Abstract: A mechanical parking garage includes a plurality of pallets, a parking system including a rail track unit and a plurality of tower units, and a transporting system. Each tower unit is mounted on and slidable along the rail track unit, and has a plurality of first parking spaces, each of which is disposed for storing one of the pallets. The transporting system includes a rail mechanism mounted above the parking system, and a transporting mechanism mounted to the rail mechanism and being horizontally movable. Any adjacent two of the tower units are movable relative to each other between approximate state and a distal state. At the distal state, the adjacent two of the tower units define a transporting aisle therebetween.

Abstract: An article transport facility includes an article transport device capable of moving along a moving direction in movement sections. The movement sections include a transporting movement section and an out-of-the-way movement section. A work platform includes one or more out-of-trajectory portions located to at least one side along a lateral direction with respect to a mast trajectory, and one or more in-trajectory portions which are located in an area of the mast trajectory that excludes an area in which the mast is located when the article transport device is in the out-of-the-way stop position. Each of the one or more in-trajectory portions is configured to be capable of being moved to a support position located in the mast trajectory, and to an out-of-the-way position in which the in-trajectory portion is out of the mast trajectory along the lateral direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an operating vehicle for transporting a storage container along a storage rack, comprising a vehicle frame having two longitudinal sides located opposite from one another, transverse sides extending transversely thereto, a receiving space for receiving the storage container, and a passage each located at at least one of the longitudinal sides, through which a storage container can be inserted into the receiving space in a receiving space insertion direction, and from which the storage container can be removed in a receiving space removal direction. The vehicle may comprise: Two pairs of drive crawlers extending along the longitudinal sides for supporting the operating vehicle on support devices mounted on the storage rack, of which one pair each of the drive crawlers is arranged in an articulated manner on each longitudinal side of the operating vehicle.

Abstract: A multilevel indoor mobile gutter system for growing vegetation including at least a first level and a second level is provided. Each level may include a first level conveyor and a second level conveyor respectively. A transfer conveyor is operable to convey from the first level to the second level. A plurality of lights are positioned to emit light towards the first level and the second level. At least one gutter is operable to support a plant within. The first level conveyor transports the at least one gutter from the front end to the rear end of the first level, the transfer conveyor transfers the at least one gutter from rear end of the first level to the front end of the second level, and the second level conveyor transports the at least one gutter from the front end to the rear end of the second level.

Abstract: A parking system includes a plurality of trays having a parking platform for supporting a vehicle and legs for keeping the parking platform in an elevated position on a supporting surface of the parking facility. The parking system also has at least one automated guided vehicle for moving the tray with the vehicle thereon between an access location and a specified parking location. The automated guided vehicle has a frame and drive devices mounted on the frame. Each drive device has a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis and two independently driven wheels mounted on the turntable. The automated guided vehicle can fit beneath the parking platform of the tray and can lift the tray for moving the tray and the vehicle between the access location and the specified parking location.

Abstract: A handling apparatus, for transferring an object at a time between two loading/unloading stations, each station having a support shelf on which opposite ends of the objects rest.

Abstract: A centering device for determining a position of a vehicle includes free roller parts configured to respectively seat left and right vehicle wheels of the vehicle. A driving body pushes the vehicle wheels when the vehicle is seated on the free roller parts. The centering device may be simply and rapidly installed on a floor with a minimal height. Thus, complicated construction is avoided. The centering device also has a plurality of sensors and a sensor cleaner on a first plate and a second plate. The first and second plates are driven at the same time, in opposite directions to center the vehicle.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for a lift system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a) a motor adapted for providing a lifting force, b) at least one connector operatively connected to the motor, the connector adapted for connecting a load-bearing component to the motor, c) an information receiver for receiving a load limit information about the load-bearing component, d) a motor controller electrically coupled to the motor and the information receiver, wherein the motor controller is adapted to limit the lifting force of the motor based on the load limit information received by the information receiver.

