METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORAGING AND TRANSFERING CONTAINERS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of processing containers and an apparatus for performing the same, and more particularly, to a method of rapidly storing and transferring containers, while keeping the containers in the disposing directions during the unloading and the transfer of the containers, and an apparatus for performing the same.

Description of the Related Art Generally, a container is referred to as a box-shaped vessel used to efficiently and economically transport baggage; there are many kinds having different lengths and heights. As well, 20 ft and 40 ft long containers are mainly used. As a method and an apparatus of storing container at a specific place, there is Korean Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-2005-0111304 (November 24, 2005), entitled "Method and Apparatus for Storing and Transferring Container", filed by this applicant, illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, and the configuration and operation thereof will be

described as follows.

As illustrated, the conventional container processing apparatus for storing and transferring containers includes an unloading unit 100 to unload containers from a container ship S, a storage unit 200 installed at a harbor in front of the unloading unit 100, a transfer unit 300 installed between the unloading unit and the storage unit 200, a central controlling unit 400 to control the transfer unit 300, and an apron 500 installed at an end of the transfer unit 300 and at a side of the storage unit 200.

In the conventional container processing apparatus for storing and transferring containers, when the unloading unit 100 unloads, the containers are unloaded from the container ship S and the unloading unit 100 then transmits information about the containers to the central controlling unit 400. The central controlling unit 400, received the information of the containers, moves an automatic cart 302 placed at the nearest location from the unloading unit 100, having transmitted the information, to the unloading unit 100. When the automatic cart 302 arrives at the unloading unit 100, the unloading unit 100 loads the container being unloaded on the automatic cart 302. When the unloading of the container on the automatic cart 302 is finished, the central controlling unit 400 analyzes the information about the container and information of the storage unit 200 to

determine whether the container is stored or is transported out to the exterior through the apron 500.

When the central controlling unit 400 determines that the container is transported out, the container passes through the storage unit 200 and is moved to the apron 500 by which a traveling line of the container is changed by a traveling railway 301, and a railway rotation unit 303 selected by the central controlling unit 400, and the apron

500 loads the container transported by the automatic cart 302 loading the container on a vehicle by the central controlling unit 400, such that the container is transported out to the exterior.

When the central controlling unit 400 determines to load the container, the automatic cart 302 loading the container enters the storage unit 200 along the traveling railway 301 while changing the traveling line by the railway rotation unit 303, and at this time, a storing apparatus installed in the storage unit 200 moves the container to a predetermined storing location to store. FIGS. 19 and 20 schematically illustrate the conventional storage unit and the configuration thereof is as follows.

As illustrated, the conventional storage unit includes a plurality of storage rooms 102a respectively provided at lateral sides of a vertical elevating path 101a formed in a

steel structure 100, cages 200a provided to respectively elevate and lower in the steel structure 100a, and travelings 300a to horizontally travel from the cages 200a to the storage rooms 102a. The conventional storage unit further includes container pickup units 400a to pick the container transported from the exterior of the steel structure 100a up into the steel structure 100a.

Moreover, the cages 200a are elevated and lowered along vertical rails installed in elevating paths 101a by driving units respectively mounted to the upper side of the steel structure 100a and including a sheave and wire rope, and the travelings 300a disposed in the cages 200a horizontally move along horizontal rails 103a laterally installed in the storage rooms 102a by built-in motors.

The container entered the steel structure 100a by the container pickup unit 400a is elevated to a storage location by the cage 200a together the traveling 300a while being held by the traveling 300a and the traveling 300a moves horizontally to the storage location of a storage layer 102a corresponding to the storage location to store the container, and the container is taken out by a reverse process.

However, the conventional container processing apparatus has drawbacks as follows. Since, in order to store the containers, the automatic

cart must travel the complex traveling line and the direction of the traveling line must be changed by the railway rotation unit, the containers are not rapidly transferred and stored.

Moreover, when the railway rotates the movable cart loading the container, principle components are easily damaged and frequently malfunctioned due to an unbalanced load of the container, result in difficulty of maintenance.

On the other hand, since the conventional storage unit is configured such that the traveling provided in the cage can move along a single row of the storage rooms, the traveling cannot move laterally and use efficiency of the travelings deteriorates.

