Parking system

Abstract

To provide a parking device in which the pallet guide is less likely to come off the guide rail. [Solution] The parking device includes a first pallet, a second pallet, a first traverse trolley capable of traversing the first pallet, and a second traverse trolley capable of traversing the second pallet. Each of the first and second pallets is equipped with a first side guide and a second side guide, which are offset front to back in a plan view. Each of the first and second traverse trolleys is equipped with a first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail and a second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail, which are offset front to back in a plan view.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a parking device for parking vehicles such as automobiles.

Background Art

[0002] As a parking device for vehicles, a so-called multi-stage parking device is known, in which vehicles are placed on a pallet and parked in a stacked manner three-dimensionally. In the multi-stage parking device, the pallet can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction or traversed in the horizontal direction, so that the vehicle can be loaded and unloaded onto the pallet moved to the loading and unloading port.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The lifting and lowering operation of the pallet in the multi-stage parking device is mainly performed by winding up or winding down a suspension chain installed on the pallet. However, in the lifting and lowering operation of the pallet by only the suspension chain, the pallet shakes due to the vibration of the suspension chain or wind, etc., and the lifting and lowering operation of the pallet is not stable. Therefore, a guide is provided on the pallet, and by lifting and lowering the guide along the guide rail, the lifting and lowering operation of the pallet can be stabilized.

[0005] Guide rails are installed, for example, on support columns. However, when a pallet moves horizontally, there are gaps in the support column's guide rails to prevent collision between the guide on the moving pallet and the guide rail on the support column. In other words, there are sections on the support column where there are no guide rails. If the gaps in the sections where there are no guide rails are large, when external forces such as strong winds are applied, the pallet may sway, and the guides in the sections where there are no guide rails may deviate from the normal track. In this case, the guides may rest on the ends of the guide rails or push against the ends of the guide rails, resulting in defects such as the pallet tilting.

[0006] By installing guide rails on the traversing trolley that moves the pallets horizontally, the gaps in the guide rails on the support columns can be filled in with the guide rails on the traversing trolley. However, even in this case, the gap between the guide rails on the support columns and the guide rails on the traversing trolley was large, resulting in the defects described above.

[0007] Therefore, in order to improve the safety of the parking system, it was desirable to reduce the spacing in areas where guide rails are not present, and to create a structure in which the pallet guides do not come off the support columns or the guide rails of the traverse trolley.

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a parking device in which the pallet guide is less likely to come off the guide rail, in view of the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A parking device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first pallet and a second pallet on which vehicles can be placed, a first traverse trolley connecting the first pallet and capable of traversing the first pallet, and a second traverse trolley connecting the second pallet and capable of traversing the second pallet, wherein each of the first pallet and the second pallet is provided with a first side guide and a second side guide that are offset front to back in a plan view, and the first traverse trolley and the second traverse trolley Each of these is equipped with a first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail and a second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail, which are offset front to back in a plan view. When the first traverse trolley connected to the first pallet and the second traverse trolley connected to the second pallet are adjacent to each other, the second side guide of the first pallet engages with the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail of the second traverse trolley, and the first side guide of the second pallet engages with the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail of the first traverse trolley.

[0010] When the first traverse trolley and the second traverse trolley are adjacent to each other, in a plan view, the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley may be arranged front to back.

[0011] The parking device further includes a third pallet that moves up and down between a first traverse trolley and a second traverse trolley, the third pallet being fitted with a first side guide and a second side guide positioned offset front to back, and when the third pallet moves up and down between the first traverse trolley and the second traverse trolley, the first side guide and the second side guide of the third pallet may engage with the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley, respectively.

[0012] The parking device further includes a first column and a second column adjacent to each other, each of the first and second columns having a first side column fixing guide rail and a second side column fixing guide rail that are offset front to back in a plan view, the second side column fixing guide rail of the first column and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley are arranged vertically, the first side column fixing guide rail of the second column and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley are arranged vertically, and when the third pallet moves up and down between the first column and the second column, the first side guide of the third pallet and the second side guide of the third pallet may engage with the second side column fixing guide rail of the first column and the first side column fixing guide rail of the second column, respectively.

