"Automated system for the electrical connection and disconnection of refrigerated containers to a power supply and/or data transmission network"

The present invention relates to an automated system for connecting and/or disconnecting the power supply and/or data connection for refrigerated containers, or reefers, in the port and/or storage and interchange field and/or on board ship, which container is provided with at least one electrical connector for connection to a power supply and/or data transmission network.

The refrigerated container is equipped with an electric compressor for maintaining controlled internal conditions (temperature, humidity) according to the type of goods stored that must be maintained during all phases of transport and intermediate storage, in order to avoid deterioration and loss of load with consequent legal actions for compensation for damages and insurance costs for their coverage.

The refrigerated container requires an electrical connection for the compressor supply and a data connection for setting the operating parameters and for their monitoring, transmission and recording.

Both the container storage sites and container transport facilities must have electrical outlets to power the refrigerated containers, ensuring the connection, storage and monitoring of the setting parameters.

The storage of these containers in the port area is facilitated mostly by dedicated structures called "reefer racks" consisting of metal joinery structures used to position reefer containers in appropriately equipped and dedicated yard areas and including gangways to ensure access to the personnel to refrigerated containers. The reefer racks are equipped with supply points in a number equal to the storage capacity of the containers. These structures allow operators access to containers that can therefore be stored on multiple levels in areas served by mechanical means (for example, rail or wheeled cranes) used for their movement.

Every movement currently requires a human intervention to connect and/or disconnect the container to/from the power supply network and this event occurs not only when the container is received or delivered, but also during discarding processes related to the movement of containers underneath others stacked on top of them.

These elements are also present on board ship when embarking or disembarking the container.

The need for constant human presence in high-risk port areas due to the simultaneous presence of container lifting and handling means creates a serious work safety problem for connection and disconnection of refrigerated containers. Port security is an absolute priority, since port activities are intrinsically dangerous due to the commingling between human activities and operational means in the yards.

A further critical element is given by the numerous disputes related to the damages connected to delays in the connections resulting from a lack of synchronization between the movements of the refrigerated containers and their connection to the electric supply, resulting in the loss of the set temperature and humidity parameters with consequent deterioration of goods and related legal actions, with direct costs linked to the reimbursement of deductibles and indirect costs related to insurance premiums for risk coverage. The synchronization of the handling of the containers with the connection and disconnection of the electrical supply is therefore particularly critical for maintaining the quality of the service.

These critical issues are also present on board ship where the increased dimensions of the hold capacity can lead to high volumes of unloading of refrigerated containers with high risks of lack of synchronization between the disconnection of the power supply and the actual movement of the container, thus involving the same problems (described above) in terms of work safety, costs and quality of service that are found in the port area - container terminal side.

Since the trend of refrigerated goods is growing strongly and the size of container ships and the related landing volumes is growing more and more, the criticality related to the automation of refrigerated container connections and the synchronization between the electrical connection and their actual handling always assumes greater relevance for all the actors involved in the process.

There is therefore a need not yet satisfied with a system that automates at least in part the manual activities necessary for the connection and disconnection of refrigerated containers, both as regards the electric power supply and the data connection.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of current completely manual systems for connecting refrigerated containers both in ports and on ships, by using automatic systems for the electrical connection and disconnection to a fixed power supply and/or data transmission network.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks with a system as described at the beginning, which also includes automated means for the electrical connection and disconnection of the electrical connector to/from the power supply and/or data transmission network, which means comprise at least one mechanical arm.

The present invention allows to obtain the following advantages:

- improving safety by reducing the need for human interaction with the device; in the specific port context, the need for the presence of human activities in high-risk areas of the yard is reduced due to the presence of moving mechanical means;

- Improving the quality of the provided service by synchronizing in real time the connection/disconnection times of refrigerated containers with their actual movement both in the context of storage areas and on board ship; in the specific port area, such synchronization for refrigerated containers reduces the duration of power supply lack, which can modify the set temperature and humidity parameters inside the container, compromising the conservation of the goods;

- improving the efficiency of operations by reducing the direct costs related to the resources dedicated to the activities now performed manually that are to be automated;

- in the port area, improving the flexibility in the use of the yard areas and the management of seasonality peaks;

- improving efficiency through the reduction of indirect costs related to the reduction of insurance costs resulting from the improvement of service quality.

