GB2166721A

GB2166721A - Mechanised garage

Info

Publication number: GB2166721A
Application number: GB08507657A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roberto Biava; Pier Angelo Giacomini
Original assignee: Comau SpA
Current assignee: Comau SpA
Priority date: 1984-11-14
Filing date: 1985-03-25
Publication date: 1986-05-14
Also published as: GB2166721B; IT8468140A0; FR2573117A1; IT1180132B; GB8507657D0; DE3518183C2; CH662151A5; IT8468140A1; DE3518183A1; FR2573117B1

Abstract

A mechanised garage has a plurality of pallets (17) each intended to carry a motor car (5) and a series of parallel stack-like structures (2) which are separated by corridors (3) and which have parking compartments (4) to receive a motor car. A mobile translator/elevator device (7) is located in each corridor for moving the pallets (17) carrying the motor cars. A pallet conveyor circuit (18) is associated with each corridor (3) and comprises a horizontal line (19), for conveying and storing the pallets (17) carrying the motor cars, arranged along one side of the respective corridor (3). This conveyor and storage line (19) includes an entry station (22) where a pallet (17) receives a motor car (5), a loading station (23) where a pallet loaded with a motor car is picked up, an unloading station (24) where a pallet loaded with a motor car can be set down, and an exit station (25) where the motor car can be unloaded from the pallet. Platform (14) of device (7) comprises upper and lower forks (15), (16) respectively, the lower forks returning un-loaded pallets (17) to the return run (20) of line (19). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mechanised garage The present invention relates to mechanised garages.

The object of the invention is to design a mechanised garage which has a simple and practical structure and which at the same time is able to cope with any sudden increase in the traffic entering or leaving the garage, without affecting the speed of operations.

In order to achieve this object and according to the present invention a mechanised garage comprises a plurality of pallets each intended to carry a motor car; a plurality of parallel stack-like structures separated by corridors and each comprising a plurality of horizontal rows of parking compartments which are open on the side facing the adjacent corridor and which are arranged to receive a motor car with one side of the car facing the corridor;; a plurality of translator/elevator devices associated with the corridors and each including a trolley which is arranged to move along the respective corridors, and a platform which is arranged to move vertically above the trolley and which is provided with first and second fork means which are arranged in two separate horizontal planes spaced apart from each other and designed to introduce into or remove from the parking compartments, respectively, a pallet loaded with a motor car and an unloaded pallet; and a pallet conveyor circuit associated with each corridor and comprising an upper horizontal line for conveying and storing the pallets carrying the motor cars, which line is arranged along one side of the respective corridor at the bottom of one of the two stack-like structures, and a lower line for returning the pallets; the conveyor and storage line including an entry station where a pallet is arranged to receive a motor car, a loading station where a pallet loaded with a motor car can be picked up by the first forked means of the translator/elevator device, an unloading station where the first forked means of the translator/elevator device is arranged to set down a pallet loaded with a motor car, and an exit station where the motor car can be unloaded from the pallet.

As a result of this arrangement the operations required for a motor car to enter or leave the garage can be rapidly performed. This also makes it possible to absorb very easily any increase in the traffic entering or leaving.

Further characteristic features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a mechanised garage according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the garage shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the garage shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 shows a detail of Figure 3 on an enlarged scale, and Figure 5 is a side view of a detail of Figure 4.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a mechanised garage comprising a series of parallel stack-like structures 2 separated by corridors 3. Each stack-like structure 2 comprises a plurality of horizontal rows above which parking compartments 4 are located, which compartments are open on the side facing the corridors 3. Each parking compartment is intended to receive a motor car 5 with one side of the latter facing the respective corridor.

Each corridor 3 is closed at the top by a ceiling 6 and each corridor has associated with it a translator/elevator device 7 (see Figures 4 and 5) comprising a motorised trolley 8 which is able to move on a rail 9 provided along the floor of the corridor.

The trolley 8 supports a structure 10 consisting of two uprights 11 joined together at the top by a crossbeam 12. The crossbeam 12 is guided along a rail 13 on the ceiling 6. The translator/elevator device 7 also comprises a platform 14 which is able to move vertically in relation to the structure 10.

The platform 14 is provided with first and second forked means 15, 16, arranged in separate horizontal planes spaced apart from each other.

The garage includes a plurality of pallets 17 for moving the motor cars through it. The first forked means 15 are intended to set down a pallet 17 loaded with a motor car in any one of the parking compartments 4 facing the respective corridor in which the translator/elevator device in question operates, and to pick up a pallet 17 loaded with a motor car from a parking compartment.

The second forked means 16, however, are intended to pick up an unloaded pallet from a parking compartment or to set down an unloaded pallet in a parking compartment. A pallet conveyor circuit 18 including an upper horizontal line 19 for conveying and storing the pallets loaded with motor cars and a lower line 20, for returning the unloaded pallets, is provided on one side of each corridor 3 and at the bottom of one of the two stack-like structures 2 which face this corridor. The two lines 19, 20 are connected at their ends by means of elevator devices 21 of any known type.