As described above, since the lateral movement range of the traveling is limited, efficiency of storing the containers is remarkably deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing method of swiftly storing and transferring containers while maintaining the disposing directions of the container during the unloading and the transfer. It is another aspect of the present invention to

provide a container processing method of swiftly transferring containers between an unloading unit and a storage unit.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing apparatus for swift storing and transferring containers while maintaining the disposing directions of the container during the unloading and the transfer.

It is stall another aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing apparatus for swift storing containers while maintaining the disposing directions of the containers .

It is stall another aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing apparatus for smoothly taking containers out of a storage unit. It is stall another aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing apparatus in which the lateral movement range of a traveling is easily expanded by a simple structure so that the use efficiency of the traveling increases and work efficiency is significantly enhanced. It is stall another aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing apparatus in which an external cage is steadily and smoothly elevated and lowered.

It is stall another aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing apparatus in which tension of an elevation rope is adjusted so that a uniform driving force

is applied to the elevation rope during the elevation and lowering of the external cage.

It is stall another aspect of the present invention to provide a container processing apparatus for smoothly storing containers in multiple layers with a simple structure.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method of processing containers comprising: loading a container unloaded by an unloading device to load the container on a transfer unit by moving the transfer device; transferring the container from the unloading device to a storage device with loading the container such that a disposing direction of the container is maintained in the same direction as a direction of the container when the container is unloaded by the unloading device; and storing the container which is transferred to the storage device in the storage device such that the container is stored in the storage device in the same direction as the disposing direction of the container maintained during the transfer to the storage device.

In the transferring, the transfer device travels along a pair of traveling rails, installed in the longitudinal direction between the unloading device and the storage device, in the longitudinal direction while maintaining the disposing direction of the loaded container and is laterally

transferred to other traveling rails by a loader laterally installed between ends of the longitudinally-installed traveling rails.

In the transferring the container, the transfer device is circulated in one way on an endless track by the traveling rails and the loader and is returned to an initial location.

In the transferring the container, the transfer device is traveled into the storage device through the horizontally- installed traveling rails installed between the traveling rails near the storage device while maintaining the disposing direction of the container.

In the transferring the container, the container loaded on the transfer device is transferred from the traveling rails near the storage device to a transfer device on the horizontally-installed traveling rails by a storage loader while maintaining the disposing direction of the container.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an apparatus for processing containers comprising: an unloading unit to unload a container from a container ship; a storage unit to store the container unloaded from the container ship by the unloading unit and a container incoming from the exterior; a transfer unit to transfer the containers between the unloading unit and the storage unit, including: first traveling rails installed on

the ground near the unloading unit in the longitudinal direction; second traveling rails installed on the ground near the storage unit in corresponding to the first traveling rail in the longitudinal direction; a traveling cart to travel along the first traveling rails and the second traveling rails in the longitudinal direction to transfer the containers; and cart transferring loaders respectively installed at ends of the first traveling rails, and the second traveling rails to transfer the traveling cart from one of the first traveling rails, and the second traveling rails to the other one of the first traveling rails, and the second traveling rails, while maintaining the disposing directions of the containers.

The storage unit comprises a plurality of storage rooms formed in the same direction as the direction of the container when the container is unloaded by the unloading unit, and a plurality of horizontal passages penetrating lower lateral sides of the storage rooms.

The transfer unit further comprises: horizontally- traveling rails installed at a side of the second traveling rails to penetrate the storage unit along the horizontal passages; a horizontally-traveling cart traveling into the storage unit along the horizontally-traveling rails to transfer the container; and storage loaders respectively installed between the second traveling rails to transfer the

container loaded on the traveling cart to the horizontally- traveling cart.

The apparatus further comprises a take-out unit comprising a take-out road constructed at ends of the horizontally-traveling rails in the longitudinal direction, and take-out loaders installed between the take-out road and the horizontally-traveling rails to transfer the containers taken out from the storage unit by the horizontally-traveling cart to a vehicle. The traveling cart comprises: a rectangular frame type main body provided on the first traveling rails and the second traveling rails in the longitudinal direction; a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the lower side of the main body; a cart driving unit installed to the lower side of the main body to rotate the wheels; and a rectangular frame mounted to an upper rim of the main body and having coupling holes formed at the corners to hold the cart transferring loader.

The horizontally-traveling cart comprises: a rectangular frame type body provided on the horizontally- traveling rails in the vertical direction; rotation wheels rotatably mounted to the lower side of the body while contacting the upper sides of the horizontally-traveling rails; and a driving unit installed to the lower side of the body to rotate the rotation wheels.