The system has been designed in different configurations to adapt to customer needs. This means various levels of increasing automation, suitable for serving one or more refrigerated containers or more generally devices powered by electric current and provided with a data connection.

In the refrigerated containers currently in use, the said connector of each container is connected to the electrical system of the container itself by means of a cable, and the container is provided with a cable basket.

In an embodiment, a movable connector is provided connected to the power supply and/or data transmission network, which movable connector is moved by the mechanical arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the movable connector is mounted on the head of the mechanical arm.

According to an embodiment, the movable connector is displaced by the mechanical arm for coupling and/or decoupling the movable connector to the connector of the device.

In an embodiment the movable connector has an ejection mechanism, also optional for the data connection.

The mechanical arm makes it possible to automate the connection of the device to the power supply and/or data transmission network, which can therefore be done automatically without the need for intervention by specialized personnel. ln a further embodiment, the movable connector is connected to the power supply and/or data transmission network by means of an electric cable, which electric cable is wound on a winder provided with an automatic winding mechanism.

This allows an automatic retrieval of the movable connector and its cable. The rewinder can always be active and constantly exert a force that contrasts that of the mechanical arm so that when the mechanical arm is released and/or the movable connector is ejected, the cable is automatically rewound. Alternatively, the rewinder can be activated only when the rewinding of the cable is necessary.

In a further embodiment, the mechanical arm is provided with one or more joints.

In a further embodiment, the mechanical arm is at least partly telescopic.

In a further embodiment, the mechanical arm is movable on at least two axes, preferably on the three axes. In this way the mechanical arm can be positioned at each container of a plurality of said containers.

This allows to have only one mechanical arm, or a reduced number of mechanical arms, to operate on a plurality of containers.

According to a variant embodiment, the mechanical arm can be coupled to a container access structure.

In this way, each container has a dedicated mechanical arm. This proves to be particularly advantageous in the installation of the system in pre-existing structures, for example pre-existing reefer racks or in the holds of container ships in which there are narrow spaces and constraints between metal joinery and containers. In this case the totality, or even only part, of the reefer rack slots is provided with its own mechanical arm.

In an embodiment example, the mechanical arm comprises a trunk or snake-shaped part (snake-arm) constituted by a plurality of sectors articulated in relation to each other, retaining means being provided in a position and releasing from this position the trunk-shaped part. This allows the mechanical arm to be moved into numerous useful positions for connection, in particular it can be positioned manually at the cable basket.

According to an improvement, the retention and release means comprise a tensioning cable connected to the free end of the trunk- shaped part and a motorized tensioning coil connected to the constrained end of the trunk-shaped part.

This allows the mechanical arm to be locked once it is moved to the correct position, and at the same time it allows the mechanical arm to be released and to be positioned vertically by gravity when the arm is to be moved away from the position mentioned above.

In an embodiment the movable connector comprises automatic ejection means of the electrical connector.

According to an improvement, the automatic ejection means comprise a gripper member. The gripper member can pass from an open condition to a tightening condition on the electrical connector.

According to a further improvement, the gripper member can be displaced from an extracted position in which it is in the open condition to a retracted position in which it is in a tightening condition on the electrical connector.

Typically, the electrical connectors of the refrigerated containers have a threaded coupling ring that must be screwed onto the socket on the reefer rack after the electrical connection is made, to ensure a watertight electrical connection. According to a further improvement, therefore, the movable connector has a gasket ring positioned in such a way that, in the tightening condition of the gripper member, the coupling ring makes a seal on the gasket ring.

