WO2014088415A1

WO2014088415A1 - A device for handling stackable cargo units in a cargo space, as well as a method for handling stackable cargo units

Info

Publication number: WO2014088415A1
Application number: PCT/NL2013/050869
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jozef Gerhardus Henricus Maria Schenning
Original assignee: Copal Devlopment BV
Current assignee: Copal Devlopment BV
Priority date: 2012-12-04
Filing date: 2013-12-03
Publication date: 2014-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-04
Also published as: NL2009929C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for loading/unloading stackable cargo units (101) such as boxes (101) from a cargo space (102), such as a sea container. Such a device (100) comprises a frame (106), and a movable arm (104) with a head (110), comprising an array with gripping bodies (e.g. suction cups (221)). According to the invention there is a gripping section (210) with which the cargo units (101) can be gripped at a side thereof and be pulled onto a support (212). As a result cargo units (101) on a top row can also be unloaded/loaded quickly. The invention also relates to a method for loading/unloading a cargo space (102).

Description

A device for handling stackable cargo units in a cargo space, as well as a method for handling stackable cargo units

The present invention relates to device for handling stackable cargo units in a cargo space, wherein the device

- comprises a frame; and

- comprises a movable arm which has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is connected to the frame, and the distal end is provided with a head for gripping at least one stackable cargo unit, wherein the head comprises a head section, which head section

- is movable in height relative to the distal end of the arm; and

- comprises a gripping section, which gripping section comprises an array of gripping organs for gripping that at least one stackable cargo unit,

wherein

the head section further comprises a support having a topside and an underside for carrying the at least one stackable cargo unit on the topside of the support, and the array of gripping organs is an array of gripping organs that is moveable above the support which

- are movable with a directional component parallel to the topside of the support, and

- are directed in a direction away from the distal end of the arm for gripping a sidewall of the at least one stackable cargo unit; wherein the gripping organs are movable between a first position wherein the gripping organs are relatively close to the distal end of the arm and a second position wherein the gripping organs are relatively far from the distal end of the arm and protrude to beyond the support .

Unloading stackable cargo units from a cargo space, such as a cargo space of a truck or a sea container, - or placing cargo units into such a cargo space - is a labor intensive job. For facilitating unloading, devices are known in the art, e.g. from WO2006/121329, which comprises a conveyor track in the form of a conveyor belt. The gripping organs are in the form of downwardly directed suction cups for gripping at least one stackable cargo unit at the topside of that at least one stackable cargo unit. At least the first end of the frame can be brought into the cargo space during unloading the cargo. The stackable cargo units are transported by means of the conveyor track toward an end of the device that is situated away from the arm, where they are placed on a conveyor belt, or are automatically or manually stacked on a pallet and are carried away by a fork lift truck or the like. Stackable cargo units are boxes, crates, or the like. They usually have dimensions between hxwxl 15 and 80 cm. The use of an arm permits carrying the weight of the stackable cargo units, thus partly or fully relieving the employees of the physical burden and enabling them to work more quickly. Especially if the cargo is cold (for instance frozen), use of the device can offer a large advantage, since otherwise the employees would have to work wearing gloves, which gloves reduce the grip and although they increase comfort they do complicate unloading. Further, a head section that comprises an array of gripping organs makes it possible to simultaneously pick up more than one stackable cargo unit .

DE10324755 describes a device according to the preamble.

A problem is that taking a cargo unit from a stack of cargo units may cause the stack to become unstable, especially if the stack is high, which may cause delay during unloading.

The present invention aims to provide a solution for this.

To this end, a device according to the preamble is characterized in that the support at an edge thereof that is facing away from the distal end of the arm has an organ having a proximal end and a distal end that is movable between

a first position of the organ wherein the distal end of the organ is relatively close to the distal end of the arm,

and

a second position of the organ wherein the distal end of the organ is relatively far from the distal end of the arm and protrudes beyond the edge of the support that is facing away from the distal end of the arm for, when bringing the at least one cargo unit onto the support, exerting a counterforce on a cargo unit underneath that at least one cargo unit.

