EP1828507A1

EP1828507A1 - Storage system

Info

Publication number: EP1828507A1
Application number: EP05812323A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Laszl Brezovits
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-19
Filing date: 2005-11-18
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Also published as: HUP0402405A2; HU0402405D0; HU225187B1; WO2006054124A1; HUP0402405A3

Abstract

A storage system comprising a support structure, horizontally movable support units for carrying units to be stored, said support units being arranged on the support structure, and transferring elements for moving the support units. The support structure comprises modules (40) capable of accommodating and transferring support units, said modules (40) having centrally controlled transferring elements (34) enabling bidirectional moving of the support units in two horizontal directions being perpendicular to each other. Preferably, the storage system may have more than one storey and at least one module (40) is suitable to enable a vertical moving of the support unit located thereon.

Description

STORAGE SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a storage system comprising a support structure, horizontally movable support units for carrying units to be stored, said support units being arranged on the support structure, and transferring elements for moving the support units. The invention especially relates to, but is not limited to a storage system designed as a modular parking system.

BACKGROUND ART

Known parking systems basically fall into two categories: - elevated store type systems, where vehicles placed on platforms are transferred by a central loading machine to storing places situated on the two sides or along a circular path and - elevator type systems, where the platforms can be moved around on a predetermined horizontal or vertical track.

The common disadvantage of both versions is that their design requires a fixed geometry, and consequently they may only be fitted into buildings and interiors of a shape corresponding to that geometry. The other problem is caused by the fact that in case the central machines break down, it is not possible to output the vehicles until these machines are repaired. In the case of elevated store type systems, the large space required for the loader reduces the storing space.

For example, in US 5,330,305 a three dimensional parking system is described. This prior art system comprises a plurality of housing stations, which are arranged in a vertical direction for accommodating vehicles. A lift compartment is provided adjacent to the housing stations, in which lifts move in a vertical direction for transferring the vehicles vertically. The system includes self-driven movable platforms, which are capable of transferring the vehicle to and from the lifts. The platform includes drive wheels, a drive motor and an energy storage device. The disadvantage of this known system in addition to those listed above is that the self-driven platforms only allow the transporting of the vehicles in one degree of freedom, i.e. in a lateral direction from the lifts. Therefore, difficulties may arise for example when several vehicles are to be stored in one row in a lateral direction from the lift, and if the removal of a vehicle located further from the lift is necessary. Therefore, this known system only enables the storage of one vehicle in each lateral direction from the lift. A further disadvantage of the system is that it comprises self-driven platforms, each fitted with batteries and drive systems. All this makes the embodiment of this known system very expensive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In creating this invention, it was our object to provide a storage system, especially a parking system, which is free from the disadvantages of known storage systems. It is another object to create a storage system enabling by a central control to arbitrary place and rearrange the units to be stored. It is a further object to create a simple modular storage system which enables the full utilisation of the available space, and in which a defect of one of the modules does not lead to the breakdown of the whole system. Consequently, the invention is a storage system comprising a support structure, horizontally movable support units for carrying units to be stored, said support units being arranged on the support structure, and transferring elements for moving the support units. According to the invention, the support structure comprises modules capable of receiving and transferring support units, said modules having centrally controlled transferring elements enabling bidirectional moving of the support units in two horizontal directions being perpendicular to each other.

Consequently, the basis of the invention is the recognition that a system built of rectangular block shaped modules which are able to effect moving in several directions and attachable to each other in all directions is suitable for maximally filling up any shape of space, and by means of an arbitrary outputting route it is capable of being safer and faster.

The essence of the storage system according to the invention is that it comprises fixed modules by which support units preferably designed as platforms are moved in two or three directions and received (i.e. accommodated), said modules can be adjoined in both two and three dimensions and in all directions.