The storage unit comprises: a tower type steel structure, including a plurality of storage rooms and a plurality of vertical elevation columns, in which horizontal rails are installed along the storage rooms; external cages provided in the elevation columns, including first inner rails installed at lateral sides therein in the forward and backward direction, and provided in corresponding to the plurality of the storage rooms; elevation driving units to elevate and lower the external cages along the elevation columns; inner cages including a plurality of wheels, a driving unit to drive the wheels, and second inner rails installed at inner lateral sides thereof in the lateral direction to move along the first inner rails forward and backward; and travelings including a plurality of traveling wheels installed to upper laterals sides and a travel driving unit to drive the traveling wheels to transfer the container while traveling the second inner rails along the horizontal rails .

Each of the elevation driving units comprises: two pairs of sheaves installed at the upper end of the elevation column in the steel structure in corresponding to the corners of the external cages; a sheave coupler to couple the sheaves with each other; a hydraulic motor to drive the sheaves; elevation ropes having an end connected to the upper end of the external cage and the opposite end wound around the

sheaves; and a balance weight connected to the opposite ends of the elevation ropes.

Each of the elevation driving units further comprises: supporting rollers rotatably installed at sides of the sheaves on the upper side of the steel structure to support the elevation ropes; and a direction changing roller rotatably installed on the upper side of the steel structure to change the directions of another pair of the elevation ropes. Each of the elevation driving units further comprises a tension adjustor mounted to the upper side of the steel structure to adjust tension of the elevation ropes relative longer than other elevation ropes with different lengths.

Each of the tension adjustors comprises a hydraulic cylinder vertically mounted to the upper side of the steel structure, and an adjusting roller mounted to the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder to closely contact the lower sides of the elevation ropes.

Each of the sheave couplers comprises: connection shafts to connect each pair of the sheaves to each other; coupler sprockets respectively mounted to the connection shafts; and coupler chains connected to the coupler sprockets in the form of an endless track.

Each of the travelings further comprises a traveling frame having holders provided at lower corners of the

traveling to grip the container, and a vertical moving unit to move the traveling frame up and down.

Each of the vertical moving units comprises: wire ropes having an end connected to the corner of the traveling frame 53a and the opposite end fixed to the traveling; switching rollers installed to the traveling frame to switch directions of the wire ropes by which the wire ropes are locked by the switching rollers; actuating rollers, around which the wire ropes are wound, horizontally moving inside the traveling frame; and actuating cylinders inwardly installed in the traveling frame to horizontally move the actuating rollers.

Each of the travelings further comprises folding members having ends fixed to the lower side thereof and the upper side of the traveling frame to be folded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a container processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan sectional view illustrating a container processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view illustrating a container processing apparatus according to an

embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view illustrating a cart transferring loader employed in the container processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a transferring cart employed in the container processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the cart in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view schematically illustrating a storage loader employed in the container processing apparatus according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a horizontally-traveling cart employed in the container processing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the horizontally-traveling cart in FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a front sectional view schematically illustrating a storage unit of the container processing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of the storage unit in FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is a schematic side sectional view illustrating

the storage unit;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the storage unit in FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are front sectional views illustrating operation of a traveling employed in the container processing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of the traveling in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a plan view schematically illustrating a conventional container processing apparatus;

FIG. 18 is a vertical sectional view schematically illustrating the conventional container processing apparatus;

FIG. 19 is a front sectional view schematically illustrating a storage unit of the conventional container processing apparatus; and

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of the storage unit in FIG. 19.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings .

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a container processing method according to an embodiment of the present

invention .

As illustrated, the container processing method of the present invention includes loading a container unloaded by an unloading device on a transferring device by moving the transferring device to the unloading device (Sl), transferring the transferring device loading the container thereon to a storage device (S2), and storing the container transferred to the storage device in the storage device (S3) .

The transferring of the container (S2) is to transfer the container from the unloading device to the storage device while maintaining the disposing direction of the container in the longitudinal direction, i.e. a direction of the container when the container is unloaded by the unloading device. Since the container is directly transferred from the unloading device to the storage device without change of the disposing direction of the container, the container can be rapidly transferred.

Moreover, the storing of the container (S3) is to store the container in the same direction as the disposing direction of the container maintained during the transfer to the storage device. Since the container is stored in the disposing direction of the container maintained during the transfer, the rapid storage of the container is enabled.

