阅读说明：本技术 用于搬运轮胎的布置和方法以及高架仓库 (Arrangement and method for handling tyres and overhead warehouse ) 是由 贾尼·马蒂凯宁 托尼·莱卡斯 于 2018-11-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于在放入并储存轮胎并且从中取出所述轮胎的高架仓库的储存搁架中同时搬运一个或多个轮胎的布置。根据本发明的布置包括搁架轨道和被布置成沿着所述搁架轨道移动的负载搬运装置,所述负载搬运装置包括水平纵向拣选杆,所述水平纵向拣选杆具有第一端和第二端,并且所述水平纵向拣选杆被布置成在所述轮胎一个接一个地以竖直位置直立以使得所述水平纵向拣选杆能够被布置到所述轮胎的中心时沿着所述轮胎的轴向方向同时搬运一个或多个轮胎,并且所述布置包括后支撑件,所述后支撑件被布置到所述纵向拣选杆。本发明还涉及一种用于搬运轮胎的方法和一种高架仓库。(The present invention relates to an arrangement for simultaneously handling one or more tyres in a storage rack of an elevated warehouse where the tyres are put in and stored and from where they are taken out. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a rack rail and a load handling device arranged to move along the rack rail, the load handling device comprising a horizontal pickbar having a first end and a second end and arranged to simultaneously handle one or more tires in an axial direction of the tires when the tires are standing upright one after the other in a vertical position such that the horizontal pickbar can be arranged to the center of the tires, and the arrangement comprises a rear support arranged to the pickbar. The invention also relates to a method for handling tyres and to an elevated warehouse.)

1. An arrangement (201, 301) for simultaneously handling one or more tyres (203, 404) in a storage rack (403) of an elevated warehouse (401) where tyres (203, 404) are put in and stored and where said tyres (203, 404) are taken out, characterized in that said arrangement (201, 301) comprises a rack track (202, 202 ') and a load handling device (101, 101') arranged to move along said rack track (202, 202 '), said load handling device (101, 101') comprising:

-a horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103) having a first end and a second end, and the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103) is arranged to simultaneously handle one or more tires (203, 404) along an axial direction of the tires (203, 404) when the tires (203, 404) stand upright one after the other in a vertical position such that the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103) can be arranged to the center of the tires (203, 404), and

-a rear support (104) arranged to the longitudinal culling bar (103).

2. An arrangement (201, 301) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear support (104) is arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103).

3. An arrangement (201, 301) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rear support (104) has a plate-like structure and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103).

4. An arrangement (201, 301) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear support (104) is dimensioned to be adjustable in a height direction perpendicular to the length direction of the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103).

5. The arrangement (201, 301) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal culling bar (103) is arranged to move up and down in a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103).

6. An arrangement (201, 301) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product length of the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103) is arranged to be adjustable.

7. An arrangement (201, 301) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement comprises two shelf rails (202, 202 ') and a load handling device (101, 101') arranged parallel to each other.

8. A method for simultaneously handling one or more tyres (203, 404) in a storage rack (403) of an elevated warehouse (401) where tyres (203, 404) are put in and stored and where said tyres (203, 404) are taken out, characterized in that

-simultaneously handling one or more tyres (203, 404) by using an arrangement (201, 301) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, such that the last tyre (203, 404) in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal culling bar (103) is handled such that the second end of the longitudinal culling bar (103) reaches between the tyre (203, 404) beads, and the rear support (104) supports the tyres (203, 404).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103) reaches substantially the middle of the tire (203, 404) in the width direction of the tire (203, 404).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said horizontal longitudinal culling bar (103) is supported against the inner surface of the center of the tyre (203, 404).

11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the position of the rear support (104) is varied on the basis of the number and/or nominal size of the tyres (203, 404) to be handled.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the tyres (203, 404) are handled with a specific lifting curve, so that the load handling devices (101, 101 ') move backwards along the shelf rails (202, 202') while the horizontal longitudinal culling bars (103) move upwards.

13. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the number of tyres (203, 404) handled simultaneously is between 1 and 20.

14. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 13, characterized in that during the same load, the tyres (203, 404) from different storage locations (402) are sorted to the horizontal longitudinal sorting bars (103).

15. An elevated warehouse (401) comprising

A plurality of storage locations (402) organized in storage shelves (403),

-a plurality of tyres or groups of tyres (203, 404) arranged in at least some of said storage locations (402) such that said tyres (203, 404) are arranged directly in a vertical position on a shelf structure (405) of said storage shelf (403) one after the other,

-a stacker (304) arranged to move in at least two, preferably four directions, and

-at least one arrangement (201, 301) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, arranged to said stacker (304) to simultaneously handle one or more tyres (203, 404) in the axial direction of said tyres (203, 404).

16. Elevated warehouse according to claim 15, characterized in that the stacker (304) comprises a rotatable base (302) and the shelf rails (202, 202') of the arrangement (201, 301) are arranged to the rotatable base (302).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for handling tyres according to the preambles of the appended independent claims. The invention also relates to an elevated warehouse comprising an arrangement according to the invention.

Background

Various systems for handling and storing tires in warehouses are known in the art. In a typical warehouse, tires are stored in a stack on top of each other. In this case, the sidewalls of the tire are substantially parallel to the base of the tire stack. The tire stack is stored, for example, in a tire storage rack on a pallet or at a floor storage space. In conventional warehouses, pallets are handled manually with a forklift. Alternatively, the tires are handled with an automated handling system arranged above a storage area for storing the tires. Such an automated warehouse is described in publication US 6,315,513.

A disadvantage of storing tires in a stack on top of each other is that the tires may collapse during storage. Due to the collapse, the tire is sized to alternate in the width direction of the tire. This may interfere with the operation of the automated handling system, as tire sorting based on the nominal size of the tire, without sensing, is only performed within at most about one meter from the top of the stack, in the case where the tires are placed in a stack on top of each other. Thus, in practice, special identification or sensing in automated handling systems is mandatory. Sensing of automated handling systems increases costs and involves reliability issues with automated handling of tires. Another disadvantage of storing tires in stacks is that the stacks may be unstable as the height of the stack increases. It is difficult to store and handle different kinds and sizes of tires stacked on top of each other. Thus, several smaller piles must be present in the warehouse, in which case more floor space is required.

In addition, in typical tire handling and storage solutions associated with tire manufacturing, intermediate or buffer storage space is required to receive the tires received from the production process. In addition, a separate picking area is required to pick up and deliver tires from the storage space, to which picking area trays or racks containing tires are taken as needed for the order. These intermediate steps, as well as the transport trays or racks, slow the overall handling progress of the tires in the warehouse.

Objects of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to reduce or even eliminate the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art.

Indeed, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel arrangement and method for handling tires in an overhead warehouse in a simple and more efficient manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement and a method for handling tires in an overhead warehouse which increases the capacity of the warehouse, i.e. more tires can be stored per square meter than before.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an elevated warehouse wherein the handling of the tires is reliable and efficient. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elevated warehouse wherein the efficient storage and easy collection of tires and the processing of customer orders are integrated.

To achieve the object defined above, the invention is characterized by what is presented in the characterizing part of the appended independent claim. Some preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The embodiments and advantages mentioned in this text relate, where applicable, to the arrangement, the method and the elevated warehouse according to the invention, although not always specifically mentioned.

Disclosure of Invention

A typical arrangement according to the invention for simultaneously handling one or more tyres in a storage rack of an elevated warehouse for putting in and storing tyres and retrieving said tyres therefrom comprises a rack rail and a load handling device arranged to move along said rack rail, said load handling device comprising a horizontal longitudinal sorting bar having a first end and a second end and arranged to simultaneously handle one or more tyres in an axial direction of said tyre when said tyres are standing upright one after the other in a vertical position such that said horizontal longitudinal sorting bar can be arranged to the centre of said tyre, and said arrangement comprises a rear support arranged to said longitudinal sorting bar.

A typical method according to the invention for simultaneously handling one or more tyres in a storage rack of an elevated warehouse where tyres are put in and stored and from which the tyres are taken out comprises simultaneously handling one or more tyres by using an arrangement according to the invention such that the last tyre in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal culling bar is handled such that the second end of the longitudinal culling bar reaches between the tyre beads and the rear support supports the tyres.

