EP1497516B1

EP1497516B1 - Storage installation

Info

Publication number: EP1497516B1
Application number: EP03712526A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Angelo Dotta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-22
Filing date: 2003-04-15
Publication date: 2006-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-15
Also published as: ATE345429T1; RU2004133890A; SM200200008B; ES2276051T3; AU2003216616A1; WO2003089737A1; SM200200008A; DE60309688T2; RU2311518C2; CN1646780A; CN1300432C; DE60309688D1; EP1497516A1

Abstract

A storage installation comprising at least one basic installation or module (2a, 2b), each module including: 5 -a lift (50) equipped with a quadrangular platform (11) and with means (51-59) to move said platform (11) along a vertical shaft (12) to make said platform take several positions corresponding to different levels (Ll, L2...Ln) along said shaft; -a plurality of boxes ( 13) located at each of said different levels 10 and arranged around the lift shaft, one side of each box being adjacent to a corresponding side of the shaft, each box being arranged to house a trolley (14) on which the object(s) to be stored is (are) placed; -means for translating the trolleys and allowing trolley loading 15 and unloading onto and from the platform according to mutually perpendicular directions, by following suitable guides (16) intersecting onto the platform itself.

Description

The present invention relates to a storage installation for automated storage of objects of different kinds, such as cars or pallets.
Automated multi-storey storage installations are known since a long time for building both external (overground) structures and underground structures.
Examples of automated storage systems particularly suitable for cars are disclosed in DE 4334973 and WO 01/04439.
Another example of storage installation for vehicles is disclosed in US-A-5,069,592 on which the preamble of claim 1 is based.
The known solutions however require complex systems and are scarcely advantageous, since they mostly require moving a plurality of members in order to locate a new object into the wanted position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage installation, which is rational and of cheap and simple manufacture and management.
The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved by the storage installation as claimed in the appended claims.
According to the invention, the installation comprises one or more autonomous basic installations or modules, which are arranged side by side to form installations with very high space exploitation.
Advantageously, the storage installation according to the invention comprises, for each module, a lift serving, for each level, up to four boxes disposed in a cross-shape. The load displacement takes place by means of trolleys, which are translated from and towards the lift platform according to mutually perpendicular directions along suitable guides, for instance rails, which intersect on the platform itself.
Thus, the need for rotary movements of the lift platform or for relative trolley displacements is avoided, whereby the installation structure is made more compact and functional.
Further in accordance with the invention, advantageously trolley translation relative to the platform is obtained by means of chain and sprocket wheel systems located below the lift platform.
Thus, all members for moving the trolleys are grouped at the platform of each lift, with consequent advantages from the autonomy standpoint. Mutual independence of the basic installations or modules allows a complete mutual isolation thereof, so that damages caused by fire or explosions concerning one or more modules can be considerably reduced.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not the only, embodiment thereof, shown by way of non limiting indication in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a basic installation or module according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the module shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a multi-module storage installation according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of a platform;
Fig. 5 is a front view of the platform shown in Fig. 4, in a first position (idle position);
Fig. 6 is a front view of the platform shown in Fig. 4, in a second position (operating position);
Fig. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the platform shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 8 is a side view of a detail of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of the lift;
Fig. 10 is a top view of the lift shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, storage installation 1 according to the invention consists of a multi-storey modular structure comprising a lift 50, vertically moved by suitable means in a shaft 12 located centrally of the module, and a plurality of boxes 13, with shape and surface corresponding to the plan of shaft 12, located at the various levels L₁, L₂...Ln of installation 1.
Four boxes 13 are preferably provided at each level. The boxes have quadrangular, preferably rectangular, shape and are located in a cross-shaped arrangement around lift 50, in such a manner that one side of each box 13 is adjacent to one side of shaft 12 in which lift 50 moves.
As shown in fig. 3, installation 1 comprises first modules 2a having cross-shaped plan, and second modules 2b having T-shaped plan. First modules 2a will be located centrally of the structure and second modules 2b will be located along the structure perimeter.
