Abstract: A method comprising detecting a reflector unit that comprises a plurality of reflector elements arranged in a pre-determined manner with respect to each other, identifying the reflector unit based, at least partly, on its characteristics, and determining a location of a container handling equipment based, at least partly, on the identified reflector unit.

Abstract: A crane anti-collision system, containing: a scanning apparatus installed in the crane, containing a laser scanner arranged to measure the optical distance to targets from the crane in the first direction of travel; and a detection apparatus arranged to automatically detect targets by the scanning apparatus. The detection apparatus is arranged for: defining by the scanning apparatus a three-dimensional reference zone of the goods handling area that is composed of the surface and vertical tolerance of the goods handling area; and detecting a target in the goods handling area on the basis that the height defined by the scanning apparatus differs from that of said reference zone. Further described is a control system, an anti-collision method, an anti-collision program, and a manufacturing method for an anti-collision system.

Abstract: A method and optical detection equipment for monitoring a container transfer device on lowering a container onto or lifting away from a transport platform. The container, its pin holes' position and the position of the lock pins of the transport platform are determined by the optical detection equipment, which includes a group of optical detection devices measuring obliquely from up the container and the transport platform during lowering or lifting of the container such that positions of the container and the lock pins are determined based on the measurement of the same optical detection devices.

Abstract: A method and optical detection equipment for monitoring a container transfer device on lowering a container onto or lifting away from a transport platform. The container, its pin holes' position and the position of the lock pins of the transport platform are determined by the optical detection equipment, which includes a group of optical detection devices measuring obliquely from up the container and the transport platform during lowering or lifting of the container such that positions of the container and the lock pins are determined based on the measurement of the same optical detection devices.

Abstract: Load handling equipment comprises vertical support structures between which transport means are mounted to be moved along a horizontal support structure between the vertical support structures to move a load relative to the support structures, and a distance-measuring device capable of generating distance measurement data is mounted in at least one of said support structures. The distance-measuring device is arranged to generate distance measurement data on at least two of the following objects relative to their mounting position, the objects comprising: a vehicle positioned beneath or on a side of the load handling equipment, the door of a vehicle, a person, a load, a reflector and transport means for moving a load.

Abstract: There is provided improved accuracy in cargo handling by a spreader (306) including a distance sensor (308a, 308b) transmitting optical signals. The handled cargo (312) includes a plurality of interconnected sides (312a, 312b). The transmission directions of the optical signals are selected and distances are measured by reflected optical signals transmitted in the selected directions. The measured distances are used to determine a reference line that matches a shape of at least one of the interconnected sides (312a, 312b) of the cargo (312).

Abstract: Load handling equipment comprises vertical support structures between which transport means are mounted to be moved along a horizontal support structure between the vertical support structures to move a load relative to the support structures, and a distance-measuring device capable of generating distance measurement data is mounted in at least one of said support structures. The distance-measuring device is arranged to generate distance measurement data on at least two of the following objects relative to their mounting position, the objects comprising: a vehicle positioned beneath or on a side of the load handling equipment, the door of a vehicle, a person, a load, a reflector and transport means for moving a load.

Abstract: A grabber for a load handling apparatus having an optical distance measuring device and a fastening mechanism that fastens the optical distance measuring device in a flexible manner to the grabber. The grabber may be provided in a crane, such as a boom crane, a bridge crane, a container crane or a gantry crane.

Abstract: There is provided improved accuracy in cargo handling by a spreader (306) including a distance sensor (308a, 308b) transmitting optical signals. The handled cargo (312) includes a plurality of interconnected sides (312a, 312b). The transmission directions of the optical signals are selected and distances are measured by reflected optical signals transmitted in the selected directions. The measured distances are used to determine a reference line that matches a shape of at least one of the interconnected sides (312a, 312b) of the cargo (312).

Abstract: A grabber (102, 202) for a load handling apparatus, comprising an optical distance measuring device (104, 204, 304) and fastening means (106, 206, 306a-c) that fasten the optical distance measuring device (104, 204, 304) in a flexible manner to the grabber. The grabber (102, 202) may be provided in a crane, such as a boom crane, bridge crane, container crane or gantry crane.