Abstract: An entrance gate and an automatic parking garage having such an entrance gate are provided. The entrance gate includes a stationary ground plate; two trace plates thereabove, movable in the plane in any direction in a gliding manner, each for receiving thereon a front and rear wheel of a car; a stationary top plate above the trace plates, having two opposing cut-out windows, with each trace plate exposed through one window; and two centering plates above the top plate, on outer sides of the cut-out windows. The centering plates connect with and are driven by two drive units to affect synchronous counter-movements. When being driven toward each other, the centering plates touch outer sides of tires of a car resting on the trace plates and move the car toward a centerline of the entrance gate, until the centerline of the car is aligned with the centerline of the entrance gate.

Abstract: Self-propelled carriage on wheels includes: one or two pairs of supporting elements for the wheels of either or both of the axles of the motor vehicle, these elements being movable symmetrically and perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carriage and designed to center, immobilize and lift from beneath the wheels; elements for limiting the mass to be transferred; elements for sensing, continuously during the transfer, the translational position of the carriage; elements for sensing the presence of the motor vehicle on the carriage and measuring the front and rear lengths of the motor vehicle relative to its front axle; and elements for sensing excessive displacement of the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle relative to the longitudinal axis of the carriage when the motor vehicle is being positioned by the user in the entrance bay.

Abstract: Self-propelled carriage on wheels comprises: one or two pairs of supporting elements for the wheels of either or both of the axles of the motor vehicle, these elements being movable symmetrically and perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carriage and designed to center, immobilize and lift from beneath the wheels; elements for limiting the mass to be transferred; elements for sensing, continuously during the transfer, the translational position of the carriage; elements for sensing the presence of the motor vehicle on the carriage and measuring the front and rear lengths of the motor vehicle relative to its front axle; and elements for sensing excessive displacement of the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle relative to the longitudinal axis of the carriage when the motor vehicle is being positioned by the user in the entrance bay.

Abstract: A quadruple parking system configured to store at least four vehicles is provided. The vehicle parking system includes a rigid frame including four vertically upstanding posts, the frame generally defining a rectangular volume; at least three platforms movably disposed in the frame, each platform being configured to support at least one vehicle; the at least three platforms being coupled to each other by a telescopic coupling, wherein in a first position the at least three platforms are nested upon each other and, upon being elevated, each platform raises the platform below each other; and a hoist unit coupled to the telescopic coupling and configured to raise and lower the at least three platforms, wherein upon being fully raised the at least three platforms define four parking positions. The hoist unit employs an electric drive unit for ensuring consistent and smooth operation in various temperature conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides a palletless loading structure for a storage system which comprises a plurality of storage forks including a first support beam and a plurality of storage fork bars mounted in regular interval to cross the first support beam at a right angle; a stacker crane and a including a plurality of transporting fork bars horizontally arranged in a regular interval to be alternatively positioned between the storage fork bars and a third support beam supporting the lower middle portion of the transporting fork bar, wherein any one height of the storage fork bar transporting fork bar is set to be relatively higher than the other one, and the fork bar of a relatively lower height includes a projecting tap mounted on the lower portion thereof, the projecting tap being mounted on the supporting beam.

Abstract: Self-propelled carriage on wheels (3), for the horizontal transfer of motor vehicles by lifting two or more wheels, in automatic mechanical car parks, which carriage is characterized in that it comprises:

Abstract: A palletless rack-type parking system with a stacker crane comprises a plurality of racks each having a plurality of parking spaces in a lattice form and arranged on a support surface to be spaced apart from each another at a regular interval; a plurality of storage fork bars each including a first projection tab projected from a predetermined portion of a lower surface thereof to have a predetermined height and horizontally mounted on an upper surface of a first support beam in a regular interval through the first projection tap to cross the support beam in a right angle, at least one end of which is projected longer from the support beam of the rack in a beam form; a transporting fork including a plurality of transporting fork bars each having a second projection tap projected from a predetermined portion of a lower surface thereof to have a predetermined height and a second support beam arranged to cross the storage fork bar in a right angle and for supporting the second projecting tap facing its lower sur

Abstract: A plurality of staging tower assemblies disposed above a conveyor for storing items therein and, more particularly flats mail items, which are then collated in any selected order. Each tower assembly has a plurality of independently operable endless belts below, above, and in a transition zone along the conveyor. The endless belts are driven according to a selected order of collation by a computerized controller.