Furthermore, in the transferring of the container (S2) , the transferring device travels in the longitudinal direction

along a pair of traveling rails installed between the unloading device and the storage device in the longitudinal direction and is transferred to another traveling rail by a storage loader installed in the lateral direction between ends of the traveling rails, so that the container is transferred to maintain the disposing direction of the container.

Moreover, in the transferring of the container (S2) , the transferring device is circulated along a one-way endless track by the traveling rails and the storage loader and returns to an initial position, so that a plurality of the transferring devices can continuously transfers the containers to the storage device, while maintaining the disposing directions of the containers. Moreover, in the transferring of the container (S2) , the container is transferred into the storage device along a horizontal traveling rail installed between the traveling rails near the storage device and the storage device while keeping the disposing direction, so that the container can be rapidly transferred into the storage device with keeping the disposing direction, as it is at the moment when the container is unloaded.

Moreover, in the transferring of the container (S2) , the container loaded on the transferring device is transferred from the traveling rail near the storage device

to the transferring device on the horizontal traveling rail by the storage loader while keeping the disposing direction of the container, so that the disposing direction of the container is maintained during the transfer of the container, and the container is rapidly transferred from the traveling rail to the horizontal traveling rail.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan sectional view illustrating a container processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view illustrating the container processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, the container processing apparatus includes an unloading unit 10 to unload a container C from a container ship S, the storage unit 20 to store the container C unloaded from the container ship S and containers C incoming from the exterior, and transfer unit 30 to transfer the containers C between the unloading unit 10 and the storage unit 20. The transfer unit 30 includes a first traveling rail 31 installed on the ground close to the unloading unit 10 in the longitudinal direction, a second traveling rail 32 installed on the ground close to the storage unit 20 in the longitudinal direction in correspondence to the first traveling rail 31, a transfer cart 33 to travel along the

first traveling rail 31 and the second traveling rail 32 in the longitudinal direction and to transfer the containers C, and cart transferring loaders 34 respectively installed at ends of the first traveling rail 31, and the second traveling rail 32 to transfer the transfer cart 33 from one of the first traveling rail 31 and the second traveling rail 32 to the other one of the first traveling rail 31 and the second traveling rail 32.

The transfer cart 33 on the first traveling rail 31, when the container C is unloaded by the unloading unit 10 including a gantry crane, travels along the first traveling rail 31 in the longitudinal direction and loads the container C thereon.

As such, the transfer cart 33 loaded the container C thereon continuously travels along the first traveling rail 31, and is transferred to the second traveling rail 32 while loading the container C thereon by the cart transferring loader 34 horizontally installed at an end of the first traveling rail 31. The transfer cart 33 transferred to the second traveling rail 32 travels along the second traveling rail 32 in the longitudinal direction, unloads the container C near the storage unit 20, and then travels to the end of the second traveling rail 32. As such, the transfer cart 33 arrived at the end of the

second traveling rail 32 is transferred from the second traveling rail 32 to the first traveling rail 31 again by the cart transferring loader 34 installed laterally at the end to return to the initial position. When the transfer cart 33 has returned to the initial position, the transfer cart 33 loads another container C unloaded by the unloading unit 10 and rapidly transfers the same to the storage unit 20 without change of the disposing direction of the container C. In other words, the transfer cart 33, on which the container C is loaded, is traveled by the cart transferring loaders 34 installed at the ends of the first traveling rail 31 and the second traveling rail 32, and travels the endless track without changing the disposing direction of the loaded container C to transfer the container C from the unloading unit 10 to the storage unit 20, or to transfer the container C from the storage unit 20 to the unloading unit 10.

Preferably, a plurality of first traveling rails 31 and second traveling rails 32 are installed such that a plurality of transfer carts 33 are simultaneously transferred to transfer a great deal of the containers C.

Moreover, the storage unit 20 includes a plurality of storage rooms 21 formed in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the container C when the container C is unloaded by the unloading unit 10, and a plurality of

horizontal passages 22 penetrating the lower lateral sides of the storage rooms 21.

The storage unit 20, constructed as described above, stores the containers C entering the horizontal passages 22 to predetermined storage rooms 21 using a storing device vertically installed therein. In this case, the storage rooms 21 are formed in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the containers C so that the containers C are stored in the storage rooms 21 with maintaining the disposing directions when the containers C are unloaded, regardless of disposing directions of the containers C.