With the device according to the invention the organ makes it possible to place the support without much precision within a short distance of a stack of cargo units, wherein in order to prevent that the underneath stack of cargo units will tilt when pulling a cargo unit onto the support, a counterforce is exerted on the underneath cargo unit by means of the organ. Because this placement of the support can be done without much precision, the work can be done faster, i.e. unloading can be done faster. The gripping section of the substantially horizontally directed gripping organs permits gripping the at least one cargo unit at a sidewall thereof during unloading, pulling the at least one cargo unit onto the topside of the support and subsequently moving the at least one cargo unit toward a desired location using the movable arm. In case of unloading, that location is for instance the first end of a conveyor track that can be driven such as a conveyor belt, at which location the gripping section can push the at least one cargo unit off the support. When loading, for placing at least one cargo unit, especially for placing cargo units of the top row, the at least one cargo unit can be gripped at a sidewall thereof by the gripping section, the at least one cargo unit can be pulled onto the topside of the support and subsequently the at least one cargo unit can be moved to the desired location and the desired height in the cargo space using the movable arm, and can finally be pushed off the support by means of the gripping section. The gripping organs are for instance gripping pins which may be stabbed into the packaging such as a cardboard box or a bag of textile such as a gunny bag. The height of the device according to the invention, more specifically, the highest part thereof in the lowest position thereof, is preferably smaller than the highest interior height of a sea container, i.e.

smaller than 2m75, and more preferably smaller than the lowest one, i.e. smaller than 2m25. For gripping a sidewall of a cargo unit a gripping organ of the array of gripping organs is directed

substantially parallel to the topside of the array. For a gripping organ comprising a vacuum cup that means with the opening thereof, i.e. the plane defined by the circumference of the opening of the vacuum cup, transverse to the topside of the support.

According to an especially preferred embodiment, the gripping section is arranged for carrying out an upward movement relative to the support when bringing the at least one cargo unit on the topside of the support.

Thus, a cargo unit situated on the floor of the cargo space can be brought onto the support effectively. The upward movement can be achieved in many ways. The underside of the gripping section may be provided with a cam that runs through a groove in the support, wherein the bottom of the groove locally has a gradual elevation by which the gripping section is lifted up. Therewith the cargo unit held by the gripping section can also be lifted up, which facilitates bringing the cargo unit on the support when it has to be picked up from the floor.

According to a favourable embodiment, the gripping section is movable between the first and second position by means of at least a first cylinder and the organ is movable between the first and second position of the organ by means of at least a second cylinder, wherein said cylinders are in fluid contact such that when introducing fluid into the first cylinder in order to bring the gripping section from the second to the first position, fluid will flow to the organ in order to move it from the first to the second position of the organ.

Since a cargo unit that slides over an underneath cargo unit experiences a large resistance, a large force is required. This means that the required pressure in the first cylinder will have to become relatively high. For sliding out the organ little force is required. That means that the organ can already push against the underneath cargo unit before the at least one cargo unit is pulled onto the support. Hereby the resistance experienced by the organ increases and the pressure is now building up. When the cargo unit reaches the (probably relatively smooth) topside of the support, less force is required and the counterforce exerted by the organ will also

automatically reduce. This is an important advantage of this

embodiment. A suitable choice of hydraulic/pneumatic ratios allows for the adjustment of the ratio of the pulling force (by the gripping section) and the pushing force (by the organ) . This ratio will generally lie between 0,25 and 4 , preferably between 0,5 and 2, more preferably between 0,8 and 1,25. It is a very suitable choice to have the pulling force exerted by the at least one first cylinder equal to the pushing force exerted by the at least second cylinder. Hereby the arm will be loaded to a minimum and can be held in place easily. As cylinders the use of double-acting cylinders is preferred, that is to say a cylinder that can be slided out actively by introducing a fluid and can be slided in actively by introducing a fluid, concurrently forcing out the previously inserted fluid.

According to a favourable embodiment, the gripping organs of the gripping section are suction cups.

Thus, the sidewall of a stackable cargo unit can be gripped by means of vacuum and the sidewall will not be damaged. According to a favourable embodiment, the head section is connected rotatably around an upright axis relative to the distal end of the arm with the arm.

This provides for more freedom when placing the at least one cargo unit onto a conveyor track, or when picking up a cargo unit during loading. The head section is for instance rotatable because the head has been mounted rotatably to the distal end of the arm.

