Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Jun Z3 98 Ol: 5~~p KarlHormann, Esq. 617-491-8877 p. 2
Attorney Docket 980270 ~.
FILE, rlN~ THIS AMENQF~
~TRANSLATION
Do~;cription
5 Automatic Parking Garage
The invention relates to an automatic parking garage with a storage
system consisting of parking levels arranged in superposition, which are
connected to each other by vertical conveying devices and in which there are
10 arranged storage channels with parking spaces as well as transport paths for
horizontal conveying devices, as well as with transport devices for transport-
ing cars on a carrier and with one or more devices arranged anywhere in the
parking garage for transferring cars to the transport devices, and a control
system encompassing a directing system for cars and a directing system for
15 persons for rendering the parking garage variably accessible at any device for
transferring cars to and from the storage system, whereby each trans~er
device may be set by the control system for entry or exit operation.
Such a parking garage is known from DE 43 40 617 A1. In this known
20 parking garage, there are provided at the entrance of the storage system and
its superposed parking levels and of the transport devices so-called entr,v
locations where users of the garage leave their car on a pallet before leaving
the entry location area. The car and the pallet are thereafter moved by
transport devices to a buffer place asso~iated with the entry location. Thence
25 they are moved to a vertical conveyor which provides further transport to a
parking level. A particular disadvantage of this arrangement is that the
necessary buffer space as the interFace between entry location and transport
device requires additional surface space. Moreover, additional transport
means are required for the transfer from the buffer space to the storage
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A~orneyDocket980270
system.
An automatic parking garage with a storage system and a control
system is known from EP 0,376,621 B1. The storage system is provided with
5 superposed parking levels, transport devices for transporting cars on a carrier
as well as with a device for transferring cars to the transport devices For
receiving cars, the parking garage is provided vertical conveyor devices
having carriers provided therein. A particular disadvantage of this
arrangement is that each carrier for the cars is provided with complex
10 conveying technology for receiving and delivering cars.
Furthermore, a device for storing goods, in particular cars, on rolling
pallets in a multi-level storage is known from DE 93 05 367 U1. A parking
garage is therein described in which cars are stored on rolling pallets in
15 suitable storage channels on a parking level of the multi-level storage. The
rolling pallets are interconnected to form pallet trains. Cars are dropped off or
picked up at a receiving pl~ce or at a delivery place on or from the rolling
pallet. For parking, the rolling pallet and the car are moved from the receivingplace to a vertical conveyor and thence to a predetermined parking level. On
20 the parking level, the car on the rolling pulley is transferred to a trolley vehicle
and stored in a storage channel or connected to a pallet train within the
channel. In this arrangement, horizontal and vertical movements are
segregated in the manner previously described in EP 462,125 B1.
EP 462,125 B1 describes a storage system for any kind of goods
which are stored on rolling pallets in a shelf storage. To enable a rapid
storage transfer in the parking facility here, too, there are provided
segregated transport devices for horlzontal and vertical transport of the rolling
pallets with the goods stored thereon. The segregation occurs by transferring
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Attorn~y Dockat ~8027~
the ro'ling pallet to a transfer place for transfer from the ~ertical to the
horizontal conveyor. The transfer place is provided as an interface between
the two transport devic~s. This arran~~ement, too, makes use of the positive
effect that because of the segregated transport devices the storage system
5 provides for a high degree of sorting or identifiability which in turn ieads to
short intake and output times. in DE 93 05 361 ~ his known ~torage
system was adopted r~uasi unchanged ancl applied for use in a parking
garage.
IQ However, a particular disadv~ntage of ~E 93 05 3~7 U1 is that the
storage and drop-off places are fixed reiative to each other and require an
intermediate deYice for providing rolling pallets Only one access device is
provided for the parking garag~.
A fl~rther parking garage is known from EP-A-361,374. There, a
parking ~arage is described with storage spaces in arranged in superposition
and serviced by a coveyor vehicle for horizontal as weil as vertical transport
of cars to their parking spaces. Since horizontal and verticai transport are norsegregated parkin~ and retrieval of cars entail longer waiting tlmes.
2Q
Therefore, it is a task of the invention to provide a parking garage in
which the device for transferring cars to ~he parking facility is structured in a
spati~lly e~lcient manner and requires no additional transporting means.
In accordance with the invention the task is solve~ by an embodiment
wi~h the characterizing elements of claim 1 as well as the method of claim 18.
