time obtaining section 86. Moreover, in the present embodiment, there are provided a list creating section 87 and a crane assignment deciding section 88 instead of the list creating section 76 and the crane assignment deciding section 78. Specific processing contents of the list creating section 87 and the crane assignment deciding section 88 of the present embodiment differ from those of the list creating section 76 and the crane assignment deciding section 78 described in the first embodiment.

[0067]

The operating state determining section 81 receives an input of crane operation information from the operation information receiving section 75, and makes reference to the crane operation information, to determine whether the self-propelled crane 20 is in a recharging operation state or in a cargo-handling operation state. Furthermore, the operating state determining section 81 outputs crane operation information to the recharging time calculating section 82 if the self-propelled crane 20 is determined as being in a recharging operation state, and it outputs crane operation information to the working information obtaining section 83 if the self-propelled crane 20 is determined as being in a cargo-handling operation state.

[0068]

The recharging time calculating section 82 is connected to the operating state determining section 81, and makes reference to the crane working information contained in the crane operation information outputted from the operating state determining section 81, to thereby obtain information of the remaining level of the battery 24 in the self-propelled crane 20. Moreover, the recharging time calculating section calculates the amount of time required for the battery 24 to become fully recharged, based on the remaining level of the battery 24 of the self-propelled crane 20. The recharging time calculating section adds a recharging required time for the battery 24 to become fully recharged to the crane working information, and outputs crane operation information to the working information obtaining section 83. [0069]

[0069]
The working information obtaining section 83 obtains the crane operation
information and crane working information of each self-propelled crane 20 from the operation state determining section 81 and the recharging time calculating section 82, and outputs them to the list creating section 87.

[0070]

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the list creating section 87 is connected to the working information obtaining section 83, and the crane operation information containing crane working information is input by the working information obtaining section 83. Furthermore, the list creating section 87 determines whether the crane operation information is in a recharging operation state or in a cargo-handling operation state, and it partly rewrites respectively a cargo-handling possible list i21, which is a list of the self-propelled cranes 20 in a cargo-handling operation state, and a recharging list i22, which is a list of the self-propelled cranes 20 in a recharging operation state.

In the present embodiment, a crane number for identifying a self-propelled crane 20 and crane working information of the self-propelled crane 20 are associated with each other, and they are registered on the cargo-handling possible list i21 and on the recharging list i22.

[0071]

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, the list creating section 87 is connected to the operation information query instructing section 72, and the operation information query instructing section 72 receives output of a registration completion notification, which notifies that a self-propelled crane 20 has been registered on the cargo-handling possible list i2I or recharging list i22.

[0072]

The cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85 makes references to the cargo-handling possible list i21 stored in the memory section 77, and calculates the amount of time required for completing a cargo-handling operation of the self-propelled crane 20, based on the number of jobs in the crane working information registered on the cargo-handling possible list i21. In the present embodiment, the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85 multiplies an average requirement time required for storing a single container C in the storage region 42 by the number of jobs, and outputs the resulting value to the crane assignment deciding section 88 as a cargo-handling operation completion time. As a result, by obtaining crane working information about the self-propelled crane 20, the crane operation information of which is indicating that it is in a cargo-handling operation state, a cargo-handling operation completion time can be obtained.

[0073]

The recharging completion time obtaining section 86 makes references to the recharging list i22 stored in the memory section 77, obtains the recharging requirement time in the crane working information registered on the recharging list i22, and outputs it to the crane assignment deciding section 88. As a result, by obtaining crane working information about the self-propelled crane 20, the crane operation information of which is indicating that it is in a recharging operation state, a recharging requirement time can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85 and the recharging completion time obtaining section 86 configure an operation completion time obtaining section 84.

[0074]

The crane assignment deciding section 88 receives the cargo-handling operation completion time from the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85, and receives the recharging requirement time from the recharging completion time obtaining section 86. Moreover, the crane assignment deciding section 88 is capable of comparing the cargo-handling operation completion time of the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest cargo-handling operation completion time, with the recharging requirement time of the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest recharging requirement time.