Moreover, the transfer unit 30 includes horizontally- traveling rails 35 installed at a lateral side of the second traveling rail 32 along the horizontal passages 22 to penetrate the storage unit 20, horizontally-traveling carts

36 moving into the storage unit 20 along the horizontally- traveling rails 35 to transfer the containers C, and storage loaders 37 respectively between the second traveling rail 32 and the horizontally-traveling rails 35 to transfer the containers C loaded on the transfer carts 33 to the horizontally-traveling carts 36.

The traveling cart 33 loading the container C travels the second traveling rail 32 and stops in the storage loader

37 near the predetermined storage room 21. As such, when the traveling cart 33 stops, the storage loader 37 grips the

container C and transfers the gripped container C to the horizontally-traveling cart 36 on the horizontally-traveling rail 35.

As described above, when the transfer of the container C from the traveling cart 33 to the horizontally-traveling cart 36 is finished by the storage loader 37, the horizontally-traveling cart 36 horizontally travels the horizontally-traveling rail 35 with loading the container C thereon and enters the horizontal passage 22 formed in the storage unit 20 to rapidly storing the container C.

Moreover, the container processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes a take-out unit 40 including a take-out road 42 constructed at the ends of the horizontally-traveling rails 35 in the longitudinal direction, and take-out loaders 42 installed between the take-out road 41 and the horizontally-traveling rails 35 to transfer the containers C taken out from the storage unit 20 to vehicles.

The take-out unit 40 plays a role of discharging the container C stored in the storage unit 20 to the outside. In the take-out unit 20, the container C in the storage room 21 of the storage unit 20 is discharged by a storing device and is loaded on the horizontally-traveling cart 36 on the horizontally-traveling rail 35 in the horizontal passage 22, and the horizontally-traveling cart 36 loading the container

C thereon travels to the take-out road 41 along the horizontally rail 35 and stops. In this state, the container C on the horizontally-traveling cart 36 is loaded on a vehicle on the take-out road 41 by the take-our loader 42 to be rapidly taken out to the outside.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view illustrating the cart transferring loaders employed in the container processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the transferring cart employed in the container processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the carts in FIG. 5.

As illustrated, each of the cart transferring loaders 34 is installed to the lower side of each of loader carts 342 traveling rails in each of loader frames 341, installed between the first traveling rail (not shown) and the second traveling rail (not shown) , such that a height can be adjusted, and includes holders 343 installed at lower corners to attach and detach the traveling cart 33.

Each of the traveling cart 33 includes a rectangular frame type main body 331 provided on the first traveling rail (not shown) and the second traveling rail (not shown) in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of wheels 332 mounted to the lower side of the main body 331 to rotate, a cart driving

unit 333 installed to the lower side of the main body 331 to rotate the wheels 332, and a rectangular frame 334 mounted to an upper rim of the main body 331 and having coupling holes 335 formed at the corners to hold the cart transferring loader 34.

The traveling cart 33, on which the container C is loaded, is held by the cart transferring loader 34 is transferred from one of the traveling rails (not shown) to other traveling rail (not shown) in a way such that the main body 331 is moved by the wheels 332 rotated by the cart driving unit 333 and the holders 343 are coupled in or separated from the coupling holes 335 of the rectangular frame 334.

The container C is loaded in the rectangular frame 334 performing the above-described operation and on the main body 331.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view schematically illustrating the storage loader employed in the container processing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the horizontally- traveling cart employed in the container processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the horizontally-traveling cart in FIG. 8. As illustrated, each of the storage loaders 37 is installed to the lower side of each of loader carts 372

traveling rails in each of loader frames 371, installed between the second horizontally-traveling rail (not shown) and the first horizontally-traveling rail (not shown) , such that a height can be adjusted, and includes holders 373 installed at lower corners to attach and detach the container C.

Each of the horizontally-traveling carts 36 includes a rectangular frame type body 361 provided on the horizontally- traveling rail (not shown) in the vertical direction, rotation wheels 363 rotatably mounted to the lower side of the body 361 while contacting the upper side of the horizontally-traveling rail (not shown) , and a driving unit 363 installed to the lower side of the body 361 to rotate the rotation wheels 362. The horizontally-traveling cart 36 transfer the container C into the storage unit (not shown) such that the body 361 is moved by the rotation wheels 362 rotated by the driving unit 363 and the container C on the traveling cart (not shown) is transferred to and loaded thereon by the storage loader 37.