The modules adjoined in three dimensions may preferably form a self-supporting structure. The stories of a multi-storey storing space are adjoined by three-directional modules, preferably lifts, located at the suitable locations. The driving and rolling units of two-directional modules are secured to the horizontal supports of the frame structure, while the vertical supports at the module corners only serve for supporting the stories. The driving and rolling elements of the three-directional modules are located on a separate frame and they perform vertical movement between the storage stories by means of gear racks running on vertical supports or by other towing elements. At locations corresponding to the design of the building, turning and transferring stations may be attached to the system. In the case of a parking system implementation, this is the point where the vehicles may drive onto the storing platforms preferably fitted with a wheel guide and a drain. By activating the appropriate transferring elements of the selected modules, a computerised control arranges the storing platforms, i.e. the vehicles parked on them in the storing space. The system is able to arrange any storing platform in any module location as long as there is at least one vacant position in the storing space.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, the invention will be described by means of preferred embodiments as shown in the drawings, where

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an inventive storage system's support structure; Fig. 2 is the support structure shown in Fig. 1 , designed as a parking system for storing vehicles;

Figs. 3A and 3B are drawings showing side and top views of a support unit formed as a storing platform;

Fig. 4 is a top view of an example of the storage system module serving for accommodating and forwarding the support unit as per Figs. 3A and 3B, also showing the adjoining of further modules;

Fig. 5 is a schematic top view of an example of a lift module of the storage system built of modules shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an example of a structure drawing of one storey of the storage system built of modules shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 7A and 7B are front and top views of another preferred support unit; Fig. 8A is a schematic drawing of a part of a structure serving for transferring the bottom running surfaces of the support unit as per Figs. 7A and 7B;

Fig. 8B is a front view of an elevation-actuating element and actuating bar being parts of the structure as per Fig. 8A;

Fig. 9 is a schematic top view of a storage system module serving for receiving and forwarding the support unit shown in Figs. 7A and 7B;

Fig. 10 is a schematic top view of a lift module of the storage system consisting of modules shown in Fig. 9, without elevating elements;

Figs. 11 A and 11 B are schematic side and top views of a further example of the support units; Figs. 12A and 12B are schematic side and top views of a storage system module designed for receiving and forwarding the support unit as per Figs. 11A and 11 B;

Figs. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views showing two positions of the eccentric mechanisms in the module corresponding to Figs. 12A and 12B; Fig. 14 is a top view depicting a part of an example of a lift module of the storage system built of the modules as per Figs. 12A and 12B; and

Fig. 15 is a schematic side view showing the drive of the lift module as per Fig. 14.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The example of support structure 10 shown in Fig. 1 of the storage system according to the invention has a modular design and comprises horizontal supports 12 and vertical supports 13. The modular design enables the construction of a storage system which completely fills the space available for storage. However, for the support structure 10 of such an arbitrary design it is to be ensured that units to be stored in the storage system can be stored in an arbitrary way by an arbitrary arrangement, and they must also be enabled to be transferred along an arbitrary route between the modules, in addition to allowing inputting and outputting of the stored items. This objective is accomplished by the storage system according to the invention, and especially by the transferring elements described below.

The storage system shown in Fig. 2 serves for storing vehicles 16, i.e. it is designed as a parking system. Consequently, the units to be stored are the vehicles 16, for the carrying of which there are support units 15 which can be transferred in horizontal direction on each storey of the storage system. According to the invention, the support units 15 can be moved bidirectionally in two perpendicular horizontal directions by means of transferring elements to be described below, said transferring elements being arranged on the support structure 10.

The horizontal transferring of the support units 15 according to the invention is provided by the transferring elements preferably through a roller drive, i.e. friction drive, but of course according to the invention any other principle of moving can be applied. Consequently, the support structure 10 of the storage system according to the invention is built as a modular one, in which each module is designed to receive and/or transfer one support unit 15 at a time. According to the invention, the transferring elements are arranged module by module, i.e. each module is equipped with its own transferring elements. Figs. 3A and 3B show side and top views of an example of a support unit

15 according to the invention. Preferably, the support unit 15 is designed as a square storing platform, which comprises a platform frame 20 surrounding a platform plate 22. On each of the four corners of the storing platform there is a self-aligning running wheel 21. Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a storage system module serving for receiving and transferring the support unit 15 in accordance with Figs. 3A and 3B. The module 40 comprises a rail system consisting of rail segments 30, wherein the running wheels 21 run on the rail system. Preferably, running on the rail is assisted by the guiding plates (not shown) sliding on the side surfaces of the rail segments 30 and located on the two sides of the running wheels 21 , extending below the rolling surface.

At crossing points of the rail system, directing disks 31 are arranged, which carry a piece of a rail segment, and this can be joined with the rail system in two positions rotated by 90° relatively to each other, by turning the directing disk 31. The module 40 shown in Fig. 4 has a rectangular form in the horizontal direction, and three other modules are attached to the two sides and at one corner thereof. According to the invention, the support units 15 formed as storing platforms can be transferred from the modules to other modules in two perpendicular horizontal directions. The desired horizontal direction can be set by means of a directing gear 32 which can be controlled centrally.

