JPH0642220A - Safety device of mechanical parking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure safety in a simple structure, by using a photoelectric device detecting a specified position of a car on a mounting base composed of a projector by use of a dispersive illuminant and a plurality of light-receivers vertically arranged. CONSTITUTION:In a mechanical parking device circularly transferring a number of carrier bases of cars, a specified position Wc, Wa of a car W is detected by phtoelectric devices 14, 15 to confirm whether the car W is correctly positioned on a pallet held in a cage or not. The photoelectric devices 14, 15 are composed of illuminators 14a, 15a by use of a dispersive illuminant and a plurality of light-receivers 14b, 15b vertically arranged. In this way, although it is a single illuminant, the detecting scope is amplified and the protrusions of a car W mounted on the carrier base can be securely detected and hence, safety is kept.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a safety device for a mechanical parking device which detects whether a vehicle is mounted at a predetermined position on a vehicle mount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is difficult to secure a sufficient space for a parking lot in a building town such as a city center due to a soaring land price. Therefore, a mechanical mechanical parking device is often used.

In such a mechanical parking apparatus, a plurality of vehicle mounts are sequentially circulated and transferred by a machine, and the vehicles are loaded and unloaded from the loading / unloading port to the vehicle mounts. Since it is circulated by force, the vehicle can be stored three-dimensionally, and the planar space can be greatly saved, which is an advantage.

At the time of warehousing, if the vehicle is not placed at the correct position on the vehicle mounting base and has a portion protruding from a predetermined range, when the vehicle is circulated and transferred by a machine, Not only may a part of the vehicle come into contact with the inner wall of the containment building or other obstacles to damage the vehicle, but in the worst case, the vehicle may fall and cause a serious accident.

Therefore, conventionally, when a vehicle is mounted on a vehicle loading platform at an entrance / exit, a photoelectric device detects the positions of the front part and the rear part of the vehicle, and a part of the vehicle is detected by the photoelectric device. Instructed the driver to move forward or backward to urge the vehicle to be placed in the correct position.

The optical axes of the detection light beams of these photoelectric devices are
In order to detect the most projecting part (bumper part) of the front part or the rear part of the vehicle, it is projected almost horizontally to the bumper height, but the bumper height is slightly different depending on the model, so the vertical direction It is necessary to use a photoelectric device whose detection range is as wide as possible.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8A, a plurality of pairs of projectors 51a to 53a having a plurality of detection optical axes L parallel to the bumper Wa of the vehicle W are provided.
And light receivers 51b to 53b are arranged in the vertical direction,
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8B, a wide-range detecting photoelectric device (hereinafter, referred to as "wide") including a light projector 56a and a light receiver 56b, each of which is formed by previously incorporating a plurality of light emitting elements 54 and light receiving elements 55 in a row. The vehicle W is detected using a "sensor".

[0008]

However, as shown in FIG.
In the photoelectric device shown in (a), since a plurality of independent photoelectric devices are arranged, there are restrictions due to the size of each case, and it is possible to reduce the interval between the detection optical axes L to a certain limit or less. However, if there is a protrusion (for example, an exhaust gas muffler) of the vehicle W between the optical axes L, there is a problem that it cannot be detected. Further, there is a drawback that the cost becomes high because a plurality of independent photoelectric devices must be used. .

In the wide sensor shown in FIG. 8B, the projector 56a has a plurality of light emitting elements 54 in a single case, and the light receiver 56b also has a plurality of light receiving elements in a single case. Since the element 55 is provided, the distance between the optical axes L formed by each pair of the light emitting element and the light receiving element can be reduced, and the distance between the optical axes can be reduced as in the photoelectric device of FIG. There is no inconvenience of leaking the detection of the protruding object.

However, since the respective optical axes L are close to each other, even if one optical axis L is blocked by a protrusion, the adjacent light emitting elements 5
There is a possibility that the light beam from No. 4 may enter the light receiving element 55 and hinder accurate detection. Therefore, in this type of wide sensor, each light emitting element 54 and light receiving element 55 are usually used.
A controller is required to properly control the detection operation by the pair of.

