CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC CAR PARKS Description
[0001] The invention relates to a control system for a number of automatic car parks.
[0002] The invention also relates to a method for operating a number of auto- matic car parks.
[0003] From the prior art, control systems for so-called automatic car parks are generally known, in which vehicles are parked vertically and/or horizon- tally in designated parking spaces by means of a partially automatic or fully automatic conveying device. For this purpose, a skid is provided for each parking space. The driver parks the vehicle to be parked on such a skid in the area of an entrance to the car park. The vehicle is then automatically parked together with the skid in a free parking space by means of the conveying de- vice. When the vehicle is picked up, it is automatically transported together with the skid from the parking space to an exit area by means of the conveying — device.
[0004] Such an automatic car park is described in DE 10 2013 113 172 Al. The car park comprises a plurality of parking spaces arranged vertically on top of one another and horizontally next to one another, and a conveying de- — vice for transporting a vehicle into and out of a parking space. For each park- ing space, a parking platform, also referred to as a skid, is provided on which the vehicle is positionable and which is transportable by means of the convey- ing device together with the vehicle into a free parking space on the parking area and out of the parking space again.
[0005] Furthermore, from the prior art, for example from DE 42 32 926 Al, US 4312623 A or GB 950271 A, various methods and devices for controlling such an automatic car park are known.
[0006] Further examples of automatic car parks are known from GB 1 050 381 A, FR 1 165 047 A and DE 93 15 932 UI.
[0007] DE 10 2014 221 754 A1 describes a method for performing an auto- matic parking procedure of a vehicle, wherein a reservation reguest for a park- ing position of a car park is sent to a car park management server via a com- munication network. If the estimated arrival time of the vehicle at the car park is later than a parking start time included in the submitted reservation reguest, a reservation adjustment request is sent to the car park management server via the communication network to adjust the reservation. Furthermore, a car park management server is described, which comprises a communication interface designed to receive a reservation request for a parking space in a car park for a vehicle via a communication network. A device for making a reservation of a parking space in a car park comprises a processor which is designed to obtain a reservation request for a parking space in a car park for a vehicle, and a — communication interface which is designed to transmit the reservation request via a communication network to the car park management server. The device is a mobile radio device.
[0008] Furthermore, control systems and control methods for automatic park- — ing systems are known from WO 2015/114592 A1 and US 2013/0085596 Al.
[0009] In addition, DE 102 55 945 Al describes a method and a device for storing vehicles in and removing vehicles from automatic car parks.
[0010] The object of the invention is to provide a control system for a number of automatic car parks which is improved compared to the prior art, and a method for operating a number of automatic car parks.
[0011] With regard to the control system, the object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in Claim 1 and with regard to the method by the features specified in Claim 6.
[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0013] The control system according to the invention for a number of auto- matic car parks comprises at least one user data processing unit comprising an application program with a user interface for selecting and booking at least one parking space within an automatic car park, and a communication inter- face for communication with a central computing unit. Furthermore, the con- trol system comprises at least one central computing unit, comprising at least one communication interface for communication with a number of user data processing units, and at least one communication interface for communication with the number of car parks. The central computing unit controls storage times and removal times of vehicles to be parked into or out of the car park in question and automatic repositioning of vehicles within the car park at least — on the basis of an arrival time communicated by at least one user data pro- cessing unit to the central computing unit at the time of booking and/or while approaching the booked car park and on the basis of an occupancy of the booked car park.
[0014] The control system allows a user to select and book a parking space within an automatic car park, for example, before departing to a desired des- tination. For this purpose, free parking spaces are issued to the user by means of the user data processing unit, which are sorted, for example, by price, dis- tance to the destination and/or their availability. This allows the user to be — provided with information about a current parking situation at the destination in a highly transparent manner.
[0015] Due to the possibility of advance booking, the user is spared a time- consuming search for free parking spaces at the destination. This results in fewer "search trips", which reduces energy consumption and pollutant emis- sions from the user's vehicle.
[0016] The centralized control and monitoring of at the least one car park makes it possible to provide the user with constantly updated data on the avail- ability of free parking spaces, i.e. data on the number of free parking spaces.
[0017] Furthermore, the control system enables very fast order processing, i.e. very fast storage and removal of the vehicles to be parked. In particular, this is achieved by the central computing unit selecting a position, i.e. a parking space, for positioning the respective parking platform, in such a way that dis- tance and time expended for transporting the respective parking platform is minimized. Thus, waiting times for users of the at least one car park can be minimized.
[0018] Furthermore, the control system allows the utilization of automatic car parks to be maximized.
[0019] Each car park from the number of car parks comprises at least one parking level with a plurality of parking spaces, wherein at least for a number of parking spaces a parking platform is provided in each case, on which at least one vehicle to be parked is positionable. Furthermore, each car park com- prises at least one conveying device for transporting the parking platforms into a free parking space and out of a parking space, each parking space and the conveying device comprising a transport device for transporting the re- spective parking platform into an adjacent parking space and out of an adja- cent parking space. Such a car park allows for very fast storage and removal — of the vehicles to be parked, thereby minimizing waiting times for users of the car park. In particular, this can also reduce traffic volumes in the vicinity of the car park.