According to a favourable embodiment, the head section can be hydraulically adjusted in height relative to the distal end of the arm.

Thus, it can be avoided effectively to a large extent that when the at least one cargo unit is placed onto the support, this support sags to an undesired extent which would complicate delivering the at least one cargo unit present on the support .

According to a favourable embodiment, the head section is connected to the distal end of the arm via a parallellogram

construction for being movable with a downwardly component relative to the distal end of the arm.

Thus, it is achieved that when the support is forcefully and/or imprecisely placed on the floor of the cargo space the arm will not suffer an unacceptable impact which could damage the arm or the head.

According to a favourable embodiment, the gripping organs of the gripping section can be driven independently of each other.

This means, for instance, for an array of suction cups that the suction cups or groups of suction cups are provided with vacuum independently of each other. This contributes to a more effective compensation of irregularities, for instance formed by a dent of the sidewall of a cargo unit and to a more reliable picking up of the cargo unit or cargo units.

According to a favourable embodiment, the device is a wheeled device .

This can then be used on various locations.

According to a favourable embodiment, the frame of the device is provided with a conveyor track.

Thus, a compact device is provided with which sea containers or the like can be unloaded effectively. The conveyor track has

preferably a width of at least 40 cm and a maximum of 100 cm, and a length between 2 and 25 meters. A conveyor track having an adjustable length, such as a telescopic conveyor track, is thereby preferred.

According to a favourable embodiment, the device and a second frame provided with a conveyor track that can be driven form an assembly wherein the conveyor track that can be driven has a first end and a second end, and the device is displaceable relative to the second frame in the longitudinal direction defined by the first and the second end and can be placed on the second frame.

Thus, when the device is placed on the second frame the device can be displaced together as a whole with the conveyor track that can be driven. The second frame preferably has wheels placed transverse to the direction of transport of the conveyor track through which it can be easily displaced in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of a cargo space such as a sea container. The conveyor track preferably has a width of at least 40 cm and a maximum of 100 cm, and a length between 2 and 25 meters. A conveyor track having an

adjustable length, such as a telescopic conveyor track, is thereby preferred .

Finally, the present invention relates to method for handling stackable cargo units in a cargo space, wherein the stackable cargo units are gripped by means of a device comprising an arm provided with an array of gripping organs, wherein when bringing the at least one cargo unit onto the support, a counterforce is exerted on a cargo unit underneath that at least one cargo unit .

Thus, a cargo space such as a cargo space of a truck or a (sea) container can be effectively loaded or unloaded. The method is carried out advantageously with a device according to the invention. This permits placing the support without much precision at a short distance of a stack of cargo units wherein, in order to prevent that the underneath stack of cargo units will tilt when pulling a cargo unit onto the support, a counterforce is exerted on the underneath cargo unit by means of the organ.

According to a favourable embodiment, the at least one cargo unit is lifted up before this is brought onto the support by increasing the distance of the gripping organs of the head section relative to the topside of the support .

Thus, a cargo unit that is situated on the floor of the cargo space - or on a table or the like - can be brought onto the support effectively . According to a favourable embodiment, the gripping section is moved between the first and second position by means of at least a first cylinder and the organ is moved between the first and second position of the organ by means of at least a second cylinder, wherein said cylinders are in fluid contact in such a way that when fluid is introduced in the first cylinder in order to bring the gripping section from the second to the first position, fluid flows to the organ in order to move it from the first to the second position of the organ .

Thus, a counterforce is exerted on the underneath cargo unit by the organ which is correlated to and varies with the force reguired for taking the at least one cargo unit off the underneath cargo unit.

The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the drawing where

Fig. 1 shows a side view of the device according to the

invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the head of the device of Fig. 1 in a first position;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the head of Fig. 2 in a second position;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the head section of Fig. 3 in the first position;

Fig. 5 shows a partly cut-away top view of the head section of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a control schedule of a gripping section and organ of the head section of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a side view of an alternative head section; and Fig. 8 shows a top view on the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a device 100 for unloading stackable cargo units 101 (boxes 101) from a container 102, or a cargo space of a truck or the like. The device 100 can also be used for the loading thereof. The device 100 is a wheeled device with wheels 103. The device 100 has an arm 104 which is is operated by an operator (not shown) from a cabin 105. The arm 104 is mounted slidably on a frame 106 to which the cabin 105 also is fixed. Because of the slidable characteristic a larger working area can be provided. For sliding the arm 104 an actuator is present (not shown) .