The conveyor and storage line 19 includes an entry station 22 where a pallet is able to receive a motor car entering the garage, a loading station 23 where the forked means 15 of the translator/elevator device 7 can pick up a pallet loaded with a motor car in order to place it subsequently in a parking compartment, an unloading station 24 where the first forked means 15 of the translator/ elevator device 7 can set down a pallet loaded with a motor car previously picked up from a parking compartment, in order to allow the motor car to leave the garage, and an exit station 25 where the motor car can be unloaded from the pallet.

As shown in Figure 4, which shows the loading station 23, when the platform of the translator/elevator device 7 is located opposite the loading station 23 in such a way that the first forked means 15 are able to pick up a pallet 17 loaded with a motor car from the upper conveyor line 19, the second forked means 16 are located on the same level as the return line 20 and hence are able to deposit an empty pallet on this line.

With reference to Figure 1, each motor car entering the garage must be brought as far as one of the entry stations 22 by the user, who follows a path 26 passing through a zone 27 where the motor car is able to stop so as to allow luggage to be unloaded. Similarly, the motor cars collected by the users from the exit stations 25 must be brought back along an exit path 28 after stopping, if necessary, in a zone 29 in order to load luggage.

Check-in and check-out points 30 are also provided for monitoring purposes and for the sale of tickets.

Operation of the garage is as follows: motorist enters the garage following the path 26, stopping if necessary in the zone 27 in order to unload luggage from the motor car, after which he drives towards one of the entry stations 22. Obviously, automatic barriers of various types can be provided in order to channel the user towards the entry station corresponding to the part of the depot containing the least number of cars. When the car reaches an entry station 22, the pallet conveyor circuit 18 associated with the latter is at a standstill and a pallet 17 is ready to receive the car. Once the user has driven the car onto the pallet, he must stop the car and leave it where it is. The pallet is provided with means for fixing the car in position on it.Preferably, moreover, access to the car at the entry station 22 can be gained only after the opening of doors which remain closed when the pallet conveyor circuit 18 is in motion. When the user has left the zone of the entry station 22 on foot, the circuit 18 is set in motion so as to cause the pallet 17 carrying the motor car to move along the line 19.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the loading station 23 is arranged at a certain distance from the entry station 22 so as to allow the storage along the line 19 of a certain number of pallets loaded with motor cars, such than an increase in traffic entering the station 22 can be handled.

When the pallet carrying the motor car in question reaches the loading station 23, the translator/ elevator device 7 associated with the corridor which the line 19 faces is ready to pick up the said pallet using the forked means 15. The movement of the trolley 8 along the corridor 3 and of the platform 14 in relation to the structure 10 then allows the pallet loaded with the motor car to be brought in front of a parking compartment which is ready to receive it. At this point, the second forked means 16 intervene in order to pick up from this parking compartment the unloaded pallet left inside it, after which the first forked means 15 set down the pallet 17 loaded with the motor car inside the parking compartment. The platform 14 is then brought back to the circuit 18 so as to allow the forked means 16 to deposit the unloaded pallet on the return line 20.

When the user wishes to collect the car from the garage, he must walk to the exit station 25 corresponding to the part of the garage where his car has been left. The ticket, for example, can be used to guide the user in this respect. Once the request for collection has been communicated, the translator/elevator device provides for removal of the pallet loaded with the motor car from the parking compartment and transferal to the unloading station 24 where the pallet is deposited on the line 19.

Once returned to the line 19, the pallet loaded with the motor car proceeds along the line until it reaches the exit station 25. At this point, the circuit 18 is stopped and the user is allowed to gain access to the exit station 25 in order to enter the car and drive it towards the exit of the garage Since the cars are placed in the parking compartments with one of their sides facing the respective corridor, when the user gets into his car at the exit station, the front of the car is already pointing in the direction in which he has to travel. Without the need, therefore, for performing any further manoeuvres, the user is able to proceed directly towards the exit path 28, stopping if necessary in the zone 29 in order to load luggage.

Claims

1. A mechanised garage comprising a plurality of pallets each intended to carry a motor car; a plurality of parallel stack-like structures separated by corridors and each comprising a plurality of horizontal rows of parking compartments which are open on the side facing the adjacent corridor and which are arranged to receive a motor car with one side of the car facing the corridor; a plurality of translator/elevator devices associated with the corridors and each including a trolley which is arranged to move along the respective corridor, and a platform which is arranged to move vertically above the trolley and which is provided with first and second fork means which are arranged in two separate horizontal planes spaced apart from each other and designed to introduce into or remove from the parking compartments, respectively, a pallet loaded with a motor car and an unloaded pallet; and a pallet conveyor circuit associated with each corridor and comprising an upper horizontal line for conveying and storing the pallets carrying the motor cars, which line is arranged along one side of the respective corridor at the bottom of one of the two stack-like structures, and a lower line for returning the pallets; the conveyor and storage line including an entry station where a pallet is arranged to receive a motor car, a loading station where a pallet loaded with a motor car can be picked up by the first forked means of the translator/elevator device, an unloading station where the first forked means of the translator/elevator device is arranged to set down a pallet loaded with a motor car, and an exit station where the motor car can be unloaded from the pallet.

2. A mechanised garage substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.