[0013] The distance between the second support fixing guide rail of the first support column and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley, and the distance between the first support fixing guide rail of the second support column and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley, may each be 50 mm or less.

[0014] Each of the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail, the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail, the first side support column fixing guide rail, and the second side support column fixing guide rail has a flat plate shape, and the first side guide may restrict the forward and backward movement of each of the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail and the second side support column fixing guide rail, and the second side guide may restrict the forward and backward movement of each of the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail and the first side support column fixing guide rail.

[0015] Each of the first and second side guides may have a U-shaped cross-section.

[0016] Each of the first side guide and the second side guide has a flat plate shape, and each of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail and the first side support column fixed guide rail restricts the movement of the second side guide in the front-rear direction, and each of the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail and the second side support column fixed guide rail may restrict the movement of the first side guide in the front-rear direction.

[0017] Each of the first-side transverse carriage fixed guide rail, the second-side transverse carriage fixed guide rail, the first-side column fixed guide rail, and the second-side column fixed guide rail may have a U-shaped cross section.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the interval between the discontinuous portions of the guide rail that engages with the pallet (the portion where the guide rail does not exist) is small, it is possible to prevent the guide of the pallet from coming off the guide rail. Therefore, the parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention can suppress the defect that the pallet tilts. Accordingly, the parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform a stable lifting operation, and the safety of the parking device is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a schematic front view showing the configuration of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the first-side guide and the second-side guide installed on the pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first-side guide and the second-side guide installed on the pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first-side guide and the second-side guide according to a modification example. [Figure 6] It is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the first-side transverse carriage fixed guide rail and the second-side transverse carriage fixed guide rail installed on the transverse carriage of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the first-side transverse carriage fixed guide rail and the second-side transverse carriage fixed guide rail according to a modification example. [Figure 8]It is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a first side support fixing guide rail and a second side support fixing guide rail installed on a support column of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the lateral movement operation of a pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the lateral movement operation of a pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the lateral movement operation of a pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the lateral movement operation of a pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] In a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is a schematic perspective view showing a first side lateral trolley fixing guide rail, a second side lateral trolley fixing guide rail, a first side support fixing guide rail, and a second side support fixing guide rail in a state where two lateral trolleys are adjacent to each other. [Figure 14] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the lifting operation of a pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] It is a schematic diagram for explaining the lifting operation of a pallet of a parking device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples of embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0021] In the drawings referred to in the embodiments, the same parts or parts having the same function are given the same reference numerals or similar reference numerals. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings may be different from the actual ratios for convenience of explanation, or a part of the configuration may be omitted from the drawings.

[0022] [1. Outline of the Configuration of the Parking Device 100] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic front and side views, respectively, showing the configuration of a parking device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the side of the parking device 100 with the entrance / exit opening will be referred to as the front, and the opposite side as the rear. Furthermore, the direction from the front to the rear of the parking device 100, or the direction from the rear to the front of the parking device 100 (i.e., the direction in which a vehicle 500 enters or exits the parking device 100), will be referred to as the front-rear direction.

[0023] The parking device 100 has a skeletal structure including support columns 102 and beams 104 installed between the support columns 102, and has multiple partitioned areas (hereinafter referred to as parking areas) capable of accommodating one vehicle 500. Specifically, the parking device 100 has four levels of parking areas in the vertical direction (lifting direction) where vehicles 500 are stacked, and four rows of parking areas in the horizontal direction (traverse direction) where vehicles 500 are placed side by side. However, the parking device 100 requires a reserve space for lifting, lowering, or traversing the vehicles 500, and excluding this reserve space, the parking device 100 can park and accommodate a maximum of 13 vehicles 500. That is, the parking device 100 has 13 parking areas, indicated by P1 to P13. In addition, a pallet 200 on which a vehicle 500 is placed is installed in each parking area.

[0024] Furthermore, the parking device 100 is not limited to a 4-tier, 4-row structure. Depending on the location where the parking device 100 is installed, it may have a structure with fewer than 4 tiers or 5 or more tiers in the vertical direction, and a structure with fewer than 4 or 5 or more rows in the horizontal direction.

