Modular parking systems with tilting ramped trays

A parking module, comprising:

• an entry/retrieval sub-module, including
• a loading port having a loading platform configured to selectively move between an upward tilted position and a downward tilted position;
• a first parking pod including:
• a first access slot operatively associated with the loading port, the first access slot including a platform configured to selectively move to a tilted position to form a ramp with the loading port while the loading port is in the downward tilted position;
• a first transfer slot operatively associated with the first access slot, the first transfer slot including at least one transfer platform configured to move first and second ends between raised and lowered positions to exchange trays and to shift trays parallel to an axis about which the transfer platform rotates to move between the raised and lowered positions, and
• a second parking pod including:
• a second access slot operatively associated with the loading portion, the second access slot including a platform configured to selectively move to a tilted position to form a ramp with the loading port in the upward tilted position;
• a second transfer slot operatively associated with the second access slot, the second transfer slot including a platform configured to selectively move to a tilted position to form a ramp with the second access slot.

A parking system, comprising:

• a plurality of parking modules, each parking module including a central entry/retrieval sub-module, the entry/retrieval module including a plurality of parking pods, the parking pods each including plurality of parking slots, each parking slot including at least one platform configured to selectively tilt to form a ramp with at least one adjacent platform;
• first and second storage sub-modules located on opposing sides of the central entry/retrieval sub-module, the first and second storage sub-modules including a plurality of tilting platforms configured to selectively tilt to form a ramp with at least one adjacent platform;
• and
• at least one transfer platform operatively associated with each of the parking pods within the entry/retrieval sub-module and the first and second storage sub-modules, each transfer platform being configured to move first and second ends between raised and lowered positions to exchange trays and to shift trays parallel to an axis about which the transfer platform rotates to move between the raised and lowered positions to transfer a tray between the entry/retrieval sub-module and the first and second storage sub-modules.

A transfer platform for use in a parking system, the transfer platform, comprising:

• a platform having a first end and a second end;
• a plurality of rails operatively associated with the platform;
• a tilting mechanism configured to move the first end between a raised, centered, and lowered positions and for moving the second end between lowered, centered, and raised positions about at least one tilting axis;
• and
• a transfer mechanism operatively associated with the rails, the transfer mechanism being configured to rotate the rails from a first alignment in which the rails are generally perpendicular to the tilting axis to a second alignment in which the rails are generally parallel to the tilting axis, wherein the transfer mechanism is configured to shift trays along the rail while the rails are in the second alignment.