With such a controller, each light emitting element 54 is sequentially turned on by the switching circuit by the clock, and the detection operation of the light receiving elements 55 forming a pair is turned on in synchronism with the switching, whereby the adjacent light emitting elements 54 are turned on. It is possible to reliably detect the obstacle for each detection optical axis while avoiding the interference of the light rays.

However, since the controller is provided with a clock circuit, a switching circuit, and a synchronizing circuit for operating the light receiving element in synchronization with the clock circuit and the switching circuit, FIG.
There is a problem that the cost is higher than that of the photoelectric device of (a).

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has a simple structure and is safe for a mechanical parking apparatus provided with a photoelectric device having a wide detection range at a low cost. A device is provided.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a safety device for a mechanical parking device according to the invention of claim 1 circulates and transfers a large number of stored vehicle mounting bases and calls them to an entrance / exit port. In a mechanical parking device that loads and unloads a vehicle, a photoelectric device equipped with a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit detects a predetermined portion of the vehicle, and confirms whether the vehicle is within a range where it can be parked. A safety device for a mechanical parking device, wherein the photoelectric device is arranged in a predetermined direction within a projection range of the diffusion type light source and a light projecting means including a diffusion type light source for diffusing emitted light. And a plurality of light receiving means.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the light projecting means and the light receiving means are arranged so that the optical axis of the light projected from the light projecting means forms a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction. It is characterized in that means are arranged.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the detection part of the vehicle by the photoelectric device is located closer to the light receiving means than an intermediate position of a straight line connecting the light projecting means and the light receiving means. The arrangement of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit is determined.

[0017]

According to the invention of claim 1, a diffusion type light source is used as the light source of the light projecting means of the photoelectric device, and the light receiving means arranges a plurality of light receiving elements in a predetermined direction within the projection range of the diffusion type light source. Therefore, the detection range is expanded with a single light source, and it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the vehicle mounted on the vehicle mounting base is mounted at the correct position.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the optical axis of the detection light beam of the photoelectric device of claim 1 has a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, the optical axis obliquely passes through the detection portion. As a result, the detection range is expanded.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the detection site by the detection light beam is located farther from the light projecting means,
The diffused light spreads sufficiently at the detection site, and the detection range can be widened accordingly.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a safety device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 5 shows a structure of a vertical circulation type mechanical parking device having a built-in vehicle turning device among the mechanical parking devices.

Inside the storage building 5, each cage 1 is connected to a pair of front and rear endless chains 3 via an attachment 2 and the cage 1 is circulated by driving the endless chain 3 by a parking device driving means (not shown). It is configured to move.

The vehicle W is loaded into the cage 1 ', which has arrived from the loading / unloading port 4 to the position of the vehicle entrance / exit, and the loading / unloading is completed.

An operation panel 6 is provided beside the loading / unloading port 4 at a position where it can be easily operated by the parking device user, and the parking device user can enter the personal identification number or the cage number of the target cage on the operation panel 6. Enter to register the desired cage.

Drive controller of the mechanical parking device (not shown)
In the above, information regarding the storage position of each cage 1 is managed, and when a call operation is performed from the operation panel 6, the activation control is performed so as to call to the loading / unloading port 4 of the calling cage based on the loading status and position information. Has become.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of only the cage 1.

As shown in the figure, the cage 1 includes a pair of gate-shaped hangers 9 provided at the front and rear and horizontally supported at the lower ends of the columns 91, 92, 93, 94 of the hangers 9. A pair of stays 10 and 11 and a cage stay 12 that rotatably penetrates through the centers of the upper horizontal portions 95 and 96 of the hanger 9 are provided.

Both ends of the cage stay 12 are attached to the hanger 9
Of the upper column 95, 96, and is supported by the attachment 2 of FIG. 5 at this portion.

A pallet 7 as a vehicle mount is placed on a frame formed by a pair of hanger stays 10 and connecting stays 11.

The pallet 7 is bent in a predetermined shape in order to increase the bending strength, and the recess 7a constitutes a passage for the tire of the vehicle, and the vehicle W is extremely shifted left and right and placed on the pallet 7. It is not placed. This ensures safety by preventing the vehicle from falling.