The directing gear 32 comprises a reversing motor and a mechanism for driving a wire rope 33, which provides a joint directional drive for the directing disks 31 located at the four corners of the module 40 and for the transferring elements 34. The transferring elements which comprise in this preferred embodiment two units, wherein each unit has a forwarding wheel 34b driven by a drive motor 34a. As a result of the wire rope drive actuated by the directing gear 32, the directing disks 31 and the transferring elements 34 may be switched over between two positions rotated by 90°. The transferring elements 34 and the directing disks 31 are always positioned in relation to each other in a way that the rail segment pieces carried by the directing disks 31 are arranged in parallel with the transferring direction of the forwarding wheels 34b coupled by a friction drive to the bottom surface of the storing platforms. When switching between the two positions, the directing disks 31 set the self-aligning running wheels 21 in the desired direction by means of the above mentioned guiding plates. The forwarding wheels 34b can be actuated preferably by two directional rotation, i.e. they enable a bidirectional movement in the selected horizontal direction.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic top view of an example of a lift module of a storage system built of the modules shown in Fig. 4. Also the lift module comprises a directing gear 32' which sets by means of the wire rope 33 the desired horizontal direction of forwarding the support unit 15. In this embodiment, forwarding wheels 34b' driven by drive motors 34a' are the transferring elements 34'. By means of the wire rope 33, the units consisting of the drive motor 34a' and the forwarding wheel 34b' may be rotated in the direction of the arrows shown in the figure around the vertical axis normal to the axis of rotation of the forwarding wheels 34b'. In this way, the direction of the rolling drive provided by the forwarding wheels 34b' can be set synchronously with the directing disks 31. While in the case of the module as per Fig. 4 the directing gear 32' and the transferring elements 34' may be secured to the support plate integrated in the given module on the support structure 10 or in the case of a single-storey design to the load bearing floor, in the system shown in Fig. 5 the directing gear 32' and the transferring elements 34' are always secured to the base plate 35 attached to the lift module or to a similar support structure.

Toothed elevating wheels 36 being driven in a way not shown may ensure moving the lift module vertically. The elevating wheels 36 are located at the four corners of the lift module, and they may be coupled to appropriate gear racks 37 or to other type of towing elements.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic structural view of one storey of the storage system consisting of the modules 40 according to Fig. 4. This structure makes full use of the available space depicted as an example and makes sure that the support units 15 moving on the storey can be forwarded to any module 40. The arrangement shown as an example also comprises a module which does not contain a directing gear 32, because as a result of this type of arrangement it has to provide bidirectional movement in one horizontal direction only.

Figs. 7A and 7B show side and top views of another preferred embodiment of the support unit 15, which has a special platform frame 50 surrounding the platform plate 52, said platform frame 50 consisting of opposite frame segments the lower running surfaces of which can be lowered or raised by the articulated structures 53 so as to be coupled to a roller drive.