[0020] The positioning of the parking platforms is carried out in such a way that in the selection of a parking space a distance of the same from the con- veying device is taken into account, wherein in the event of a long duration 5 until the occurrence of the storage time or removal time, a parking space at a large distance from the conveying device is selected and, in the event of a duration shorter than the long duration until the occurrence of the storage time or removal time, a parking space at a distance shorter than the large distance from the conveying device is selected. Thus, the parking platforms are posi- —tionable on the basis of known storage and/or removal times with different distances from the conveying device, so that fast order processing is possible according to an order sequence.
[0021] In addition, a respective parking platform is positioned based on at least one repositioning between storage and removal of a vehicle on this park- ing platform and/or between removal of one vehicle and storage of a further vehicle on the same parking platform. This means that the parking platforms are positioned, for example, in time periods in which order density is low, depending on the respective time of storage and/or time of removal, in such a — way that they are quickly available at the time of storage or removal from storage.
[0022] In a possible embodiment, the user data processing unit is a mobile terminal, for example a so-called smartphone, a tablet PC or a mobile naviga- tion device. Alternatively, the user data processing unit is a terminal installed inside a vehicle, for example a navigation device of the vehicle. Such a design of the user data processing unit as a mobile terminal or terminal installed in- side the vehicle enables the user to search for and book a free parking space in a very flexible manner, both in terms of time and location.
[0023] In a further possible embodiment, each car park from the number of car parks comprises at least one control device for controlling the conveying device, wherein the central computing unit transmits control commands for setting the storage times and/or removal times to the number of control de- vices of the number of car parks. This allows for simple automatic transport and, consequently, simple positioning of the parking platforms inside a car — park by means of a central controller, resulting in a low local data processing effort, i.e. located at or in the car park. This means that the amount of local technical resources required for data processing is small.
[0024] In a possible refinement, provision is made for at least one local com- puting device for determining the positioning of a parking platform within the at least one parking level on the basis of a storage time of a vehicle to be stored in the future and/or on the basis of a removal time of a stored vehicle. In particular, the central computing device is used to select a position, i.e. a parking space, for positioning the respective parking platform in such a way that distance and time expended for transporting the respective parking plat- form is minimized. This means that waiting times for car park users can also be minimized.
[0025] In a possible configuration of the car park, each transport device com- prises at least one motor-driven, endless and circulating conveyor belt, wherein a conveying surface of the at least one conveyor belt runs substan- tially parallel to the undersides of the parking platforms. Due to the fact that conveyor belts are used to transport the parking platforms, these are transport- able reliably and quickly with little effort.
[0026] In a possible embodiment, the number of parking platforms is smaller by at least the value 1 than the number of parking spaces, in order to allow a simple displacement of the parking platforms within the car park. Alterna- tively, the number of parking platforms corresponds to the number of parking — spaces, wherein at least one other parking platform is temporarily relocatable in order to move a parking platform.
[0027] According to a refinement, the conveyor belt is designed as a chain of belt links connected together. This means that each conveyor belt is charac- terized by high mechanical flexibility, robustness and reliability.
[0028] An alternative refinement provides that the conveyor belt is designed as a webbing. This is characterized by a simple and stable structure.
[0029] In a further possible embodiment, at least one of the transport devices comprises a plurality of conveyor belts, wherein the transport direction of at least one conveyor belt runs in the direction of the parking spaces arranged one behind another in rows and a transport direction of at least one further conveyor belt runs perpendicular to the direction of the parking spaces ar- ranged one behind another in rows. Thus, the parking platforms are transport- able both within a row of parking spaces and between the rows.
[0030] In a further possible embodiment, at least one transport device is formed as a transport frame and comprises four conveyor belts, wherein two conveyor belts each are arranged on opposite edge sides of the transport frame. In this case, a transport direction of one pair of opposing conveyor belts runs in the direction of the parking spaces arranged in rows one behind another and a transport direction of another pair of opposing conveyor belts runs perpendicular to the direction of the parking spaces arranged in rows one behind another. The transport frame is designed in particular in such a way that the respective parking platform rests on the transport frame, i.e. the four conveyor belts, with its underside circumferentially around the edges. It is also possible that the underside of the parking platform rests on the edges of two opposing conveyor belts. This design of the transport device not only al- lows the parking platforms to be securely held, but also a reliable transport of the parking platforms in the car park and precise positioning of these within the parking spaces.
[0031] If a transport device comprises a plurality of conveyor belts with dif- ferent transport directions, a conveyor belt for one transport direction is vari- able in its height such that when the parking platform is transported in one transport direction, no contact exists between the underside of the parking platform and the at least one conveyor belt for the other transport direction. This minimizes or prevents friction between the parking platforms and the conveyor belts that are not working in a currently set transport direction.
[0032] A refinement provides that a plurality of circular-cylindrical rolling elements is arranged between a bearing surface of the at least one conveyor belt and an annular inner running rail which runs substantially parallel to this bearing surface. The bearing surface of the conveyor belt is located on one side of the conveyor belt opposite the conveying surface. The rolling elements enable the conveyor belt to be supported on the inner running rail on the one hand, and the transport device to be operated with low wear and low noise on the other.
[0033] For example, the rolling elements are arranged in a rolling element cage, wherein the rolling element cage is in the form of a band and flat sides ofthe band extend substantially parallel to the bearing surface of the conveyor belt. In particular, vertical axes of the rolling elements run perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the band-shaped rolling element cage. This rolling ele- ment cage ensures permanent positioning of the rolling elements.