[0075]

Furthermore, based on the result of comparing the recharging requirement time and the cargo-handling operation completion time of the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest cargo-handling operation completion time obtained in the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85 and the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest recharging requirement time obtained in the recharging completion time obtaining section 86, the crane assignment deciding section 88 selects the self-propelled crane 20 having a shorter time and assigns a job thereto.

[0076]

Next, a point of the operation of the cargo management system l0A of the present embodiment in use which differs from the operation of the cargo management system 10 of the first embodiment is described. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the cargo management method of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, in step SI 1, which is similar to step SI of the first embodiment, the operation information query instructing section 72 performs a crane operation information query, and then step S12 is performed.

[0077] In step SI2, the operating state determining section 81 makes reference to crane operation information, and the flow proceeds to step S13 if the crane operation information indicates a cargo-handling operation state, and the flow proceeds to step S14 if the crane operation information indicates a recharging operation state.

[0078]

In step SI3, the list creating section 87 registers the crane number of the self-propelled crane 20 and crane working information containing the number of jobs, to the cargo-handling possible list i2I. This completes step SI3, and the flow proceeds to step S15.

[0079]

In step S14, the list creating section 87 registers the self-propelled crane 20 to the recharging list. At this time, the list creating section 87 adds the recharging requirement time calculated by the recharging time calculating section 82 as well as the crane number to the crane working information, and registers this to the recharging list i22. This completes step S14, and the flow proceeds to step S15.

[0080]

In step S15, the operation information query instructing section 72 compares the crane number n of the self-propelled crane 20, the registration completion notification of which has been received, with the number N of the self-propelled cranes 20. In the operation information query instructing section 72, in a case where the crane number n to be inquired matches with the number N of the self-propelled cranes 20, the flow proceeds to step SI7. Moreover, in the operation information query instructing section 72, in a case where the crane number n to be inquired for its crane operation information is not equal to the number N of the self-propelled cranes 20, step SI 6, which is similar to step
S6 described in the first embodiment, is performed, and the flow then proceeds to step Sll.

As a result, the crane operation information queries for all of the self-propelled cranes 20 are performed, and the crane operation information can be obtained.

[0081]

In step SI7, the crane assignment deciding section 88, first, searches the cargo-handling possible list i21 for the self-propelled crane 20, the cargo-handling completion time of which output from the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85 is 0. The self-propelled crane 20 having a 0 cargo-completion time is a self-propelled crane 20 on stand-by with no job assigned thereto, and it is a self-propelled crane 20 which is on stand-by and in a state of being able to transport the container C immediately. This completes step S17, and the flow proceeds to step SI8.

[0082]
In step SI8, in a case where a self-propelled crane 20 on stand-by has been found in the search, the flow proceeds to step SI9, and in a case where no self-propelled crane 20 on stand-by is found in search, the flow proceeds to step S20.

[0083]

In step S19, the crane assignment deciding section 88 selects one self-propelled crane 20 from the found self-propelled cranes 20 on stand-by, and assigns a job thereto in a manner similar to that in the first embodiment. That is to say, the crane assignment deciding section 88 transmits the crane number to the carrying-in communication terminal 61 via the wireless device 73, and further, the job is transmitted to the selected self-propelled crane 20 via the wireless device 73, completing the process.

[0084]

In step S20, the crane assignment deciding section 88 evaluates the operation completion time of all of the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20. Specifically, it obtains a cargo-handling completion time output from the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section 85, and obtains a recharging completion time output from the recharging completion time obtaining section 86. This completes step S20, and the flow proceeds to step S21.

[0085]

In step S21, the crane assignment deciding section 88 extracts respectively the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest cargo-handling completion time and the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest recharging completion time. Furthermore, the cargo-handling completion time of the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest cargo-handling completion time and the recharging completion time of the self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest recharging completion time are compared, and the one having a shorter time is selected as a self-propelled crane 20 having the shortest operation completion time. Then, a job is assigned to the selected self-propelled crane 20 in a manner similar to that in the first embodiment. This completes step S21.