In an embodiment example, the movable connector is provided with a removable cover which can be moved automatically from a position of occlusion of the electrical contacts to an open position in which the electrical contacts are exposed. This makes it possible to automate the display or concealment of the contacts of the movable connector, to increase the electrical safety of the operators.

In a further embodiment, the system comprises a unit for monitoring the operating parameters of the refrigerated containers, such as for example the absorbed power, the consumed energy, current and voltage, internal temperature and humidity.

In a further embodiment, in combination or as an alternative to what has been described above, systems are envisaged for transmitting electricity between the fixed network and containers by means of magnetic induction. The magnetic induction connection means can comprise circuits which can be coupled by magnetic induction located respectively in the mechanical arm and integrated in the container.

To facilitate the connection operations, in an optional embodiment example the system can comprise the use of a removable switchboard, which acts as an interconnection element, which can be fixed to the cable basket of the container by fixing means. The fixing means can be of any type, preferably they can be constituted both by mechanical grippers and by magnetic or vacuum systems.

The removable switchboard is provided with at least a first connector able to connect to the connector of the container and at least a second connector able to connect with the power supply and/or data transmission network. The first connector and the second connector are electrically connected to each other.

The removable switchboard is equipped - on the container side - with a connection and ejection system for the socket connected to the container supply cable; thus, the socket will be ejected directly into the cable basket at the time of the related command; the removable switchboard is equipped - at the robotic arm side - with an electric socket suitable to receive the movable connector mounted on the head of the arm which operates the automated connection/disconnection, in turn connected to the power supply or data network. A further feature of the removable switchboard is the possibility of being removed from the refrigerated container by means of the robotic arm, automatically releasing it and removing it.

In a further embodiment, the removable switchboard is provided with an electrical switch between the first connector and the second connector.

Alternatively or in combination the system includes a fixed switchboard fixed to the container and connected in parallel or in series to the connector. The fixed switchboard is provided with at least a fixed connector able to connect to the power supply and/or data transmission network.

It is possible to provide a switch to alternatively connect the removable switchboard or the fixed switchboard to the mains.

In a further embodiment, the removable switchboard has an ejection mechanism of the first connector and/or an ejection mechanism of the second connector.

These ejection mechanisms can be operated by a remote signal or, alternatively or in combination, by a local electronic unit connected to sensors. Thanks to these mechanisms, disconnection can take place automatically without the need for intervention by specialized personnel.

In an embodiment example, the removable switchboard and/or the fixed switchboard have a transmission unit via radio waves of the data received from the container.

The object of the present invention is also a method of connection and/or disconnection of the power supply and/or data connection for refrigerated containers in the port area and/or on board ship. The container is provided with at least one electrical connector for connection to a power supply and/or data transmission network and the electrical connector is connected to the end of an electric cable, the container being also provided with a cable basket. The method involves the use of a mechanical arm, which mechanical arm has at its free end a movable connector connected to the power supply and/or data transmission network. According to an embodiment, the following steps are provided for the connection:

a) positioning the mechanical arm in such a way that the movable connector is in correspondence with the cable basket;

b) connection of the electrical connector to the movable connector.

According to a further embodiment, the following steps are provided for disconnection:

c) automatic ejection of the electrical connector from the movable connector;

d) automatic positioning of the mechanical arm in a retracted position such that the movable connector is in a condition moved away from the cable basket.

In an advantageous embodiment, steps a) and b) are performed manually by an operator, while steps c) and d) are performed automatically.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of some non-limiting embodiment examples illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the system;

fig. 2 shows a top view;

fig. 3 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment with a mechanical arm for each storage position of the reefer rack;

figs. 4 to 9 illustrate different connection steps of the electrical connector of the container with the movable connector moved by the mechanical arm;

figs. 10 to 16 show different views or diagrams of embodiment examples with a switchboard.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment example of the system for the electrical connection and disconnection of refrigerated containers 3 to a power supply and/or data transmission network in the port area. Each refrigerated container 3 is provided with an electric compressor for maintaining the desired conditions inside it and a connector 31 for the power supply of the compressor and/or for the data connection for setting and/or communicating the operating parameters, their monitoring, transmission and registration.