An exemplary elevated warehouse according to the present invention includes: a plurality of storage locations organized in storage shelves; a plurality of tires or tire groups arranged in at least some of the storage locations such that the tires are arranged directly on a shelf structure of the storage shelf in a vertical position one after the other; a stacker arranged to move in at least two, preferably four directions; and at least one arrangement according to the invention arranged to the stacker to simultaneously handle one or more tyres in the axial direction of the tyres.

It has surprisingly been found that tyres can be stored and easily handled in the axial direction of the tyres when the tyres are standing in vertical position one after the other on storage shelves of an elevated warehouse. The axial direction of the tire here means the direction of the central axis of the tire, which is oriented horizontally. The vertical position refers to a position of the center axis of the tire in the horizontal direction. Handling can be carried out in a simple manner by using a load handling device which is arranged to move along the rack track in an axial direction parallel to the tyres when the tyres are standing one after the other in a vertical position. The load handling device comprises a horizontal longitudinal picker bar having a first end and a second end and comprising a rear support arranged to the longitudinal picker bar. The horizontal longitudinal culling bar is arranged to handle one, two or more tires simultaneously in the axial direction of the tires when the tires are standing up one after the other in a vertical position so that the horizontal longitudinal culling bar can be arranged to the center of the tires. The center of the tire is horizontally open in a manner such that the longitudinal culling bar can move horizontally through the center of the tire and cull the tire in the axial direction of the tire. The inner surface of the centre of the tyre, i.e. the tyre bead, is free to come into contact with the longitudinal culling bar without tightening or compacting the tyre, i.e. the tyre to be culled hangs freely on the longitudinal culling bar. In this case, stress toward the tire when handled can be minimized. With the arrangement according to the invention, it is possible to handle tyres of different kinds and sizes simultaneously. It has been observed that the configuration of the load handling device may be a simple horizontal longitudinal picker bar with a rear support, since the rear support is sufficient to support the tires in the longitudinal picker bar during handling and lifting of the tires.

In an elevated tire warehouse, the storage spaces are organized in shelves where the storage locations are adjacent to each other and stacked on top of each other. The storage locations are such that at least two tires, and preferably more than one tire, can be placed in each storage location. The tires are placed one after the other in the storage position in the axial direction in such a way that the tires stand upright in a vertical position and only the sidewalls of one tire can be seen from each storage position. Preferably, the sidewalls of the tires are in contact with each other and there is no gap between the tires. The storage locations may for example be arranged as shelves having a height and a width and a depth. In this configuration, the tires may be arranged in a vertical position one after another in the depth direction of the storage rack. According to an embodiment of the invention, the storage rack is tilted such that the tires are tilted downwards in the depth direction of the rack. The inclination may be, for example, 2 degrees. This prevents the tires from falling onto or off the shelf. Preferably, the storage shelf comprises a shelf structure on which the tyres are arranged directly. Thus, a separate tray or rack for storing tires is not required.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the storage position is preferably accessible only through one side, which is designated as the output of the storage position. Thus, the output of the storage location is where the horizontal longitudinal picker bar of the load handling device can be brought into the storage location for picking or positioning one or more tires.

The arrangement according to the invention comprises a load handling device. The load handling apparatus is arranged to move in at least two opposite directions (such as back and forth) along the rack track. The shelf rail is preferably elongated in a direction parallel to the depth direction of the storage position. Preferably, the load handling apparatus is arranged to move in a depth direction of the storage position. Preferably, the arrangement further comprises means for moving the load handling apparatus, such as a motor connected to the load handling apparatus.

The load handling device includes a horizontal longitudinal picker bar having a first end and a second end. The longitudinal culling bar is arranged from the first end of the longitudinal culling bar to the body of the load handling device in such a way that the length direction of the longitudinal culling bar (direction between the first end and the second end) is substantially perpendicular to the body of the load handling device. The horizontal longitudinal picker bar is preferably straight throughout its length. The horizontal longitudinal picking bars may be, for example, axial bayonet-like pieces of fixed length. The longitudinal picking bars may also be arranged to move in at least two opposite directions, such as up and down. With the longitudinal picker bar, tires can be easily picked from and positioned to a storage location. The tires can be picked in the axial direction from the storage position when the tires stand one after the other in a vertical position.