[0086]

Also in the present embodiment, as with the first embodiment described above, a job can be assigned to a self-propelled crane 20 which is able to perform a cargo-handling operation among the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20. Therefore, no job will be assigned to a self-propelled crane 20 which is in a recharging operation, and the container C can be stored at the storage region 42 without having to wait for the recharging operation of the self-propelled crane 20 to complete. As a result, the amount of waiting time of the container C to be carried in can be reduced and the level of cargo-handling efficiency can be improved.

[0087]

Moreover, in the present embodiment, in a case where one or more jobs have already been assigned to all of the self-propelled cranes 20 which are in a cargo-handling operation state, a self-propelled crane 20 having a shortest operation completion time can be selected from the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20 and a job can be assigned thereto. Therefore, the tracked chassis 100 carrying-in the containers C does not have to stand-by at the gate 60, and it is possible to free up congestion at the gate 60.

[0088]

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in a case where the recharging completion time is shorter than the cargo-handling completion time, a job can be assigned to a self-propelled crane 20 in a recharging operation state which will be brought into a cargo-handling operation state, before all of the jobs assigned to the self-propelled crane 20 in a cargo-handling operation state are completed. Therefore, the amount of waiting time of the container C to be carried in can be further reduced and the level of cargo-handling efficiency can be improved.

[0089]

The cargo management systems 10 and l0A of the first embodiment and second embodiment of the present invention respectively has a computer system therein. The respective steps described above are stored in a program format on a computer-readable recording medium, and the computer reads and executes this program to thereby perform the above process.

Here, the cargo management program in the cargo management systems 10 and 10 A is a program for the cargo management apparatuses 70 and 80 which manage container C cargo-handling operations in the respective traveling lanes 40 performed by the plurality of self-propelled cranes 20, which perform cargo-handling operations using a rechargeable battery 24 as a power source, and it causes the cargo management apparatuses 70 and 80 to function as the operation information obtaining device 74 and the crane assignment deciding section 78 or crane assignment deciding section 88.

[0090]

Moreover, a computer-readable recording medium refers to a magnetic disc, an optical magnetic disc, an optical disc, a semiconductor memory, and the like. Furthermore, this computer program may be distributed to a computer via an electrical communication line or wireless communication line, and the computer, which has received this distribution, may execute this program.

[0091]

Moreover, the above program may realize a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, the program may be of a so-called difference file (difference program) which is combined with a program which has already been recorded on a computer system to realize the functions described above.

[0092]

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the second embodiment described above illustrates an example in which crane working information contains the remaining level of the battery 24 of the self-propelled crane 20 and the number of jobs for the self-propelled crane 20. However, information to be contained in crane working information is not limited to these. For example, there may be provided a mechanism in which the self-propelled crane 20 control computer 30A calculates the required amount of cargo-handling operation time
for storing the remaining containers C, for which cargo-handling operations have not been completed in the cargo-handling operation state, and the required amount of for recharging the battery 24 in a recharging operation state. In this case, the crane working information may directly store the required amount of time for cargo-handling operations for storing the remaining containers C, for which cargo-handling operations have not been completed in the cargo-handling operation state, and the crane working information may directly store the required amount of time for recharging the battery 24 in the recharging operation state.

[0093]

Moreover, the configuration components shown in the respective embodiments and modified example described above may be appropriately combined and configured.

[Description of the Reference Symbols]

[0094]

1 Container terminal

5 Container yard

10, l0A Cargo management system

20 Self-propelled crane 24 Battery

30, 30A Crane control computer

40 Traveling lane

50 On-site trailer

60 Gate

70, 80 Cargo management apparatus

71 Container carrying-in receiving section

72 Operation information query instructing section

73 Wireless device

74 Operation information obtaining device

75 Operation information receiving section 76, 87 List creating section

77 Memory section

78, 88 Crane assignment deciding section (cargo-handling operation assigning section)