Fig. 3 relates to a car park and shows the rational arrangement of thirty-three modules 2a, 2b in an area of about 1800 m² (24 m x 75 m). The structure provides more than 600 parking places by using five-storey modules, which require an excavation about 11 m deep in case of underground installation.
Modules 2a, 2b are arranged side by side so that in each first module 2a three consecutive sides out of the twelve sides of the cross perimeter are contiguous with three sides of each adjoining module. Such an arrangement allows a rational exploitation of the available space and moreover allows reserving a specific level, for instance the ground level, for entering each lift 50 and leaving same through the oblique running lanes (dashed lines in Fig. 3). Thus an optimum access to lifts 50 is obtained, while allowing an easy car entrance and exit into and from lifts 50.
The structure can also be built overground, without need of ramps, light coverings against bad weather being provided on top each lift 50.
Each lift 50 in each module 2a, 2b is equipped with a rectangular platform 11 that can reach the various levels L₁, L₂...L_n of installation 1.
Each box 13 may house a trolley 14 onto which the object(s) to be stored is (are) placed. Each trolley 14 will be moreover equipped with wheels or bearings 15 and will preferably serve a single box 13 exclusively.
Depending on the architectural requirements, each level L₁, L₂...L_n of installation 1 may comprise one to four boxes 13, so as to adapt the structure to the ground shape, in case of underground installation, or to the particular aesthetic shape to be attained, in case of overground installation.
Each storage module 2a, 2b forms an independent unit, and this makes the storage installation advantageously versatile: actually, it will be possible, by combining a convenient number of modules, to store from a small number of cars, as is required for small apartment buildings, to thousands of cars for the car parks of trading or industrial centres.
In case of a car park installation, platform 11 suitably has rectangular shape, as disclosed above, sized so as to house a single car 10. The invention may however be built also by using platforms with different shapes, e.g. with square plan, and suitably sized depending on the objects to be stored.
Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6, platform 11 has a base 11a from which a set of uprights 11b projects upwards. Uprights 11b are arranged to support a plane 11c having hollow rails 16 intended to guide wheels 15 of trolleys 14 while the latter are being loaded onto and unloaded from platform 11.
Wheels 15 of trolleys 14 are oriented depending on the mutually perpendicular directions along which trolleys 14 can be moved from and towards platform 11 and are arranged in parallel rows so as to correspond with hollow rails 16 provided on platform 11.
Corresponding rails are also provided in boxes 13 to guide trolleys 14 and keep wheels 15 thereof in alignment with respect to the rails of platform 11.
Rails 16 on platform 11 are oriented according to two perpendicular directions to allow displacing any trolley 14 both longitudinally and transversally relative to platform 11.
The trolley translating means, allowing loading and unloading trolleys 14 onto and from platform 11, are located between plane 11c and base 11a of platform 11.
Such means for translating trolleys 14 comprise chains or belts 30a, 30b, which are arranged along mutually perpendicular axes parallel to the sides of platform 11 and which cooperate with pairs of sprocket wheels or ring gears or pulleys 31, driven by motors (not shown) also located in the base of platform 11.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, at least six chains 30a, 30b are provided, arranged in an H-shaped pattern. Four chains 30a are arranged near to the minor sides of platform 11 and parallel thereto, whereas two other chains 30b are arranged perpendicularly to the first ones along the central platform line, as shown in Fig. 4.
Chains 30a, 30b are further provided with a set of engagement members 40 arranged to be coupled with trolleys 14 to move them from platform 11 to boxes 13 and vice versa. Members 40 project from platform plane 11c through corresponding slots 17 formed in plane 11c.
Advantageously, chains 30a, 30b and corresponding slots 17 have such a length and such an arrangement that they do not mutually interfere.
Sprocket wheels 31, with which chains 30a, 30b mesh, are arranged in pairs on oscillating arms 32', 32". Arms 32' may be rotated by known means, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (not shown), towards the outside of platform 11, while arms 32" follow the movements of arms 32' and are resiliently retained by a device acting as a tightener.
Thanks to oscillating arms 32', 32", each chain 30a, 30b may take two positions: a first position, or idle position, in which each chain 30a, 30b lies within the perimeter of platform 11 thereby allowing vertical displacement of the platform along shaft 12, ad a second position, or operating position, in which a portion of each chain 30a, 30b projects beyond the edge of platform 11 and engages, through one of members 40, trolley 14 inside the corresponding box 13.
The H-shaped pattern with six chains 30a, 30b allows having two chains 30a projecting from each major side of platform 11 and one chain 30b projecting from each minor side of the platform.
Upon attainment of the operating position, in which each chain 30a, 30b projects from platform 11 and member 40 is in suitable position for being coupled with trolley 14, arm 32' is braked so that corresponding chain 30a, 30b can safely translate trolley 14.