[0025] The first level (ground level) of the parking device 100 has parking areas P1, P5, and P9 for the vehicle 500. The second and third levels (intermediate levels) of the parking device 100 have parking areas P2, P3, P6, P7, P10, and P11 for the vehicle 500. The parking area of ​​the first level is equipped with a pallet 200 that can be moved horizontally. The parking areas of the second and third levels are equipped with a pallet 200 and a horizontal trolley 300. The horizontal trolley 300 is connected to the pallet 200 and can move the pallet 200 horizontally. The pallet 200 installed in the parking areas of the second and third levels can be raised and lowered vertically.

[0026] Furthermore, one level of the parking device 100 has an entrance / exit for vehicles 500. That is, a gate 106 is installed on one level of the parking device 100, and vehicles 500 can enter or exit by opening and closing the gate 106. The opening and closing of the gate 106 is operated by a control panel 108 installed on the outside of the parking device 100. The control panel 108 can not only open and close the gate 106 but also move predetermined pallets. For example, it can move a pallet 200 for a predetermined parking area to the first level. The control panel 108 may also be installed on a support column 102.

[0027] The fourth level (top level) of the parking device 100 has parking areas P4, P8, P12, and P13 for vehicles 500. Pallets 200 are installed in the four parking areas, but traversing trolleys 300 are not installed. Therefore, the pallets 200 installed in the four parking areas can move up and down, but cannot move traversingly from side to side.

[0028] Two adjacent pallets 200 in the left-right direction are positioned with a gap between them so that vehicles 500 do not interfere with each other. A pallet 200 with two levels of parking space can move the pallet 200 of the lower level of parking space 1 horizontally, then move up and down between the second and first levels to allow vehicles 500 to enter and exit. A pallet 200 with three levels of parking space can move the pallets 200 of the lower level of parking space 1 and 2 horizontally, then move up and down between the third and first levels to allow vehicles 500 to enter and exit. A pallet 200 with four levels of parking space can move the pallets of the lower level of parking space 1 to 3 horizontally, then move up and down between the fourth and first levels to allow vehicles 500 to enter and exit.

[0029] The parking device 100 is a multi-story parking system capable of accommodating multiple vehicles 500. In a multi-story parking system, when vehicles 500 parked on the 2nd to 4th levels enter or exit, it is necessary to move the pallets 200 of the 2nd to 4th levels to the 1st level. The parking device 100 shown in Figure 1 uses a method in which the 1st level pallet 200 is moved horizontally and the 2nd to 4th level pallets 200 are raised and lowered, but the parking device 100 is not limited to this method. For example, the parking device 100 according to this embodiment can be fitted with various methods, such as a method in which the 1st level pallet 200 is sunk into an underground pit and the 2nd to 4th level pallets 200 are lowered to the 1st level, a method in which the 1st to 3rd level pallets 200 are slid in the front-to-back direction and the 2nd to 4th level pallets 200 are lowered to the 1st level, or a method that combines these methods.

[0030] Pallets 200 with 2 to 4 tiers are equipped with four suspension chains 202 at four locations: front, back, left, and right. The pallets 200 are raised and lowered using the suspension chains 202. However, raising and lowering the pallets 200 using only the suspension chains 202 results in the pallets 200 swaying due to vibrations of the suspension chains 202 or wind, making the raising and lowering operation unstable. Therefore, the parking device 100 is equipped with guides on the pallets 200. The guides on the pallets 200 can engage with guide rails installed on the support columns 102 and the traverse trolley 300. By moving along the guide rails with which the guides are engaged, the pallets 200 can stabilize their raising and lowering operation.

[0031] Therefore, the following will describe in detail the configuration of the guides installed on the pallets 200 of the 2- to 3-tier parking areas, as well as the guide rails installed on the traversing trolley 300 and the support columns 102. In other words, unless otherwise specified, pallet 200 refers to the pallets 200 of the 2- to 3-tier parking areas.

