GB2175575A - Multilevel storehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

A multilevel storehouse e.g. a garage, comprises at least one pair of stacker cranes (1,2) which are arranged on one travelling path so as to be capable of running independently of each other, each serving one end of the garage, shelf groups which include large numbers of storage shelves along the travelling path, a first port (21) for input or output which is provided in the shelf group within a running range of only one of the two stacker cranes, and a conveyor line (27a to 27e) which is disposed in the shelf group to connect the first port to a point within the picking-up range of the other stacker crane, whereby a load put in through the first port is stored in a shelf by said one stacker crane, while another load put in through the first port may be transported by the conveyor line and thereafter stored in a shelf by said other stacker crane. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multilevel storehouse Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to a multilevel storehouse employing stacker cranes, and more particularly to a system for entering/leaving a multilevel parking garage.

Description of the prior art: As disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-155872, a multilevel parking garage employing a stacker crane includes the stacker crane for transporting a vehicle and a large number of shelves disposed on both the sides of the travelling path of the stacker crane. A plurality of sets are erected with each set consisting of the stacker crane and the shelves on both the sides thereof. An entrance and exit is located on one end side in the travelling direction of the stacker crane, and in this portion, the stacker crane receives a pallet with the vehicle placed thereon and delivers it out of the garage. The direction of the vehicle during storage is identical to the traveling direction of the stacker crane.

In general, the single stacker crane is disposed on one traveling path. In order to shorten periods of time for entering and leaving a storehouse, however, two stacker cranes are arranged on one traveling path. This measure is described in, for example, the official gazette of Japanese Patent Application Laidopen No. 59-48305. With this measure, groups of shelves are disposed along the traveling path of the stacker cranes and on both the sides thereof, and conveyor lines for putting loads in and out are disposed outside and along the shelf groups. Each shelf group is provided with a plurality of input/ output parts which are open to the stacker crane side and the conveyor line side, and through which the loads are received and delivered.

Thus, even when the two stacker cranes are arranged in one traveling path, they can put the loads in and out independently of each other. In addition, it is possible to juxtapose a plurality of sets each of which consists of the two stacker cranes and shelf groups.

However, in the case where the plurality of sets are juxtaposed, the conveyor line for transporting the loads needs to be laid between the shelf groups of the adjacent sets. For this reason, an additional site is required in correspondence with the size of the conveyor line, with the result that the capacity of storage lowers.

Disclosed in the official gazette of Japanese Utility Model Registration Application Laid-open No. 56154903 is a storehouse wherein shelves and stacker cranes are installed on the second floor et seq. of a building, a place for handling loads is demarcated at the lowermost part of the shelf, and the load handling place is connected with the first floor by load lifting and transporting means. The load lifting and transporting means underlies the shelf.

In the present invention, the expression "entrance/ exit" shall signify a port for putting a load in or out.

Also the expression "entering/exiting" shall similarly signify entering or leaving a storehouse.

Summary of the invention An object of the present invention is to shorten entering and exiting periods of time and to reduce a site for a storehouse.

A multilevel storehouse according to the present invention is characterized by comprising two stacker cranes which are arranged on one traveling path so as to be capable of running independently of each other, shelf groups which include large numbers of storage shelves along said traveling path, a first port for input or output which is provided in said shelf group within a running range of only one of said two stacker cranes, transportation means to transport a load between said first port and a second port provided outside said shelf group, a first transfer port which serves to transfer the load between it and said one stacker crane at a position continuous to said first port, a conveyor line which is disposed in said shelf group to connect said first port with a running range of the other stacker crane, and a second transfer port which is provided in a part of said conveyor line to transfer the load between it and said other stacker crane.

The other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a multilevel parking garage being an embodiment of the present invention, and is taken along A - A in Figure 3.

Figure2 is a sectional view taken along B - B in Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along C - C in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along D - D in Figure 1,while Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along E - E in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a lifter, while Figure 7 is a plan view of the lifter in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of a multilevel parking garage being another embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along F - F in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view of a multilevel parking garage being another embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to Figure 1.

Figure 7 1 is a sectional view taken along G - G in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of a multilevel parking garage being another embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to Figure 1.

Preferred embodiments of the invention: Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described as to the case of a multilevel parking garage with reference to Figures 1 - 7.

In Figure 3, numerals 1 and 2 designate known stacker cranes, which travel along a single rail 3. The stacker crane 1 prinicpally takes charge of shelf groups of a left half as a job area, while the stacker crane 2 principallytakes charge of shelf groups of a right half as a job area. Each of the stacker cranes 1 and 2 includes an elevating bed, and transfers a load between it and a shelf through the operation of the fork of the elevating bed.