Three engagement members 40 are preferably provided and are so configured that they successively enter corresponding seats 19 formed in the lower surface of trolley 14, whereby the trolleys are displaced from and onto platform 11 depending on the direction of rotation of the corresponding chain.
Trolley 14 is locked onto platform 11 by stopping means (not shown), e.g. a brake/clamp, projecting from platform 11 itself. Once trolley 14 has been locked, arms 32" are released and arms 32' are brought back to the idle position. Platform 11 can therefore displace along shaft 12 and bring trolley 14 to the level for loading/unloading the objects to be stored. After having received a new load, platform 11 is displaced as far as it attains the level corresponding to the starting box. The same trolley 14, with its load, is placed again into the box by engagement members 40 thanks to the rotation of the chain, after trolley 14 has been released from the stopping means and after oscillating arms 32', 32" have been rotated towards the outside of platform 11.
Platform 11 will be displaced along shaft 12 depending on the needs, that is it will be moved to take an empty trolley from a corresponding box 13 to start the loading operation, or to take a loaded trolley for unloading the stored object(s).
As better shown in Figs. 7 and 8, each engagement member 40 comprises a roller 41, preferably made of a non-rigid material, supported by a pair of double forks 42. Said double forks 42 are secured at one end, through pins 46, to a corresponding chain 30a, 30b, at two suitably spaced links 33 of said chain 30a, 30b. At the other end, said forks 42 are moreover pivotally connected in correspondence of said roller 41 through a pivot pin 44, about which said roller 41 is rotatable.
Pins 46 slide (with or without the help of coaxial bearings or bushes) within guides 47 located at both sides of each chain 30a, 30b and secured below plane 11c, along slots 17, so as to stabilise double forks 42 during movement of chain 30a, 30b when engagement members 40 are engaged in seats 19.
Each double fork 42 is made of two brackets 43 shaped so as to define, when contacting each other, a seat for roller 41, a rectilinear portion passing through slot 17 and a seat for link 33 of chain 30a, 30b. To confer a higher strength to double fork 42, brackets 43 are soldered along contacting sections 43a.
Even though engagement members 40 have been disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiment, engagement members of different shape can be manufactured, provided they suitably project so as to engage suitable seats or projections, e.g. in the shape of a tooth or a baffle, provided in trolleys 14.
Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, lifting device or lift 50 for vertically moving platform 11 along shaft 12 is disclosed.
Said lift 50 comprises four chains 51 fastened to the corners of platform 11 and turning about corresponding sprocket wheels 52 secured to two shafts 55 located on top the lift, which shafts are mutually parallel and adjacent to the minor sides of platform 11.
A motor 58 is provided to rotate shafts 55, and hence to allow up and down movements of platform 11 of lift 50. The motor drives shafts 55 through a driving gear 59, a secondary shaft 56 and a pair of worm reducers 57.
Each chain 51 is further provided at its free end with a counterweight 53 that is slidable in a proper seat 54 provided beside shaft 12 of lift 50. Preferably the counterweights slide in tubular members with square or rectangular cross section, which are located at the corners of shaft 12 and serve moreover as structural members of the module.
Thanks to such arrangement of shafts and reducers, the twofold advantage is obtained that chain traction is synchronised and the torque to be transmitted to the sprocket wheels is loaded onto shafts 55, so that the weight on the other drive members is reduced.
Further important advantages are the construction simplicity, the reduced space occupation both in height and in width, and the accessibility of all driving and control means at the plane of site: that accessibility would not be allowed by a hydraulic lifting system in case of an underground installation.
Said advantageous mechanical solution is compatible also with using four cables, in place of the four chains, each cable having one end anchored to a platform corner and the other end anchored to a corresponding drum, provided with a helical groove, in a winch replacing each sprocket wheel. This arrangement requires no counterweights.
For safety reasons it is moreover necessary to isolate each shaft, when the platform is moving, to prevent the access of people or animals. To this end the shaft is equipped with a perimetric balustrade that is lowered down to the floor level when the platform is about to move. Said balustrade will advantageously comprise a suitably supported and driven rectangular frame along the shaft perimeter, which frame has fastened thereto chains anchored to the floor, slightly below the plane of site. Said chains, which preferably mutually cross, can easily become extended while the frame is being lifted and be gathered below the frame when the latter is being lowered, without need for suitable and cumbersome guiding means. Use of metal chains allows also a high voltage electrifying, suitable to keep off animals.
Electronic and electromechanical devices are also provided for automatically lifting lift 50, for the proper positioning thereof at the various levels and for actuating the translation of trolleys 14.
Moreover control, safety and management devices for the park or storage installation will be provided.
Such devices are not disclosed in that they are well in the reach of people of normal skill in the art.