It is possible to provide a single connector 31 of the container both for the power supply and for the data connection, or it is possible to provide two separate connectors, a connector 31 for the power supply and a connector 34 (see for example figure 2) for data connection.

The reefer racks 40 are access structures of refrigerated containers made of metal joinery constituted by gangways 4 on several planes, as illustrated in figure 3, which allow the access of the personnel assigned to the management of the operations of power supply connection/disconnection of containers 3, and in particular of their refrigerating apparatuses, and of the possible monitoring of their operating parameters.

As shown in figure 3, the containers 3 are placed in front of the gangway 4 of the reefer rack 40 on each of the two sides of the same, oriented in such a way that the part of the container 3 where the compressor is located is positioned in front of the gangway 4 and of a power socket provided on the gangway 4 at the station or slot of each container 3.

Each container 3 is equipped with a basket 30 inserted in the front of the compressor. In the basket 30 the power supply cable 32 is positioned for connection to the socket, visible in figure 2, which power cable 32 terminates with said connector 31.

A movable connector 11 is provided, displaced by the mechanical arm 1 and connected to the power supply network by a junction unit 16 and/or to the data transmission network by means of a junction unit 16'. The movable connector 11 is moved by the mechanical arm 1 to be coupled or uncoupled to the connector 31. The movable connector 11 can be integrated on the head of the mechanical arm 1. Alternatively, the mechanical arm is equipped with a gripper for gripping and moving the movable connector 11. A hooking mechanism is provided between the movable connector 11 of the robotic arm 1 and the connector 31 of the container 3, which allows the robotic arm 1 to connect or disconnect depending on the received commands. This mechanism may consist of an electrical coupling (for example a bayonet coupling) between the connector 31 and the movable connector 11 mounted on the head of the arm 1. A coupling system is therefore provided for the movable connector 11 mounted on the free end of the arm 1 which allows the robotic arm 1 to automatically connect or disconnect both the power and the data supply and automatically perform both the hooking and the release of the movable connector 11.

The coupling mechanism preferably includes the contacts for power supply and the contacts for data transmission.

In the case where a single connection is provided for both the power supply and the data connection, the movable connector 11 integrates the terminals for power transmission with those for data transmission, thus allowing the connection between container and terminal/ship with a single socket and therefore with a single movement. The integration of the terminals for power transmission with those for data transmission is correspondingly provided in the connector 31.

The robotic arm 1 is the electromechanical connection drive capable of a positioning movement on three axes and a possible movement of the terminal part to allow the connection of the electrical contacts.

The connector 31 is initially manually connected by an operator to the movable connector 11 of the mechanical arm 1 , positioned so as to be subsequently ejected in the basket 30.

As shown in figure 1 , the arm is fixed to the reefer rack 40 in a position and with a dimension such that it can act on the container 3, in particular in the area of the cable basket 30, when the container 3 is positioned in the slot.

The mechanical arm 1 comprises a trunk-shaped part 18 constituted by a plurality of sectors 100 articulated in relation to each other and an articulated part 19 for raising and lowering the trunk- shaped part 18. The sectors 100 can be of any shape useful for obtaining a trunk-shaped arm, preferably they are constituted by cylindrical or annular elements.

Retention means are provided in one position and release from that position of the trunk-shaped part 18. Such means preferably comprise a tensioning cable connected to the free end of the trunk- shaped part 18 and a motorized tensioning coil connected to the constrained end of the trunk-shaped part 18. This tensioning cable is preferably housed inside the trunk-shaped part 18.