On both the sides of the traveling direction of the stacker cranes 1 and 2, the shelf groups 5 and 6 each of which has a large number of multistage storage shelves are disposed along the traveling direction.

The shelf groups 5, 6 store vehicles in such a manner that the lengthwise direction (traveling direction) of the vehicles is held parallel to the traveling direction of the stacker cranes 1, 2.

One pair of stacker cranes 1 and 2 and the shelf groups 5 and 6 on both the sides thereof are combined into one set, and two such sets are juxtaposed. In this case, a sufficient interspace (for example, 80 cm) 8 is provided between the shelf group 6 of one of the adjacent sets and the shelf group 5 of the other set. The dimension of the interspace 8 is such that, even when the right door of the vehicle art a stop in the row of the shelf group 6 of one set is opened, it does not collide against the vehicle at a stop in the row of the shelf group 5 of the other set.

The number of the storage shelves of the shelf group 5 or 6 in the traveling direction of the stacker cranes 1 and 2 (in the row direction of the shelf groups) is ten. The storage shelves in the row direction of the shelf groups are reckoned as "lines".

The storage shelves at the right end form the first line, and those at the left end form the tenth line. In addition, the stages of the storage shelves of the shelf groups 5 and 6 are reckoned from the lower side. Besides,the combinations each consisting of one pair of stacker cranes 1,2 and the shelf groups 5, 6 on both the sides thereof are called "sets", which are reckoned from below as viewed in the figure.

Hereinbelow the construction of the first set will be described, but the respective sets have the same construction.

In Figures 1 and 2, numeral 10 designates a floor which supports the rails 3 of the stacker cranes 1, 2 and the shelf groups 5,6 and which overlies the plane GL of roadways 13 for entering and exiting vehicles 12. The floor 10 is supported by pillars (not shown) which are properly erected on the plane GL.

In this regard, it is a general rule that the pillars are disposed under the traveling path of the stacker cranes 1, 2 without underlying the shelf groups 5, 6.

The floor 10 isso high that the vehicles and occupants can pass under it. The part of the parking garage above the floor 10 is called the second floor or storey, while the part below the floor 10 is called the first floor or storey. Entrances 15 and 16 and exits 30 and 31 are provided on the plane GL. The vehicles 12 enter the garage on the right side as viewed in the figures, and exit from the garage on the left side to egress leftwards. The vehicles 12 are stored in the shelf groups 5, 6 under the state under which they are placed on pallets.

The entrances 15 and 16 lie under the second lines of the shelf groups 5 and 6, respectively. That is, they exist at end parts in the traveling direction of the stacker cranes 1, 2. Each of the entrances 15, 16 is furnished with a conveyor 18 which transports the pallet, and a lifter 19 which moves the conveyor up and down.

The third lines of the shelf groups 5 and 6 are respectively provided with ports 20 and 21 for putting the vehicles into the shelves. The input port 20 of the shelf group 5 is provided at the first stage.

The input port 21 to the shelves of the shelf group 6 is provided at the second stage. The third lines are respectively provided with lifters 22 and 23 which connect the plane GL and the the shelf input ports 20 and 21. The lifters 22, 23 are overlaid with conveyors 24.

The first stage of the second line of the shelf group 5 is equipped with a conveyor 26 for putting the vehicle in, which receives the palletfrom the conveyor 24 of the lifter 22 having ascended.

The fourth to eighth lines of the second stage of the shelf group 6 are respecively equipped with input conveyors 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d and 27e which serve to receive the pallet from the conveyor 24 of the lifter 23 having ascended.

The second line of the same is equipped with an input conveyor 28. The exits 30 and 31 lie under the sixth lines of the shelf groups 5 and 6, respectively.

That is, they exist at middle parts in the traveling direction of the stacker cranes. Each of the exits 30, 31 is furnished with a conveyor 32 which transports the pallet, and a lifter 33 which moves the conveyor up and down.

The first stages of the fifth lines of the shelf groups 5 and 6 are respectively provided with ports 35 and 36 for putting the vehicles out of the shelves. The fifth lines are respectively provided with lifters 37 which connect the plane GI with the shelf output ports 35 and 36. The lifters 37 are overlaid with conveyors 38.

The first stages of the sixth lines of the shelf groups 5 and 6 are respectively equipped with outputconveyors 40 which serve to feed the pallets to the conveyors 38 of the lifters 37 having ascended.