The arm 104 is provided with a rotatable head 110 which comprises a head section 111. That head section 111 comprises a gripping section which comprises an array of suction cups that are movable in a horizontal direction, as will be described later. The head 110 further comprises a first hydraulic cylinder 121 and a second hydraulic cylinder 122. The head section 111 can be displaced by means of the first hydraulic cylinder 121 in a vertical direction, and the totality of the first hydraulic cylinder 121 and the head section 111 can be displaced by means of the second hydraulic cylinder 122 in a vertical direction. Hereby the head section 111 can be brought right onto the floor of the- container 102 and close to the ceiling of the container 102.

The head 110 is used for gripping boxes 101 and placing them onto a conveyor belt 130 in order to transport them to a processing station 140. Instead, the head 110 can also be used to take the boxes 101 off the conveyor belt 130 and stack them in the cargo space.

With the device 100 as shown, the conveyor belt 130 is carried out as a telescopic conveyor belt 130, and this is shown in Fig. 1 in a slid out position.

The conveyor belt 130 and the processing station 140 are part of an auxiliary device 150, which is displaceable by means of

transversely placed wheels 141. The auxiliary device 150 comprises a frame 151 which is provided with the transversely placed wheels 141. The device 100 can be wheeled onto the frame 151 and thus be

transported simultaneously with the auxiliary device 150. This is very practical when the device 100 and the auxiliary device 150 have to be used for the loading/unloading of another container. Instead, it is also possible that the conveyor belt 130 forms an integral part of the device 100.

Fig. 2 shows the head section 111 in detail. It can be seen that the head section 111 comprises a support 212. On the top surface thereof boxes 101 can be placed. The head section 111 further comprises a gripping section 210 which comprises an array of suction cups 221. The array of suction cups 221 is displaceable between a first position (shown in Fig. 3) and a second position (shown in Fig. 2) . In the first position the array of suction cups 221 is close to the distal end of the arm 104, whereas the suction cups 221 in the second position protrude to beyond the support 212.

The head section 111 is freely movable in a vertical direction over a limited distance by means of a parallellogram-suspension 213. When the head section 111 is used to grip boxes sitting on the floor of the cargo space 102, the movement of the arm 104 and/or the hydraulic cylinders 121, 122 could cause the head section 111 to forcefully hit the floor and damage the device. Because of the free movability provided by the parallellogram-suspension 213 imprecise steering or the like will not cause damage and the support 212 will be situated neatly on the floor.

As soon as there is contact between the suction cups 221 and the boxes 101, in particular the side thereof, these are held by vacuum generated by vacuum generators 214 (here provided in a steel profile 215 onto which the suction cups 221 have been mounted) and can be moved to the first position on the topside of the support 212 by the movement of the array of suction cups 221. Subsequently the boxes 101 can be placed onto the conveyor belt 130 using the arm 104. This will be further elucidated at Fig. 8.

For gripping the boxes 101 that are not situated on the floor, the topside of the support 212 is brought to the height of the topside of a row of cargo units that is situated directly beneath the cargo units 101 to be gripped.

According to a possible embodiment the parallellogram-suspension 213 is provided with an actuator 250, such as a cylinder, in order to lift up the head section 111, through which the head section 111 can be lifted up extra high, to above the second hydraulic cylinder 122. This permits picking up or loading relatively low boxes 101 from/onto the top row of stacked cargo units.

For bringing the array of suction cups 221 that is connected to the profile 215 from the first position to the second position and vice versa, use is advantageously made of a scissor construction 225. This can be seen in more detail in Fig. 4 and will be discussed there.

Fig. 2 also shows an organ 260 which, when grabbing at least one cargo unit 101 from a stack of cargo units, pushes against at least one cargo unit that is situated lower. This will be discussed in connection with Fig. 4 through Fig. 6. In Fig. 2 the organ 260 is in a first (retracted) position of the organ 260.

