Autran Auto Unloading Operation

When your car arrives at an unloading station, it will be in a position as shown in an unlock section of an unloading lane. The lock elements (blue) will then be operated to fold the platform. The front lock element will move forwardly to the front of the platform while the rear lock element moves to the rear of the platform. Then all four lock elements will rotate ninety degrees to folded horizontal positions. A gate (red) on the rearward end an exit section is then opened to allow you to drive up the exit section (then inclined upwardly as shown) and then to a conventional roadway.

The unloading station may usually be elevated in which case you may drive down a ramp to reach a conventional roadway. A single unloading lane may be provided as shown, but the typical unloading station may have a number of parallel lanes for unloading of platforms at a fast rate.

After you have driven your car beyond the exit section, the exit section will move from its illustrated upwardly inclined condition and to a level condition, the rearward end thereof being moved up. The folded platform will then move forwardly under the exit section and therebeyond. Then the exit section will return to its illustrated upwardly inclined condition and the gate will return to its illustrated closed position. When another car-carrying platform has arrived in the unlock section, the unloading operation may then be repeated.

After a folded platform leaves an unloading station, it is moved through guideways of the system to a position which may usually be in a queue of an auto loading station but which may be a storage position, a transfer position, a cleaning position or a servicing position. The electronic control system can store data as to all movements of all vehicles, platforms, cabins and containers and can be programmed to make empty platforms, cabins and containers available in queues of loading stations when needed while also insuring that maintenance, cleaning and other operations are performed at appropriate times.

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