The first to sixth stages of the shelf groups 5,6 have the heights of the storage shelves made small so as to store vehicles of small heights (termed 'low cars') such as sedans. At the uppermost stages or seventh stages of the shelf groups 5, 6, the heights of the storage shelves are made great so that vehicles of great heights (termed 'high cars') can be stored.

Pillars 7 above the pallet receiving parts of the storage shelves of the uppermost stages serve to support upper rails 4 and to support a roof. Since the rails 4 and the roof are less heavier than the vehicles to be stored in the uppermost stages, the pillars 7 are not feared to buckle even when they are higher than the pillars of the lower storage shelves.

The high car enters the garage through the entrance 15, and leaves it through the exit 30. For this reason, the second line, third line, fifth line and sixth line of the second stage of the shelf group 5 are not formed into the storage shelves.

Since the high cars are stored also in the tenth line, a relay shelf for relaying the high car from the stacker crane 2 to the stacker crane 1 is provided at the position of the storage shelf for the high car at the line at which the running range of the stacker crane 2 overlaps that of the stacker crane 1. Here, the relay shelf 9 is provided at the sixth line of the uppermost stage of the shelf groupS.

The stacker crane 1 runs between the sixth line and the tenth line, while the stacker crane 2 runs between the first line and the sixth line.

Pallet magazines 45 are respectively disposed at the fourth lines of the shelf groups 5 and 6. The pallet magazine 45 is constructed of a pallet keeping portion 46 which is provided at the first stage of the shelf group, a pallet supporting member 47 which is provided under the keeping portion 46, and a lifter 49 on which a conveyor 48 is placed.

The pallet magazine 45 functions to take out the pallets heaped up in the keeping portion 46, one by one from below and feed them to the entrance and to recover the pallets in the exit, raise them with the lifter 49 and heap up in the keeping portion 46.

Although such a pallet magazine 45 is known, the gist of the operation thereof will be described. In case of heaping up the pallets, the pallet in the exit 30 or 31 is recovered on the conveyor 48 by the use of a conveyor and is pushed up toward the keeping portion 46 by the use of the lifter 49 so as to be heaped on the pallets of the keeping portion 46 from below. The supporting member 47 is retracted, the pallets are pushed up by the thickness of one pallet, and the supporting member 47 is protruded so as to support the pallets heaped up.

In taking out the pallet, the conveyor 48 is raised to push up the pallets heaped up, and the supporting member 47 is retracted. Subsequently, the conveyor 48 is lowered by the thickness of one pallet, the supporting member 47 is protruded, and the lifter 49 is lowered. In this way, one pallet is taken out on the conveyor 48.

The surface of the keeping portion 46 on the side of the stacker crane 2 is provided with an opening for transporting the pallets heaped up.

Numeral 50 designates a conveyor which serves to feed the pallet to the entrance 15 or 16, and which lies below the descent position of the conveyor 24 of the lifter 22 or 23. Nurmeral 51 designates a conveyor which serves to recover the pallet from the exit 30 or 31, and which lies below the descent position of the conveyor 38 of the lifter 37. The conveyors 50 and 51 exist under the third and fifth lines of the shelf groups 5,6 respectively.

When the lifters 19,49 and 33 have descended, the conveyors 18, 50,48, 51 and 32 become even and can transport the pallets.

When the lifters 19 and 33 have ascended, the respective conveyors 18 and 32 thereof become even with the conveyors 24 and 38 of the lifters 22, 23 and 37 having descended, and the pallets on the conveyors 18 and 32 become even with the roadways 13.

A gap through which the pallet can pass is defined between the conveyor 24 or 38 having descended and the conveyor 50 or 51.

The conveyor 26,24,48,38,40,28,27a,27b,27c, 27d and 27e are so constructed that the loads or cars can be transferred between them and the fork of the stacker crane 2.

Referring to Figure 5, for the sake of safety, the entrances 15, 16 and the exits 30,31 are respectively surrounded with walls 55 and 56 to define rooms. In each room, a platform is formed on the right side in the running direction of the vehicle, and an occupant can get on or off the vehicle after opening the right door thereof. Numerals 59 and 60 designate doors for the occupants who have gotten off, and numerals 61 and 62 doors for the occupants who leave the garage by driving the vehicles. Gates 63, 64, 65 and 66 are provided before and behind the vehicles. The gates move up and down. Numerals 70 and 73 indicate footways for the occupants, numeral 72 an ingress way for the entering cars, and numeral 73 an egress way for the exiting cars.Display units 75 (Figures 1 and 2) which display whether or not the car can enter the garage are disposed over the ingress ways 72 on this side of the respective entrances.

Partition walls are provided so as to prohibit entry into the parts of the first floor corresponding to the spaces 8 at the third - fifth lines and the parts of the first floor underlying the traveling planes of the stacker cranes 1,2 at the third - fifth lines. Shown at numeral 76 is a machinery room or an office.

Numeral 80 indicates a unit for issuing a parking card, and numeral 81 an exiting command unit for commanding the car to leave the garage in accordance with the parking card. This parking card is a magnetic card.

The construction of the lifters 22,23 and 37 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The lifter 22 will be typically referred to. The lifter 22 is a hydraulic elevator constructed of a hydraulic cylinder device 90 which is erected vertically, a chain sprocket 91 which is disposed at the distal end of the rod of the cylinder device, rails 93 which are disposed on both the sides of the cylinder device, an elevating bed 94 on which the conveyor 24 is placed, and a chain 95 whose ends are fixed to the elevating bed 94 and a foundation portion through the chain sprocket 91. The elevating bed 94 is provided with rollers which fit in the recesses of the rails 93. The rails 93 are fixed to the foundation portion and the floor 10. The conveyor 24 is raised or lowered by the extension or contraction of the rod of the hydraulic cylinder device 90.

The rails 93, etc. of the lifters of the shelf group 5 are located on the side of the rail 3, while those of the lifters of the shelf group 6 are disposed on the side of the interspace 8.

Such a multilevel parking garage is operated by a central control device and controllers included in various appliances.

The operation of such construction will be described.

In the first place, the entering operation will be explained.

A pallet taken out on the conveyor 48 from the pallet magazine 45 is put via the conveyor 50 on the conveyor 18 of the lifter 19 having descended.

Subsequently, the lifter 19 ascends. The gate 63 opens to permit a carto enter the garage.

First, the entering of a low car will be explained.

The vehicle having come in through the ingress way 72 on the basis of the instruction of the display unit 75 is stopped in front of the gate 63 of the entrance 15 or 16 (in a getting-off region 77), and passengers other than a driver get off here. The reason is that the left door of the car cannot be opened in the entrance 15 or 16.

When the gate 63 opens, the vehicle is put in the entrance 15 or 16, and the driver gets off and goes out through the door 59 or 60. The driver closes the door 59 or 60, and takes a parking card from the issuing unit 80 to give the command of entering. The occupants go to a shop etc. by passing the footway 70.

Upon the command of entering, the gate 64 is opened, and the conveyors 18 and 24 work to putthe pallet burdened with the car, on the lifter 22 or 23.

The lifter 22 raises the conveyor 24 to the first stage of the shelf group 5, and the conveyors 24 and 26 are operated to transfer the car carrying pallet to the conveyor 26.

The stacker crane 2 stores the car carrying pallet on the conveyor 26, into a predetermined storage shelf in the right half of the shelf group 5 or 6.

However, in a case where the stacker crane 2 has no job, a case where allowance is made for the work, a case where the entering operations are not successive, etc., the car carrying pallet can be directly received from the conveyor 24 so as to perform a rational cargo work.

On the other hand, the lifter 23 raises the conveyor 24 to the second stage, and the car carrying pallet is transported toward the eighth line by the use of the conveyors 24, 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d and 27e.

The stacker crane 1 stores the car carrying pallet transported to the conveyor 27e, into a storage shelf in the left half of the shelf group 5 or 6. However, in a case where the stacker crane 1 has no job, a case where allowance is made for the work, a case where the stacker crane 1 lies at a certain position, etc., the car carrying pallet can be received midway of the transportation so as to perform a rational cargo work.

In this manner, owing to the provision of the conveyors 27, the load or cargo on one end side in the traveling direction of the stacker cranes is transported to the stacker crane 1 whose job area is the other end side. Therefore, the stacker cranes 1 and 2 can be respectively fed with the loads, and the two stacker cranes can be arranged on one traveling path. Consequently, a large number of vehicles can be caused to enter the garage in a short time.

Especially, since there are the two entrances, the entering period of time can be shortened more.

The basic entering operation is as stated above.

However, in a case where the occupant of the vehicle having entered the side of the entrance 15 gets off late, where any fault makes it impossible to drive the vehicle or where a high car has advanced in in spite of the absence of the input shelf thereof and neglecting the instruction of the display unit 75, there is no entering from the entrance 15, and hence, the stacker crane 2 becomes idle.