The movable connector 11 comprises automatic ejection means for the electrical connector 31. Such automatic ejection means comprise a gripper member 110 displaceable from an extracted position in which it is in the open condition to a retracted position in which it is in a tightening condition on the electrical connector 31. The electrical connector 31 typically has a screw-on coupling ring 310 on the reefer rack socket to ensure the contacts are watertight. The movable connector 11 therefore has a gasket ring positioned in such a way that, in the tightening condition of the gripper member 110, the coupling ring 310 makes a seal on the gasket ring.

The automatic ejection means also comprise an ejection mechanism 111 of the electrical connector 31 from the electrical contacts of the movable connector 11.

The movable connector 11 is enclosed in a casing 112 connected at one side to the free end of the trunk-shaped part 18 and which has on the opposite side an opening for the extraction of the gripper member and for access to the electrical contacts from the outside. This casing 112 is provided with a handle to be gripped and moved by an operator and with control buttons for actuating the gripper member 110 and/or the ejection mechanism 111.

In an embodiment example, the movable connector 11 is provided with a removable cover which can be moved automatically from a position of occlusion of the electrical contacts to an open position in which the electrical contacts are exposed. The cover can be constituted by an element pivoting from the occlusion position to the open position or alternatively be a diaphragm element.

The mechanical arm 1 contains within it the tensioning cable, the power cables, the data transmission cables and the command and actuation cables of the gripper member 110 and/or of the ejection mechanism 111.

In an embodiment example, the mechanical arm 1 initially positions the movable connector 11 near the connector 31. An operator manually connects the connector 31 to the movable connector 11 to make the connection. To perform the disconnection, the movable connector 11 automatically ejects the connector 31 , and the mechanical arm 1 withdraws into the rest position.

This is illustrated in Figure 2, in which the arm 1 is positioned so as to present the movable connector 11 in the vicinity of the basket 30. An operator can manually insert the connector 31 into the movable connector 11 , which movable connector is connected to the power supply network by the junction unit 16. The arm 1 is provided with an ejection mechanism of the connector 31 from the movable connector 11 , so that, in order to perform the disconnection, the movable connector 11 automatically expels the connector 31 , and the mechanical arm 1 withdraws.

The arm 1 is further equipped with a movable data connector 11 ', connected to a rewinder 14' and connected to the data transmission network by means of a data junction unit 16'. The refrigerated container 3 is equipped with a data connector 34. The operator manually picks up the movable data connector 1 T and connects it to the data connector 34 on the container 3. The data connector 34 is provided with an ejection mechanism from the movable data connector 11 ', so that it ejects the movable data connector 1 when disconnection is required, and the movable data connector 11’ is withdrawn on the arm 1 by rewinding the data cable 15’ on the rewinder 14'.

From the above it is possible to realize different embodiments of the system with different functionalities and levels of sophistication.

A first embodiment provides a simple fixed telescopic mechanical arm 1 with switchboard 2 for each slot, placed in front of each container 3, with a pointing system to automatically guide the arm 1 to the mechanical arm side connector 21. The pointing system can include cameras mounted on the reefer rack and/or on the mechanical arm itself, or other types of pointing (radio, capacitive, inductive, laser, ultrasound or similar waves).

A second embodiment provides a simple telescopic mechanical arm 1 movable with a horizontal (by planes) and/or vertical translation system, for example a translation linked to the horizontal and/or vertical uprights of the carpentry.

A third embodiment provides a mechanical arm 1 with an autonomous handling and recognition capacity of the basket 30. The pointing system provides for the recognition of the connector 31 inside the basket 30 and for the replication of the human activities of extraction of the connector 31 and relocation of the cable 32 in the basket 30 for connection to the socket on the rack 40.

The preferred embodiment is called "Release only" and refers to a simplified configuration which provides a movable arm 1 for each slot, in which each arm 1 mounts on its top a movable connector 11 provided with an automatic ejection mechanism of the connector 31.

This solution can be indicated both to simplify Container Terminal operations with mainly Transhipment traffic, and to manage the disconnection of containers 3 in the holds on board ship.

