JP2024053667A - Two-tiered bicycle parking facility - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a two-level bicycle parking facility that can ensure the safety of bicycle parking operations by stopping the drive of the lifting drive means before contact occurs between the lifting rack and an obstacle (particularly the slide rack and the bicycle mounted thereon), and a slide rack and lifting rack used therein. [Solution] A lifting rack 100 that can be raised and lowered is provided for each support pole 1 aligned in the horizontal direction Y, and a detection means 3 is provided that is disposed on a reference plane E to set a security area D that has a width in the horizontal direction Y from the support pole 1 on which the lifting rack 100 is supported to the adjacent support pole 1 in at least a plan view and extends from a fixed rail 2 to one side in the longitudinal direction X, and that individually detects the presence of a slide rack 200 in each security area D. When any of the detection means 3 detects the presence of a slide rack 200 within the corresponding security area D, a control means 500 always outputs a drive stop command to the lifting drive means 110 that drives the lifting rack 100 corresponding to the detection means 3, regardless of whether a bicycle BCL is mounted or not. [Selected Figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a two-tiered bicycle parking facility. The present invention also relates to a sliding rack and a lifting rack used in a two-tiered bicycle parking facility.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a two-tiered bicycle parking facility is widely known that has multiple slide racks that are placed crosswise on fixed rails installed on the ground surface and can slide on the fixed rails, and lift racks that are supported by poles erected on the ground surface at regular intervals and can be raised and lowered by a motor along the poles, and that can be raised and lowered between the upper and lower tiers in the empty space created by the sliding of the slide rack located on the lower tier.

In Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, a sensor is provided on the bottom side of the lifting rack to directly detect contact with an obstacle (slide rack, bicycle, worker, etc.), and when the sensor comes into contact with an obstacle while the lifting rack is descending, the motor is stopped or reversed (switched to ascending) to avoid damage (including injury).

However, when we look at a lifting rack descending from the upper level and multiple slide racks located on the lower level, the contactable area varies widely and changes from moment to moment depending on the relative positions of the two in a plan view, whether a bicycle is loaded, the size of the loaded bicycle (especially the handlebar width), etc. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure safety over a wide area by using a sensor installed on the bottom side of the lifting rack as in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3.

Moreover, since the above-mentioned sensor directly detects contact with an obstacle and stops the descent or reverses and raises the lift rack, there is a possibility that a delay will occur in avoiding danger. If the normal lifting speed is slowed down to avoid delays in avoiding danger, there is a concern that work efficiency will deteriorate. In addition, since the sensor is provided on the moving lift rack, the sensor's detection range constantly changes as the lift rack moves up and down, and there is a risk that the detection range itself will become unstable. Furthermore, even if the sensor comes into contact with an obstacle while the lift rack is rising, although this occurs infrequently, danger cannot be avoided.

Meanwhile, Patent Documents 3, 4, and 5 disclose technology that indirectly detects contact between the lifting rack and an obstacle by detecting motor load, slack in the wire, slack in the chain, etc., and stops the descent of the lifting rack or reverses and raises it. However, when using these indirect detection means, there is a possibility that danger avoidance may be delayed even further than with direct detection. In addition, phenomena such as motor load, slack in the wire, and slack in the chain can occur for reasons other than contact with an obstacle, so there is a risk of false detection or malfunction.

Patent Document 3 also describes the installation of a motion sensor on the ceiling of a bicycle parking lot, but accurate detection is difficult because obstacles can be hidden by the lift rack, slide rack, or bicycles mounted on them, and it is also difficult to install the sensor in an outdoor bicycle parking lot, so there are many issues with ensuring safety.

JP 2019-34704 A Japanese Patent No. 6670336 JP 2018-141298 A Patent No. 4133300 JP 2001-279944 A

The objective of the present invention is to provide a two-tiered bicycle parking facility that can ensure the safety of bicycle parking operations by stopping the drive of the lifting drive means before contact occurs between the lifting rack and an obstacle (particularly the slide rack and the bicycles mounted thereon), as well as the slide rack and lifting rack used therein.

Means for solving the problem and effects of the invention

In order to solve the above problems, the two-tiered bicycle parking facility of the present invention comprises:
A two-tiered bicycle parking facility comprising: a plurality of slide racks that are placed (having a length equivalent to the length of one bicycle) in a longitudinal direction that intersects perpendicularly or obliquely in a plan view with fixed rails (single or multiple parallel rails) that are arranged in a straight line along a horizontal direction set on a reference plane (for example, the ground surface) (and that allow bicycles to be loaded and unloaded from one side in the longitudinal direction, regardless of whether a bicycle is loaded or not); and lift racks that are supported by posts that are erected at a constant pitch from the reference plane along the horizontal direction and that protrude in a cantilevered manner in the longitudinal direction (a length equivalent to the length of one bicycle) and that can be raised and lowered along the posts (and that allow bicycles to be loaded and unloaded from one side in the longitudinal direction at the lower tier, regardless of whether a bicycle is loaded or not), and that can be raised and lowered between the upper and lower tiers in the empty space created by the horizontal sliding of the slide rack located on the lower tier,
a lifting/lowering drive means (including, for example, a drive source and a transmission mechanism) provided for each of the lifting racks and configured to individually generate a drive force (based on electromotive force, fluid pressure, etc.) for lifting/lowering the lifting rack up and down along the corresponding support column;
a control means (such as an electric signal system or a fluid pressure signal system) for individually controlling the vertical movement of the lift rack by the lift drive means;
a detection means arranged on a reference plane for setting a security area for each of the lift racks, the security area having a width in a lateral direction from the support column on which the lift rack is supported to the adjacent support column in a plan view and extending from the fixed rail to one side in a longitudinal direction, the detection means detecting the presence of the slide rack in each of the security areas individually;
The control means is characterized in that when any of the detection means detects the presence of the slide rack within the corresponding security area, it always outputs a drive stop command to the lifting drive means that drives the lifting rack corresponding to the detection means, regardless of whether a bicycle is mounted or not.

In this way, a security area is formed fixedly on the reference surface by the detection means arranged on the reference surface, and the presence or absence of a slide rack in the security area is detected before the lifting rack is driven to rise or fall. This allows the lifting drive means to be stopped before contact occurs between the lifting rack and an obstacle (particularly the slide rack and the bicycle mounted on it), allowing bicycle parking to be carried out safely and quickly.

Moreover, the warning area is stably set within a specified range depicted in a plan view, regardless of whether the lift rack is lowering or rising, and regardless of whether a bicycle is loaded on it or not, so it is easy to avoid the risk of the lift rack coming into contact with an obstacle while moving up or down.

The slide rack includes a type that is slidably mounted on a single fixed rail arranged laterally, and a type that is slidably mounted across a pair of fixed rails arranged side by side laterally. It also includes a type in which the lift rack protrudes only to the left or right from each pillar in a plan view with respect to the arrangement direction of the pillars (horizontal direction), and a type in which the lift rack protrudes alternately to the left and right in a plan view. Furthermore, the drive source of the lift drive means includes an electric motor, an oil/pneumatic cylinder, etc., and the detection means includes contact types as well as non-contact types (optical types, ultrasonic types, electromagnetic wave types, etc.).