In such a case, the stacker crane 2 takes the car carrying pallet on the conveyor 24, 27a or 27b and stores it into the right half of the shelf group. The correspondence between No. ofthe parking card and No. of the storage shelf is altered by the central control device. In addition, the vehicle put in by the lifter 23 can be transferred to the conveyor 28 and transported by the stacker crane 2.

In a case where a problem similar to the above has arisen on the side of the entrance 16, the stacker crane 2 retransfers the car carrying pallet to the conveyor 27a.

Next, the entering of a high car will be explained.

Likewise to the low car, the high car comes toward the entrance 15 on the basis of the instruction of the display unit 75. The high car having entered the garage is stored into the uppermost stage by the stacker crane 2. In case of storing the car in the seventh line or behind, it is stored in the relay shelf9 and then transported by the stacker crane 1.

Means to detect the high car and to report the propriety of the ingress of the high car is disposed upstream of the ingress way 72, while means to detect the high car is disposed in the entrance 15.

In the second place, the exiting operation will be explained.

When the user wants exiting or leaving the garage, he/she throws the parking card into the exiting command unit 81 so as to give the command of exiting. The exiting command unit 81 issues a piece of paper mentioning exit No., in accordance with which he/she goes to the specified exit by passing the footway 73.

First, the case of a low car will be explained.

At the time of exiting, the stacker cranes 1, 2 lower car carrying pallets onto the conveyors 40, 40 of the shelf groups 5,6 on the basis of the commands of the control device. This is, the conveyors 40, 40 on which the pallets are to be lowered from the stacker cranes 1,2 are determined in order that the two exits 30,31 may be always utilized. When the lifters 37 have raised the conveyors 38, the conveyors 40,38 are actuated to transport the car carrying pal lets onto the conveyors 38. Then, the conveyors 38 are lowered, and the conveyors 38, 32 are used to transport the pallets two the conveyors 32. Thereafter, the gates 66 are closed.

Subsequently, the doors 61,62 of the exits 30,31 are opened, whereupon the drivers get on the cars which egress in the advancing direction. The drivers stop the cars temporarily in a getting-on region 78 in front of the exits and let other passengers ride, and the cars egress along the egress way 71.

Since, in this manner, the two exits 30 and 31 are provided and the cars are put out from the stacker cranes 1,2 so as to always utilize both the exits 30, 31, a large number of vehicles can be caused to leave the garage in a short time. That is, the stacker cranes 1,2 are not fixed in such a manner that the former 1 is allotted to the exit 30, while the latter 2 is allotted to the exit 31. If the exiting operations from the left halves of the shelf groups 5, 6 are successive, the stacker crane 2 delivers the pallets to the conveyors 40,40 alternately.

As regards a high car, a pallet burdened with the car is is delivered to the conveyor 40 of the shelf group 5, and the car leaves the garage through the exit 30. The stacker crane 1 or 2 delivers the pallet directly to the conveyor 40.

When the gates 65 have been closed by the exiting operations from the exits 30 and 31, the operation of recovering the unburdened pallets on the conveyors 32 is performed. It is now assumed that the conveyors 48, 50 have pallets and that the conveyors 51 have no pallets. It is also assumed that, in this recovery operation, the conveyor 18 of the entrance have no pallet and be requesting the feed of a pallet.

When the lifter 33 has descended for the recovery operation, the conveyors 32,51,48,50 and 18 (with the lifter 19 lowered) are actuated toward the first line so as to transport the pallet in succession. When one pallet has been moved, the conveyors 32, 50 and 18 are stopped, and the lifter 19 is raised. The conveyers 51 and 48 are kept operating until the pallet of the conveyor 32 is transported to the conveyor 48.

Meanwhile, in a case where the entrance is not requesting a pallet (the other conditions being the same), the conveyor 32 and 51 are actuated toward the first line. Besides, the lifter 49 is raised, and the pallet on the conveyor 48 thereof is supplied to the pallet magazine. When the lifter 48 has been lowered, the conveyers 51 and 48 are actuated to transport the pallet to the conveyor 48.

In this manner, when the entering and exiting operations are being properly conducted, the pallet in the exit can be supplied to the entrance without being recovered into the pallet magazine 45. In consequence, the frequency at which the pallets heaped up are transported between the pallet magazine 45 and the storage shelves can be lowered.

Accordingly, the stacker cranes can be dedicated to the entering and exiting operations, and the entering and exiting periods of time can be shortened.