The pair of front and rear gate-shaped hangers 9 spreads outward as they go upward, so that the lower part of the hanger stay 10 of the cage adjacent to the upper part can overlap the upper part of the cage 1. This is because the distance between the vertically adjacent cages can be made smaller, and as many cages as possible can be accommodated in the vertical direction.

A vehicle turning device 8 (FIG. 5) is embedded in the lowermost part of the mechanical parking device 100. The vehicle turning device 8 is held vertically by the turning device body 8a and the turning device body 8a. It comprises a rod 8b which is extended and contracted and driven to rotate, and a pedestal 8c which is horizontally attached to the upper portion of the rod 8b.

The operation of the vehicle turning by the vehicle turning device 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7A shows a cage 1 on which a vehicle W is mounted.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state when the vehicle arrives at a loading position of the loading / unloading port 4. Reference numeral 4a indicates a vehicle entry floor.

The rod 8b of the vehicle turning device 8 extends and the pedestal 8c moves upward, and passes through the central space of the frame formed by the stays 10 and 11, and together with the pallet 7 as shown in FIG. 7 (b). Push the vehicle W upward.

Next, the rod 8b rotates 180 °, and the front part of the vehicle W is directed toward the vehicle entry floor 4a (FIG. 7).
(C)). After that, the rod 8b descends, the pallet 7 is placed on the stays 10 and 11, and the vehicle W is unloaded from the loading / unloading port 4.

In such a mechanical parking apparatus 100 having a built-in vehicle turning device, if the vehicle W is not placed at the correct position on the pallet, a part of the vehicle W can be turned by a radius T ( (See Fig. 1) If it protrudes from the pallet 7, the protrusion may come into contact with the pillar of the hanger 9 or the inner wall of the storage building 5 during the turn, and in the worst case, fall from the pallet 7. become.

When such a situation occurs, the damage to the owner of the vehicle will be compensated, the mechanical parking device will be considerably damaged, and the user will be suspicious about the safety. It has a big impact on sales.

Therefore, when the vehicle W is loaded from the loading / unloading port 4, it is necessary to sufficiently check whether it is placed at the correct position on the pallet 7.

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view near the loading / unloading port 4, showing an example of arrangement of the loaded vehicle W and photoelectric device. For convenience of description, the stays 10, 11 and the pallet 7 are not shown. Omitted.

In this embodiment, two sets of photoelectric devices for vehicle detection, one set at the front and one set at the front, are arranged in total.
Optical axis L for detection of photoelectric device 14 including a and light receiver 14b
1, and the detection optical axis L2 of the photoelectric device 15 including the light projector 15a and the light receiver 15b is substantially in the same horizontal plane as the front bumper Wa and the rear bumper Wb of the vehicle W, and the columns 91 to 94 of the hanger 9 are provided. The corner portion W of the vehicle W when the vehicle W is normally placed on the pallet so as to form a predetermined angle with the direction of each bumper so as not to interfere with the
It is formed so as to pass near c and Wd.

In this way, by forming the direction of the optical axis for detection at a predetermined angle with the direction of each bumper of the vehicle W, the corners Wc and Wd, which are the portions where the turning radius of the vehicle W is the largest, are formed. If the corners Wc and Wd are inside the vehicle turning radius T, the vehicle W can safely turn.

FIG. 2 (a) shows how the light beam emitted from the projector 14a spreads, and FIG. 2 (b) shows the vehicle W viewed from the front, and the detection light beam and the bumper Wa.
Shows the positional relationship with.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the projector 14a is
It has a light source that emits diffused light in the infrared region, and the diameter of the light beam emitted from the projector 14a gradually expands.

A circle L1a shows a cross section of the light ray on the projection surface, and in this projection surface L1a, five light receivers 14b are vertically arranged in one row at equal intervals.

As described above, since the plurality of light receivers 14a are arranged in a line on the diffused light projection surface L1a,
If there is something that blocks the diffused light, it will always be detected by at least one light receiver 14a.