Abstract: The invention provides a parking structure for accommodating a plurality of vehicles in individual parking spaces, the parking structure comprising a parking tower including an entry/exit and a plurality of parking stories having parking spaces, a rotary platform for receiving each vehicle, a lifting platform for carrying the vehicles up and/or down from the entry/exit of the parking tower to the stories and from the stories back to the entry/exit of the tower, and a carriage assembly for transferring the vehicles between the rotary platform and the lifting platform and between the lifting platform and the stories.

Abstract: An elevator type parking system is disclosed. The system includes a main frame having a plurality of vertical columns and horizontal columns for forming a hoist way in a center portion thereof a plurality of parking rooms at both sides of the hoist way, a lift movable along the hoist way formed in the main frame, a lift lifting and lowering drive unit for lifting and lowering the lift, a parking unit installed in each floor of the parking room and being horizontally movable, a parking unit actuating unit installed on the lift for horizontally pulling the parking unit from the parking room to the hoist way and pushing the same from the hoist way to the parking room, a driven unit fixed to the parking unit and driven by the parking means actuating unit for thereby horizontally moving the parking unit.

Abstract: A two way operated storage system including a container storage area in the form of a multi-rack, multi-tier rotary storage carousel, a vertical lift for transporting containers vertically to a shuttle that transfers containers to and from the storage carousel. Storage carousel is supported on two straight tracks separated by a non-supporting distance. The rotary storage carousel and the shuttle are mechanically and synchronously interlocked such that the storage system can be operated in two different directions.

Abstract: A vehicle handling system is provided for an automated parking garage. The system includes a loading platform dimensioned to support a vehicle, the loading platform including gratings each formed by a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel bars. The system also includes a carriage also formed with a grating having a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel bars, wherein the gratings of the loading platform and the carriage being sized and configured to allow the bars of the carriage to pass between the bars of the loading platform. The system also includes a lifting mechanism for lifting a vehicle away from the loading platform. The lifting mechanism may be a stacker crane assembly allowing both vertical and horizontal movement of the carriage or a robot trolley and lift assembly. The system may also include a turntable for changing the orientation of the vehicle within the garage.

Abstract: A system for moving watercraft for storage inside a dry stack watercraft storage facility. The system includes a frame assembly, a cradle assembly and a rack assembly which closely interact with each other to precisely and securely position and protect watercraft stored inside the facility. The cradle assembly lifts a watercraft from the watercraft's center of gravity to position in the rack assembly. The rack assembly supports the watercraft through a pair of cantilever beams, and further includes a pair of cable guides used to guide the cradle assembly in the placement of the watercraft on the cantilever beams and to reduce the sway present during the positioning of the watercraft. The frame assembly supports and protects the other assemblies.

Abstract: An improved automated parking garage structure comprising a supporting framework bearing a plurality of vehicle parking stalls arranged in a radial manner on a plurality of levels about a central core. Each of the stalls support a vehicle on a series of fingers. An elevator tower is located within said central core and has an elevator platform adapted for vertical travel, the tower rotating about a vertical axis. A transfer lift for transferring a vehicle between ground level and a level for transfer to or from said elevator platform; is located at ground level and accepts vehicles for parking and return. The elevator platform includes an extension carriage for transferring a vehicle between the platform and the stalls and transfer lift. Operation of the transfer lift, elevator and tower are coordinated by an automated control system, which may include a first unit located at the tower and a second unit, serving as a customer interface, at a remote location.