As described above, the conveyor line 27 which connects the entrance or exit on the side of one stacker crane and the position within the running range of the other stacker crane is provided in the shelf group, so that a site for the conveyor line 27 can be dispensed with to reduce a site for the parking garage. Moreover, since the two stacker cranes can be operated, the entering and exiting periods of time can be shortened.

Besides, since the pallet magazine 45 for supplying and recovering pallets is disposed under the conveyor line 27, it can be assembled, and the pallets can be handled every set. Also, the length of the conveyor line for the pallets can be reduced.

Besides, since the respective shelf groups 5, 6 are provided with the exits near the position where the running ranges of the two stacker cranes contact, the exiting periods of time can be shortened. Since the lengths of the conveyers 40,40 continuous to the exits 35,36 of the shelf groups are equal, the periods of time required for exiting from both the exits 30,31 can be equalized, and it is avoided that the waiting time on either side becomes longer.

Besides, since the entrances and exits where long periods of time are required for occupants to get off and on are provided in the respective shelf groups 5, 6, wating times for entering the garage and for leaving the garage can be shortened. Besides, the interspace 8 is provided between the respective sets so that the car door on the driver seat side can be opened, and hence, even when there is a car with its door open, another car can enter or leave the garage in adjacency thereto. In this case, it is difficult to construct especially the entrance 15 and exit 30 of the second set so as to open the left door. Since, however, the getting-off region 77 and getting-on region 78 are provided, getting-on and -off can be facilitated. By the way, in a case where most cars are furnished with steering wheels on the left, the platforms of the entrance and exits are provided on the left.

Besides, the footways 70 and 73 are safe because they are respectively disposed between the gettingoff region 77 and the entrances 15, 16 and between the getting-on region 78 and the exits 30, 31.

Many of vehicles which are running at present are cars of small heights such as sedans. Accordingly, most of the storage shelves are made low for the low cars, and the remaining storage shelves are set to be high enough to store vehicles of great heights such as waggons. Therefore, in a case where the heights of the shelf groups are equal, the number of the low cars to be stored can be increased.

In this case, the shelf input port 20 and the shelf output port 35 for the high cars are respectively constructed of two stages of storage shelves. Therefore, the high car can be stored using the inlet port of the low car, so that the number of input/output ports can be diminished and that the cost of the garage can be reduced.

Besides, the storage shelves capable of storing the high cars are disposed at the uppermost stage, so that even when the pillars 7 above the uppermost stage are of great height, they can be prevented from buckling.

Further, the exit of the high car is limited to only one side (the exit 30). This makes it unnecessary to dispose at the third stage the conveyor line 27 on the side of the other exit 31 or to construct the shelf output port 36 out of two stages, so that the capacity of storage can be prevented from decreasing. Since the high cars are few, the exiting from only the exit 30 on one side is permitted.

In the above embodiment, supporting members can be respectively disposed in the lower parts of the shelf input port 20 and shelf output ports 36,36 so as to support car carrying pallets, likewise to the supporting member 47 of the pallet magazine 45.

With this measure, the car carrying pallets can be transferred between the ports and the conveyers 24, 38 or the stacker cranes 1, 2. Thus, the conveyers 26, 40 can be dispensed with.

While, in the above embodiment, the keeping portion 46 for the pallet magazine 45 is provided in the port of transfer with the stacker crane (the first stage of the shelf group), it is also possible that the supporting member 47 of the keeping portion be disposed somewhat above the conveyor line formed of the conveyors 50,48 and 51 and that the keeping portion 46 be provided in this part, namely, in the first-floor part. With this measure, the ascending and descending periods of time of the lifter 49 for supplying or recovering every pallet can be shor tened, and the supply and recovery of the pallets can be quickly performed. In case of transferring the heaped pallets between the keeping portion and the stacker crane, the conveyor 48 is raised to the transfer port of the first stage. The transfer port can be provided with a supporting member.

The pallet magazine may well be of another type.

In a case where a high car is allowed to enter the parking garage from the entrance 16, the height of the shelf input port 21 is increased. In this case, in order to prevent the number of storage shelves from decreasing, the high car is delivered to the stacker crane 1 through the stacker crane 2 as well as the relay shelf 9.

An embodiment in Figures 8 and 9 will be described. Exits 30, 31 are disposed at the seventh line.

At the sixth line, lifters 37 for exiting are disposed.