[0034] In a possible embodiment, the rolling elements are formed as hollow cylinders or at least with a recess on their end faces. The band-shaped rolling element cage has recesses, which comprise mounting structures on two op- posing edge regions, which engage in the cavity of the rolling element or in the recesses. The vertical axes of the rolling elements run in a plane with the — belt.
[0035] A refinement provides that a plurality of circular-cylindrical rolling elements is arranged emanating from the conveying surface below the at least one conveyor belt facing the bearing surface. The rolling elements are ar- ranged in a plane and are mounted axially and radially on a supporting frame. — In this refinement, the rolling elements enable the conveyor belt to be sup- ported on the support frame on the one hand, and the transport device to be operated with low wear and low noise on the other.
[0036] According to a possible configuration of the car park, this comprises a plurality of parking levels arranged vertically on top of one another, wherein the conveying device comprises a lift system for the substantially vertical transport of the parking platforms. As a result, a large parking area is realized with a small footprint. In such a design of the car park with multiple parking levels, a very fast order processing is possible in a particularly advantageous manner, since at least one parking platform is positionable directly adjacent to the conveying device in each level, thereby realizing a rapid availability of the same for storing or removing a vehicle.
[0037] According to a further possible configuration of the car park, at least — one transfer station is provided for transferring the respective parking plat- form into the conveying device and out of the conveying device, wherein the transfer station comprises at least one transport device with at least one motor- driven, endless and circulating conveyor belt. The at least one transfer station is arranged inside or outside a unit formed by the parking spaces. The transfer — station enables the vehicle to be parked to be placed or positioned on the re- spective parking platform in a simple manner and a safe transport of the vehi- cle with the parking platform into the designated parking space within the car park.
[0038] In a refinement of the car park, the transfer station comprises a rotation device for rotating the transport device and the respective parking platform around a vertical axis. Thus, it is possible, for example, for a vehicle to be placed on the parking platform in a forward movement before a parking oper- ation within the car park and during automatic output from the car park to be positioned such that the vehicle can be moved in a forward movement again in the opposite direction when it is moved from the parking platform.
[0039] In the method according to the invention for operating a number of automatic car parks, at least one parking space in an automatic car park is selected and booked by way of at least one user data processing unit and based on an application program executed thereon and having a user interface, and the selection and booking are communicated to at least one central computing unit by way of a communication interface, wherein the at least one central computing unit receives selections and bookings of parking spaces from the number of user data processing units by means of a communication interface and communicates them to the number of car parks via a communication in- terface. The central computing unit is used to control storage times and re- moval times of vehicles to be parked into or from the car park in question and automatic repositioning of vehicles within the car park, at least on the basis of an arrival time communicated by at least one user data processing unit to the central computing unit at the time of booking and/or while approaching — the booked car park and on the basis of an occupancy of the booked car park.
[0040] The method allows a user to select and book a parking space within an automatic car park, for example, before departing to a desired destination. For this purpose, free parking spaces are issued to the user by means of the user data processing unit, for example sorted by price, distance to the destination and/or their availability. This allows the user to be provided with information about a current parking situation at the destination in a highly transparent manner.
[0041] Due to the possibility of advance booking, the user is spared a time- consuming search for free parking spaces at the destination. This results in fewer "search trips", which reduces energy consumption and pollutant emis- sions from the user's vehicle.
[0042] The centralized control and monitoring of at the least one car park makes it possible to provide the user with constantly updated data on the avail- ability of free parking spaces, i.e. data on the number of free parking spaces.
[0043] Furthermore, the method enables very fast order processing, i.e. very fast storage and removal of the vehicles to be parked.
[0044] In particular, this is achieved by the central computing unit selecting a position, i.e. a parking space, for positioning the respective parking platform, in such a way that distance and time expended for transporting the respective parking platform is minimized. Thus, waiting times for users of the at least — one car park can be minimized.
[0045] Furthermore, the control system allows the utilization of automatic car parks to be maximized.
[0046] The positioning of the parking platforms is carried out in such a way that in the selection of a parking space a distance of the same from the con- veying device is taken into account, wherein in the event of a long duration until the occurrence of the storage time or removal time, a parking space at a large distance from the conveying device is selected and, in the event of a — duration shorter than the long duration until the occurrence of the storage time or removal time, a parking space at a distance shorter than the large distance from the conveying device is selected. Thus, the parking platforms are posi- tionable on the basis of known storage and/or removal times with different distances from the conveying device, so that fast order processing is possible according to an order sequence.
[0047] In addition, a respective parking platform is positioned based on at least one repositioning between storage and removal of a vehicle on this park- ing platform and/or between removal of one vehicle and storage of a further vehicle on the same parking platform. This means that the parking platforms are positioned, for example, in time periods in which order density is low, depending on the respective time of storage and/or time of removal, in such a way that they are quickly available at the time of storage or removal from storage.
[0048] In a possible embodiment of the method, the arrival time in the selected car park is specified by means of the user data processing unit at the time of booking. Thus, exact occupancy planning of the car park can be achieved and the utilization of automatic car parks can be further improved.
[0049] In a further possible embodiment of the method, the arrival time in the selected car park is determined continuously based on a remaining distance and/or depending on traffic data and communicated to the central computing unit while the vehicle is driving. Thus, the accuracy of the occupancy planning can be advantageously improved.
[0050] According to a possible refinement of the method, the determination of the arrival time is carried out by means of the user data processing unit or a unit connected to it.
[0051] In a further possible embodiment of the method, the positioning of a parking platform is carried out while a vehicle is being stored on this parking platform. This enables at least a pre-positioning, which reduces the effort in- volved in any repositioning that may be carried out.
[0052] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following with the aid of drawings.
[0053] In the drawings:
Figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a section of an auto- matic car park,
Figure 2 schematically shows a side view of a detail of a transport unit of a transport device,
Figure 3 schematically shows a side view of the transport unit in accord- ance with Figure 2,
Figure 4 schematically shows a first sectional illustration of a rolling bearing of the transport unit according to Figure 2,
Figures schematically shows a second sectional illustration of the roll- ing bearing according to Figure 4,
Figure 6 schematically shows a side view of a possible exemplary em- bodiment of a transport unit, Figure 7 schematically shows a plan view of a detail of a first exemplary embodiment of a parking level of a car park,
Figure 8 schematically shows a plan view of a detail of a second exem- plary embodiment of a parking level of a car park,
Figure 9 schematically shows a plan view of a third exemplary embodi- ment of a parking level of the car park,
Figure 10 schematically shows plan views of different exemplary embod- iments of transport devices of a car park as well as different exemplary embodiments of parking platforms and
Figure 11 schematically shows a block diagram of a device for controlling the operation of the car park according to Figure 1,
Figure 12 schematically shows a plan view of a fourth exemplary embod-
iment of a parking level of the car park, Figure 13 schematically shows a plan view of a fifth exemplary embodi- ment of a parking level of the car park and Figure 14 schematically shows a block diagram of a control system for a number of automatic car parks.
[0054] Equivalent parts are provided with the same reference signs in all fig- ures.
[0055] Figure 1 shows a detail of a possible exemplary embodiment of an automatic car park 1.1 in a perspective view.
[0056] The car park 1.1 comprises multiple parking levels E1 to E4 arranged vertically on top of one another, each parking level EI to E4 comprising a plurality of horizontally adjacent rows R1 to R3 of parking spaces P1 to Pn.
[0057] Furthermore, the car park 1.1 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment comprises a plurality of parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m, on which at least one object to be parked, for example a vehicle 3, is positionable and the number of which is 1 less than a number of parking spaces P1 to Pn. In an exemplary embodiment not illustrated in detail, the number of parking platforms 2.1 to
2.m corresponds to the number of parking spaces P1 to Pn.
[0058] The car park 1.1 has a modular structure, wherein the number of rows R1 to R3, the number of parking spaces P1 to Pn arranged in a row R1 to R3 and the number of parking levels EI to F4 are arbitrarily large. The car park
1.1 is thus easily extendable. This means that the number of rows R1 to R3, the number of parking spaces P1 to Pn arranged in a row RI to R3 and the number of parking levels EI to E4 are easily changeable, in particular extend- able.
[0059] The car park 1.1 comprises a conveying device 4 for transporting the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m into a free parking space P1 to Pn and out of a parking space P1 to Pn. The conveying device 4 comprises a lift system 4.1 for the vertical transport of the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m.
[0060] For transporting a parking platform 2.1 to 2.m into the lift system 4.1, a transfer station 5 is provided, which in the illustrated embodiment is arranged outside a unit formed by the parking spaces P1 to Pn and the con- veying device 4. In a configuration not shown, the transfer station 5 is ar- ranged within this unit.
[0061] The number of transport devices 4 and transfer stations 5 is variable.
[0062] For the movement, i.e. for transporting the parking platforms 2.1 to
2.m from the transfer station 5 into the conveying device 4, i.e. the lift system
4.1, from this into a free parking space P1 to Pn and for the transport between parking spaces PI to Pn, the transfer station 5, the conveying device 4 and the parking spaces P1 to Pn each comprise a transport device 6.1 to 6.x.
[0063] Each of the transport devices 6.1 to 6.x comprises at least one transport unit 7, which in turn comprises a motor-driven, endless and circulating con- — veyor belt 8 as shown in more detail in Figure 2.
[0064] For example, in order to park a vehicle 3 on the parking level E4 inside the car park 1.1, a user drives this vehicle onto the parking platform 2.1 lo- cated in the transfer station 5. To create a free parking space P1 to Pn on the — parkinglevel E4, a parking platform 2.2 to 2.m, which is occupied by a vehicle 3 or unoccupied, is transported by means of the conveying device 4 to a free position in the lowest level EI or into one of the other levels E2, E3 if present. Alternatively or in addition, at least one parking platform 2.2 to 2.m is trans- ported to a parking area A, which is provided for receiving multiple parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m and connects the car park 1.1 to another car park, not shown.
[0065] From the transfer station 5, the parking platform 2.1 with the vehicle 3 parked thereon is transported into the conveying device 4 by means of the transport device 6.x. By means of the lift system 4.1, the parking platform 2.1 is transported from the parking level EI into the parking level E4. By means of the transport device 6.1 arranged in the lift system 4.1 and by means of a transport device 6.2 to 6.x-1 arranged in a free parking space P1 to Pn directly adjacent to the conveying device 4, the parking platform 2.1 is transported to this free parking space P1 to Pn of the parking level E4. By means of a corre- sponding activation of the transport devices 6.2 to 6.x-1 of the parking spaces PI to Pn in level E4, the vehicle 3 is transported together with the parking platform 2.1 into a predetermined parking space P1 to Pn.
[0066] To collect the vehicle 3, it is transported back to the transfer station 5 in the reverse order. So that the user can move the vehicle 3 away from the transfer station 5 in a forward movement, the transfer station 5 comprises a rotation device, not shown in detail, for rotating the transport device 6.x and the parking platform 2.1 about a vertical axis.
[0067] Figures 2 and 3 show a side view of a detail of a possible exemplary embodiment of a transport unit 7 of a transport device 6.1 to 6.x and a side view of the entire transport unit 7 and a parking platform 2.1 arranged on the transport unit 7.
[0068] The transport unit 7 comprises a conveyor belt 8, which is formed from — a plurality of belt links 8.1 to 8.z connected together as a chain. A conveying surface F of the conveyor belt 8 runs parallel to the underside U of the parking platform 2.1.
[0069] A plurality of circular-cylindrical rolling elements 10 is arranged be- tween a bearing surface L of the conveyor belt 8 and an annular inner running rail 9 running parallel to this bearing surface L.
[0070] The rolling elements 10 are formed as hollow cylinders and arranged in a rolling element cage 11, wherein the rolling element cage 11 is in the form of a band and flat sides of the band run parallel to the bearing surface L of the conveyor belt 8.
[0071] In order to allow the transport of parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m between the parking spaces PI to Pn, the transfer station 5 and the parking spaces P1 to Pn, or the transfer station 5 and the conveying device 4 and between the conveying device 4 and the parking spaces PI to Pn, it is necessary that the corresponding conveyor belts 8 of the associated transport devices 6.1 to 6.x are controlled in such a way that in a transition of a parking platform 2.1 to
2.m between two transport devices 6.1 to 6.x both transport devices 6.1 to 6.x are active and, in particular, are operated synchronously with the same transport speed.
[0072] In Figures 4 and 5, a rolling bearing formed from the rolling elements 10 and the rolling element cage 11 is shown in various sectional illustrations. The band-shaped rolling element cage 11 has recesses 11.1, which comprise mounting structures 11.2, 11.3 on two opposing edge regions, which engage inthe cavity of the rolling element 10. In this case, vertical axes of the rolling elements 10 run in a plane with the band-shaped rolling element cage 11.
[0073] Figure 6 shows a side view of a detail of another exemplary embodi- ment of the transport unit 7 of the transport device 6.1 to 6.x. Emanating from — the conveying surface F below the conveyor belt 8, facing the bearing surface L, a plurality of circular-cylindrical rolling elements 10 is arranged. The roll- ing elements 10 are arranged in a plane and mounted axially and radially on a support frame 14. For this purpose, the rolling elements 10 comprise in par- ticular journals on their end faces, not shown, which are arranged and mounted in corresponding recesses within the support frame 14.
[0074] Figure 7 shows a plan view of a detail of a first exemplary embodiment of a parking level E1 of a car park 1.1, wherein the parking platforms 2.1 to
2.m are not shown.
[0075] The transfer station 5 comprises two transport devices 6.1, 6.2 each with two transport units 7, by means of which a respective parking platform
2.1 to 2.m is transportable transverse to the rows RI to R3 of the parking spaces P1 to P8. Each transport unit 7 corresponds in its structure to Figures 2to5.
[0076] The transport devices 6.3, 6.9, 6.6 of the parking spaces P1, P6 and of the conveying device 4 each comprise four transport units 7, the structure of which corresponds to the illustrations of Figures 2 to 5. By means of these transport devices 6.3, 6.9, the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m are transportable within row RI and between rows RI and R2. To ensure clarity, not all transport units 7 are provided with a reference sign.
[0077] These transport devices 6.3, 6.9, 6.6 are formed as transport frames, wherein two transport units 7 and the associated conveyor belts 8 are arranged on opposite edge sides of each transport frame. In this case, a transport direc- tion of one pair of opposing conveyor belts 8 runs in the direction of the park- ing spaces P1 to Pn arranged in rows one behind another and a transport di- rection of the other pair of opposing conveyor belts 8 runs perpendicular to the direction of the parking spaces P1 to Pn arranged in rows one behind an- other.
[0078] If a transport device 6.1 to 6. x comprises a plurality of conveyor belts 8 with different transport directions, such as the transport frame described, the conveyor belts 8 of one pair for a transport direction are variable in their height, i.e. are able to be raised or lowered, such that when a parking platform
2.1 to 2.m is transported in one of the transport directions, there is no contact between the underside U of the respective parking platform 2.1 to 2.m and the pair of conveyor belts 8 for the other transport direction.
[0079] In a possible embodiment, not shown in detail, this raising or lowering is carried out by means of a motor-driven eccentric arrangement and/or pneu- matically and/or hydraulically.
[0080] For example, the conveyor belts 8 of a pair which are provided for a movement with a transport direction along a row RI to R3 are fixed in their height and the conveyor belts 8 of a pair which are provided for a movement with a transport direction transversely to a row R1 to R3 are variable in height.
[0081] Alternatively, for example, the conveyor belts 8 of a pair which are provided for a movement with a transport direction along a row R1 to R3 are variable in their height and the conveyor belts 8 of a pair which are provided for a movement with the transport direction transversely to a row R1 to R3 are variable in height.
[0082] It is also possible that all conveyor belts 8 of a transport device 6.1 to
6.x are variable in height.
[0083] For maximum utilization of the parking level E1 shown, it is necessary to reserve at least two free parking spaces P1 to Pn or allow the possibility of temporary storage of at least two parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m, so that a parked vehicle 3 is transportable from any parking space P1 to Pn to the transfer sta- tion 5 or into another parking space P1 to Pn at any time.
[0084] Figure 8 shows a plan view of a detail of a second exemplary embod- iment of a parking level EI of a car park 1.1, wherein the parking platforms
2.1 to 2.m are not shown.
[0085] In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 6, all transport devices 6.1 to 6.11 have four transport units 7, wherein each transport unit 7 corresponds in its structure to the illustrations of Figures 2 to
5.
[0086] This enables the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m to be transported both within all rows R1 to R3 and between all rows R1 to R3 in any desired manner.
[0087] For maximum utilization of the parking level E1 shown, it is necessary to reserve only at least one free parking spaces P1 to Pn or allow the possibil- ity of temporary storage of at least one parking platform 2.1 to 2.m, so that a parked vehicle 3 is transportable from any parking space P1 to Pn to the trans- fer station 5 or into another parking space P1 to Pn at any time.
[0088] Figure 9 shows a plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of a parking level EI of the car park 1.1, wherein the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m are not shown. All transport devices 6.10 to 6.x of the parking spaces P1 to Pn and the conveying device 4 each comprise four transport units 7, so that the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m are transportable both within all rows R1 to R6 and between all rows RI to R6 in any desired manner.
[0089] The transport devices 6.1 to 6.9 of the transfer stations 5, on the other hand, each comprise two transport units 7, which each point in the same transport direction for feeding a parking platform 2.1 to 2.m into the car park
1.1. Furthermore, all transfer stations 5 comprise a rotation device for rotating the respective transport device 6.1 to 6.9 and the respective parking platform
2.1 to 2.m about the vertical axis.
[0090] Figure 10 shows plan views of various exemplary embodiments of transport devices 6.1 to 6.9 of the car park 1.1. Furthermore, various exem- plary embodiments of parking platforms 2.1 to 2.5 are shown.
[0091] The transport devices 6.1 to 6.3 are provided for use for the lift system
4.1 of the conveying device 4, wherein their possible transport directions run along a row RI to R6 (transport device 6.1), transversely to a row RI to R6 (transport device 6.2) or along and transversely to a row RI to R6 (transport device 6.3).
[0092] The transport devices 6.4 to 6.6 are provided for use for a transfer station 5, wherein their possible transport directions run along a row RI to R6
(transport device 6.4), transversely to a row RI to R6 (transport device 6.5) or along and transversely to a row RI to R6 (transport device 6.6). Further- more, the transport devices 6.4 to 6.6 are each coupled to a rotation device for rotating the respective transport device 6.4 to 6.6 about the vertical axis, or comprise said rotation device.
[0093] The transport devices 6.7 to 6.9 are provided for use for a parking space P1, wherein their possible transport directions run along a row R1 to R6 (transport device 6.7), transversely to a row RI to R6 (transport device 6.8) or along and transversely to a row RI to R6 (transport device 6.9).
[0094] The illustrated parking platforms 2.1 to 2.4 are each designed for re- ceiving at least one vehicle 3, wherein the parking platform 2.1 is designed such that at least one bicycle can be safely parked on it. For this purpose, for example, mounting devices for securing the bicycle are provided.
[0095] The parking platform 2.2 is designed for parking a vehicle 3, in partic- ular a passenger car, and in a possible embodiment comprises structures which prevent or at least inhibit a parked vehicle 3 from rolling away.
[0096] The parking platform 2.3 is designed in such a way that at least one motorcycle can be safely parked on it. For this purpose, for example, mount- ing devices for securing the motorcycle are provided.
[0097] The parking platform 2.4 is designed for parking a fully electrically powered vehicle 3 or a hybrid vehicle, and in a possible embodiment com- prises structures which prevent or at least inhibit a parked vehicle 3 from roll- ing away. Furthermore, the parking platform 2.4 comprises a charging device 12 for charging an electrical storage device of the vehicle 3. For coupling this charging device 12, the parking platform comprises an electrical contact de- vice in a manner not shown, by means of which said parking platform in the corresponding parking space P1 to Pn are connectable to an electrical network.
Such an electrical contact device can be included in all parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m, regardless of their design in other respects.
[0098] The parking platform 2.5 is provided and designed for receiving a ve- hicle 3 which is designed as a storage container so that it is possible to use the automatic car park 1.1 as a multifunctional storage building and thus, if nec- essary, to increase its utilization.
[0099] In a simple way, all parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m are retrospectively extensible and/or reconfigurable in such a way that they are easily adaptable for use with other functions. For example, all parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m are adaptable or designed such that a vehicle 3 designed as a storage container can be arranged on them.
[0100] Within the car park 1.1, the arrangement and parking of parking plat- forms 2.1 to 2.m with different functions are possible simultaneously.
[0101] Figure 11 shows a block diagram of a device 13 for controlling the operation of the car park 1.1.