Claims

A storage installation comprising at least one basic installation or module (2a, 2b), each basic installation or module (2a, 2b) including:
- a lift (50) equipped with a quadrangular platform (11) and with means (51-59) to lift and lower said platform (11) along a vertical shaft (12) so that said platform (11) is made to take several positions corresponding to different levels (L₁, L₂...L_n) along said shaft (12);

- a plurality of boxes (13) located at each of said different levels (L₁, L₂...L_n) and arranged around the shaft (12) of the lift (50), one side of each box (13) being adjacent to a corresponding side of the shaft (12), each box (13) being arranged to house a trolley (14) on which the object(s) to be stored is/are placed; each trolley (14) being directly translated from its box (13) to the platform (11) and vice versa according to a direction perpendicular to the line of contiguity between said box (13) and the shaft (12), and said platform (11) being provided with trolley translating means and mutually perpendicular guides (16) for governing the trolleys (14) which move from or towards any of the sides of platform (11), said trolleys (14) being provided with wheels or bearings (15) cooperating with said guides (16), said wheels or bearings (15) being oriented depending on the respective mutually perpendicular directions along which said trolleys (14) can be moved from and towards said platform (11) and being arranged in parallel rows so as to correspond with said guides (16) provided on said platform (11), each of said boxes being equipped with its own corresponding trolley (14) serving a single box (13) exclusively, characterised in that for entering said trolleys (14) and leaving same the trolleys (14) in said lift (50) are taken by the platform to a reserved level at which said object(s) can enter or leave said trolleys (14) while said trolleys (14) remain on said platform (11).
An installation according to claim 1, wherein said platform (11) and said boxes (13) have square or rectangular plan, and four of said boxes (13) are arranged around the shaft (12) at each level, thereby defining a basic installation or module (2a, 2b) with cross-shaped plan.
An installation according to claim 1, wherein said platform (11) and said boxes (13) have square or rectangular plan, and three of said boxes (13) are arranged around the shaft (12) at each level, thereby defining a basic installation or module (2a, 2b) with T-shaped plan.
An installation according to claims 2 and/or 3, including a plurality of basic installations or modules (2a, 2b) with cross-shaped plan (2a) and/or T-shaped plan (2b), each module (2a, 2b) including a corresponding lift (50) with associated boxes (13), said modules (2a, 2b) being arranged beside each other so that each module has three consecutive sides of its perimeter adjacent to three sides of each adjacent module (2a, 2b).
An installation according to claim 4, wherein said basic installation or modules (2a,2b) are arranged side by side so that in each module three consecutive sides are contiguous with three sides of each adjoining module, whereby for entering each lift (50) and leaving same said object(s) can enter or leave said trolleys (14) at said reserved level through oblique running lanes determined by said arrangement.
An installation according to any preceding claim, wherein said reserved level at which said object(s) can enter or leave said trolleys (14) corresponds substantially with the ground level.
An installation according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said basic installations or modules is autonomous and allows a complete mutual isolation thereof, so that damages caused by fire or explosions concerning one or more modules can be considerably reduced.
An installation according to any preceding claim, wherein said guides (16) are obtained through hollow rails.
An installation according to claim 1, wherein said trolleys (14) are provided with wheels or bearings (15) cooperating with said mutually perpendicular guides (16), said wheels (15) on which the trolleys (14) move being oriented along the respective two directions the trolleys (14) are to follow during translation from the platform (11) to an adjacent box (13) and vice versa, and said guides (16) preferably being hollow rails.
An installation according to claim 1, wherein the platform (11) of each lift (50) is provided with first means for moving the trolleys (14) in east-west and west-east directions, and with second means for moving the trolleys (14) in north-south and south-north directions, said means comprising at least one closed-loop chain or belt (30a, 30b) supported and driven by suitable sprocket wheels or pulleys (31), and said closed-loop chain or belt (30a, 30b) having at least one tooth or other engagement member (40) arranged to be coupled with the trolley (14) to be moved, said moving means being capable of taking a first position, or idle position, in which said chain (30a, 30b) lies within the perimeter of the platform (11), and a second position, or operating position, in which a portion of said chain (30a, 30b) projects beyond the edge of the platform (11) so that said engagement member (40) can engage a corresponding seat (19) in said trolleys (14), thereby allowing displacement of the trolleys (14) from and towards the platform (11).