Advantageou~ ernbodimen~s of the invention ar~ disclosed in the respective
subclaims.
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Anorn~y Docket 980270
The advantages to be derived frorrl the invention are, in particuiar, that
each drop-off or transfer device is constructed with an inte~rated device for
vertical transpolt. A car is dropped off on, and pEcked up from, a carrier in the
transfer device with integr~led vertic~l transport device. In an advantageous
em~odiment of the invention ea~h transfer de~ice is associated with at least
one ~ertical conveyor or one horizontal conveyor. A car is dropped off on a
carrier in a tran~fer device. This is foilowed by transfer of the cars to Yertical
conveyors or horiz~ntal conveyors. Transfer of the carrier with a car thereon
to ~ hori,o,~tal conveyor makes it possible to park c3rs In storage channels on
1 û the entrance and exit level.
In order to render the parking ~arage variabl~ accessible at any de~rice
for transferring ~ars to the storage system the contrct system of the p~rkin~
garage enGompasses a gui~ance system for cars and a guidance sys~em ~or
;~ persons. Moreover, devices for transferring cars to vertical c~nveyor devicesand/or horizontal wnv~yor devioes ar~ provided anywhere In the parking
gara~e. In the parking gar2ge in accord~nce with the invention, c~rs may be
dropped off or picked 'Ip at any transfer locatien. I~epending on its str-;cture~
this is also possible at any level. To accept cars, at least one transfe, de~ice20 for reccivin~ a car on a carrier and fot transferring it tG the storage system by
means of vertical conveyors or hori~ontal conveyors is req,lired at the
correspondin~ location. Because of an optimized arrangement of cashiers
and transfer devlces paths are short and safe since passa3e ways ~or
persons do not intersect with those for cars are formed on any level. At the
25 drop-off or transfer location, movement ~ persons becomes ~e~regated from
the lranspoll of cars. A particular advantage of the ern~odiment in
a~cordance with the ir,vention is that the transfer devices may be selectiveiy
set by the control system for entry and exit operations. MoreoY~r. Iegardless
of the setting of the transfe, devioe for entry ~r ex~t operation it can be dr~ven
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Attomey Dock~ g80270
through in a forward direction.
In this embodiment repair ~hops an~ car wash facilities rnay be
pro~ ed on a parking ievel. At such a parking level the cars wGuid have to
5 be transferred to a horizontal conveyor. The directions of transport are
separated in the parkin~ area. The vertical conYeyoF devi~s move a car on
its carrier to a predete,rnined parkin~ level and deposits it at a transfer place
where th~ carrier and ~he car thereon are taken over by a hQrizvntal
conveyor. The transfer piace is the interface between horizontal and vertical
I O transport whereby the cars in the parking garage may be sorted with high
efficiency. In an advantageous embodiment of the inver~tion the carrier is a
rolling pallet provided with connecting elements so that wh.en connected
together the rolling paliets form a train of pallets within a storase channe!. Ithis manner complex conveyor technology within the parking garage is
15 avoided~ In this embodiment only the Yertical and horizontal conveyors need
be e~uipped with means for handling the pallets such that the rolling pallets
are connected within the storage channels and are transf-rred in an orderly
manner at the interfaces, and suGh that the rolling pailets may be supplied
and unloaded at the trans~er device or at the transpo't device ~or vertiGal
2V transport. For receiving or delivering a car on or from the transport device for
vertica! transport, the rol!ing pallet is arranged within a re~ess of the transfer
device The transfer device is equipped with a writing and reading unit
connected by control cables to the controi syst~m of the car guidance system
and person guidance system. The vvriting and reading unit device is provided
25 with an encoding systern for automatically assigning and identifying a parking
pesition. The encoding system is provided with a reading device f~r recording
the license plate number of the car. The transfer device is connected to a
parking slip dispensin~ and e~aluation device. Ahead of the transter device
there wili be undertaken an adrnissibility evaluation ;as regards dimensions,
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Attomey Doci(ei 98û270
weight, ~tc The transfer device is also equipped with a devioe for n~onitoring
the interior as we51 as with an additional admissibility monitor for the car to
ensure no persons or anima!s are admitted to the storage system. Upon
recognition of a reason for denying admission~ the vehicle either is not moved
5 iato the transfer de\~ice, or it is directly returned to the exit ~y rmeans of the car
guidance system. At this location, there may be provideà a t.raffic light
cor.trol~ for instance. Only ~fter the driver of the car has le~ the transfer
deYice can the vehicle be transferred tc the shelf storage.