Each of the lift racks protrudes in the same longitudinal direction from the horizontally aligned columns,
The security areas are set between adjacent pillars so that they overlap each other in a plan view.

In this way, by having parts of the security areas overlap with each other, the safety of the lift rack against obstacles during lifting and lowering is further increased, and more lift racks and slide racks can be installed (stored) within the bicycle parking facility.

Each of the lift racks is further provided with a display means (e.g., a blue lamp) for displaying whether the corresponding lift drive means can be driven based on the operation of the operator, and an operating means (e.g., a lowering side push button switch or an upper side foot switch) that can be operated by the operator (to lower or raise) when the display means indicates that the lift drive means can be driven (e.g., lit up),
The control means includes:
When a drive stop command is output to the lift drive means, the corresponding display means displays (e.g., turns off) a message indicating that the operator cannot operate (e.g., lower) the lift drive means, and the corresponding operating means is made inoperable (e.g., turns off a push button switch),
When the detection means detects the absence of the slide rack, the corresponding display means displays (e.g. lights up) an indication that an operation (e.g. lowering) by an operator is possible.

In this way, when a slide rack is present within any of the security areas, the corresponding operating means is made inoperable, and when the slide rack is not present, the corresponding display means indicates that the operation is possible, thereby improving the safety of manual operation.

The detection means includes a rod-shaped or plate-shaped detection member (e.g., a zone sensor) that is arranged on a reference plane parallel to the fixed rail across the entire lateral width of the security area in a plan view,
The presence or absence of the slide rack is detected by contact with a detection member.

This type of contact-type detection member allows reliable detection of the presence or absence of a slide rack.

The detection member, together with the fixed rail, supports the lateral sliding of the slide rack from below, and detects the presence or absence of a bicycle (regardless of whether a bicycle is loaded or not) by the vertical movement that accompanies the passage of the slide rack.

In this way, the presence or absence of the slide rack can be reliably detected by the detection member that detects the vertical movement caused by the load.

The lift rack further includes a biasing means (e.g., a gas spring, a constant force spring, a weight, etc.) for constantly biasing the lift rack in an upward direction to assist the driving force of the lift drive means,
The lifting/lowering drive means includes an electric motor as a drive source, and a chain transmission mechanism driven by the electric motor. The chain transmission mechanism has sprocket wheels journaled inside the upper and lower parts of the support pillar, and a link chain that is stretched around the sprocket wheels inside the support pillar and has both ends connected to the lifting/lowering rack.
The biasing means is connected to the tip of a piston rod which protrudes downward from a cylinder of a gas spring whose base end is attached inside the upper part of the support and exerts a tractive force, and has a rope transmission mechanism incorporating two movable pulleys with a common axis of rotation, two fixed pulleys which are fixedly positioned inside the support at a position higher than the cylinder, and a single wire rope which is wound alternately once around each of the movable pulleys and each fixed pulley.

This allows the chain transmission mechanism and rope transmission mechanism to be stored compactly within the support.

A sensing means (including, for example, a bar sensor as a sensing member) is further provided on the bottom surface of each of the lifting racks to sense when the lifting rack abuts against an obstacle located below the lifting rack;
When the corresponding sensing means of any of the lifting racks comes into contact with an obstacle while it is descending, the control means outputs a lifting drive command to the lifting drive means corresponding to the lowering rack, regardless of whether a bicycle is mounted on it or not.

By providing such a sensing means, double safety can be ensured when the lift rack is lowered.

In order to solve the above problems, the slide rack of the present invention comprises:
It is used in the two-tier bicycle parking facility as described above, and is placed in a longitudinal direction perpendicular or diagonally intersecting the fixed rail in a plan view, and is located on the lower tier and can slide laterally on the fixed rail.

In order to solve the above problems, the lift rack of the present invention comprises:
It is used in the above-mentioned two-tiered bicycle parking facility, is supported in a cantilever manner on the support pillar, and can be raised and lowered along the support pillar between the upper and lower tiers.

This makes it possible to realize a sliding rack and a lifting rack that contribute to safe bicycle parking operations in two-tiered bicycle parking facilities.

A side view showing the lift rack and slide rack of the two-tiered bicycle parking facility of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the slide rack of the two-tiered bicycle parking facility of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the lifting rack of the two-tiered bicycle parking facility of FIG. 1 . 2A and 2B are partially enlarged side views showing the lift rack in FIG. 1 at an upper position and at a lower position, respectively. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the chain transmission mechanism and the rope transmission mechanism. An enlarged view showing the side (a) and front (b) of the upper part of the support pillar. An enlarged view showing the side surface (a) of the middle part of the support pillar and its A-A cross section (b). FIG. 4 is a front view of the detection member as viewed from the rear side of the slide rack. FIG. BB cross-sectional view of Figure 9. FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the lift rack of FIG. 1 in a lower position. 2 is a side view of the lift-up rack of FIG. 1 in an upper position so as to be capable of lowering; FIG. 2 is a side view of the lift rack of FIG. 1 when the detection member detects the slide rack while the lift rack is rising or falling. 1 when the detection member detects an obstacle while the lift-down rack of FIG. 1 is rising or falling. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the two-tiered bicycle parking facility of FIG. 1 . 4 is a flowchart of a control executed by the two-tiered bicycle parking facility of FIG. 1 . 4 is a flowchart of initialization control. 4 is a flowchart of safety confirmation control. 4 is a flowchart of lift drive control. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lifting rack of a modified example of the two-tiered bicycle parking facility of FIG. 1 . 18 is a flowchart showing a modification of the control of FIG. 17 .

The following describes the embodiment of the present invention with reference to the examples shown in the drawings.

The two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000 of this embodiment has multiple slide racks 200 and lift racks 100, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The racks 100 and 200 here are elongated, with the longitudinal direction X being the forward and backward movement direction (front-rear direction) when loading and unloading a bicycle BCL, and extend in a cantilevered gutter shape with an open top. An entrance/exit 4 is formed at the tip (rear end) of the racks 100 and 200 for loading and unloading the bicycle BCL. The racks 100 and 200 here are provided with a pair of braces 5 (side guards) on both sides in the width direction to prevent the loaded bicycle BCL from tipping over. Additionally, the rack 100 is provided with a tire guard 6 on the front side to hold the leading loading wheel (e.g. the front wheel) of the loaded bicycle BCL.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, each slide rack 200 is placed in a longitudinal direction X that intersects perpendicularly or obliquely in a plan view with a single or multiple parallel fixed rails 2 that are arranged in a straight line along a lateral direction Y (see Figure 2) set on the ground surface E (reference plane), and can slide on the fixed rails 2. Each slide rack 200 has a length in its longitudinal direction X equivalent to the length of one bicycle, can load and unload a bicycle BCL from one side of the longitudinal direction X, and can slide on the fixed rails 2 in the lateral direction Y regardless of whether a bicycle BCL is loaded or not.