The articulated structures 53 may be moved by a joint linkage at a point of force application 54. The displacement of the lower and upper surfaces of the frame segments in relation to each other can be for example implemented by a platform frame 50 design, in which the frame segments consist of elements having U shaped cross section and being joined by the articulated structures 53, where the elements are facing each other and are fitted into each other with their side planes, but of course any other preferred embodiment is possible. Consequently, this embodiment is fitted with a mechanism for alternately lowering the bottom running surfaces of the pairs of opposite frame segments for a the roller driving with the transferring elements. In addition to the articulated structures 53, in a way shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, the lowering mechanism comprises an actuating lever 55 adjoined to the point of force application 54, which the actuating lever is operated by means of an actuating bar 57 moved by a elevation-actuating element 56 fitted in a fixed way to the support structure 10. In a way shown in Fig. 8A, the actuating lever 55 has two end positions, into which the actuating lever 55 is moved by the actuating bar 57 attached thereto. In one end position, by means of the actuating lever 55, the articulated structures 53 of a pair of frame segments are pressed in order to lower the bottom running surfaces, while in the other position this is effected with the other pair of frame segments. Preferably, the movements of the articulated structures 53 of the opposite frame segments is synchronised with one another by a linkage or a different coupling. Therefore, it is sufficient to provide the actuating of the actuating lever 55 at one corner of the platform frame 50 only. In this way, the storing platform can be forwarded to the desired direction by contacting it to the driven rolling surfaces secured to the short and the long horizontal supports 12, the latter being perpendicular to the short ones.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic top view of a module designed for accommodating and transferring the support unit 15 according to Figs. 7A and 7B. It is shown that the elevation-actuating element 56 is secured together with the actuating bar 57 to the module and the actuating bar 57 is coupled to the actuating lever 55 of the support unit 15 arriving to the module by any possible means known per se, for example by engaging or by a form fit. In this embodiment, the transferring elements 34" comprise driven rollers 62 secured to the horizontal supports 12 of the support structure 10, said rollers 62 being driven by a drive motor 60 driven belt 61. The figure shows that the rollers 62 fixed to opposite horizontal supports 12 are driven by a common drive motor 60. By lowering alternatively the bottom running surface pairs of the support unit 15 and by actuating the transferring elements 34" in a synchronised way, the bidirectional movement in two perpendicular horizontal directions can be implemented efficiently. Fig. 10 shows a schematic top view of a lift module depicted as an example for the storage system consisting of modules in accordance with Fig. 9, wherein units providing vertical moving are omitted. The only difference as against Fig. 9 is that the rollers 62 are located outside the frame 65 of the lift module, so that the lift module is matched to the module size defined by the support structure 10.

Figs. 11A and 11B show side and top views of a further preferred embodiment of the support unit 15 in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the platform frame 20 does not comprise moving parts, and an eccentric mounted roller drive fitted on the support structure 10 ensures horizontal reversing transfer.

Figs. 12A and 12B show this eccentric mounted roller drive. The drive belts 61 driven by the drive motors 60 move the eccentric mounted rollers 72 which are connected by an eccentric mechanism 76 to the horizontal supports 12. An actuating motor 73 provides actuating of the eccentric mechanisms 76, and the actuating motor 73 switches between two positions the eccentric mechanisms 76 by means of a wire rope 75 guided across guiding rollers 74. Of course, power transmission means other than a wire rope may also be applied. Figs. 13A and 13B show a cross section of the lower and upper positions of the eccentric mechanisms 76. The eccentric mechanisms 76 are adjusted relatively to each other by means of the wire rope 75 so that the eccentric mounted rollers 72 connected to the opposite horizontal supports 12 move synchronously with one another in a vertical direction and move oppositely with the eccentric mounted rollers 72 connected to the opposite horizontal supports 12 of the other pair. In this way, by means of the appropriate control of the drive motors 60 and the actuating motor 73, the transfer of the support unit 15 bidirectionally in two perpendicular horizontal directions can be implemented extremely simply and efficiently. Fig. 14 shows a detail of a lift module depicted as an example of the storage system built of modules as per Figs. 12A and 12B. Compared to the modules shown in Figs. 12A and 12B₁ the difference in this case is that the eccentric mounted rollers 72 are connected to the frame 77 of the lift module from the outside. The schematic side view of the lift module is shown in Fig. 15 in which it can be seen that vertical movement is ensured by a chain drive 81 driven by an elevating motor 80 on each of the four corners of the lift module.

In the embodiments shown, the support structure 10 of the storage system is preferably a self-supporting metal frame structure and the cables providing control and/or power supply of the directing elements and the transferring elements 34, 34', 34" are arranged at least partly inside the elements of the frame structure. Of course, the invention can not only be designed in a multi-storey form, but also in a single storey way, when for example each module can be secured to a load bearing floor.

A further embodiment is also possible in which the support structure 10 is not designed as a self-supporting metal frame structure, but as a different, i.e. concrete frame structure. In this case the cables providing the control and/or power supply can be arranged at least partly inside ducts of the frame structure. The transferring elements 34, 34', 34" are centrally controlled, preferably by means of a computerised system, which control is designed in a way that each support unit 15 can be transferred to any module 40 of the storage system.