Cars may be handled within the parking garage in a particularly
advantageous manner by recording and evaluatin~ all data necess~ry for an
orderly execution of the transport. as a car is driven into the transfer device.Arnong these are GheGking the admissi'Dility and, if necessary, reiection of thecar if it is not admissible as, for instance, because of excessive dimensions.
Data such as iicense plate number, time of arrival, etc. are transferred in an
encoded man~er to an identity card. Ais~, the control system assigns a
parking space which is also noted on the identity card. When the driver
leaves the transfer device, additional data such as a desired ~ick-up time at a
se~ectable retrieval !ocation, may be manualiy entered. Moreover, the system
20 has a quasi learning capability by which repeated id~ntical parkin~ times of
certain cars are stored, and on the basis of the learned pick-up times the car
may be piaced in readiness for ~ick-up in a storage channel at the output of a
vertical conveyor. This leads to extremely short delivery tlnnes.
An embodiment of the invention is depicted in the drawings and will
here~fter be described.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic presentation of the directions in which the parking
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A~rhey3Ocket~80~70
g~r~ge is accessible;
Fig. 2 depicts a section through of ff~e parking gara~e at any pesition;
Fig. 3 depicts a device for tlansferring Gars to the stora~e system-
Fig. 4 depicts an arrangement of storage chan~,els and par~ing spaces at the
vertical eon~Jeyor;
Fi~. ~ depicts an arrangement of different zones in the parklng garage;
Fig. 6 depicts interconnected roliins pallets;
Fig. 7 de,~icts a sectional top e!evati~l1 o~ a trans,'er device.
Fig. 1 schematically depicts a typical parking garage. The possib!e
access ~irectlons are represented ~y arrows. The thick arrows 1 represent
movement of car~; thP! thin arrows 2 depic:t movement of persnns. As shown
in Fig. ~, the parking garage is built to provide a plurallty of superposed levels
3 Tor parking cars in storag~ channels 4 In the embodiment shown, the cars
15 are parkec5 in the storage channels 4 on rolling pallets 5 which form a train of
pallets when cr~nnected together C~rriers of any other kind may be used as
well. The indiYidual parking leveis 3 are interconnected by vertical conveyors
6. From the vertical ccnveyor 6 the car is deposited on its rollin~ pallet 5 at a
transfer place 7 where horizontal and vertical transport are effectively
~0 segregated. At the transfer place 7, a transport vehicle 8 takes o~er the
filrther transpo~t of the rollin~ pallet 5 and the car along a parking iane
disposed norrnal to the storage channel6 4 The transpcrt ~ehiole 8 deposits
the rolling pallet 5 ~t the entrance of a storage channel 4 and executes a
coup!ing movement by which the newly ~eposited rolling pallet 5 is connected
~5 to the rolling pallets ~ which are a!ready stored in the sforage channel 4.
Trartsfer of cars to the storage system may take piace at a~y level 3. Fig.
depicts an ex~mple where this occurs at the cerlter leve~ 3 It would.
however, be possible to designate an area 10 on any level 3 or another
parking level 3. it is important to provide at least Gne transfer device 11 and
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Attorney ~ocket 9eO270
at least one vertical conveyor 6 or horizontal conYeyor 8 at the drop-off
p~sitions.