Fig. 3 shows the head section 111 in the first position (wherein the gripping organs 221 are situated close to the distal end of the arm 104), wherein the gripping section 210 has pulled part of the row of boxes 101 onto the support 212 of the gripping section 210. For placement onto the conveyor belt 130 the scissors 225 will be folded out again.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the head section 111 in the first position. The scissors 225 are folded in as a result of which the gripping organs 221 (suction cups) are situated closely to the distal end of the arm 104.

Fig. 5 shows a partly cut-away top view of the head section of Fig. 4. Double-driven third hydraulic cylinders 523 with pistons 533 can be seen for moving the gripping section 210 between the first and the second position, and a double-driven fourth hydraulic cylinder 524 with piston 534 for moving the organ 260 between the first position (Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 5) and the second position (Fig. 4) . This second position of the organ 260 is shown in Fig. 5 by a broken line. The support 212 comprises a distal edge 530, which is situated away f om the distal end of the arm 104.

Fig. 6 shows a control schedule of the double-acting third hydraulic cylinders 523 which drive the scissor construction 225 and simultaneously the double-acting fourth hydraulic cylinder 524. Two valves are depicted. A first valve 623 has 3 positions. In the depicted middle position the supply of hydraulic fluid via feed pipe 641 is blocked. When the first valve 623 is shifted to the right hydraulic fluid flows via the feed pipe 641 and conduit 642 toward the third hydraulic cylinders 523 causing the pistons 533 to retract and the gripping section 210 to move from the second position to the first position thereof. At the same time hydraulic fluid is discharged via conduit 643 from the third hydraulic cylinders 523 to reservoir 644.

Conduit 645 is a branch of conduit 642. This is in connection with the fourth hydraulic cylinder 524 via a second valve 624 which valve in this embodiment has 2 positions. Through this, simultaneously with the retraction of the pistons 533, hydraulic fluid also flows to the fourth hydraulic cylinder 524, which thereby pushes the piston 534 outward. Herewith hydraulic fluid flows from the fourth hydraulic cylinder 524 via conduit 646 and conduit 643 to the reservoir 644. Hereby organ 260 is brought from the first (retracted) position to the second (extended) position (Fig. 4) of the organ 260. Thus, the organ 260 can be pushed against a cargo unit that is situated lower using a force correlated with the force with which the cargo unit 101 to be brought upon the support 212 is pulled. In case a lot of pressure is required for pulling the cargo unit 101 onto the support 212, the pressure in the fourth hydraulic cylinder 524 will also be high and thus the organ 260 pushes hard against a cargo unit that is situated lower which is thereby held in position.

In order to bring the gripping section 210 to the second position thereof and the organ 260 to the first position thereof, the valve 623 is shifted entirely to the left and the position of valve 624 is also altered. Feeding hydraulic fluid via the feed pipe 641 then results in the pistons 533 to slide out and the piston 534 to retract.

Fig. 7 shows a side view of an alternative gripping section 210 during bringing a cargo unit 101 onto the support 212 when this cargo unit 101 is situated on the floor of a container 102. Herewith the gripping section 210 comprising the scissor construction 225 is mounted hingedly around an axis 701 relative to the support 212.

The profile 215 contains a fifth hydraulic cylinder 725 which comprises a piston 735 which at the distal end thereof is provided with a wheel 736 that rests on the support 212.

When the cargo unit 101 is gripped with the suction cups 221, piston 735 is extended from the fifth hydraulic cylinder 725 causing the cargo unit 101 to be lifted up. Subsequently, the gripping section 210 is brought from the second to the first position thereof, wherein the wheel 736 travels over the surface of the support 212.

Advantageously herewith the piston 735 is retracted again.

This alternative gripping section 210 may be provided with an organ 260.

Fig. 8 shows the device 100 in top view at the moment of delivering a number of cargo units 101, which have been taken from a top row of cargo units in the container 102, to the conveyor belt 130. Here the support 212 is situated next to the conveyor belt 130 through which the boxes placed on the support 212 can be pushed onto the conveyor belt 130 by the gripping section 210.

Fig. 8 shows an upright axis 801 about which the head 110 can rotate .