[0032] [2. Configuration of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 installed on the pallet 200 of the parking device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 3 is a perspective view as seen from the rear of the pallet 200. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 installed on the pallet 200 of the parking device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, in a rear view, a first side guide 400 and a second side guide 402 are installed on the left side (first side) and right side (second side) of the pallet 200, respectively. The first side guide 400 is fixed to the left end of the pallet 200 on the rear side of the pallet 200 via a first support part 404. The second side guide 402 is fixed to the right end of the pallet 200 on the rear side of the pallet 200 via a second support part 406. However, the method of fixing the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 is not limited to this. The first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 may be directly fixed to the pallet 200.

[0034] The first side guide 400 has a groove that extends in the vertical direction. That is, in a cross-sectional view, the first side guide 400 has a U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped opening of the first side guide 400 faces to the left. The first side guide 400 may be formed by a single member having a U-shaped cross-section, or by using multiple members to have a U-shaped cross-section. The configuration of the second side guide 402 is the same as that of the first side guide 400, but the direction of the U-shaped opening is reversed, facing to the right. In addition, the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 are positioned differently in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 are offset from each other in the front-to-back direction. Specifically, the position of the center line of the U-shaped opening is shifted front-to-back between the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402. In Figure 3, the first side guide 400 is positioned in front of the second side guide 402.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402, which are offset in the front-rear direction, can be formed using a common set of members. For example, by using a plate-shaped member 400a and a Z-shaped member 400b as common members and combining the plate-shaped member 400a and the Z-shaped member 400b in different orientations, the position of the centerline of the U-shaped opening with respect to the fixed reference plane can be shifted. The position of the centerline of the U-shaped opening can also be shifted by changing the front-rear lengths of the first support portion 404 and the second support portion 406.

[0036] The vertically protruding ends of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 may be bent or curved so as to widen the entrance and exit of the groove. The first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 have such a configuration, which makes it easier for the guide rail, described later, to enter or engage with the groove when the pallet 200 is raised or lowered.

[0037] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the first side guide 400A and the second side guide 402A, which are modified examples of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402. As shown in Figure 5, the vertically protruding ends of the first side guide 400A and the second side guide 402A are chamfered. That is, the protruding ends have a shape in which a part of the opening side (specifically, the corner of the end) is cut off. The first side guide 400A and the second side guide 402A have such a configuration, which makes it easier for the guide rail to further enter or engage with the groove when the pallet 200 is raised and lowered. Note that the protruding ends may be not only chamfered by cutting off the corner, but also rounded by R processing.

[0038] Furthermore, since the portion of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 that engages with the guide rail described later is a U-shaped portion in cross-section, in the following, only the U-shaped portion in cross-section may be referred to as the first side guide 400 or the second side guide 402.

[0039] [3. Configuration of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 installed on the traverse trolley 300 of a parking device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the traverse trolley 300 as seen from the rear.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, in a rear view, a first-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and a second-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 are installed on the left side (first side) and right side (second side) of the traverse trolley 300, respectively. The first-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 is fixed to the left end on the rear of the traverse trolley 300. The second-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 is fixed to the right end on the rear of the traverse trolley 300. However, the method of fixing the first-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 is not limited to this. The first-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 may also be fixed to the traverse trolley 300 via support parts.

[0041] The first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408 includes a first plate-like portion 408a that is parallel to the left-right direction and extends in the vertical direction, and a second plate-like portion 408b that is parallel to the front-rear direction and extends in the vertical direction. That is, in a cross-sectional view, the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408 has an L-shaped cross-section. The first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408 may be formed so that one member has an L-shaped cross-section, or it may be formed using multiple members to have an L-shaped cross-section. A first notch 412 is formed at the lower end of the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408. The second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410 also includes a first plate-like portion 410a and a second plate-like portion 410b, similar to the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408, and a second notch 414 is formed at the lower end of the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410. However, the orientation of the side ends of the first plate-shaped portion 408a of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the first plate-shaped portion 410a of the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 is opposite in the left-right direction. Also, the positions of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 are different in the front-rear direction. In other words, the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 are offset in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the position of the first plate-shaped portion 408a of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the position of the first plate-shaped portion 410a of the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 are shifted in the front-rear direction. In Figure 6, the first plate-shaped portion 408a of the first side traverse bogie fixed guide rail 408 is positioned behind the first plate-shaped portion 410a of the second side traverse bogie fixed guide rail 410. Alternatively, the first plate-shaped portion 408a of the first side traverse bogie fixed guide rail 408 may be positioned in front of the first plate-shaped portion 410a of the second side traverse bogie fixed guide rail 410. In this case, the front-to-back positional relationship between the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 would be reversed from that described above.