Abstract: A storage structure has an entry chamber for receiving articles, a storage area for storing the articles, a lift passage for connecting the entry chamber and the storage area, and a lift for conveying the articles through the lift passage between the entry chamber and the storage area. The storage structure includes a turning chamber provided separately from the entry chamber and connected to the lift passage for changing the orientation of an article. A turntable device is supported in the turning chamber to receive an article from the lift within the lift passage and to transfer an article to the lift. The turntable device includes a rotatable carrying surface and two auxiliary supports. One auxiliary support is located on each of two opposite sides of the turntable device for supporting the carrying surface when the carrying surface rotates. The carrying surface is movable between a position within the lift passage and a position outside of the lift passage.

Abstract: The present invention refers to improvements provided by a robotized, radial type parking system, allowing twelve vehicles to be parked per floor without the need of areas for vehicle maneuvering or circulation, and which can be used in any urban area, especially where the land is scarce and expensive; the result is a high level of efficiency and density for vehicle parking as compared with the overall land and building area.

Abstract: Mechanized and fully automatically managed installation for the storage of objects, in particular motor vehicles or containers, including a central managing unit, at least one runway (14) or (16), storage cells (24), (26) distributed on each side of the runway and longitudinally orientated, at an angle of between 30.degree. and 60.degree. with the runway, at least one trolley (18), (22) comprising a wheeled frame fitted with an independent driving device and with guiding devices to enable the trolley to move along the runway and into the storage cells. The trolley includes a pivoting device, to be pivoted around the intersection point of the symmetry axis (16) of the runway and the symmetry axis (28) of the cell in which the motor vehicle has to be loaded or unloaded, so as to bring the guiding devices along said symmetry axis of the cell so the trolley can enter it and proceed with the loading or unloading of the vehicle.

Abstract: A parking tower includes a plurality of layers, an elevator device mounted in a frame structure and movable up and down to each of the plurality of layers by means of a lifting device, at least one conveying device slidably mounted on each of the plurality of layers and movable horizontally in a parking zone of associated layer for supporting a car thereon, at least one pair of pinions mounted in each of the plurality of layers and each meshing with a corresponding rack of the conveying device, at least one pair of transmission devices mounted on each of the layers and each actuated by a driving device for rotating a corresponding one of the pinions, at least one pair of manipulating devices each detachably connecting between a corresponding one of the transmission devices and associated pinion.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system such as can be used as a parking bay structure is provided which comprises a hydraulically operated skip hoist system and which includes a skip hoist shaft and a skip which is hoistable up and down the shaft. A plurality of parking bays are located around the skip hoist shaft. A pair of shuttles are located on the skip and are moveable relative to the skip for positioning vehicles on and removing vehicles from the parking bays. The shuttles are located on a rotunda on the skip which is rotatable about a vertical axis for rotating the shuttles to align the shuttles with the parking bays surrounding the skip hoist shaft.

Abstract: A parking device contains parking boxes (20) for parking cars in two high storage racks arranged to either side of a conveying floor (14). A hoisting appliance (64) is longitudinally movable on the floor (14) between the high storage racks has a vertically and telescopingly horizontally adjustable conveying table (70). At the side of a rack (10) opposite the floor an entrance and departure station (24) is disposed having rest combs (30) projecting from both outer sides into the car track areas, between which complementary transport combs (36) of a shiftable lifting table (34) can be moved vertically and from there horizontally in relation to a parking box (20) formed as a transition place (50). Transition place (50) and all parking boxes (20) contain rest combs (51 and 86 respectively) on both sides, which interact with transport combs (80) fitted on both sides of the hoisting appliance conveying table (70) for receiving and transferring of cars.