The advantage of the storage system according to the invention is making full use of the space because it can be fitted into a space of any shape for example between columns, and the transfer station can be located anywhere. In the case of a preparational rearrangement (preparation for outputting), the output time can be significantly reduced. Due to the multidirectional nature of the storing places and the arbitrary outputting route, the safety of outputting a stored item is high. The invention can be used for increasing the capacity of existing indoor car parks, and converting cellars, inner spaces divided by columns or stores into car parks, for the better utilisation of the parking spaces in new buildings, as well as in the form of a self-supporting steel structure - which does not need other architectural designs - as an independent new establishment. The system may also be utilised as a general purpose automatic storage by building it in a appropriate size.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described in details in the figures and the description, but further versions and amendments are also possible within the scope of protection defined by the claims_^The system may not Only be implemented as a.parking system, but also as_ a general purpose automatic storage.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising a support structure, horizontally movable support units for carrying units to be stored, said support units being arranged on the support structure, and transferring elements for moving the support units, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the support structure (10) comprises modules (40) capable of accommodating and transferring support units (15), said modules (40) having centrally controlled transferring elements (34, 34', 34") enabling bidirectional moving of the support units (15) in two horizontal directions being perpendicular to each other.

2. The storage system according to claim 1 , characterised by comprising modules (40) having a rectangular form in the horizontal direction and allowing the adjoining of a further module (40) to each of their four sides, wherein each module (40) is suitable to accommodate and transfer one support unit (15) at a time, and the module (40) has transferring elements (34, 34', 34") that move the support units (15) in a roller drive manner.

3. The storage system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised by having more than one storey, and at least one module (40) is suitable to enable a vertical moving of the support unit (15) located thereon.

4. The storage system according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the support units (15) are formed as square storing platforms, to the bottom surface of which the transferring elements (34, 34', 34") are coupled by a friction drive.

5. The storage system according to claim 4, characterised in that at each of the four corners of the storing platform a self-aligning running wheel (21) is arranged and the support structure (10) comprises a rail system consisting of rail segments (30) and the running wheels (21) run on this rail system, the rail system having directing disks (31) located at the crossings thereof, and the transferring elements (34) comprise forwarding wheels (34b, 34b') being driven by drive motors (34a, 34a') and being coupled from the lower side to the bottom plate of the storing platforms.

6. The storage system according to claim 5, characterised in that in each module (40) the forwarding wheels (34b, 34b') and the directing disks (31) have two positions rotated horizontally by 90° compared to each other, and switching between these positions is carried out by means of a directing gear (32, 32') through a common drive.

7. The storage system according to claim 4, characterised in that the storing platforms are equipped with a platform frame (50) and the transferring elements (34") comprise driven rollers (62) arranged in each module (40) below the frame segments of the platform frame (50), wherein each module (40) is controlled to engage alternately the pairs of opposite frame segments with the transferring elements (34") below them for a roller driving.

8. The storage system according to claim 7, characterised in that the shafts of the driven rollers (62) are secured to the support structure (10) and the storing platform has a mechanism for alternately lowering the bottom running surfaces of the pairs of opposite frame segments for a roller driving with the transferring elements (34").

9. The storage system according to claim 8, characterised in that the lowering mechanism comprises articulated structures (53) and an actuating lever (55) connected thereto, said articulated structures (53) allowing vertical displacement of the bottom running surfaces relatively to the platform frame (50), wherein the actuating lever (55) is operated by means of an actuating bar (57) operated by an elevation-actuating element (56) fixed to the support structure (10).

10. The storaαe svstem according to claim 7, characterised in that the shafts of the driven rollers (62) are secured to the support structure (10) by an eccentric mechanism (76), by which the roller drive with the transferring elements (34") can be coupled alternatively to the pairs of the opposite frame segments.

11. The storage system according to claim 10, characterised in that the eccentric mechanisms (76) are joined together and moved by a wire rope (75) or other power transmission means driven by an actuating motor (73) and guided by guiding rollers (74).

12. The storage system according to any of claims 7 to 11 , characterised in that the driven rollers (62) below each frame segment are driven by a common drive belt (61) also providing roller driving of the bottom running surfaces.

13. The storage system according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that it is a parking system and the units to be stored are vehicles (16).

14. The storage system according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the support structure (10) is a metal frame structure and the cables providing control and/or power supply of the directing elements and the transferring elements (34, 34', 34") are arranged at least partly inside the elements of the frame structure.

15. The storage system according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the support structure (10) is a concrete frame structure and the cables providing the control and/or power supply of the directing elements and the transferring elements (34, 34', 34") are arranged at least partly inside ducts of the frame structure.

16. The storage system according to any of Claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the transferring elements (34, 34', 34") are controlled by a computer system, said control being designed so that each support unit (15) can be transferred to any module (40) of the storage system.