[0042] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408A and a second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410A, which are variations of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410. The offset width between the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408A and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410A shown in Figure 7 is greater than the offset width between the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 shown in Figure 6. When the offset width is large, notches do not need to be formed at the lower ends of the second plate-like portion 408b of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408A and the second plate-like portion 410b of the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410A.

[0043] As will be explained in detail later, the portions of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 that engage with the guides of the pallet 200 are the first plate-shaped portions 408a and 410a, which are flat plates. The second plate-shaped portions 408b and 410b are merely the fixing portions to the traverse trolley 300. Therefore, in the following, only the first plate-shaped portions 408a and 410a may be referred to as the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410.

[0044] [4. Configuration of the first side support fixing guide rail 416 and the second side support fixing guide rail 418] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the first support column fixing guide rail 416 and the second support column fixing guide rail 418 installed on the support column 102 of the parking device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 8 is a perspective view taken from the rear of the support column 102.

[0045] As shown in Figure 8, in a rear view, a first-side support guide rail 416 and a second-side support guide rail 418 are installed on the left side (first side) and right side (second side) of the support column 102, respectively. The first-side support guide rail 416 and the second-side support guide rail 418 are fixed to the support column 102 via support parts 420. Preferably, the first-side support guide rail 416 and the second-side support guide rail 418 are fixed to the support column 102 by multiple support parts 420. However, the method of fixing the first-side support guide rail 416 and the second-side support guide rail 418 is not limited to this. The first-side support guide rail 416 and the second-side support guide rail 418 may also be directly fixed to the support column 102.

[0046] The first side support fixing guide rail 416 includes a first plate-like portion 416a that is parallel to the left-right direction and extends in the vertical direction, and a second plate-like portion 416b that is parallel to the front-rear direction and extends in the vertical direction. That is, in cross-sectional view, the first side support fixing guide rail 416 has an L-shaped cross-section. The first side support fixing guide rail 416 may be formed so that one member has an L-shaped cross-section, or it may be formed using multiple members to have an L-shaped cross-section. The second side support fixing guide rail 418 also includes a first plate-like portion 418a and a second plate-like portion 418b, similar to the first side support fixing guide rail 416. However, the orientation of the side ends of the first plate-like portion 416a of the first side support fixing guide rail 416 and the first plate-like portion 418a of the second side support fixing guide rail 418 are opposite in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the first support column fixing guide rail 416 and the second support column fixing guide rail 418 are positioned differently in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the first support column fixing guide rail 416 and the second support column fixing guide rail 418 are offset from each other in the front-to-back direction. Specifically, the position of the first plate-like portion 416a of the first support column fixing guide rail 416 and the position of the first plate-like portion 418a of the second support column fixing guide rail 418 are offset from each other in the front-to-back direction. In Figure 8, the first plate-like portion 416a of the first support column fixing guide rail 416 is positioned behind the first plate-like portion 418a of the second support column fixing guide rail 418.

[0047] As will be explained in detail later, the portions of the first support column fixing guide rail 416 and the second support column fixing guide rail 418 that engage with the guide of the pallet 200 are the first plate-shaped portions 416a and 418a, which are flat plates. The second plate-shaped portions 416b and 418b are merely fixing portions to the support column 102. Therefore, in the following, only the first plate-shaped portions 416a and 418a may be referred to as the first support column fixing guide rail 416 and the second support column fixing guide rail 418.

[0048] [5. Traversing motion of pallet 200] Referring to Figures 9 to 12, an example of the traverse movement of a pallet 200 will be described, specifically the traverse movement of two spaced-apart pallets 200 adjacent to each other. For example, when a pallet 200 in parking area P11, as shown in Figure 1, is located below parking area P13, the pallet 200 performs a traverse movement to return to parking area P11. Note that the traverse movement of the pallet 200 is performed in conjunction with the traverse trolley 300, and can therefore be rephrased as the traverse movement of the traverse trolley 300.