Abstract: An automatic power-driven apparatus is provided for storing objects, particularly motor vehicles. The apparatus comprises at least two vertically-arranged levels, each having a closed-circuit transit track provided with two longitudinal transit lanes, four rows of storage cells extending on either side of each transit lane, and at least one lift which is movable between a loading and/or unloading bay and each level, each of the lifts being arranged so that it takes up the same space as a storage cell. The apparatus further comprises, on each level, at least one self-driving trolley, and a trolley-guiding device for moving the trolleys along the transit track, each trolley being provided with devices for loading and unloading the objects.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a multi-tier parking facility system for depositing and removing vehicles, particularly passenger automobiles. The facility includes parking devices which are arranged in a plurality of levels in corresponding parking spaces. Each parking device has plural comb-like carrying arms for receiving the vehicles. A tier conveyor is vertically movable between drive-in and drive-out areas for receiving and discharging the vehicle at a selected level. The tier conveyor includes a transfer device having comb-like carrying arms. The transfer device includes a lifting device for transferring the vehicles to and from the parking device respectively. The parking devices are horizontally movable on parking rails arranged in the parking space and on travel rails arranged on the tier conveyor. The parking devices are pulled out of and pushed into the parking spaces or boxes by a hauling device which is arranged at the tier conveyor.

Abstract: Automated parking system for motor vehicles in silos including cells, carports, corridors, ramps and the like, in which the motor vehicle is carried using lifting and translating devices. The vehicles arrive at a loading floor with access to loading/unloading cabins. The loading floors have an elevator compartment arranged along the major axis of a motor vehicle. The lifting and translating devices move inside the elevator compartment and the vehicles are picked up by translating elements in the elevator compartment, and are then transported to positioning cells located on several parking floors. The system includes comb-like supports including several mobile pieces which can be opened and closed for supporting the motor vehicles.

Abstract: A three dimensional parking system (1) includes a plurality of housing stations (X1, Y1, etc.) which are arranged in a vertical direction for accommodating vehicles. A lift compartment (31) is provided adjacent to the housing stations (X1, Y1, etc.). Lifts (4) are vertically movable in the lift compartment while carrying a vehicle thereon. A movable platform (7) carries the vehicle, and is capable of transferring the vehicle to and from the lifts (4). The platform (7) includes drive wheels (9), a drive motor (25) for driving the drive wheels (9), and an energy storage device (19). The energy storage device (19) supplies electrical power to the drive motor (25) when the platform (7) is driven. Therefore, the platform (7) moves between the housing station (X1, Y1, etc.) and the lift compartment (31) under its own ability.

Abstract: Parking garage hoist translates on a central `main` aisle driven by hydraulic translation motor and raises hoist car driven by hydraulic translation motor. Both motors are mounted near the base of the hoist and power for the hydraulic motors is derived from overhead electrical rails and power pick-up with the picked up power converted to hydraulic power. A transverse aisle may be provided to house a hoist for maintenance while another hoist travels on the main aisle. An extension aisle may be provided to house a hoist while another hoist travels on the main aisle.

Abstract: An automatic car parking system comprised of a parking rack and at least one car lifting feeder. The parking rack is divided into a plurality of parking spaces. The car lifting feeder has a pair of comb-like wings for carrying a car into a pair of comb-like platforms which are made on each parking space in the parking rack.

Abstract: A multi-level storage or parking structure. Modular construction of the facility and its components offers portability. Vehicle delivery and pickup is achieved with a telescoping type drive and a shuttle slave mechanism used on a bi-directional shuttle. Hydraulic elevator operation allows the use of a single hydraulic drive unit to operate more than one skip or elevator which may include more than one vehicle on each elevator. Flexible fingers are mounted on the shuttle to retain the vehicle during delivery and retrieval and vehicle storage and retrieval is automatically accomplished.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-story parking garage which includes a plurality of parking garage floors and a plurality of parking spaces on each of the floors. The garage is further comprised of interconnecting rails and tracks along which a vehicle conveyer device can move so as to transfer cars from an entrance of the garage to parking spaces in the garage on different floors of the garage and then remove the cars from the parking spaces and move them to the exit point of the garage. The vehicle conveyer is comprised of a flat car frame having a plurality of rollers connected thereto which can move along the rails. The flat car includes grooved surface areas which are positioned in a manner corresponding to the four wheels of a car. A shifter device is provided which is of a relatively short height so that it can move beneath a car by moving horizontally along a track and then move upward vertically.