Unlike the configuration of the photoelectric device in the conventional safety device, since there is only one light source, there is no possibility that another light source mixes with the light receiver to cause a detection error.

Therefore, an expensive controller having a clock and a synchronizing circuit as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 8B is unnecessary.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, with respect to the portion Wc to be detected, the projector 14a and the receiver 1 are arranged so that the distance to the projector 14a is larger than the distance to the receiver 14b.
Since the arrangement of 4b is determined, the light ray L1 is sufficiently spread at the detection site Wc, and its detection range D (FIG. 2B).
Can be wider, which is convenient.

Further, even if the intervals between the plurality of light receivers 14b are slightly widened due to the size of the case or the like, the intervals between the respective detection points at the detection site Wc become narrower, so that FIG. As shown in (), the omission of detection of the protrusion between the optical axes is eliminated.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the photoelectric device 14 is arranged so that the direction of the optical axis L1 of the diffused light beam in FIG. 2B is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction by a predetermined angle.

With such a structure, there are the following advantages.

First, due to the inclination of the optical axis, the cross-sectional shape of the light ray L1 becomes longer in the vertical direction, and as a result, the detection range D can be made larger than in the case of FIG. 2 (b).

The same applies to the horizontal detection range.

Secondly, due to the structure of the storage building of the mechanical parking apparatus, even if there are obstacles 16 and 17, the detection site Wc can be detected without being blocked by the detection optical axis. It will be possible.

Although the photoelectric device 14 has been described above, the same applies to the photoelectric device 15.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a safety device for a mechanical parking device using the photoelectric device as described above.

The safety device comprises photoelectric devices 14 and 15,
It comprises an alarm unit 18.

The alarm unit 18 includes a judgment unit 19 and a display unit 20.
And the buzzer 21. The photoelectric devices 14 and 1
The detection output from 5 is input to the determination unit 19 and the determination unit 1
At 9 in response to this input, if there is at least one detection signal from the photoelectric device, the buzzer 21 is sounded to warn the driver of the vehicle W and the display unit 20 gives a predetermined instruction to the driver.

This display unit 20 is composed of, for example, an electronic bulletin board, is an inner wall of the storage building 5, and is most visible to the driver when the vehicle W is stored in the cage forward from the storage / entrance port 4. It is mounted in a convenient position (see Fig. 1).

When one of the light receivers 14b of the photoelectric device 14 detects the vehicle W, a signal for retreating is sent from the judging portion 19 to the display portion 20 and is displayed in electronic characters so as to retreat a little, and the photoelectric device 15 One of the light receivers 15b is the vehicle W
When it is detected, the determination unit 19 gives a forward signal, and the electronic character is displayed so as to move a little further.

When the vehicle W is not detected by either of the photoelectric devices 14 and 15, it is determined that the vehicle W is within the vehicle turning radius T, and an instruction for the next step, for example, "stop engine and apply side brake." Please exit from the car. "Is displayed.

If both the front photoelectric device 14 and the rear photoelectric device 15 have detected the vehicle, the vehicle length of the vehicle W exceeds the mountable limit, and therefore it is displayed that the vehicle cannot be stored. .

The determination unit 19 sends an instruction to that effect to the drive control unit of the mechanical parking device so that the cage is not circulated while the vehicle W is detected by any of the photoelectric devices.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, photoelectric devices are provided at the front and rear, but in a mechanical parking device in which the types of vehicles to be stored are restricted in advance, the length of the vehicle W is limited to a certain range. Therefore, the rear photoelectric device 15 is not always necessary.

That is, when the driver moves the vehicle forward and the photoelectric device 14 detects the front portion of the vehicle W, for example, the display unit 20 displays "Please move forward until the buzzer is reached." By sounding the alarm buzzer 21 and instructing "Please move backward gradually until the buzzer stops",
Since the vehicle W can be placed at a predetermined position, the photoelectric device 1 on the rear side can be mounted.
5 becomes unnecessary.

A voice ROM is used instead of the display unit 21.
It is also possible to provide a sound generation unit including a reproduction amplifier and a speaker, and display the predetermined warning by a mechanical sound.