Each slide rack 200 here has multiple rollers 8 (rolling elements) attached to the bottom side of one end (here, the front end), and is configured as a lateral sliding type that can move laterally along a fixed rail 2 installed on the ground surface E via the multiple rollers 8 (rolling elements). In addition, casters 9 are attached to the bottom side of the other end (here, the rear end) of each slide rack 200, and the casters 9 are configured to land on the ground surface E (reference plane) to support the rack 200 and at that time allow it to roll in the lateral direction Y. With this configuration, each slide rack 200 is capable of sliding in the lateral direction Y.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lifting rack 100 is supported by each support pole 1, which is erected at a certain pitch from the ground surface E (reference plane) along the horizontal direction Y (see Fig. 3), protruding in a cantilever-like manner in the longitudinal direction X, and can be raised and lowered along the support pole 1. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, each lifting rack 100 can be raised and lowered between the upper level (predetermined upper level position) and the lower level (predetermined lower level position) in the empty space ES created by the sliding of the slide rack 200 located at the lower level in the horizontal direction Y (arrangement direction of the support poles 1) (i.e., lifting and lowering is not possible when there is no empty space directly below as shown in Fig. 1). In addition, each lifting rack 100 is supported by each support pole 1 protruding in a cantilever-like manner in the longitudinal direction X by a length equivalent to one bicycle BCL, and can take in and out a bicycle BCL from one side in the longitudinal direction X at the lower level position, and can be raised and lowered along the support pole 1 regardless of whether a bicycle BCL is mounted or not.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Figs. 4 to 7, the two-level bicycle parking facility 1000 includes a lifting drive means 110 that is provided for each lifting rack 100 and generates a drive force based on electromotive force, fluid pressure, etc. (electromotive force in this case) for raising and lowering the lifting rack 100 up and down along the corresponding support 1, and a control means 500 (see Fig. 16) for an electric signal system, fluid pressure signal system, etc. (electric signal system in this case) for individually controlling the raising and lowering of the lifting rack 100 by the lifting drive means 110. As shown in Fig. 16, the control means 500 here has individual control units 502 corresponding to each support 1 and lifting rack 100, and a main control unit 501 to which they are connected. In addition, the individual control units 502 are connected to the detection means 3 (detection unit 34), detection means 150 (detection unit 154), illuminated push buttons 160, limit switches 171, 172, electric motor 111, etc., which will be described later, for the corresponding lifting rack 100. The control units 501 and 502 are well-known microcomputers having a CPU or the like, and a specified memory unit stores various programs for individually controlling the up and down movement of the lift rack 100 by the lift drive means 110, which can be executed by the CPU.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 4 to 7, the two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000 here is provided with a biasing means 120 for constantly biasing each lifting rack 100 in an upward direction to assist the driving force of the lifting drive means 110.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lifting/lowering drive means 110 includes an electric motor 111 as a drive source. The driving force of the electric motor 111 is smaller than the weight of the lifting/lowering rack in an actual vehicle state with a bicycle BCL mounted, and the lifting force of the urging means 120 is larger than the weight of the lifting/lowering rack in an empty vehicle state without a bicycle BCL mounted. Here, the weight of the lifting/lowering rack 100 is assumed to be 10 kg, and the bicycle BCL weighs a maximum of 40 kg. When the lifting/lowering rack 100 is raised, the urging means 120 exerts a constant lifting force capable of pulling (pulling up) half of the total weight, 25 kg, and the lifting/lowering drive means 110 exerts a constant lifting drive force (motor torque: 10.6 Nm) capable of pulling the remaining half, 25 kg, so that the total weight can be pulled (pulled up). These constant lifting force and constant lifting drive force are exerted when the lifting/lowering rack 100 is raised, regardless of whether the lifting/lowering rack 100 is in an actual vehicle state with a bicycle BCL mounted thereon or in an empty vehicle state without a bicycle BCL mounted thereon. When the lifting rack 100 is lowering, the constant upward biasing force of the biasing means 120 is always exerted, while the lifting drive means 110 exerts a constant downward drive force that exceeds that, regardless of whether the lifting rack 100 is in an occupied or unoccupied state. When the lifting rack 100 is stopped, the electric motor 111 stops driving, and the self-lock of the worm gear 116 connected to the electric motor 111 acts to stop and hold the lifting rack 100.

The electric motor 111 can also have a regenerative braking function according to the torque equivalent to the upward biasing force of the biasing means 120 exceeding the empty weight of the lifting rack 100 when the lifting rack 100 is raised in an empty state. In that case, however, some configuration changes are required.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lifting drive means 110 includes a chain transmission mechanism 112 driven by an electric motor 111. As shown in FIG. 5, the chain transmission mechanism 112 has sprocket wheels 113, 114 journaled inside the upper and lower parts of the support 1, and a link chain 115 that is looped around the sprocket wheels 113, 114 inside the support 1 and has both ends connected to the lifting rack 100. The electric motor 111 rotates the upper sprocket wheel 113 via a worm gear 116. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, a lifting cart 105 that rises and falls along the support 1 is provided at the front end of the lifting rack 100, and one end 115A of the link chain 115 is connected to the lifting cart 105 from the upper side (sprocket wheel 113 side), and the other end 115B is connected to the lifting cart 105 from the lower side (sprocket wheel 114 side). The lifting cart 105 is fitted with rollers 105R (see FIG. 5) that roll on guide rails 15G (see FIG. 7(b)) that extend in the up-down direction Z and are provided on the rear side of the support 1.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the biasing means 120 has a gas spring 121 as a source of upward biasing force. The biasing means 120 also has a rope transmission mechanism 122 that transmits the upward biasing force to the corresponding lifting rack 100.

As shown in Fig. 5, the gas spring 121 here, which constantly urges the lift rack 100 (lift cart 105) upward, has a cylinder 121S with a base end attached inside the upper part of the support 1, and a piston rod 121P that protrudes downward from the cylinder 121S and exerts a pulling force. As shown in Fig. 6, an assembly shaft 13 extending in the width direction of the support 1 is provided on the upper inside side of the support 1, and the assembly shaft 13 is inserted into an assembly insertion part 121T on the rear end side of the cylinder 121S, so that the tip side of the piston rod 121P is assembled in the support 1 in a manner that allows it to swing in the longitudinal direction X of the lift rack 100 (left and right direction in Fig. 5). In addition, a lift body 127 that rises and falls along the support 1 is provided at the tip of the piston rod 121P. As shown in FIG. 7(b), the lifting body 127 is fitted with a roller 127R that rolls on a guide rail 17G that is provided inside the support 1 and extends in the vertical direction Z.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the rope transmission mechanism 122 incorporates movable pulleys 125A and 125B, fixed pulleys 123 and 124, and a wire rope 126. The movable pulleys 125A and 125B have the same diameter, and as shown in Figure 7 (a), are connected to the tip end (lifting body 127) of a piston rod 121P that exerts a pulling force by protruding downward from a cylinder 121S of a gas spring 121 whose base end is attached inside the upper part of the pillar 1, and rotate around a common rotation axis 15 (rotation axis R15) extending in the width direction (horizontal direction Y) of the pillar 1. The fixed pulleys 123 and 124 have different diameters, and as shown in Figure 6, are fixed inside the pillar 1 at a position higher than the cylinder 121S, and rotate around a rotation axis 14 (rotation axis R14) extending in the width direction of the pillar 1 (see Figure 5). The wire rope 126 is a single rope that is wound alternately once around each of the movable pulleys 125A, 125B and the fixed pulleys 123, 124.

Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, one end 126A (starting end: see Figure 6) of the wire rope 126 is hooked and fixed to the wire rope fixing portion 16 (one end of the shaft portion) provided at an upper position within the support 1, and from that hooking position, the wire rope 126 is wound around one movable pulley 125A attached to the tip end (lifting body 127) of the piston rod 121P, starting from the movable pulley 125A, and then continues to be wound alternately around the fixed pulley 123 arranged at the base end of the cylinder 121S and the other movable pulley 125B arranged at the tip end (lifting body 127) of the piston rod 121P, and is then wound around the remaining fixed pulley 124 attached to the base end of the cylinder 121S. In other words, the wire rope 126 is wound around the movable pulley 125A, the fixed pulley 123 (middle fixed pulley), the movable pulley 125B, and the fixed pulley 124 (terminal fixed pulley) in this order, starting from the end 126A (starting end) where it is hung.

The other end 126B (terminal end: see FIG. 5) of the wire rope 126 is directly or indirectly connected to the lifting rack 100. As a result, the lifting cart 105 descends when the piston rod 121P retracts (contracts) and ascends when the piston rod 121P protrudes (extends). Here, the other end 126B of the wire rope 126 is directly connected to the lifting cart 105. Here, the lifting rack 100 is integrally assembled to the lifting cart 105, so it can be said that the other end 126B of the wire rope 126 is directly connected to the lifting rack 100.

By forming the rope transmission mechanism 122 using the movable pulleys 125A and 125B, the fixed pulleys 123 and 124, and the wire rope 126 in this way, free space is created below and inside the support 1. This free space is then used by the chain transmission mechanism, making effective use of it.

4, the lifting/lowering drive means 110 has an upper limit switch 171 as an upper-level position detection means for detecting that the lifting/lowering rack 100 is in the upper level (predetermined upper-level position), and a lower limit switch 172 as a lower-level position detection means for detecting that the lifting/lowering rack 100 is in the lower level (predetermined lower level position) below the upper level. These limit switches 171, 172 are connected to the control means 500 (502) (see FIG. 16), and when the upper limit switch 171 as the upper-level position arrival detection means detects the lifting/lowering rack 100 during the lifting drive of the lifting/lowering rack 100 by the lifting/lowering drive means 110, the control means 500 stops the lifting drive of the lifting/lowering drive means 110. Similarly, when the upper limit switch 171, which serves as the lower position arrival detection means, detects the lift rack 100 while the lift drive means 110 is driving the lift rack 100 downward, the control means 500 stops the lift drive means 110 from driving the lift rack 100 downward.

As shown in FIG. 3, the two-level bicycle parking facility 1000 is provided with a detection means 3 that is arranged on the ground surface E (reference plane) to set a security area D for each lifting rack 100, the security area D having a width in the horizontal direction Y from the support post 1 on which the lifting rack 100 is supported to the adjacent support post 1 in a plan view at least and extending from the fixed rail 2 to one side in the longitudinal direction X, and that individually detects the presence of a slide rack 200 in each security area D (see FIG. 14). Each detection means 3 is connected to a control means 500 (502) (see FIG. 16), and when any of the detection means 3 detects the presence of a slide rack 200 in the corresponding security area D, the control means 500 always outputs a drive stop command to the lifting drive means 110 that drives the lifting rack 100 corresponding to the detection means 3, regardless of whether a bicycle BCL is mounted or not.

The detection means 3 here includes a rod- or plate-shaped detection member 30 (zone sensor) that is arranged on the ground surface E (reference plane) parallel to the fixed rail 2 across the entire width of the horizontal direction Y of the security area D in a plan view, and the presence or absence of the slide rack 200 is detected by contact with the detection member 30. Furthermore, the detection member 30 supports the horizontal Y slide of the slide rack 200 from below together with the fixed rail 2, and detects the presence or absence of a bicycle BCL by the vertical movement (vertical movement due to load) that accompanies the passage of the slide rack 200, regardless of whether a bicycle BCL is mounted or not.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the detection means 3 includes the detection member 30 (zone sensor) as well as a base member 39, a swing arm 33, a sensor biasing member 38, and a detection section 34, with the zone sensor 30 constituting the main part of the detection means 3.

The detection member 30 extends in the horizontal direction Y in an inverted gutter shape with an open bottom, and both ends 30S, 30S are bent downward toward the outside. This makes the detection member upper surface 30a an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the outside at both ends 30S, 30S. The base member 39 is located below the detection member 30, extends in the same direction (horizontal direction Y) as the detection member 30 in an open gutter shape with an open top, and is fixed to the ground surface E. The swing arm 33 connects the detection member 30 to the base member 39 so that it can swing back and forth (in the Q1 direction in FIG. 8) from an initial position along a predetermined swing trajectory (rotation trajectory) toward one side (the right side in FIG. 8) and downward in the horizontal direction Y so that the detection member 30 moves downward, and the pair of tilted swing arms 33, 33 constitute a parallel crank mechanism.

The detection member 30 and the base member 39 have swing range regulating parts 35, 36 that determine the swingable range of the detection member 30. The swing range regulating parts 35 are lower limit position regulating parts 35 (wall parts) that rise from multiple points in the length direction of the bottom wall part of the gutter-shaped base member 39, and regulate the further descent of the detection member 30 at the position (swing lower limit position) where their upper ends contact the lower surface of the detection member 30. The swing range regulating parts 36 are upper limit position regulating parts 36 (wall parts) that fall from the bottom wall part (ceiling wall part) of the inverted gutter-shaped detection member 30, and regulate the further movement of the detection member 30 to the other side in the horizontal direction Y (left side in FIG. 8), that is, the further rise of the detection member 30, at the position (swing upper limit position) where they contact the protruding contact part 36t (here, the bolt member that penetrates the lower limit position regulating part 36) that protrudes in the horizontal direction Y from the lower limit position regulating part 35 (wall part).

The sensor biasing member 38 is connected to both the detection member 30 and the base member 39, and constantly biases the detection member 30 upward relative to the base member 39, holding it in the above-mentioned upper limit swing position (initial position). The sensor biasing member 38 constantly biases the detection member 30 upward within its swingable range, holding it in the above-mentioned predetermined upper limit position, unless a downward external force acts on the detection member 30. The sensor biasing member 38 here uses a tension coil spring.

