Example systems and methods for automated delivery of a food and/or beverage from a kitchen may be directed to a first vertically extending elevator configured to transport a payload to and from the kitchen. The payload may include a food and/or a beverage. Example systems also may include a laterally extending conveyor configured to transport the payload laterally from the first elevator to a second elevator. The second elevator is configured to transport the payload from the conveyor to a customer delivery window.

Example systems and methods for automated delivery of a food and/or beverage from a kitchen may be directed to a first vertically extending elevator configured to transport a payload to and from the kitchen. The payload may include a food and/or a beverage. Example systems also may include a laterally extending conveyor configured to transport the payload laterally from the first elevator to a second elevator. The second elevator is configured to transport the payload from the conveyor to a customer delivery window.

A floor-to-floor transport system that transports an article between different floors by using an upward path and a downward path in a vertical transporter that revolves in one direction includes, on at least one floor: a loading transport line that transports to the vertical transporter an article to be transported to another floor; a first loading opening through which the article is loaded into the upward path in the vertical transporter; a second loading opening through which the article is loaded into the downward path in the vertical transporter; a transferor that selectively transfers to the first loading opening or the second loading opening an article transported by the loading transport line; and a controller that controls the transferor depending on a destination of the article.

A floor-to-floor transport system that transports an article between different floors by using an upward path and a downward path in a vertical transporter that revolves in one direction includes, on at least one floor: a loading transport line that transports to the vertical transporter an article to be transported to another floor; a first loading opening through which the article is loaded into the upward path in the vertical transporter; a second loading opening through which the article is loaded into the downward path in the vertical transporter; a transferor that selectively transfers to the first loading opening or the second loading opening an article transported by the loading transport line; and a controller that controls the transferor depending on a destination of the article.

A lift system for moving a car along a track in a guided manner. The lift system having a guide rail system, a car and a drive unit arranged on the car. The guide rail system forms a closed track along which the car can be moved between floors when in operation. The drive unit has a motor, a gear wheel system connected to the motor by a shaft and a guide disk. The guide rail system has a pinion system and guide edges spaced apart from one another, which cooperate with the guide disk. When in operation, the motor drives the gear wheel system and the gear wheel system acts on the pinion system in order to move the car along the track in a guided manner.

A lift system for moving a car along a track in a guided manner. The lift system having a guide rail system, a car and a drive unit arranged on the car. The guide rail system forms a closed track along which the car can be moved between floors when in operation. The drive unit has a motor, a gear wheel system connected to the motor by a shaft and a guide disk. The guide rail system has a pinion system and guide edges spaced apart from one another, which cooperate with the guide disk. When in operation, the motor drives the gear wheel system and the gear wheel system acts on the pinion system in order to move the car along the track in a guided manner.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for shuttle lift systems to facilitate simultaneous movement of multiple shuttles across a multi-level storage structure that stores packages. The shuttle lift system may include the multi-level storage structure and a tower lift system at each end of the multi-level storage structure. One tower lift system may raise shuttles to a level of the multi-level storage structure. The other tower lift system may lower shuttles to a level of the multi-level storage structure and/or to a delivery area. The tower lift system may include cables (e.g., tethers) that are supported by a bottom portion and an upper portion of the tower lift system. Shelves may be attached to the cables on either side of the tower lift system and may receive and move shuttles up/down the tower lift system. The tower lift system may have high shuttle throughput and a reduced footprint.

Arrangement (10) for handling carriages (12) in an elevator system (42), the arrangement (10) comprising at least one carriage (12); a storage area (14) adjacent to an operational path (20) of the elevator system (42) for storage, service and/or maintenance of the at least one carriage (12); and a transfer mechanism (16) for transferring the carriage (12) between an operational position (24) along the operational path (20) and at least one storage position (26) within the storage area (14).

Arrangement (10) for handling carriages (12) in an elevator system (42), the arrangement (10) comprising at least one carriage (12); a storage area (14) adjacent to an operational path (20) of the elevator system (42) for storage, service and/or maintenance of the at least one carriage (12); and a transfer mechanism (16) for transferring the carriage (12) between an operational position (24) along the operational path (20) and at least one storage position (26) within the storage area (14).

The disclosure is related to systems and methods regarding transit and movement of people. The Articulated Funiculator is a continuous and connected system of trains that moves people in mass. The trains lie horizontal at specific floor levels (designated as stations) in tall buildings or underground levels (designated as stations) in mining operations and underground subway stations. The Articulated Funiculator transitions from horizontal alignments at the stations to vertical, slanted or curved alignments between the stations, albeit the passengers remain horizontal in a standing position. The Articulated Funiculator captures the energy from the braking, dynamic braking of the trains and stores it. The stored energy is then used to accelerate the Articulated Funiculator. This re-use of energy makes the Articulated Funiculator sustainable.