In the above embodiment, the light receivers are arranged in the vertical direction to expand the detection range in the vertical direction. However, for example, in the case where the vehicle height of the mounted vehicle W is also regulated, By arranging the light projector so that the optical axis of the emitted light is horizontal at the limit height and by arranging a plurality of light receivers horizontally within the projection plane of the light beam, the vehicle of the projection vehicle W can be reliably carried out. High can be detected.

Further, by arranging a plurality of light receivers on the projection plane of the detection light beam along the cross-sectional shape of the object to be detected, it is possible to detect even a complicated shape.

Further, in the mechanical parking device in which the vehicle turning device 8 is not built in, the optical axes L1 and L2 of the photoelectric devices 14 and 15 do not necessarily have to be inclined with respect to the bumper Wa and Wb directions of the vehicle W. There is no problem even if they are parallel.

The mechanical parking device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the vertical circulation type device shown in the embodiment, and since the vehicle is housed and transferred in a limited space, it is mounted on the vehicle. It can be applied to all mechanical parking devices that need to be checked for proper placement on a platform.

[0072]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the diffusion type light source is used as the light source of the light projecting means of the photoelectric device, and the plurality of light receiving means are provided within the projection range of the diffusion type light source. Since the light receiving elements of are arranged in a predetermined direction, the detection range is expanded even with a single light source, and the protrusion of the vehicle mounted on the vehicle mounting base can be reliably detected to ensure safety. .

Further, since a plurality of light sources are not used, there is no erroneous detection due to light from other light sources as in the prior art, and no complicated controller is required. Obtainable. As a result, the cost of the entire safety device can be made extremely low.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the optical axis of the detection light beam of the photoelectric device of claim 1 has a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, the detection range in the vertical or horizontal direction is expanded. To be done.

In addition, due to the structure of the storage building of the mechanical parking device, even if there is an obstacle, it is possible to project the detection light beam while avoiding it, thereby making it possible to reliably detect the necessary detection site. It will be possible.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the detection site by the detection light beam is located farther from the light projecting means,
The diffused light spreads sufficiently at the detection site, and the detection range can be widened accordingly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of photoelectric devices in a safety device for a mechanical parking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of projection of a diffused light source emitted from a projector in the photoelectric device of FIG. 1 and a relationship between a vehicle and a photoelectric device when viewed from the front.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the vehicle and the photoelectric device when the direction of the optical axis of the diffused light source is tilted with respect to the horizontal direction in FIG. 2 (b).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a safety device for a mechanical parking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vertical circulation type vehicle parking apparatus built-in type mechanical parking apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cage in the mechanical parking device of FIG.

7 is a diagram showing a vehicle turning operation in the mechanical parking device of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a photoelectric device in a conventional safety device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Containment structure 14, 15 Photoelectric device 14a, 15a Emitter 14b, 15b Light receiver 18 Alarm part 19 Judgment part 20 Display part 21 Buzzer L1, L2 Detection optical axis W Vehicle Wa, Wb Bumper T Vehicle turning radius

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mechanical parking apparatus for circulating and transporting a large number of stored vehicle mounting bases and calling the vehicle into and out of an entrance / exit opening, and a predetermined portion of the vehicle is provided with a light projecting means and a light receiving means. A photoelectric device is a safety device of a mechanical parking device that detects whether the vehicle is within a range where the vehicle can be stored, wherein the photoelectric device is a diffusion type light source in which emitted light is diffused. A safety device for a mechanical parking device, comprising: a light projecting means including: and a plurality of light receiving means arranged in a predetermined direction within a projection range of the diffused light source. 2. The light projecting means and the light receiving means are arranged such that an optical axis of light emitted from the light projecting means forms a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal direction. A safety device for the described mechanical parking device. 3. The arrangement of the light projecting means and the light receiving means is determined so that the detected portion of the vehicle by the photoelectric device is closer to the light receiving means than an intermediate position of a straight line connecting the light projecting means and the light receiving means. A safety device for a mechanical parking device, which is characterized in that