[0049] Figures 9 to 12 are schematic diagrams illustrating the traverse movement of the pallet 200 of a parking device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figures 9 and 10 are rear and top views showing two pallets 200 (first pallet 200-1 and second pallet 200-2) separated from each other, while Figures 11 and 12 are rear and top views showing two pallets 200 adjacent to each other.

[0050] As described above, each of the first pallet 200-1 and the second pallet 200-2 includes a first side guide 400 and a second side guide 402, but in Figures 9 to 12, for convenience only, the second side guide 402 of the first pallet 200-1 and the first side guide 400 of the second pallet 200-2 are shown. The second side guide 402 is fixed to the first pallet 200-1 via a second support 406. Similarly, the first side guide 400 is fixed to the second pallet 200-2 via a first support 404. Likewise, in Figures 9 to 10, for convenience only, the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410 of the first traverse trolley 300-1 and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408 of the second traverse trolley 300-2 are shown.

[0051] As shown in Figure 10, in a plan view, the second side guide 402 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 overlap, and the first side guide 400 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 overlap. However, as shown in Figure 9, the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 have a second notch 414 and a first notch 412 formed therein, respectively. Therefore, the second side guide 402 and the first side guide 400 can be accommodated in the second notch 414 and the first notch 412, respectively. Consequently, the second side guide 402 and the first side guide 400 do not interfere with the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408, respectively. As shown in Figure 7, when the offset width is large, there can be sufficient space between the second side guide 402 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410A, and between the first side guide 400 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408A. Therefore, interference does not occur even if the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410A and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408A do not have notches.

[0052] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, when the second pallet 200-2 moves horizontally and comes into contact with the first pallet 200-1, the side end of the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 of the second traverse trolley 300-2 is inserted into the groove of the second side guide 402 of the first pallet 200-1. In other words, when the first pallet 200-1 and the second pallet 200-2 come into contact, the second side guide 402 of the first pallet 200-1 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 of the second traverse trolley 300-2 engage with each other. Similarly, the side end of the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410 of the first traverse trolley 300-1 is inserted into the groove of the first side guide 400 of the second pallet 200-2, and the first side guide 400 of the second pallet 200-2 and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410 of the first traverse trolley 300-1 are engaged.

[0053] Furthermore, when the first traverse trolley 300-1 and the second traverse trolley 300-2 are adjacent to each other, the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 of the first traverse trolley 300-1 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 of the second traverse trolley 300-2 overlap in a rear view (or front view) (see Figure 11). However, since the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 are offset front to back, even when the first traverse trolley 300-1 and the second traverse trolley 300-2 are adjacent to each other, the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 of the first traverse trolley 300-1 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 of the second traverse trolley 300-2 do not interfere with each other.

[0054] Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view showing the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408, the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410, the first side support column fixing guide rail 416, and the second side support column fixing guide rail 418 in a parking device according to one embodiment of the present invention, in a state where two traverse trolleys 300 are adjacent to each other.

[0055] As shown in Figure 13, the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 is located above the first side support column fixed guide rail 416, and in a plan view, the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the first side support column fixed guide rail 416 overlap. On the other hand, the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 is located above the second side support column fixed guide rail 418, and in a plan view, the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 and the second side support column fixed guide rail 418 overlap. As will be described in detail later, during the lifting and lowering operation of the pallet 200, the second side guide 402 engages with the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 or the first side support column fixed guide rail 416, and the first side guide 400 engages with the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 or the second side support column fixed guide rail 418.

[0056] Furthermore, in a rear view, the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 is adjacent to the first side support column fixed guide rail 416 with a gap d between them. Similarly, the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 is adjacent to the second side support column fixed guide rail 418 with a gap d between them. Therefore, in the parking device 100, there are parts where there are no guide rails with a gap d between them. However, in the parking device 100, since the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 are offset in the front-rear direction, the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 can extend to the vicinity of the first side support column fixed guide rail 416 and the second side support column fixed guide rail 418, respectively. Therefore, the gap d is smaller than the vertical length of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402, respectively. Therefore, in the parking device 100, the gap d in the area where there are no guide rails is small, which prevents the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 of the pallet 200 from coming off the guide rails. The gap d is, for example, 50 mm or less, preferably 25 mm or less, and more preferably 15 mm or less.

