Method and apparatus for storing and transferring containers

An apparatus for storing and transferring containers, comprising:

• a loading/unloading unit for loading or unloading containers onto or from a container ship;
• a stacking unit for stacking the containers unloaded from the container ship by means of the loading/unloading unit and containers taken to a container terminal;
• a transferring unit for transferring the containers between the loading/unloading unit and the stacking unit;
• and
• a central controlling unit for receiving information of the containers to be loaded onto or unloaded from the container ship from the loading/unloading unit to determine whether the containers are stacked or not and to identify the position of the containers and controlling the movement of the transferring unit so that the containers can be handled,
• wherein the stacking unit comprises:
• a steel frame body constructed in a vertical multi-storied structure such that the steel-frame body has a plurality of stacking chambers defined therein, the steel-frame body having horizontal rails disposed at both sides in each stacking chamber and a lifting channel defined vertically in the steel-frame body;
• a cage disposed in the lifting channel, the cage having horizontal rails corresponding to the horizontal rails of the stacking chamber;
• a traveler mounted in the cage such that the traveler can be attached to or detached from the upper part of the container, the traveler being movable horizontally along the horizontal rails of the stacking chamber and the horizontal rails of the cage;
• lifting parts attached to the upper end of the steel-frame body for moving the cage upward or downward along the lifting channel;
• and
• height-adjusting parts, and
• wherein each of the height-adjusting parts comprises:
• a hydraulic cylinder mounted downward at a corresponding corner of the traveler;
• a spreader, having a corresponding holder part, mounted to the end of the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder such that the spreader is moved upward or downward by means of the hydraulic cylinder and the height of the holder part is adjusted according to the movement of the spreader;
• a guide rod disposed at one side of the hydraulic cylinder, the guide rod being attached to the spreader through the traveler;
• and
• a stopper attached to the traveler such that the stopper can be caught in a catching groove formed at the upper end of the guide rod for holding the guide rod.