An installation according to claim 10, wherein said sprocket wheels or pulleys (31) are mounted onto oscillating arms (32', 32") pivotally connected to the platform (11) so that they make said moving means take said first and second positions.
An installation according to claim 10, wherein the number of said engagement members (40) for each chain or belt (30a, 30b) is such that, during rotation of the chain or belt (30a, 30b), the complete translation of the trolleys (14) from said boxes (13) to said platform (11) and vice versa is allowed.
An installation according to claim 10, wherein each said moving means comprises at least two pairs of sprocket wheels or pulleys (31), each pair of sprocket wheels or pulleys (31) comprising a first sprocket wheel or pulley (31) pivotally mounted on the axis on which the corresponding oscillating arm (32', 32") is pivotally mounted, and a second sprocket wheel or pulley (31) idly mounted at the opposite end of said oscillating arm (32', 32"), whereby a deformable parallelogram system is obtained that can be deformed, because of the half-rotation of the oscillating arms (32', 32"), to allow one of said second sprocket wheels or pulleys (31) which lies outside the platform (11) to be located beneath the trolley (14).
An installation according to claim 13, wherein each oscillating arm (32') pivotally mounted near the outer edge of the platform (11) is equipped with driving means driving its oscillation, and wherein each oscillating arm (32") pivotally mounted in an almost central position is equipped with a resilient tightener means, which keeps said chain or belt (30a, 30b) tight, and with a brake, which locks the arm as soon as the chain or belt (30a, 30b) must exert a drawing action for translating the trolley (14) from or towards the platform (11).
An installation according to claim 10, wherein the engagement members (40) for coupling with the trolleys (14) comprise a pair of double forks (42) secured to the chains or belts (30a, 30b), said double forks (42) being mutually articulated and being pivotally connected to the chains or belts (30a, 30b) through pins (45), thereby determining a triangular configuration of the engagement member (40) and allowing its deformation along curvilinear paths.
An installation according to claim 15, wherein the pins (45) through which the double forks (42) are pivotally connected to the chains or belts (30a, 30b) transversally project from said chains or belts (30a, 30b) so as to be slidable, with or without interposed bearings or bushes, within suitable longitudinal guides (47) ensuring the stability of the engaging member (40) when it is under stress during translation of the trolleys (14).
An installation according to claim 1, wherein, for moving the platform (11) of the lift (50), four open chains (51) are provided, each having one end secured to one of the corners of the platform (11) and the other end secured to a corresponding counterweight (53), each chain (51) being supported at the top by a corresponding sprocket wheel (52) mounted onto a motor driven shaft.
An installation according to claim 17, wherein two motor-driven parallel shafts (55) arranged on top said shaft (12) are provided, each of said motor-driven shafts (55) supporting two of said sprocket wheels (52), and wherein a worm reducer (57) is provided for each said shaft (15), said reducers (57) being driven by a single motor (58) through a driving gear (59) and a secondary shaft (46).
An installation according to claim 17, comprising vertical guides (54) preferably consisting of tubular members with square or rectangular cross section, said guides (54) being structural members of the shaft (12) of the lift (50) and being arranged so that they allow said counterweights (53) to slide inside them.
An installation according to claim 1, wherein the movements of the platform (11) are obtained through cables each anchored at a bottom end to a corresponding corner of the platform and at the upper end to a corresponding rotatable drum of a winch.
An installation according to claim 1, wherein each shaft (12) is surrounded by a vertically movable balustrade comprising a frame arranged along the shaft perimeter, which frame has fastened thereto chains anchored to the floor, slightly below the plane of site, to such an extent that they can be gathered below said plane of site when the frame is being vertically lowered to the floor level.