The detection unit 34 is a sensor that detects the descent of the detection member 30. Here, the detection unit 34 is a limit switch that detects when the switch knob 34P is pressed downward, is connected to the control means 500, and outputs the detection result to the control means 500.

Note that each detection member 30 here has a length (e.g., 1300 mm) that is approximately the width of the bicycle (mainly slightly wider than the handlebar width). The support pole 1 and lifting rack 100 are positioned at the center of the detection member 30 in the horizontal direction Y, and the security area D is set within the length range of the detection member 30 in the horizontal direction Y, including directly below the lifting rack 100. Furthermore, each lifting rack 100 here protrudes in the same direction in the longitudinal direction X from the support poles 1 aligned in the horizontal direction Y, and in order to arrange the support poles 1 and lifting racks 100 more closely in the horizontal direction Y, the security areas D of each lifting rack 100 are set so that they overlap each other in a plan view between adjacent support poles 1.

3, the detection members 30 include a plurality of first detection members 31 arranged in a straight line in the horizontal direction Y at a first position in the longitudinal direction X of the lift rack 100, and a plurality of second detection members 32 arranged in a straight line in the horizontal direction Y at a second position different from the first position. Each first detection member 31 is located at the center of the corresponding support 1 and lift rack 100 in their own length direction (horizontal direction Y), and forms a security area D1 as the security area D directly below the lift rack 100 and on both sides in the horizontal direction Y. Each second detection member 32 is also located at the center of the corresponding support 1 and lift rack 100 in their own length direction (horizontal direction Y), and forms a security area D2 as the security area D directly below the lift rack 100 and on both sides in the horizontal direction Y. The pillars 1 and lifting racks 100 are arranged at equal intervals so that those corresponding to the first detection members 30 and those corresponding to the second detection members 32 are alternately arranged in the horizontal direction Y, and the pillars 1 and lifting racks 100 adjacent in the horizontal direction Y are set so that their respective security areas D1 and D2 overlap.

The slide racks 200 are arranged so that the ones corresponding to the first detection members 31 and the ones corresponding to the second detection members 32 are alternately arranged in the horizontal direction Y, and rollers 7 that roll in the length direction (horizontal direction Y) on the corresponding detection members 31, 32 are attached to the underside of the rack. The detection members 30 are pushed down by these rollers 7. Adjacent detection members 30, 30 in the horizontal direction Y are arranged with a gap between them that is slightly wider than the width of one roller 7, preventing the adjacent detection members 30, 30 from both being pushed down at the same time by the rollers 7.

In addition, as described above, each detection means 3 (zone sensor) in this embodiment corresponds to one of the pairs of support posts 1 and lifting racks 100, and is arranged in two parallel rows as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The number of support posts 1, lifting racks 100, and slide racks 200, the spacing between each support post 1 and each lifting rack 100, the length of the fixed rail 2, and the length of each detection means 3 are adjusted so that only one detection means 3 is in a non-detecting state no matter how the slide rack 200 is moved along the fixed rail 2. In other words, the two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000 in this embodiment is configured so that only one lifting rack 100 can be raised and lowered, and multiple lifting racks 100 do not move at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 1, the two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000 is provided with a sensing means 150 on the bottom surface of each lifting/lowering rack 100, which senses when the lifting/lowering rack 100 comes into contact with an obstacle W (see FIG. 15) located below the lifting/lowering rack 100. When the corresponding sensing means 150 of any of the lifting/lowering racks 100 comes into contact with an obstacle while the lifting/lowering rack 100 is descending, the control means 500 outputs a lifting drive command to the lifting/lowering drive means 110 corresponding to the lowering lifting/lowering rack 100, regardless of whether a bicycle BCL is mounted thereon or not.

As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the sensing means 150 here has a sensing member 151 (bar sensor), a hanging arm 152 that swings the sensing member 151, and a sensing section 153 that detects the rise of the sensing member 151 that accompanies the swing, and the contact-type bar sensor 151 functions as the main part of the sensing means 150.

The sensing member 151 extends in the longitudinal direction X of the lifting rack 100 in a gutter shape with an open top. The hanging arm 152 connects the sensing member 151 to the lifting rack 100 so that it can swing back and forth (in the Q2 direction in FIG. 10) along a predetermined swinging trajectory (rotation trajectory) toward one side (the front side: the left side in FIG. 10) in the longitudinal direction X and toward the upward direction (the upper side in FIG. 10) so that the sensing member 151 moves downward from its initial position, and the pair of hanging arms 152, 152 arranged at an angle constitute a parallel crank mechanism.

A foot pedal 154 is attached to the other end (rear end) of the sensing member 151 in the longitudinal direction X, and a swing limiting portion 154b is provided on the foot pedal 154 to determine the swing limit position of the sensing member 151. Specifically, the foot pedal 154 has a foot operation surface 154a facing the rear, and a mounting portion 154b extending in a plate shape from the back side of the foot operation surface 154a toward the front in the longitudinal direction X (to the left in FIG. 10). The swing limit position of the sensing member 151 is the position where the sensing member 151 is mounted on the mounting portion 154b. On the other hand, the swing limit position of the sensing member 151 is the position where the sensing member 151 contacts the lift rack 100. The sensing member 151 is held at the swing limit position (initial position) by its own weight unless an upward external force is applied.

The sensing unit 153 is a sensor that senses the rise of the sensing member 151. Here, the sensing unit 153 is a limit switch that detects that the switch knob 153P is pushed forward (by the foot pedal 154 in this case) in the longitudinal direction X (to the left in Figures 9 and 10), and outputs the detection result (sensing result) to the control means 500. When the sensing unit 153 senses the rise of the sensing member 151 due to its swing, the control means 500 outputs an ascent drive command to the corresponding lift drive means 110.

The foot pedal 154 is arranged to push in the switch knob 153P of the detection unit 34 when pushed in from rear to front in the longitudinal direction X (from right to left in Figs. 9 and 10), and together with the detection unit 34, constitutes the lifting operation unit 164 (operation means, lifting operation means). The detection unit 34 is connected to the control means 500 (see Fig. 16) and outputs the operation result (detection result) to the control means 500. When lifting the lifting rack 100, the worker pushes in the foot pedal 154 of the lifting rack 100 (lifting operation), and the detection unit 153 detects the operation on the foot pedal 154, and the control means 500 outputs a lifting drive command to the corresponding lifting drive means 110.

Each lift rack 100 is also provided with a display means 161 for displaying whether the corresponding lift drive means 110 can be driven based on the operation of the operator, and an operation means 162 that can be operated by the operator when the display means 161 indicates that the lift drive means 110 can be driven. When outputting a drive stop command to the lift drive means 110, the control means 500 displays on the corresponding display means 161 that the operator cannot operate it and makes the corresponding operation means 162 inoperable, while when each detection means 3 detects the absence of the slide rack 200, the corresponding display means 161 displays that the operator can operate it.

The display means 161 and the operation means 162 here are provided as an illuminated push button 160 having both functions at the rear end of the lift rack 100 in the longitudinal direction X (the right end in Figures 9 and 10).