This solution provides a connection and/or disconnection method of the power supply and/or data connection for refrigerated containers in the port area and/or on board ship comprising the following steps:

a) positioning the mechanical arm 1 in such a way that the movable connector 11 is in correspondence with the cable basket 30; b) connection of the electrical connector 31 to the movable connector 11 ; c) automatic ejection of the electrical connector 31 from the movable connector 11 ;

d) automatic positioning of the mechanical arm 1 in a retracted position such that the movable connector 11 is in a condition moved away from the cable basket 30.

This configuration also provides the possibility of connecting a data cable 15’ with a movable data connector 1 T to the head of the arm 1 , in turn equipped with an ejector and a recovery mechanism 14’ of the data cable 15’ by the arm 1 if required.

Downstream of the first connection, the operator connects the connector 31 of the container 3 to the movable connector 11 located at the head of the arm 1 and positions the arm 1 above the basket 30 so that the ejection mechanism then releases the connector 31 and the cable 32 directly in the basket 30. Once the connection and the correct positioning have been performed, the user commands the block in position of the trunk-shaped part 18 of the mechanical arm 1 by acting on the relative command button. The tensioning coil is then activated and brings into tension the tensioning cable, which then holds in position the sectors 100 of the trunk-shaped part 18.

Following a command synchronized with the Terminal Operating

System (TOS) or the ship, the arm 1 operates the gripper member 110 and the ejection mechanism 111 so as to expel the connector 31 from the connector 11 directly in the basket 30, allowing the container 3 to be moved and automatically returning to the rest position. To do this, the tensioning cable is released, and the trunk-shaped part 18 of the arm 1 is therefore positioned along the vertical line by gravity. Finally, the articulated part 19 is rotated to move the trunk-shaped part 18 upwards. In this rest position the tensioning cable can be re-tensioned to avoid accidental movements of the mechanical arm 1 , due for example to wind.

In an embodiment, the mechanical arm 1 is connected to the reefer rack 40 so that it can move on each of the slots according to the instructions received from the Terminal Operating System (TOS). For this purpose the mechanical arm is connected to a control unit that receives command data from the TOS. It is possible to provide horizontal and/or vertical translation means to perform such movements, for example by means of suitable electrically driven guides and slides or other currently known methods.

This movement mechanism of the mechanical arm 1 , with also the possibility of positioning on both sides of the gangway 4 on any of the slots of the rack, is preferable in the case of reefer racks 40 to be built. On existing ones, on the other hand, taking into account the limited spaces and the constraints between metal joinery and container 3 it is advantageous to provide a mechanical arm 1 for each slot.

The mechanical arm 1 can be telescopic and/or be constituted by a plurality of sectors connected to each other by joints 12.

In the embodiment example of figure 16, the mechanical arm 1 is of the Cartesian type and can move along an axis x, for example being mounted on a carriage sliding on rails or according to another currently known translation method, it is telescopic in height and therefore it can lengthen or shorten along the y axis, and it is telescopic in depth, being able to lengthen or shorten along the z axis to reach the containers 3.

Unlike the manual procedure, where the operator extracts the cable from the basket 30 on board the refrigerated container 3 and connects the connector 31 to the power socket in the rack 40 in front of the slot in which the container 3 was previously positioned by the crane, each slot of the rack 40 is provided with its own cable 15, wound on the drum of a rewinder 14 and positioned on the structure of the rack 40, which ends with a movable connector 11 which is managed by the robotic arm 1 for connection to the removable switchboard 2 installed on the container 3 or directly with the fixed switchboard 6 fixed to the refrigerated container 3.

Once it has received the order from the TOS, the mechanical arm

1 positions itself in correspondence with the slot to be operated, grips the movable connector 11 by unwinding the cable 15 from the drum of the rewinder 14 and connects the same to the second connector 21 of the removable switchboard 2 previously installed on the container 3.

In the case where the container 3 is provided with a fixed switchboard 6 applied directly to the walls of the container 3 itself, the mechanical arm 1 can provide directly for the connection of the movable connector 11 to the connector 33 and/or for removal from the same.