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view schematically illustrating the storage unit of the container processing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 11 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of the storage unit in FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is a schematic side sectional view

illustrating the storage unit, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the storage unit in FIG. 12.

As illustrated, the storage unit is configured that external cages 20a are elevated and lowered along elevation columns 12a in a steel structure 10a having storage rooms 11a by elevation driving units 30a, inner cages 40a are provided to travel within the external cages 20a, and travelings 50a are provided in the inner cages 40a to transfer the containers C into the storage rooms 11a. The steel structure 10a includes a plurality of the storage rooms 11a formed therein, a plurality of the elevation columns 12a vertically formed between the storage rooms 11a, and horizontal rails 13a on which the travelings 50a travel along the storage rooms 11a in the elevation columns 12a. The steel structure 10a is configured that the travelings 50a transfer the containers C and effectively stores a great deal of the containers C in the storage rooms 11a.

Moreover, each of the external cages 20a is provided in the elevation column 12a, and includes first inner rails 21a installed at inner lateral sides, and corresponds to the plurality of the storage rooms 11a. The inner cages 40a travel along the first inner rails 21a in the external cages 20a and expand the lateral movement range of the travelings 50a disposed in the inner cages 40a.

In other words, the inner cages 40a travels into the external cages 20a so that the travelins 50a in the inner cages 40a travel laterally in a single row of the storage rooms 11a to easily move to another row of the storage rooms 11a.

Moreover, the elevation driving units 30a elevate and lower the external cages 20a along the elevation columns 12a, and each includes two pairs of sheaves 31a installed at the upper end of the elevation column 12a in the steel structure 10a in corresponding to the corners of the external cages 20a, a sheave coupler 32a to couple the sheaves 31a with each other, a hydraulic motor 33a to drive the sheaves 31a, elevation ropes 34a having an end connected to the upper end of the external cage 20a and the opposite end wound around the sheaves 31a, and a balance weight 35a connected to the opposite ends of the elevation ropes 34a.

The elevation driving units 30a are elevated or lowered by the two pairs of the sheaves 31a associated with each other by the sheave couplers 32a, when the elevation ropes 34a supported by the balance weights 35a are rotated forward and backward by the hydraulic motors 33a to elevate and lower the external cages 20a within the elevation columns 12a.

Each of the sheave couplers 32a includes connection shafts 321a to connect each pair of the sheaves 31a to each other, coupler sprockets 322a respectively mounted to the

connection shafts 321a, and coupler chains 323a connected to the coupler sprockets 322a in the form of an endless track. When the two pairs of the sheaves 31a are connected to each other by the connection shafts 321a, the sheave couplers 32a connect the connection shafts 321a to each other through the coupler sprockets 322a and the chains 323a so that the two pairs of the sheaves 31a are integrally driven.

Each of the elevation driving units 30a further includes supporting rollers 3βa rotatably installed at sides of the sheaves 31a on the upper side of the steel structure 10a to support the elevation ropes 34a, and a direction changing roller 37a rotatably installed on the upper side of the steel structure 10a to change the directions of another pair of the elevation ropes 34a. The supporting rollers 36a support the elevation ropes 34a to closely contact the sheaves 31a, and the direction change rollers 37a change the directions of the elevation ropes 34a, horizontally provided by the supporting rollers 36a, into the vertical direction in a state where the elevation ropes 34a are connected to the balance weights 35a.

Each of the elevation driving units 30a further includes a tension adjustor 38a mounted to the upper side of the steel structure 10a to adjust tension of the elevation ropes 34a relative longer than other elevation ropes 34a with different lengths. Each of the tension adjustors 38a

includes a hydraulic cylinder 381a vertically mounted to the upper side of the steel structure 10a and an adjusting roller 382a mounted to the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 381a to closely contact the lower sides of the elevation ropes 34a.

When the hydraulic cylinder 381a is driven, the adjusting roller 382a are elevated to lift the relatively long elevation ropes 34a up and to add the tension to the elevation ropes 34a, so that a driving force to the elevation ropes 34a applied by the sheaves 31a is equal to a driving force applied to another elevation ropes 34a, i.e. relatively short elevation ropes 34a. By doing so, the tension adjustor 38a elevates and lowers the external cage 20a steadily.