The illuminated push button 160 is provided on a guard frame 170 provided at the rear end of the lift rack 100 in the longitudinal direction X, and has a blue lamp (green light-emitting part) as a display means 161 having a light source such as an LED inside and capable of emitting light on the operation surface. At the same time, the illuminated push button 160 also functions as a lowering operation part (operation means, lowering operation means) as an operation means 162 for lowering the lift rack 100, and is connected to the control means 500 (see FIG. 16). When the lift drive means 110 is operable, the control means 500 lights up the corresponding illuminated push button 160, indicating that the operator can operate the illuminated push button 160 to lower it. On the other hand, when the control means 500 outputs a drive stop command to the lift drive means 110, it turns off the corresponding illuminated push button 160, indicating that the operator cannot operate the illuminated push button 160 to lower it.

When any of the detection means 3 detects the presence of a slide rack 200 within the corresponding security area D, a drive stop command to the lifting and lowering drive means 110 is output to the lifting and lowering drive means 110 of the lifting and lowering rack 100 corresponding to that detection means.

In addition, when multiple illuminated push buttons 160 (display means 161) simultaneously indicate that they can be operated by an operator (here, they are lit up at the same time), the control means 500 outputs a drive command only to the lifting/lowering drive means 110 corresponding to the illuminated push button 160 (operation means 162) that was operated first by the operator. As a result, in the two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000, only one of the multiple lifting racks 100 can be raised and lowered, and the remaining ones cannot be raised or lowered.

The basic operation of the lift rack 100 in this embodiment is described below.

<The lift rack 100 is in the lower position: FIG. 12>
The lift rack 100 is stopped and held in the lower position.
· The upper limit switch 171 is OFF, and the lower limit switch 172 is ON.
· Because the lower limit switch 172 is ON, the control means 500 turns off the illuminated push button 160, disabling lowering operation.

<The lift rack 100 rises: FIG. 12 → FIG. 13>
When the foot pedal 154 (lifting operation unit 164) is operated (lifting operation), the control means 500 outputs a lifting drive command to the corresponding lifting drive means 110, and the corresponding lifting rack 100 is lifted.
・During ascent, limit switches 171 and 172 are OFF.
The control means 500 turns on the illuminated push button 160 of the lift rack 100 that is currently rising, enabling it to be lowered. However, the illuminated push buttons 160 of the other lift racks 100 are turned off and cannot be lowered.
During elevation, the illuminated push button 160 may illuminate in a different state (e.g., blinking) to indicate that the lift rack 100 is being raised or lowered.
When the upper limit switch 171 is turned ON (reaching the upper position), the control means 500 stops driving the electric motor 111, and the lifting rack 100 is stopped and held in a stopped state.

<The lift rack 100 is in the upper position: FIG. 13>
The lift rack 100 is stopped and held in the upper position.
· The upper limit switch 171 is ON, and the lower limit switch 172 is OFF.
If the detection means 3 (zone sensor) and the sensing means 150 (bar sensor) are OFF, the control means 500 turns on the illuminated push button 160, making it possible to operate it lower.
If either the detection means 3 (zone sensor) or the sensing means 150 (bar sensor) is ON, the control means 500 turns off the illuminated push button 160, disabling the lowering operation.

<The lift rack 100 moves down: FIG. 13 → FIG. 12>
When the illuminated push button 160 (lowering operation unit) that is turned on is operated (lowering operation), the control means 500 outputs a lowering drive command to the corresponding lifting drive means 110, and the corresponding lifting rack 100 is lowered.
During descent, the limit switches 171 and 172 are turned OFF.
When the lift rack 100 is being lowered, the control means 500 turns on the illuminated push button 160 to enable the lift rack 100 to be lowered.
During lowering, the illuminated push button 160 may illuminate in a different state (e.g., blinking) to indicate that the lift rack 100 is being raised or lowered.
When the lower limit switch 172 is turned ON (reaching the lower position), the control means 500 stops driving the electric motor 111, and the lifting rack 100 is stopped and held in a stopped state.

<Detection means 3 is ON while lift rack 100 is descending: FIG. 14>
The control means 500 stops driving the electric motor 111, and the lifting rack 100 is stopped and held in a stopped state.
The control means 500 turns off the illuminated push button 160, disabling the lowering operation.
The control means 500 disables the foot pedal 154 (lifting operation unit 164) from being operated to lift.
All the lifting racks 100 other than the lowering lifting rack 100 remain stopped (lifting and lowering prohibited). Their illuminated push buttons 160 remain unlit and cannot be lowered. Their foot pedals 154 remain unable to be raised.
When the detection means 3 (zone sensor) returns to OFF, the control means 500 turns on the illuminated push button 160, enabling it to be lowered. The foot pedal 154 also becomes capable of being raised.

<The sensing means 150 is ON while the lift rack 100 is descending: FIG. 15>
The control means 500 drives the electric motor 111 to raise the lift rack 100.
As the lift rack 100 rises, the sensing means 150 (bar sensor) turns OFF (rising continues).
When the sensing means 150 is turned OFF, the control means 500 turns on the illuminated push button 160, making it possible to operate it lower.

The overall operation of the two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000 of this embodiment will be explained below using the flowcharts in Figures 17 to 20.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the reset switch 503 (start switch: see FIG. 16) is first operated, the main control unit 501 outputs an execution command for initialization control S0 to all individual control units 502 at M0. Each individual control unit 502 that receives this command executes initialization control at S0.

The reset switch 503 may be a push switch or the like provided somewhere within the two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000, or may be a switch that can be operated remotely from outside the two-tiered bicycle parking facility 1000.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, in S01, each individual control unit 502 sets the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) related to the illuminated push button 160 (blue lamp) to 0 to turn off the illuminated push button 160 (indicating that the corresponding lift rack 100 cannot be raised or lowered), in S02, sets both the down switch flag DF and the up switch flag UF to 0 to turn off the illuminated push button 160 constituting the down operation unit and the sensor unit 154 constituting the up operation unit, and in S03, sets both the motor down flag MDF and the motor up flag MUF related to the electric motor 111 to 0 to stop and hold the lift rack 100. Each individual control unit 502 that has completed the initialization control S0 transmits the execution result of the initialization control S0 to the main control unit 501 in S00 of FIG. 17.