The connection of the movable connector 11 by the robotic arm 1 is performed with the aid of a pointing system which recognizes the position of the second connector 21 present on the removable switchboard 2 or alternatively to the connector 33 of the fixed switchboard 6. In part the mechanical arm can house, in the part near the head of the arm, an optical system (for example a miniaturized camera) and/or a laser pointer or a pointer of another nature for recognizing the target, represented by the second connector 21 present on the "front arm" of the removable switchboard 2 or from the fixed connector 33, to guide the positioning of the arm 1 and make the electrical connection.

It is possible to provide a camera system that allows a video to be sent to a remote control cabin of the mechanical arm 1 to allow remote control of the arm by an operator.

In a simplified embodiment, the assistance of the robotic arm 1 for the connection is not provided, limiting the functionality only to the automatic disconnection of the container 3. In this case, the disconnection has two modes:

A) with recovery of the removable switchboard 2:

1. ejection of the connector 31 of the container 3 from the first connector 23, with the fall of the connector 31 itself in the basket 30 for recovery of the cable 32 on board the container 3;

2. deactivation of the fixing means of the removable switchboard 2 to the container 3.

3. simultaneous recovery of the cable 15 and of the removable switchboard 2 through the rewinder 14 of the cable 15 placed on the structure of the rack 40;

B) without recovery of the removable switchboard 2: 1. maintenance of the fixing means of the removable switchboard 2 to the container 3;

2. ejection of the movable connector 11 from the second connector 21 and rewinding of the power supply cable 15 on the recovery roller of the rewinder 14.

The solution A) can be implemented in "stand alone" mode by giving up the functionality of the arm 1 in a simplified configuration that only involves automatic disconnection.

Solution B) can be used along with the presence of the robotic arm 1 to speed up the disconnection procedure when a container 3 stacked under others must be moved but requires first the disconnection and movement of the containers stacked above it.

In a first embodiment example called "one to one", an arm 1 is provided for each storage position of the containers 3 (slots) and on the container 3 there is a switchboard 2. In this case the arm 1 is able to carry out both the connection and the disconnection automatically, minimizing the manual intervention which, if the container 3 is not already equipped with a fixed switchboard 6, is limited to the initial application of the switchboard 2 to the container 3 by an operator in correspondence with the unloading of the container 3. The arm 1 is optionally able to hold the switchboard in a removable configuration 2 upon final delivery of the container 3.

In a second embodiment, called "travelling arm", a plurality of containers is connected with a single mechanism; the system consists of a robotic arm 1 which has a gripper at its end, designed to take the movable connectors 11 and connect them to the connectors on the mechanical arm 21 of the switchboards 2 on the containers 3: in this case the robotic arm 1 moves on vertical and/or horizontal slides or guides to reach any of the slots of the structure of the reefer rack 40.

Each slot is equipped in its fixed part (i.e. integral with the reefer rack 40) with a movable connector 11 compatible with the above engagement mechanism, connected to a cable 15 wound on a rewinder 14 with controllable retrieval, which is connected, upon command of the system, from the arm 1 itself to the switchboard 2 on the container 3.

On the head of the arm 1 a suitable gripper is mounted, able to grip the movable connector 11 connected to the cable 15 positioned on the fixed part of the reefer rack 40, and to engage the movable connector 11 with the mechanical arm side connector 21 of the switchboard 2 present on the container 3 itself.

A third embodiment example, called "movable platform", is the adaptation of the "travelling arm" configuration to situations in which there is no metal joinery (reefer rack 40) that allows the storage and access of containers 3. This solution is suitable for cases in which containers 3 are stored in areas not equipped with "flying" connections.

In this case the arm 1 , equipped with a gripper as in the case of "travelling arm", is mounted on a movable platform as shown in figure 15, allowing the movable connectors 11 connected to the cable winders 14 mounted on the ground to be connected to the containers 3.