81 Operating state determining section

82 Recharging time calculating section

83 Working information obtaining section

84 Operation completion time obtaining section

85 Cargo-handling completion time obtaining section

86 Recharging completion time obtaining section

We Claim:

1. A cargo management apparatus which manages container cargo-handling operations within each traveling lane of a plurality of self-propelled cranes which respectively perform a cargo-handling operation using a rechargeable battery as a power source, comprising:

an operation information obtaining device which obtains, from each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes, crane operation information which indicates whether the self-propelled crane is in a recharging operation state where the battery is recharged, or in a cargo-handling operation state where a cargo-handling operation can be performed; and
a cargo-handling operation assigning device which makes reference to the crane operation information obtained by the operation information obtaining device, and selects one of the plurality of self-propelled cranes and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to the container yard.

2. The cargo management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the operation information obtaining device has a working information obtaining section which obtains crane working information indicating a working status of the plurality of self-propelled cranes, and

the cargo-handling operation assigning device has:

an operation completion time obtaining section which makes reference to the crane working information obtained by the working information obtaining section and obtains an operation completion time of the self-propelled crane; and

a crane assignment deciding section which makes reference to the operation completion time obtained by the operation completion time obtaining section, and selects a self-propelled crane having the shortest operation completion time and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to this selected self-propelled crane.

3. The cargo management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the crane working information contains: a number of remaining containers, for which cargo-handling operations have not been completed in a cargo-handling operation state, or a cargo-handling operation time required for the remaining containers; and a recharging level or recharging time of the battery in a recharging operation state,

the operation completion time obtaining section has:

a recharging time obtaining section which obtains the crane working information for the self-propelled crane, the crane operation information of which indicates a recharging state, to obtain a recharging requirement time; and

a cargo-handling completion time obtaining section which obtains the crane working information for the self-propelled crane, the crane operation information of which indicates a cargo-handling operation state, to obtain a cargo-handling operation completion time, and

the crane assignment deciding section, between the self-propelled crane having the shortest recharging requirement time obtained by the recharging time obtaining section and the self-propelled crane having the shortest cargo-handling operation completion time obtained by the cargo-handling completion time obtaining section, compares the recharging requirement time and the cargo-handling operation completion time of each other, and selects the self-propelled crane having a shorter time.

4. A cargo management system comprising;

a cargo management apparatus according to any one of claim 1 through claim 3,
the plurality of self-propelled cranes,

the traveling lanes on which the self-propelled cranes are arranged, and a carrying-in communication terminal which transmits container information related to the container to be carried-in, to the cargo management apparatus, wherein

the cargo management apparatus, based on the container information, transmits information related to the self-propelled crane, to which a cargo-handling operation of a corresponding container has been assigned, to the carrying-in communication terminal.

5. A cargo management method for managing container cargo-handling operations within each traveling lane of a plurality of self-propelled cranes which respectively perform a cargo-handling operation using a rechargeable battery as a power source, comprising:

an operation information obtaining step in which an operation information obtaining device obtains, from each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes, crane operation information which indicates whether the self-propelled crane is in a recharging operation state where the battery is recharged, or in a cargo-handling operation state where a cargo-handling operation can be performed; and

a cargo-handling operation assigning step in which a cargo-handling operation assigning device makes reference to the obtained crane operation information, and selects one of the plurality of self-propelled cranes and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to the container yard.

6. A cargo management program for a cargo management apparatus which manages container cargo-handling operations within each traveling lane of a plurality of
self-propelled cranes which respectively perform a cargo-handling operation using a rechargeable battery as a power source, wherein the cargo management program causes the cargo management apparatus to function as:

an operation information obtaining device which obtains, from each of the plurality of self-propelled cranes, crane operation information which indicates whether the self-propelled crane is in a recharging operation state where the battery is recharged, or in a cargo-handling operation state where a cargo-handling operation can be performed; and

a cargo-handling operation assigning device which makes reference to the operation information obtained by the operation information obtaining device, and selects one of the plurality of self-propelled cranes and assigns a cargo-handling operation for a container to be carried-in to the container yard.