The main control unit 501, which has received the execution results of the initialization control S0 from each individual control unit 502, outputs an execution command for the safety confirmation control S1 to all individual control units 502 at M1, as shown in FIG. 17. All individual control units 502 that have received this command execute the safety confirmation control at S1.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, each individual control unit 502 determines whether the detection unit 34 of the detection means 3 (zone sensor) is ON in S11. If the detection unit 34 is ON, each individual control unit 502 sets the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) to 0 (turns off the illuminated push button 160) in S19 and ends the safety confirmation control. On the other hand, if the detection unit 34 is OFF, each individual control unit 502 sets the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) to 1 in S12 to turn on the illuminated push button 160 (allows the button to be lowered). Next, each individual control unit 502 determines whether the illuminated push button 160 (lower switch) is OFF in S13. If the illuminated push button 160 (lower switch) is ON, each individual control unit 502 sets the lower switch flag DF to 1 and the upper switch flag UF to 0 in S14 and ends the safety confirmation control. On the other hand, if the illuminated push button 160 (down switch) is OFF, each individual control unit 502 sets the down switch flag DF to 0 in S15, and determines whether the sensing unit 153 (up switch) of the sensing means 150 (bar sensor) is ON in S16. If the sensing unit 153 (up switch) is ON, each individual control unit 502 sets the up switch flag UF to 1 in S17 and ends the safety confirmation control. On the other hand, if the sensing unit 153 (up switch) is OFF, each individual control unit 502 sets the up switch flag UF to 0 in S18 and ends the safety confirmation control. Each individual control unit 502 that has ended the safety confirmation control S1 transmits the execution result of the safety confirmation control S1 to the main control unit 501 in S10 of FIG. 17.

The main control unit 501, which has received the results of the safety confirmation control S1 from each individual control unit 502, identifies the individual control unit 502 that first satisfies one of the two conditions in M2, that is, the lighting flag BF (green lamp flag) is 1 and the down switch flag DF is 1, or the lighting flag BF (green lamp flag) is 1 and the up switch flag UF is 1, as shown in FIG. 17, and outputs an execution command for the lift drive control S2 only to the identified individual control unit 502. The individual control unit 502 that has received this executes the lift drive control in S2.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the individual control unit 502 that has received a command to execute the lift drive control S2 first determines in S21 whether the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the lowering switch flag DF is 1. If the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the lowering switch flag DF is 1, the individual control unit 502 sets the motor lowering flag MDF to 1 in S22 and causes the electric motor 111 to output a predetermined driving force for lowering the lift rack 100.

Then, the individual control unit 502 judges whether the detection unit 34 of the detection means 3 (zone sensor) is ON in S23, and whether the detection unit 153 (upward switch) of the detection means 150 (bar sensor) is ON in S24. The individual control unit 502 continues the downward movement of the lifting rack 100 as long as both are OFF. This downward movement ends when the lifting rack 100 reaches a predetermined lower position and the lower limit switch 172 (lower limit switch) is ON (S25/Y). At this time, the individual control unit 502 sets the motor downward flag MDF to 0 in S26 to stop the downward drive of the electric motor 111 and hold the lifting rack 100 in a stopped state, and sets the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) to 0 to turn off the illuminated push button 160.

If the sensing unit 153 (ascending switch) of the sensing means 150 (bar sensor) is turned ON while the lifting rack 100 is descending, the individual control unit 502 proceeds to S28, and the lifting rack 100 changes from descending to ascending. The process from S28 onwards will be described later.

On the other hand, if the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the down switch flag DF is not 1 in S21, the individual control unit 502 determines in S27 whether the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the up switch flag UF is 1. If the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the up switch flag UF is 1, the individual control unit 502 proceeds to S28.

At S28, the individual control unit 502 sets the motor lift flag MUF to 1 and causes the electric motor 111 to output a predetermined driving force for lifting the lift rack 100.

Then, in S29, the individual control unit 502 determines whether the detection unit 34 of the detection means 3 (zone sensor) is ON or not, and as long as it is OFF, the lifting rack 100 continues to rise. This rise ends when the lifting rack 100 reaches a predetermined upper position and the upper limit switch 171 (upper limit switch) turns ON (S30/Y), at which point the individual control unit 502 sets the motor rise flag MUF to 0 in S31 to stop the lifting drive of the electric motor 111 and hold the lifting rack 100 in a stopped state, and also sets the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) to 0 to turn off the illuminated push button 160.

If the detection unit 34 of the detection means 3 (zone sensor) is ON while the lift rack 100 is lowering (S23) or rising (S29), the individual control unit 502 sets the motor lowering flag MDF and the motor rising flag MUF to 0 in S32 to stop driving the electric motor 111 and hold the lift rack 100 in a stopped state, and further sets the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) to 0 to turn off the illuminated push button 160 (blue lamp). Then, the individual control unit 502 may output a specified alarm sound or warning voice from an alarm output unit (not shown) in S33.

On the other hand, if in S27 the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the up switch flag UF is not 1, the individual control unit 502 ends this up/down drive control.

After completing the lift drive control S2, the individual control unit 502 transmits the results of the lift drive control S2 execution to the main control unit 501 in S20 of FIG. 17. Each individual control unit 502 returns to S0 and executes the initialization control again.

If the detection unit 34 of the detection means 3 (zone sensor) is ON and the lifting rack 100 is stopped in the immediately preceding lifting drive control S2 (Figure 20), when the process returns to S0 and each individual control unit 502 again executes the initialization control S0 (Figure 17) to the safety confirmation control S1 (Figure 17), if the detection unit 34 of the detection means 3 (zone sensor) is OFF in the safety confirmation control S1 (Figure 19) (S11/N), the individual control unit 502 sets the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) to 1 in S12, lighting the illuminated push button 160, and the lifting and lowering operations for the stopped lifting rack 100 become possible (S12). In other words, even if the detection unit 34 of the detection means 3 (zone sensor) is turned ON in the lift drive control S2 (FIG. 20) and the lift rack 100 stops, if the detection unit 34 can be restored to an OFF state by itself, the lift rack 100 can be raised and lowered even if it is stopped.

The above describes a first embodiment of the present invention, but this is merely an example and the present invention is not limited to this. Various modifications, such as additions and omissions, can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the claims.

Below, we will explain examples other than the above-mentioned examples and modified versions of those examples. Note that parts that have the same functions as the above-mentioned examples will be given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations will be omitted. In addition, the above-mentioned examples and the following modified versions and other examples can be implemented in appropriate combinations as long as no technical contradictions arise.

Two fixed rails 2 (a pair) may be provided on one side in the arrangement direction of the support posts 1 (horizontal direction Y). In this case, two casters 9, 9 are provided on each slide rack 200 corresponding to both fixed rails 2, 2. Also, as shown in FIG. 21, for example, one or two fixed rails 2 (one in FIG. 21) may be provided on each side of the row of support posts 1. In FIG. 21, the lifting racks 100 are arranged alternately on the left and right in the arrangement direction of the support posts 1 (horizontal direction Y).

Each slide rack 200 may be equipped with a wheel-moving cart that is mounted so as to be movable from one side (rear side) to the other side (front side) in the longitudinal direction X while holding the leading-in wheels (e.g., front wheels) of the bicycle BCL that will be introduced first through the entrance/exit 4, and the wheel-moving cart may make it easier to load the bicycle BCL into the slide rack 200.

The drive source for the lifting drive means 110 may be an oil/pneumatic cylinder or the like, instead of an electric motor 111.

Instead of the gas spring 121, a constant force spring, weight, etc. may be used as the source of the upward biasing force of the biasing means 120.

The detection means 3 may be a non-contact type (light, ultrasonic, electromagnetic wave, etc.) obstacle detection means instead of the mechanical type described above.

