TopView is comprised of multiple, highly robust cameras attached to spreaders that point towards the containers during lift and drop operations. The cameras capture high-resolution images which are used for container code identification by optical character recognition (“OCR”) and damage inspection. TopView works in conjunction with Visy’s Gate Operating System (“GOS”) and OCR applications to automate terminal processes. The system accommodates cranes operating with single, twin, tandem and quad spreaders.
“We’re pleased to be the first company to offer a spreader OCR solution to the terminal market,” said Petri Granroth, Visy’s General Manager. “TopView significantly simplifies crane OCR applications and provides operators with damage inspection images of the top of containers without adding extra steps to terminal processes. We believe that TopView will revolutionize CHE OCR applications.”
For terminals that require boxes to be identified on the quay, TopView provides a cost effective means of identifying the numbers on the roof of the boxes. Because ISO boxes have container codes in two locations on the roof, the camera system captures two sets of codes with a single event. By then placing cameras on the outreach and backreach of an STS crane, Visy’s Crane Gate application captures container codes from four different locations on single and twin operations and three locations on tandem and quad operations. The result is that the OCR hit rates will be as high as systems with three times as many cameras, thus significantly reducing the cost of ownership of such a high-performing system.
“Damage claims have historically been a big problem for us,” said Mr. Erik Laidvee, CEO of TK. “Now that we have added TopView to our Visy Crane Gate system we have high-quality images of all sides of the boxes just like at the landside gate. TopView will save us time and money to discharge frivolous damage claims.”