The fifth line of the first floor is provided with a footway 100 which extends orthogonally to the traveling direction of stacker cranes. The parts of the second - seventh lines under the traveling plane of the stacker cranes form a footway 101. The part of an interspace 8 at the sixth line on the first floor forms a footway 102 which leads from the footway 100 to the exit 31. The upper surfaces and side surfaces of the footways 100, 101 and 102 are provided with walls for safety. A conveyor 105 which connects conveyors 51 and 50 is disposed in an underground part corresponding to the footway 100.

According to this embodiment, the occupants of vehicles having entered the parking garage go to shops etc. through the footways 101 and 100. In addition, the occupants of vehicles to exit from the garage go to their goals by passing the footway 100 and then the footway 101. The driver of a vehicle from the exit 31 utilizes the footway 102.

Accordingly, the occupants do not cross any vehicle, and safety can be ensured.

However, the occupants in the entrance 16 traverse in front of this entrance 16. In this regard, when the interspace 8 at the third and fourth lines on the first floor is formed into a footway, safety can be ensured.

In each of the foregoing embodiments, the exits 30,31 can be replaced with entrances, and the entrances 15, 16 with exits. The stacker crane 1 delivers a car carrying pallet to the conveyors 27a 27e at that time.

On this occasion, in a case where exiting requests are not successive, a period of time taken since the exiting request until a driver can get on a car needs to be long in the exit from the side of the shelf group 6. The reason is that the transportation speed of the conveyors is lower than the running speed of the stacker crane.

In contrast, in a case where exiting requests are successive, a large number of vehicles are placed on the conveyor 27 and can therefore exit from the garage in succession.

A high car is put out from the stacker crane 1 by the use of the relay shelf 9.

While, in each of the embodiments, the central part in the traveling direction of the stacker cranes is used for the exit, the end side opposite to the entrance can be used for the exit. In this case, a section from the running range of the stacker crane 2 (the sixth line) to the exit of the shelf group is connected by a conveyor line.

When the entrance and exit 16,31 are brought closer to the rail 3 of the stacker cranes, the interspace 8 can be dispensed with. To this end, means for transporting a pallet orthogonally otthe running direction of the stacker cranes is disposed.

While, in each of the embodiments, the shelf groups are disposed on the second floor and the entrances and exits are provided on the first floor, the invention is also applicable to a parking garage wherein shelf groups and the traveling path os the stacker cranes are disposed on the first floor and wherein entrances are provided outside the shelf groups at one end in the traveling direction of the stacker cranes, while exists are provided outside the shelf groups ports are provided inside or outside the shelf groups.

Besides, in the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, the first stage of the fifth line is furnished with an output conveyor 106. According to this measure, the conveyor 40 is used for delivery with the stacker crane 1, and the conveyor 106 can be used for delivery with the stacker crane 2. This measure increases the number of conveyors, and makes it possible to successively deliver pallets burdened with cars. In addition, the running distances of the stacker cranes can be shortened, and the fear of the collision between the stacker cranes 1,2 can be reduced.

An embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 will be described. In this embodiment, only one entrance is disposed for one set. The single entrance 16 is provided in the shelf group 6. The walls 55a of the entrance 16 can be widened so as to open the left door of a car. In addition, the driver of the car leads to the door 59 by passing behind the car.

The construction of the embodiment on the side of the exits 30, 31 is the same as in the preceding embodiment. The pallet magazine 45 of the shelf group 5 is dedicated to heaping up pallets.

The conveyor 28 is disposed at the first stage, and no storage shelf is disposed at the second stage. In case of putting a high car in, the conveyor 24 is stopped at the first stage, and the car is transported to the conveyor 28 of the first stage.

A high car can also be received directly from the conveyor 24 without providing the conveyor 28.

It is also possible that only one exit be disposed and that one conveyor line be provided similarly to the above, whereby the stacker cranes 1,2 deliver cars to this conveyor line.

An embodiment in Figure 12will be described. The present embodiment consists in that shelf groups are disposed below a roadway. The keeping portion 46 and supporting member 47 of the pallet magazine 45 are disposed above the plane GL of the roadway.

The conveyor line 27 is disposed at the second stage from above. The entrances 15, 16 and the exits 30,31 lie over the shelf groups 5, 6. The conveyors 18,32 of the entrances and exits can be raised and lowered with respect to shelf input ports 21 a, 20a, 36a by lifters 19a, 33a. The conveyor 48 of the pallet magazine 45 can be lowered down to the first stage of the shelf group from above by a lifter 49a and transfers the heaped pallets at this part. The remaining construction is the same as in the first or second embodiment.