[0057] In Figure 13, for convenience, only the first support column fixing guide rail 416 and the second support column fixing guide rail 418, which are located below the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410, respectively, are shown. However, the first side support column fixing guide rail 416 and the second side support column fixing guide rail 418 also exist above the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410, respectively. In this case as well, the distance between the upper first side support column fixing guide rail 416 and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 408, and the distance between the upper second side support column fixing guide rail 418 and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail 410, are smaller than the vertical length of the second side guide 402 and the vertical length of the first side guide 400, respectively.

[0058] [5. Lifting and lowering operation of pallet 200] Referring to Figures 14 and 15, the raising and lowering operation of the pallet 200 between two adjacent support columns 102 will be described. For example, when the pallets 200 in parking areas P9 to P11 shown in Figure 1 are located below parking area P13, the pallet 200 in parking area P12 is raised and lowered.

[0059] Figures 14 and 15 are schematic diagrams illustrating the raising and lowering operation of the pallet 200 of a parking device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 14 is a plan view showing the state in which the guides of the pallet 200 (first side guide 400 and second side guide 402) are raised and lowered along the guide rails of the support column 102 (first side support column fixed guide rail 416 and second side support column fixed guide rail 418), and Figure 15 is a plan view showing the state in which the guides of the pallet are raised and lowered along the guide rails of the traverse trolley 300 (first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410).

[0060] As shown in Figure 14, the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 of the pallet 200 engage with the second side support fixing guide rail 418 of the first support column 102-1 and the first side support fixing guide rail 416 of the second support column 102-2, respectively. At this time, the movement of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 is restricted in the forward / backward or left / right direction by the second side support fixing guide rail 418 and the first side support fixing guide rail 416, respectively. Therefore, the pallet 200 can move up and down along the second side support fixing guide rail 418 of the first support column 102-1 and the first side support fixing guide rail of the second support column 102-2.

[0061] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15, the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 of the pallet 200 engage with the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 of the first traverse trolley 300-1 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 of the second traverse trolley 300-2, respectively. At this time, the movement of the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 is restricted in the forward / backward or left / right direction by the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408, respectively. Therefore, the pallet 200 can descend along the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 of the first traverse trolley 300-1 and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 of the second traverse trolley 300-2.

[0062] The guide rail of the support column 102 and the guide rail of the traverse trolley 300 are adjacent with a gap d between them. However, as described above, in the parking device 100, the gap d in the parts where there are no guide rails is small, which prevents the guide of the pallet 200 from coming off the guide rail. Therefore, the parking device 100 can perform stable lifting and lowering operations, improving the safety of the parking device.

[0063] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a parking device based on this embodiment, with additions, deletions, or design changes made by a person skilled in the art, is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it retains the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be combined as appropriate as long as they do not contradict each other, and technical matters common to each embodiment are included in each embodiment even without explicit description.

[0064] For example, in the above description, a configuration was described in which the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 of the pallet 200 each have a U-shaped cross-section, and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 of the traverse trolley 300, as well as the first side support column fixed guide rail 416 and the second side support column fixed guide rail 418 of the support column 102, each have a flat plate shape. However, a configuration in which the first side guide 400 and the second side guide 402 of the pallet 200 each have a flat plate shape, and the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 of the traverse trolley 300, as well as the first side support column fixed guide rail 416 and the second side support column fixed guide rail 418 of the support column 102, each have a U-shaped cross-section. In this case, the first side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 408 and the first side support column fixed guide rail 416 each restrict the forward and backward movement of the second side guide 402, and the second side traverse trolley fixed guide rail 410 and the second side support column fixed guide rail 418 each restrict the forward and backward movement of the first side guide 400. Therefore, in this case as well, the pallet 200 can move up and down along the guide rails of the support column 102 and the guide rails of the traverse trolley.