The invention can be varied in various ways within the scope of the accompanying claims. For instance, a separate organ may be provided for pushing a cargo unit present on the support off the support, whereby this does not take place with the gripping section.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Device for handling stackable cargo units (101) in a cargo space, wherein the device (100)

- comprises a frame (106) ; and

- comprises a movable arm (104) which has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is connected to the frame (106), and the distal end is provided with a head (110) for gripping at least one stackable cargo unit (101), wherein the head (110) comprises a head section (111), which head section (111)

- is movable in height relative to the distal end of the arm (104); and

- comprises a gripping section (210), which gripping section (210) comprises an array of gripping organs (221) for gripping that at least one stackable cargo unit (101) ,

wherein

the head section (111) further comprises a support (212) having a topside and an underside for carrying the at least one stackable cargo unit (101) on the topside of the support (212), and the array of gripping organs (221) is an array of gripping organs (221) that is moveable above the support (212) which

- are movable with a directional component parallel to the topside of the support (212), and

- are directed in a direction away from the distal end of the arm (104) for gripping a sidewall of the at least one stackable cargo unit (101) ;

wherein the gripping organs (221) are movable between a first position wherein the gripping organs (221) are relatively close to the distal end of the arm (104) and a second position wherein the gripping organs (221) are relatively far from the distal end of the arm (104) and protrude to beyond the support (212), characterized in that the support (212) at an edge (530) thereof that is facing away from the distal end of the arm (104) has an organ (260) having a proximal end and a distal end that is movable between

a first position of the organ (260) wherein the distal end of the organ (260) is relatively close to the distal end of the arm (104) ,

and a second position of the organ (260) wherein the distal end of the organ (260) is relatively far from the distal end of the arm

(104) and protrudes beyond the edge (530) of the support (212) that is facing away from the distal end of the arm (104) for, when bringing the at least one cargo unit (101) onto the support

(212), exerting a counterforce on a cargo unit underneath that at least one cargo unit (101) .

2. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the gripping section (210) is arranged for carrying out an upward movement relative to the support (212) when bringing the at least one cargo unit (101) on the topside of the support (212) .

3. The device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gripping section (210) is movable between the first and second position by means of at least a first cylinder (523) and the organ (260) is movable between the first and second position of the organ (260) by means of at least a second cylinder (524), wherein said cylinders (523, 524) are in fluid contact such that when introducing fluid into the first cylinder (523) in order to bring the gripping section (210) from the second to the first position, fluid will flow to the organ (260) in order to move it from the first to the second position of the organ (260) .

4. The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping organs (221) of the gripping section (210) are suction cups .

5. The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the head section (111) is connected rotatably around an upright axis

(801) relative to the distal end of the arm (104) with the arm (104) .

6. The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the head section (111) can be hydraulically adjusted in height relative to the distal end of the arm (104) .

7. The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the head section (111) is connected to the distal end of the arm (104) via a parallellogram construction (213) for being movable with a downwardly component relative to the distal end of the arm (104) .

8. The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping organs (221) of the gripping section (210) can be driven independently of each other.

9. The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device (100) is a wheeled device (100) .

10. The device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (106) of the device (100) is provided with a conveyor track (130) .

11. The device (100) according to any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the device (100) and a second frame (151) provided with a conveyor track (130) that can be driven form an assembly wherein the conveyor track (130) that can be driven has a first end and a second end, and the device (100) is displaceable relative to the second frame (151) in the longitudinal direction defined by the first and the second end and can be placed on the second frame (151) .

12. Method for handling stackable cargo units (101) in a cargo space, wherein the stackable cargo units (101) are gripped by means of a device (100) comprising an arm (104) provided with an array of gripping organs (211), characterized in that when bringing the at least one cargo unit (101) onto the support (212), a counterforce is exerted on a cargo unit underneath that at least one cargo unit (101) .

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one cargo unit (101) is lifted up before this is brought onto the support (212) by increasing the distance of the gripping organs (221) of the head section (111) relative to the topside of the support (212) .

14. Method according to any of the claims 12 or 13, wherein the gripping section (210) is moved between the first and second position by means of at least a first cylinder (523) and the organ (260) is moved between the first and second position of the organ (260) by means of at least a second cylinder (524), wherein said cylinders (523, 524) are in fluid contact in such a way that when fluid is introduced in the first cylinder (523) in order to bring the gripping section (210) from the second to the first position, fluid flows to the organ (260) in order to move it from the first to the second position of the organ (260) .