Moreover, each of the inner cages 40a includes a plurality of wheels 41a provided to upper lateral sides thereof, a driving unit 42a to drive the wheels 41a, and second rails 43a installed to inner lateral sides thereof. Each of the inner cages 40a travels along the first inner rails 21a forward and backward to move the traveling 50a disposed therein to the lateral side.

Moreover, each of the travelings 50a includes a plurality of traveling wheels 51a provided to upper lateral sides thereof, and a travel driving unit 52a to drive the traveling wheels 51a. Each of the travelings 50a, disposed on the second rail 43a of the inner cage 40a, travels along

the horizontal rails 13a, installed in the storage rooms 11a, to transfer the container C into the storage room 11a, such that the container C is stored and to discharge the container C in the storage rooms 11a to the inner cage 40a. FIGS. 14 and 15 are front sectional views illustrating operation of the traveling employed in the container processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 16 is an enlarged view illustrating a main part of the traveling in FIG. 15. As illustrated, each of the travelings 50a further includes a traveling frame 53a having holders 531a provided at lower corners of the traveling to grip the container C and a vertical moving unit 54a to move the traveling frame 53 up and down. Each of the traveling frame 53a is moved up and down under the traveling 50a by the vertical moving unit 54a to adjust height thereof, grips the container C with the holders 531a installed at the corners, and travels along the horizontal rails 13a to store the containers C in the storage rooms 11a in multiple layers.

Each of the vertical moving units 54a includes wire ropes having an end connected to the corner of the traveling frame 53a and the opposite end fixed to the traveling 50a, switching rollers 542a installed to the traveling frame 53a to switch directions of the wire ropes 541a by which the wire

ropes 541a are locked by the switching rollers 542a, actuating rollers 543a, around which the wire ropes 541a are wound, horizontally moving inside the traveling frame 53a, and actuating cylinders 544a inwardly installed in the traveling frame 53a to horizontally move the actuating rollers 543a.

In each of the vertical moving unit 54a, when actuating cylinders 544a move the actuating rollers 543a horizontally, the wire ropes 541a locked by the actuating rollers 543a are pulled or released to move the traveling frame 53a up and down, so that the container C held by the traveling frame 53a is moved up and down in the storage room 11a.

The switching rollers switch the directions of the wire ropes 541a from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction parallel to the traveling frame 53a, and the actuating rollers 543a reduce friction occurring when the wire ropes 541a are pulled horizontally by the actuating cylinders 544a.

Moreover, each of the travelings 50a further includes folding members 55a having ends fixed to the lower side thereof and the upper side of the traveling frame 53a to be folded. Each of the folding members 55a are folded due to the vertical movement of the traveling frame 53a to prevent vibration of the traveling frame 53a. As described above, according to the present invention,

the containers are rapidly transferred and stored while maintaining the disposing directions of the containers during the unloading and the transfer so that the containers, unloaded from the container ship, are stored as they are without change of the disposing directions. Therefore, the containers are rapidly and smoothly processed.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the containers are speedily transferred between the unloading device and the storage device so that the containers can be rapidly unload and stored.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the containers are speedily transferred with maintaining the disposing directions thereof during the unloading and the transfer by a simple structure so that the transfer unit is easily manufactured and installed, the maintenance of principal components are conveniently carried out, and the containers are rapidly and smoothly processed.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the disposing directions of the containers are maintained during the storage of the containers, the unloading and the storage of the containers are speedily and steadily carried out.

In addition to, according to the present invention, the take-out of the containers from the storage unit is smoothly performed so that the stored containers can be rapidly taken

out .

Moreover, according to the present invention, since the lateral movement range of the traveling is easily expanded due to a simple structure, the use efficiency of the traveling and operation efficiency can be remarkably improved. Therefore, since it is convenient to manufacture and install, a great deal of containers is loaded on a single traveling and many containers are stored in small equipment, the use efficiency of the apparatus can be significantly increased.

Moreover, according to the present invention, since the external cages are steadily and smoothly elevated and lowered, operational stability increases and the containers are smoothly unloaded and stored. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the tension of the elevation ropes is adjusted such that uniform tension is applied to the elevation ropes when the external cages are elevated or lowered, the operational stability increases and damage of the elevation driving unit due to the unbalanced load can be reduced.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the containers are smoothly stored in multiple layers with a simple structure, efficiency of storing the containers is remarkably increased and the use efficiency of the apparatus increases.