[0065] Any effects or benefits other than those brought about by the embodiments described above, if they are clear from the description herein or easily predictable to a person skilled in the art, are naturally considered to be brought about by the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 100: Parking device, 102: Support column, 102-1: First support column, 102-2: Second support column, 104: Beam, 106: Gate, 108: Control panel, 200: Pallet, 200-1: First pallet, 200-2: Second pallet, 202: Suspension chain, 300: Traverse trolley, 300-1: First traverse trolley, 300-2: Second traverse trolley, 400, 400A: First side guide, 400a: Plate-shaped member, 400b: Z-shaped member, 402, 402A: Second side guide, 404: First support part, 406: Second support part, 408, 408A: First side traverse trolley fixing guide rail, 408a: First plate-shaped part, 408b: Second plate-shaped part, 410, 410A: Second side traverse bogie fixing guide rail, 410a: First plate-shaped part, 410b: Second plate-shaped part, 412: First notch, 414: Second notch, 416: First side support column fixing guide rail, 416a: First plate-shaped part, 416b: Second plate-shaped part, 418: Second side support column fixing guide rail, 418a: First plate-shaped part, 418b: Second plate-shaped part, 420: Support part, 500: Vehicle

Claims

1. A first pallet and a second pallet, each capable of loading a vehicle, A first traverse trolley is provided which connects the first pallets and allows the first pallets to move traversely, The system includes a second traverse trolley that connects the second pallets and allows the second pallets to move traversely, Each of the first pallet and the second pallet is equipped with a first side guide and a second side guide that are offset front to back in a plan view. Each of the first and second traverse trolleys is equipped with a first-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail and a second-side traverse trolley fixed guide rail, which are offset front to back in a plan view. A parking device in which, when the first traverse trolley connected to the first pallet and the second traverse trolley connected to the second pallet are adjacent to each other, the second side guide of the first pallet engages with the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley, and the first side guide of the second pallet engages with the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley.

2. The parking device according to claim 1, wherein, when the first traverse trolley and the second traverse trolley are adjacent to each other, in a plan view, the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley are arranged front to back.

3. Furthermore, it includes a third pallet that moves up and down between the first and second traverse trolleys, The third pallet is equipped with the first side guide and the second side guide, which are positioned offset front to back. The parking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the third pallet moves up and down between the first traverse trolley and the second traverse trolley, the first side guide of the third pallet and the second side guide of the third pallet engage with the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley, respectively.

4. Furthermore, it includes a first support and a second support adjacent to each other, Each of the first and second support columns is equipped with a first side support column fixing guide rail and a second side support column fixing guide rail, which are offset front to back in a plan view. The second side support fixing guide rail of the first support column and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley are arranged vertically. The first side support fixing guide rail of the second support column and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley are arranged vertically. The parking device according to claim 3, wherein when the third pallet moves up and down between the first support and the second support, the first side guide of the third pallet and the second side guide of the third pallet engage with the second side support fixing guide rail of the first support and the first side support fixing guide rail of the second support, respectively.

5. The parking device according to claim 4, wherein the distance between the second support fixing guide rail of the first support column and the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the first traverse trolley, and the distance between the first support fixing guide rail of the second support column and the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail of the second traverse trolley, are each 50 mm or less.

6. Each of the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail, the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail, the first side support column fixing guide rail, and the second side support column fixing guide rail has a flat plate shape. The first side guide is restricted from moving in the forward and backward directions by the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail and the second side support column fixing guide rail, The parking device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the movement of the second side guide is restricted in the forward and backward direction by the first side traverse carriage fixing guide rail and the first side support column fixing guide rail, respectively.

7. The parking device according to claim 6, wherein each of the first side guide and the second side guide has a U-shaped cross-section.

8. Each of the first side guide and the second side guide has a flat plate shape, Each of the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail and the first side support column fixing guide rail restricts the forward and backward movement of the second side guide. The parking device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each of the second side traverse carriage fixing guide rail and the second side support column fixing guide rail restricts the forward and backward movement of the first side guide.

9. The parking device according to claim 8, wherein each of the first side traverse trolley fixing guide rail, the second side traverse trolley fixing guide rail, the first side support column fixing guide rail, and the second side support column fixing guide rail has a U-shaped cross-section.

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