Automated bike parking system
First Claim
1. A system for public storage of bicycles, the system comprising:
- a control access panel for authorizing a user to access the system;
a loading station for receiving a bicycle from the user;
a robotic elevator for lowering or raising the bicycle to a storage area;
a conveyor for receiving the bicycle from the robotic elevator; and
computer controls for identifying and registering the bicycle, wherein the robotic elevator is adapted to rotate the bicycle 180 degrees about a vertical axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System, device and method for providing public, high-density bicycle storage and protection from elements and theft. System includes overhead conveyors from which bicycles are hung in a near side/far side arrangement where handlebars of only every other bicycle are aligned. Bicycles are rolled into a loading station on their back wheels by user and secured, from the front wheel, to a hook that is removably coupled to a load hoist. Access to loading station is controlled by an access control panel. Load hoist lifts the hook to place the bicycle in a hanging position. Robotic arm of a robotic elevator grasps, retracts and lowers (or raises) the bicycle into a multilevel storage area and onto overhead conveyors. Users may be bike-share users or storage users who store the particular bicycle they own.
24 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for public storage of bicycles, the system comprising:
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a control access panel for authorizing a user to access the system; a loading station for receiving a bicycle from the user; a robotic elevator for lowering or raising the bicycle to a storage area; a conveyor for receiving the bicycle from the robotic elevator; and computer controls for identifying and registering the bicycle, wherein the robotic elevator is adapted to rotate the bicycle 180 degrees about a vertical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An automatic method for public storage of bicycles at a public storage system having a loading station for receiving the bicycles, a robotic elevator for raising or lowering the bicycles to a storage area and for placing the bicycles on conveyors in the storage area and computer controls for identifying and registering the bicycle, the method comprising:
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receiving identification information of a user at an access control panel for providing access to the loading station; providing access to the loading station by opening an exterior door of the loading station; closing the exterior door after receiving of a bicycle from the user; identifying the bicycle by reading and processing identification insignia of the bicycle; opening an interior door providing a passage between the loading station and the storage area; grasping the bicycle by a robotic arm of the robotic elevator; moving the bicycle toward the storage area; lifting or lowering the bicycle to a designated place on the conveyors; and securing the bicycle to the conveyors in the storage area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification