Automated parking system

Abstract

An automated parking system for a parking structure includes a controller which receives a vehicle loading request from a vehicle customer. A loading bay accepts the vehicle and transfers to the parking system. Equipment is provided for transferring the vehicle horizontally and vertically through the parking system. The vehicle parking system includes a rack structure that is integrated as part of the parking structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A system for performing multiple storage and retrieval operations of palletized items within a structure, the system comprising:
 a loading bay for placing an item on a pallet;   a shuttle for transporting the palletized item horizontally on a level of the structure, the shuttle comprising:
 a carriage for moving the palletized item horizontally along powered rails, 
 a plurality of motorized rollers for providing motive power to transport the shuttle along the powered rails, 
 a parasitic drive motor, and 
 a first powered conveyor for transferring the palletized item on and off the shuttle; 
   a plurality of powered cells, each powered cell comprising a second powered conveyor for at least one of (i) receiving and storing the palletized item and (ii) transferring the palletized item to an adjacent component; and   a plurality of parasitic cells, each parasitic cell comprising a parasitic conveyor,   wherein the parasitic drive motor is structured and arranged to mechanically engage the parasitic conveyor of a particular parasitic cell to transfer the palletized item off of the shuttle and into the particular parasitic cell.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first powered conveyor comprises a powered chain driven roller system. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the powered chain driven roller system comprises powered rollers that traverse the shuttle carriage. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the powered chain driven roller system is configured to transfer the palletized item from at least one of an occupied powered cell, an occupied parasitic cell, and a vertical lift to the shuttle. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the powered chain driven roller system is configured to transfer the palletized item from the shuttle to at least one of an open powered cell, an open parasitic cell, and a vertical lift. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one lift for transporting the palletized items vertically between structure levels. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein each powered cell further comprises an RFID tag comprising data to flag whether a specific powered cell is occupied, to indicate that a palletized item is present in the specific powered cell. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein each parasitic cell further comprises an RFID tag comprising data to flag whether a specific parasitic cell is occupied, to indicate that a palletized item is present in the specific parasitic cell. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein each powered cell is adjacent at least one lift. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the adjacent component comprises at least one of a lift, a parasitic cell, and the shuttle. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising a controller for receiving a loading request from a customer. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the parasitic conveyor of a first parasitic cell is configured to transfer the palletized item to a second parasitic cell. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising at least one sensor positioned to determine at least one dimension of the item on the pallet. 
     
     
         40 . A system for performing multiple storage and retrieval operations of palletized items, the system comprising:
 a controller for receiving a loading request from a customer;   a loading bay for placing an item on a pallet;   a plurality of sensors positioned to determine at least one dimension of the item on the pallet;   a plurality of powered cells, each powered cell comprising a first powered conveyor for at least one of (i) receiving and storing the palletized item and (ii) transferring the palletized item to an adjacent component;   a plurality of parasitic cells, each parasitic cell comprising a parasitic conveyor; and   a shuttle for transferring the palletized item, wherein the shuttle is configured to transport the palletized item horizontally and comprises:
 a carriage for moving the palletized item horizontally along powered rails, 
 a plurality of motorized rollers for providing motive power to transport the shuttle along the powered rails, 
 a parasitic drive motor, and 
 a second powered conveyor for transferring the palletized item on and off the shuttle, 
   wherein the parasitic drive motor is structured and arranged to mechanically engage the parasitic conveyor of a particular parasitic cell to transfer the palletized item from the shuttle to the particular parasitic cell.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  further comprising a lift to move the shuttle vertically. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein each parasitic cell further comprises an RFID tag comprising data to flag whether a specific parasitic cell is occupied, to indicate that a palletized item is present in the specific parasitic cell. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein each powered cell further comprises an RFID tag comprising data to flag whether a specific powered cell is occupied, to indicate that a palletized item is present in the specific powered cell. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the powered cells and the parasitic cells are arranged in stackable configurations. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the adjacent component comprises at least one of a lift, a parasitic cell, and the shuttle.