According to the present invention, a conveyor line which connects an entrance/exit on the side of one stacker crane and the running range of the other stacker crane is disposed in a shelf group, so that a site for the conveyor line can be dispensed with to reduce a site for a storehouse. Moreover, since the two stacker cranes can be operated, entering/exiting periods of time can be shortened.

Claims (11)

1. A multilevel storehouse comprising: two stacker cranes which are arranged on one traveling path so as to be capable of running independently of each other, shelf groups each of which includes a large number of storage shelves along said traveling path, a first port for input or output, which is provided in said each shelf group within a running range of only one of said two stacker cranes, transportation means to transport a load between said first port and a second port provided outside said each shelf group, a first transfer port which serves to transfer the load between it and said one stacker crane at a position continuous to said first port, a conveyor line which is disposed in said each shelf group to connect said first port with a running range of the other stacker crane, and a second transfer port which is provided in a part of said conveyor line to transfer the load between it and said other stacker crane.

2. A multilevel storehouse according to Claim 1, wherein said second port is an input port.

3. A multilevel storehouse according to Claim 1, wherein said second port is provided in a vertical direction of said shelf group, and said transportation means if a lifter, on which a conveyorconnectible with said conveyor line is disposed.

4. A multilevel storehouse according to Claim 3, wherein a pallet magazine which supplies an unloaded pallet to or recovers it from said second port is disposed perpendicularly to said conveyor line and at a position not even with said conveyor line.

5. A multilevel storehouse comprising: two stacker cranes which are arranged on one traveling path so as to be capable of running independently of each other, shelf groups each of which includes a large number of storage shelves along said traveling path, a first port for either one of input and output, which is provided in said each shelf group within a running range of only one of said two stacker cranes, a first lifter which transports a load between said first port and a second port provided outside said each shelf group and which has a first conveyor for placing the load thereon, a first transfer port which serves to transfer the load between it and said one stacker crane at a position continuous to said first port, a conveyor line which is disposed in said each shelf group to connect said first port with a running range of the other stacker crane, a second transfer port which is provided in a part of said conveyor line to transfer the load between it and said other stacker crane, a third transfer port for the other of the input and output, which is provided perpendicularly to said conveyor line and at a position not even therewith and which lies within running ranges of said two stacker cranes, and a second lifter which transports a load between a third port outside said each shelf group and said third transfer port.

6. A multilevel storehouse according to Claim 5, wherein said second port is an input port.

7. A multilevel storehouse according to Claim 5, wherein a second conveyor is disposed on said second lifter, and third transfer ports are provided in a plurality of number, and a third conveyor connectible with said third conveyor is provided in said second transfer port other than the port where said second conveyor of said second lifter ascends and descends.

8. A multilevel storehouse according to Claim 7, wherein said second port, said third transfer port and said third port are respectively provided under said first port, said conveyor line and said third transfer port.

9. A multilevel storehouse according to Claim 5, wherein a pallet magazine which supplies and recovers unloaded pallets between it and said second and third ports is disposed between said second port and said third part and at a height different from that of said conveyor line.

10. A multilevel storehouse comprising: two stacker cranes which are arranged on one traveling path so as to be capable of running independently of each other, two shelf groups which include large numbers of storage shelves on both sides of said traveling path, a first port and a second port which are provided in one of said shelf groups and in the other shelf group respectively, within a running range of only one of said two stacker cranes and for the purpose of either one of input and output, a third port and a fourth port both of which are provided outside said two shelf groups for the same purpose as that of said first and second ports, a first lifter which transports a load between said first port and said third port and which has a first conveyor for placing the load thereon, a second lifter which transports a load between said second and fourth ports provided so as to be capable of receiving the load of great height, a first transfer port which is provided at a position continuous to said second port and which transfers a load between it and said one stacker crane, a conveyor line which is disposed in said shelf group and which connects said first port with a running range of said other stacker crane, a second transfer port which is provided in a part of the conveyor line and which transfers a load between it and said other stacker crane, a third transfer port for the other of the input and output, which is provided perpendicularly to said conveyor line and at a position not even therewith and which lies within the running ranges of said two stacker cranes, a fourth transfer portforthesame purpose as that of said third transfer port, which lies in said other shelf group and within the running ranges of said two stacker cranes and which is capable of receiving the load of great height, and a third lifter and a fourth lifter which transport loads between said third and fourth transfer ports and fifth and sixth ports outside said shelf groups, respectively.

11. A multilevel storehouse constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.