[0102] The device 13 comprises an input and output unit 13.1, by means of which a user, for example, receives a parking ticket, specifies their desired parking duration and can make a payment. The input and output unit 13.1 is arranged, for example, at a stationary position in the car park 1.1. Alterna- tively, a user data processing unit 15 with a corresponding data processing and/or application program, as shown in more detail in Figure 14, is provided as an input and output unit 13.1.
[0103] The input and output unit 13.1 is coupled to a computing device 13.2 — by wireless or wired means. The computing device 13.2 comprises at least one data processing program, which is used to carry out and optimize at least order management and positioning of the parked vehicles 3 in the car park 1.1. In this case, a sequence of orders, in particular a sequence of storage operations and removals from storage, is determined and stored by means of the compu- ting device 13.2.
[0104] The computing device 13.2 is designed such that the positioning of a parking platform 2.1 to 2.m within the car park 1.1 is carried out on the basis of a storage time of a vehicle 3 to be stored in the future and/or on the basis of a removal time of a stored vehicle 3.
[0105] In this case, a position, i.e. a parking space P1 to Pn, for positioning the respective parking platform 2.1 to 2.m is selected in such a way that a distance and time expenditure for transporting the respective parking platform
2.1 to 2.m to the transfer station 5 are minimized.
[0106] For example, the positioning of the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m is carried out in such a way that in the selection of a parking space P1 to Pn a distance of the same from the conveying device 4 is taken into account, wherein in the event of a long duration until the occurrence of the storage time or removal time, a parking space P1 to Pn at a large distance from the con- — veying device 4 is selected and, in the event of a duration shorter than the long duration until the occurrence of the storage time or removal time, a parking space P1 to Pn at a distance shorter than the large distance from the conveying device 4 is selected.
[0107] For example, if it is known that a user wants to park their vehicle 3 within the car park 1.1 at a certain time, an empty parking platform 2.1 to 2.m is arranged near the conveying device 4, in particular in a parking space P1 to Pn arranged directly adjacent to the conveying device 4.
[0108] For example, if it is known that a user wants to collect their vehicle 3 from the car park 1.1 at a certain time, the parking platform 2.1 to 2.m occu- pied by the vehicle 3 is arranged near the conveying device 4, in particular in a parking space P1 to Pn arranged directly adjacent to the conveying device
4.
[0109] Furthermore, in a possible embodiment the computing device 13.2 is designed such that the positioning of a parking platform 2.1 to 2.m occupied by a vehicle 3 is already carried out during its storage. This is particularly the case if the time of removal from storage is already known at the time of stor-
age. If, for example, it is already known at the time of storage that a user wants to collect their vehicle 3 from the car park 1.1 at a certain time, the parking platform 2.1 to 2.m occupied by the vehicle 3 will be already arranged in the vicinity of the conveying device 4 at the time of storage, in particular, in a parking space P1 to Pn arranged directly adjacent to the conveying device 4, if it is foreseeable that no further storage or removal from storage operation that would be affected by the planned removal from storage will take place in — the meantime.
[0110] In addition, in a possible embodiment the computing device 13.2 is designed such that a parking platform 2.1 to 2.m is positioned based on at least one repositioning between storage and removal of a vehicle 3 on this — parking platform 2.1 to 2.m and/or between removal of one vehicle 3 and stor- age of a further vehicle 3 on the same parking platform 2.1 to 2.m. In partic- ular, the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m are positioned, for example, in time periods in which ordering density is low, depending on the respective time of storage and/or time of removal, in such a way that they are available guickly at the time of storage or removal from storage.
[0111] For example, if it is known for multiple parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m when the vehicles 3 parked on these are to be removed from storage, the cor- responding parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m are positioned in the vicinity of the conveying device 4 in the sequence of their removal times in such a way that these platforms are transportable to the transfer station 5 successively by means of the conveying device.
[0112] The computing device 13.2 is coupled to a control device 13.3, which comprises, for example, a programmable logic controller. The control device
13.3 controls the transport devices 6.1 to 6.x and thus the transport of the parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m. Sensors, not illustrated in detail, are provided for detecting a position of a parking platform 2.1 to 2.m.
[0113] Figure 12 shows a plan view of a detail of a fourth exemplary embod- iment of a parking level E1 of a car park 1.1. The parking platforms 2.3, 2.5 are each occupied with vehicles 3 which are to be removed from storage next and for this reason were positioned directly adjacent to the conveying device
4. The parking platforms 2.6, 2.9 are not occupied and are intended for the next storage or relocation of vehicles 3. For this reason, these parking plat- forms 2.6, 2.9 have also been positioned directly adjacent to the conveying device 4.
[0114] Figure 13 shows a plan view of a detail of a fifth exemplary embodi- ment of a parking level EI of a car park 1.1. All parking spaces P1 to P8 are occupied by a parking platform 2.1 to 2.8 and each parking platform 2.1 to 28 is occupied by a vehicle 3. All parking platforms 2.1 to 2.8 are movable from parking spaces P1 to P8 both within a row R1 to R3 and between these rows RI to R3.