As shuwn in Fig. 3, the transfer device 11 may be a bsx-like structure
5 into which a car may be driven. While being dropped off the car ma)f leave
the box in a forward direction. The rolling pallet 5 for receiving the car !S
supported in the floor of the box. When entering into the transfer de~ice 11
the car is guided onto the rolling pallet 5 which is provided for the ensuing
transport in the storage system. In accordance with a first emi~odiment of the
10 invention the vertical ~ onveyor 6 is integrated in the trar~s~er device ~1. On a
parking level 3, the ~r including rollin~ pallet 5 is transported to a transfer
place 7 between horizontal and vertical transport paths and is taken ~ver by
a transpo~ vehicle 8. The vertical conveyor 6 is integrated in the transfer
device 11 in such a way that its suppcrt piafform 1:2 may receive the rolling
15 pallet 5 recessed into the floor of the tr~nsfer device 11. The top of the lifting
cab of ~he verti~al conveyor 6 is formed by a iid 13 which closes the transfer
deYice 11 in an upward direction. In thl~ rnanner the user Gf the garage is
given the impression of having driven into a gara~e~ Above or below the
transfer device 11 extends a shaft for the vertical conveyor 6 2sis
2û con~en~ional m!llti-level storage facilities. It ensures that the vertical conveyor
6 may dock at any level 3 of the garage to recei~/e or deliver a rolling pallet 5
in a precise position. As a result of latching the conveyor in its transfer
positisn, handling is improved, especially of empty rolling pallets 5. Ernpty
rolling pallets 5 may be stacked as pal!et magazines 14 at a storage space 15
25 near the vertical conveycr 6 or in a storage channel 4. ~or storing the rollins
pallets 5, stora~e char,nels 4 may be associated at the exit of the vertical
conveyor 6. ~hese stora~e chanrlels 4 may then be used ~o park or keep in a
r~ady state cars on rolling pallets ~ which have to be checked cut at a specifictime or with particu!ar urgency.
g
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Attorr,~y Do~k~l g~0270
Fig. 4 depicts an arran0ement of stcrage channels 4 and parkin~
spaces 15 near a vertical conYeyor 6. Individual parking spaces 1~ or
storage channels 4 ~lay be associated with the vertical eonveyor 6. To b~
readily avail~bie at a transfer d~vice 11, lo~ed or empty rolling pallets 5 may
be temporarily stored in the storage ch~nnels 4. A car on a roliing pallet 5, anempty rolling pallet 15 or a s~ack of rolling pallets 14 may also be temporarilyst~red at an individual parking space ~5. Since cars cr rolling pallets 5 may
be pre-sorted as required, such an arrangement of parking spaces 15 and
stora~e channels 4 at the vertical conveyor ~ ensures that oars may be
10 piaced for ready availabi5ity by a transfer device 11.
Fig. 5 depicts different lay-outs of parking levels 3 with di~ferently used
areas 10 within the parking garage. Thus, there m~y be provided areas for
office space etc. or a combination of drop-off and parking areas.
~ ig. 6 depicts several rolling pailets 5 connected to each other. The
rolling pallets 5 are provided with ~rooYes 16 for accomrnodating car tires as
well as wi~h automatic remova~ b~rriers.
Fig. 7 depicts ~ plane view in sec:tion of a transfer device 11 with an
integrated ~/erticai conveyor 6. Ahead of tne transfer device 11 there is
provided a right of aecess monitor and a parkin~ slip dispenser 17 These
may. however, also be integrated in the transfer device 11 itse!f. The contsur
of the rolling pa!let 5 and the support platform 12 of the vertical conveyor 6
are indic~ted in the floon In this embodiment, guide tracks 19 for the hosstiny
devicas of the vertical conveyor 6 are !ntegrated n~ar it~ entrance and exit
gates 18~ In this ernbodiment. the vertical conveyor 6 is a liftin3 platForm
guided hy rails and provided with a lid 13 covering the transfer d~vîce 11 at
the top. The transfer device 11 is provided with a door for persons at which
q
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Attcrney L~ et 98027G
there is provide~ a parkin~ slip readiny and evaluation device. When the
person leaves the box, his parking slip will cont~in, to ensure an orderly
parking transactioll, encoded data regarding the parking space of the ear in
the storage system.
A method of handling cars in the parking garage will b~ described
hereafter. As a car entels a ~ransfer device 11 all data necessary to ensure
orr~erly transport will b~ r~corded ~nd evaluated. Among these are~ prior to cr
during entry, an admissib.lity test and, if necess~ry reiection of the c~r in
10 case it is not admissible because of its excessive dlrnensions, for instance.Data such as license plate nu~ber, time of arrival, etc. are encoded on the
identity card. Furtherrnore, the c~ntrol system assi~ns a parking position
which is also reco.rded on the identity card. YVhen the driver leaves the
transfer deYice data regarding desired time of pick-up at a selectabl~ transfer
l 5 de~ice 11 may be manually entered. Moreover~ the system has an inherent
C~U35i learrling capac~ty storing repe~ted similar parking times of defined
Yeh,cles fcr making the car available at a storage channei 4 at the output of
the vertical conveyo~ at a learned pick-up time~
]~
CA 02241178 1998-06-23