Abstract: A storage device for automatic storage of items such as vehicles including a deposit station and removal station. A plurality of storage stations are provided having a deposit and a removal opening. A transport device is provided for transporting the item from adjacent the deposit station to adjacent one of the plurality of storage stations. The transport device also takes the item from adjacent the storage station to adjacent the removal station. A transfer device is provided for transferring the items from the transport device to the storage stations. The transfer device includes a transfer grate having parallel grate arms connected to each other by a ty-bar, a lifting mechanism connected to the grate arms and a transversing mechanism including running gears for moving the transfer grate horizontally.

Abstract: There are defined a lift space (E) and multi-storied housing spaces (X, Y) provided on at least one side out of the left side, right side, front side, and rear side of the lift space (E). A three dimensional housing apparatus comprises a liftable fork unit composed of a pair of liftable forks (5a, 5b) movable up and down in the lift space (E), and a plurality of traversable housing forks (20) each reciprocatingly movable between a corresponding housing space (X, Y) and the lift space (E). An object (C) to be housed can speedily and safely be warehoused in and delivered from a respective housing space (X, Y) by the liftable fork unit (5a, 5b) and a respective traversable housing fork (20).

Abstract: An apparatus includes an automobile transporting carriage constituted by an inner frame, provided with wheels and motors for translation of the carriage along rails and slidingly coupled, for vertical displacement, to an outer frame not overlying the region covered by the inner frame, the outer frame having a set of comb-like teeth for supporting the wheels of an automobile, which teeth can be intercalated with teeth of a fixed rack, to enable the carriage to pick up an automobile from the fixed rack by raising the outer frame with the teeth thereof passing between the teeth on the fixed rails, or likewise deposit it on the fixed rack by lowering the outer frame.

Abstract: An automatic material handling system includes two or more vertically extending staging structures (10) incorporating a plurality of shelving surfaces (24) arranged in rows in respective staging structures for accommodating transport pallets or like goods carriers. The system also includes a loading station (15) and an input/output station (16) for serving a machine tool. The aforementioned three system auxiliaries are placed in a row along a track (14) with a movable a carriage structure (12). The carriage structure includes a load carrier (26) having load-support surfaces which while overlapping the shelving surfaces (24) are able to pass vertically therethrough. A compact system requiring the least possible floor space is thus provided. In addition, the system can be suitably controlled by a computer, so as to obtain a fully automatic material handling system.

Abstract: An installation for storing a variety of elongate rod stock and for automatically supplying such stock in a selected sequence to a severing machine which is spaced from the installation, the rod stock being stored in the installation with their longitudinal dimensions all parallel to one another and to the direction of the severing machine, and the installation being composed of a group of vertically extending shelving units spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the direction toward the severing machine, each shelving unit presenting a plurality of compartments spaced vertically from one another, a gantry crane including a crane bridge movable between the compartments for conveying stock to and from each compartment, and a rollway associated with one of the shelving units, arranged to convey stock to and from the severing machine, and vertically movable between a raised position and a lowered position.

Abstract: An automated parking system includes a multi-story tower having a central elevator shaft. The building is substantially circular in cross section and contains a plurality of parking stalls that radiate from the elevator shaft on each of the stories. An elevator mechanism elevates a turntable, rotatably mounted on the elevator mechanism for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, between the several floors of the building. A shuttle travels from the turntable to an entrance ramp on the ground level of the building, moves a vehicle to be parked from the entrance ramp to the turntable, whereupon the elevator and turntable cooperate to deposit the vehicle in a parking stall on one of the several floors. The elevator and turntable mechanism operate in reverse to carry the vehicle from a parking stall to an exit ramp on the ground floor of the building.