[0115] If a vehicle 3 located on the parking platform 2.8 is to be removed from storage, the parking platform 2.2 is first transported into the conveying device 4. Subsequently, the parking platform 2.3 is transported to the free parking space P2 and the parking platform 2.8 is transported to the free park- ing space P3. Subsequently, the parking platform 2.7 is transported to the free parking space P8 and the parking platform 2.4 is transported to the free park- ing space P7. Then the parking platform 2.8 is transported out of the parking space P3 into the free parking space P4 immediately adjacent to the conveying device 4, the parking platform 2.3 is transported from the parking space P2 into the parking space P3 and the parking platform 2.2 is transported out of the conveying device 4 into the parking space P2.
[0116] Alternatively, different repositioning operations of the parking plat- forms 2.1 to 2.8 within the parking level EI are possible in order to position the parking platform 2.8 in one of the parking spaces P1, P2, P4 arranged directly adjacent to the conveying device 4.
[0117] In order to allow the use of the conveying device 4 during the reposi- tioning, the number of parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m is at least 1 less than the number of parking spaces P1 to Pn.
[0118] If, for example, three orders are placed by users at 6.00 a.m. for the removal of their stored vehicles 3 with the removal times 6.30 a.m., 6.40 a.m. and 6.50 a.m., for example, a corresponding repositioning of the parking plat- forms 2.1 to 2.m is started at 6.00 a.m. so that the corresponding parking plat- forms 2.1 to 2.m are available as close as possible to 6.30 am, 6.40 am and
6.50 a.m., in particular immediately.
[0119] Figure 14 shows a block diagram of a possible exemplary embodiment of a control system 16 for a number of automatic car parks 1.1 to 1.y and of the number of automatic car parks 1.1 to 1.y themselves. The car parks 1.1 to 1 y are designed in particular as a car park 1.1 described in Figures 1 to 13.
[0120] The control system 16 comprises at least one user data processing unit 15, which is a mobile terminal, for example a so-called smartphone, a so- called tablet computer or a mobile navigation device, a terminal mounted within a vehicle 3, for example a navigation device of the vehicle 3.
[0121] In addition, the user data processing unit 15 comprises an application program having a user interface for selecting and booking at least one parking space P1 to Pn within an automatic car park 1.1 to 1.y. The user interface is displayed, for example, on a touch-sensitive screen, which simultaneously forms an input unit of the user data processing unit 15.
[0122] Furthermore, the user data processing unit 15 comprises a communi- cation interface 15.1 for communication with a communication interface 17.1 of a central processing unit 17, which is also part of the control system 16.
[0123] The central processing unit 17, which is, for example, a so-called backend server, comprises, in addition to the communication interface 17.1 for communication with a number of user data processing units 15, at least one further communication interface 17.2 for communication with the number of car parks 1.1 to 1.y.
[0124] The central computing unit 17 is designed so as to control storage times and removal times of the vehicles 3 to be parked into or out of the car park
1.1 to 1. y in question, at least on the basis of an arrival time t communicated by at least one user data processing unit 15 to the central computing unit 17 at the time of booking and/or while approaching the booked car park 1.1 to 1 y and on the basis of the occupancy BI to By of the booked car park 1.1 to
—1y. For this purpose, the central computing unit 17 sends control commands SB for setting the storage times and/or removal from storage times to the con- trol devices 13.3 of the car parks 1.1 to 1. y. The corresponding positioning of the
[0125] Parking platforms 2.1 to 2.m is carried out according to the description of Figures 11 to 13 by means of the computing devices 13.2 provided locally at the car parks 1.1 to 1.y.
[0126] The control system 16 allows a user to search for car parks 1.1 to 1 y — with free capacities by means of the user data processing unit 15 before leav- ing for a desired destination and also during a journey there. In this case, the user specifies in particular their estimated arrival time t and their desired parking duration, so that the central computing unit 17 can determine the oc- cupancy B1 to By of the car parks 1.1 to 1.y in question.
[0127] As the result of the search, available car parks 1.1 to 1.y with free parking spaces P1 to Pn and in addition, in particular parking prices, are dis- played to the user.
[0128] With this information, the user can select a car park 1.1 to 1.y and book a parking space P1 to Pn in it for a specific or unspecified period after their arrival timet.
[0129] In a possible embodiment of the control system 16 the arrival time t at the selected car park 1.1 to 1.y is continuously determined and/or updated during the journey of a vehicle 3 on the basis of a remaining distance on the basis of traffic data and communicated to the central computing unit 17. Thus, this can further increase the accuracy of the occupancy planning and the uti- lization of the corresponding car park 1.1 to 1 y. Waiting times for users to store and remove their vehicles 3 can also be minimized.
[0130] The determination and updating of the arrival time t during the journey of the vehicle 3 is carried out, for example, by means of the user data pro- cessing unit 15.
LIST OF DESIGNATIONS
[0131] lltoly car park 21to2m parking platform 3 vehicle 4 conveying device
4.1 lift system 5 transfer station 61to6x transport device 7 transport unit 8 conveyor belt
8.1to8.z = beltlink 9 inner rail 10 rolling elements 11 rolling element cage
11.1 recess 112,113 mounting structure 12 loading device 13 device
13.1 input and output unit
13.2 computing device
13.3 control device 14 support frame 15 user data processing unit
15.1 communication interface 16 control system 17 central processing unit
17.1 communication interface 172 communication interface A parking area BI toBy occupancy
El to E4 — parking level F conveying surface L support surface P1 to Pn parking space Rl1toR6 row SB control command T arrival time U underside