In the above embodiment, in the two-tier bicycle parking facility 1000, only one of the multiple lifting racks 100 can be raised and lowered, and the rest cannot be raised or lowered, but this can be achieved by control. In this case, when multiple illuminated push buttons 160 (display means 161) simultaneously display (here, all light up at the same time) that they can be operated by an operator, the control means 500 is configured to output a drive command only to the lifting drive means 110 corresponding to the illuminated push button 160 (operation means 162) that was operated first by the operator.

Specifically, the process of M2 among the various controls in FIG. 22 is changed as follows. That is, in M2, the main control unit 501 identifies the individual control unit 502 that first satisfies one of the two conditions: the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the down switch flag DF is 1, or the lighting flag BF (blue lamp flag) is 1 and the up switch flag UF is 1, and outputs an execution command for the lift drive control S2 only to the identified individual control unit 502. Then, only the individual control unit 502 that received the execution command executes the lift drive control in S2. In addition, in M3, the main control unit 501 outputs an execution command for the initialization control S0 to the individual control units 502 other than the individual control unit 502 that output the execution command for the lift drive control S2. The execution result of the lift drive control in S20 is transmitted only by the individual control unit 502 that received the execution command for the lift drive control S2, and the subsequent processing is the same as in the above embodiment.

The two-level bicycle parking facility of the present invention can be used in outdoor bicycle parking lots permanently installed on sidewalks or in parks, indoor bicycle parking lots installed in condominiums or apartments, and underground bicycle parking lots installed in buildings or underground stations.

1000 Upper and lower two-tier bicycle parking facility 1 Support 2 Fixed rail 3 Detection means 30 Detection member (zone sensor)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Lifting rack 110 Lifting drive means 111 Electric motor 112 Chain transmission mechanism 113, 114 Sprocket wheel 115 Link chain 120 Pressing means 121 Gas spring 122 Rope transmission mechanism 123, 124 Fixed pulley 125A, 125B Movable pulley 126 Wire rope 150 Sensing means 151 Sensing member (bar sensor)
154 Foot-operated pedal (operation means, lift operation means)
160 Illuminated push button (blue lamp)
161 Display means 162 Operation means (lowering operation means)
200 Slide rack 500 Control means X Longitudinal direction Y Lateral direction BCL Bicycle D, D1, D2 Security area E Ground surface (reference plane)
ES Empty space W Obstacle

The present invention relates to a two-tiered bicycle parking facility.

The object of the present invention is to provide a two-tiered bicycle parking facility that can ensure the safety of bicycle parking operations by stopping the operation of the lifting/lowering drive means before contact occurs between the lifting rack and obstacles (particularly the slide rack and the loaded bicycles).

Claims (9)

A two-tiered bicycle parking facility comprising: a plurality of slide racks that are placed in a longitudinal direction perpendicular or oblique to a fixed rail in a plan view and that can slide on the fixed rail, the fixed rail being arranged in a straight line along a lateral direction set on a reference surface; and lift racks that are supported by pillars that are erected at a constant pitch from the reference surface along the lateral direction and protrude in a cantilevered manner in the longitudinal direction and can be raised and lowered along the pillars, the lift racks being able to be raised and lowered between the upper and lower tiers in an empty space created by the lateral sliding of the slide rack located on the lower tier,
a lifting/lowering drive means provided for each of the lifting racks and configured to individually generate a drive force for lifting and lowering the lifting rack up and down along the corresponding support column;
A control means for individually controlling the vertical movement of the lift rack by the lift drive means;
a detection means arranged on a reference plane for setting a security area for each of the lift racks, the security area having a width in a lateral direction from the support column on which the lift rack is supported to the adjacent support column in a plan view and extending from the fixed rail to one side in a longitudinal direction, the detection means detecting the presence of the slide rack in each of the security areas individually;
A two-tier bicycle parking facility characterized in that when any of the detection means detects the presence of the slide rack within the corresponding security area, the control means always outputs a drive stop command to the lifting/lowering drive means that drives the lifting rack corresponding to the detection means, regardless of whether a bicycle is loaded or not. Each of the lift racks protrudes in the same longitudinal direction from the horizontally aligned columns,
The two-tiered bicycle parking facility according to claim 1 , wherein the security areas are set between adjacent pillars in such a way that they overlap each other in a plan view. Each of the lifting racks further includes a display means for displaying whether the corresponding lifting drive means can be driven based on an operation by an operator, and an operation means that can be operated by the operator when the display means indicates that the lifting drive means can be driven;
The control means
When the drive stop command is output to the lift drive means, a display indicating that operation by an operator is not possible is displayed on the corresponding display means and the corresponding operation means is made inoperable,
2. The two-tiered bicycle parking facility according to claim 1, wherein when the detection means detects the absence of the slide rack, the corresponding display means displays that the slide rack is operable by an operator. the detection means includes a rod-shaped or plate-shaped detection member arranged on a reference plane parallel to the fixed rail across the entire lateral width of the security area in a plan view,
2. The two-tiered bicycle parking facility according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of said slide rack is detected by contact with said detection member. The two-level bicycle parking facility according to claim 4, wherein the detection member supports the lateral slide of the slide rack from below together with the fixed rail, and detects the presence or absence of the slide rack by the vertical movement caused by the slide rack passing by. The lift rack may further include a biasing means for constantly biasing the lift rack in an upward direction to assist the driving force of the lift drive means,
The lifting/lowering drive means includes an electric motor as a drive source, and a chain transmission mechanism driven by the electric motor, the chain transmission mechanism having sprocket wheels journaled inside the upper and lower parts of the support pillar, and a link chain that is stretched around the sprocket wheels inside the support pillar and has both ends connected to the lifting/lowering rack;
The two-tiered bicycle parking facility described in claim 1, wherein the biasing means is connected to the tip of a piston rod that protrudes downward from a cylinder of a gas spring whose base end is attached inside the upper part of the pillar and exerts a tractive force, and has a rope transmission mechanism that incorporates two movable pulleys with a common axis of rotation, two fixed pulleys positioned inside the pillar at a position higher than the cylinder, and a single wire rope wound alternately once around each of the movable pulleys and each of the fixed pulleys. A detection means is further provided on the bottom surface of each of the lifting racks for detecting that the lifting rack has come into contact with an obstacle located below the lifting rack;
2. The two-tier bicycle parking facility as described in claim 1, wherein the control means outputs an elevation drive command to the elevation drive means corresponding to the descending lifting rack when the corresponding sensing means comes into contact with an obstacle during descent of any of the lifting racks, regardless of whether a bicycle is loaded on it or not. A slide rack used in the upper and lower two-tier bicycle parking facility described in any one of claims 1 to 7, which is placed in a longitudinal direction perpendicular or diagonally intersecting the fixed rail in a plan view, and is located on the lower tier and can slide laterally on the fixed rail. A lifting rack used in the two-tiered bicycle parking facility described in any one of claims 1 to 7, supported in a cantilevered manner on the support pole and capable of moving up and down along the support pole between the upper and lower tiers.

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