When picking up a tyre from the storage location, the load handling device is first moved forward along the rack track in a direction parallel to the depth direction of the storage location. At the same time, the longitudinal picker bar moves horizontally through the center of the tires standing upright in a vertical position one after the other. After the longitudinal picker bar is positioned to pass through the center of the tire to be picked, the longitudinal picker bar is moved upwardly. The tyres preferably remain freely suspended from their inner surface one after the other on the longitudinal culling bar, so that the sidewalls of the tyres are in contact with each other. The load handling apparatus is then moved rearwardly along the shelf rails.

According to embodiments, the length of the horizontal longitudinal picking bar may be in the range of 1 to 4 meters. More preferably, the longitudinal culling bar is dimensioned such that it can reach the end of the storage position in the depth direction. According to an embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal picker bar has a fixed length. Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the invention, the length of the horizontal longitudinal picking bar is arranged to be adjustable. The longitudinal picking bars may be retractable, for example. The length of the adjustable longitudinal picking bar facilitates and speeds up tire picking and handling. The length of the longitudinal picking bar may be adjusted according to the number of tires being handled. By adjusting the length of the longitudinal picker bar, the tire can also move against the rear support. The diameter of the longitudinal picking rod is smaller than the inner diameter of the tyre to be handled.

The load handling apparatus further comprises a rear support arranged to the horizontal longitudinal picker bar. According to an embodiment of the invention, the rear support has a plate-like structure and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the horizontal longitudinal picking bar. When picking and handling tires, the rear support is disposed against the sidewall of the first picked tire. The rear support keeps the tire in its vertical position at the longitudinal picker bar and prevents it from falling off during handling and lifting of the tire. The rear support provides a stable method for handling tires using a simple horizontal longitudinal picker bar. The size of the rear support may be adjustable, for example by means of an extension plate, in which case the rear support may be matched to the size of the tyre to be handled. The rear support may include a detection plate that detects contact of the tire during picking. The detection plate enables the load handling apparatus to pick up the correct number of tyres.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rear support is arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the horizontal longitudinal sorting bar. The longitudinal (i.e., length) direction of the longitudinal picking bars refers to the direction between the first and second ends of the longitudinal picking. Thus, the position of the rear support may vary based on the number and/or nominal size of tires to be handled. The rear support may be arranged to move automatically based on the number and/or nominal size of the tires to be handled. The movable rear support enables adjustability of the load handling apparatus and ensures good support for the tires, regardless of the number and/or size of the tires. The rear support may be, for example, a plate-like structure having a flat support surface. The support surface against the tire is preferably larger than the inner diameter of the tire. The movement of the rear support may be controlled, for example, with a motor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises a horizontal longitudinal picker bar having a fixed length and a rear support arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal picker bar.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the dimensions of the rear support are arranged to be adjustable in the height direction, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the horizontal longitudinal picking bar. The size of the rear support can be adjusted according to the size of the tire. The size of the rear support may be adjusted, for example, with an extension plate, which may be arranged to the lower portion of the rear support. The extension plate may be movable, in which case it may be turned into place (as an extension of the rear support) and away depending on the support needs. The adjustability of the dimensions of the rear support in the height direction enables the load handling apparatus to handle any kind and size of tire.

The horizontal longitudinal picking bar may further include a support plate disposed to the second end of the longitudinal picking bar. The support plate may be a plate-like structure arranged substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the longitudinal picking bar. When picking and handling tires, the support plate is arranged between the tire beads, preferably in the middle of the tire, in the width direction of the tire. The support plate may assist the load handling apparatus in separating the tires stored one after the other.

In addition, the arrangement according to the invention comprises a required actuation system for controlling the movement of the load handling apparatus. The actuation system is typically a computer and associated program.

The arrangement according to the invention enables a number of tyres to be handled simultaneously simply and reliably. When the tires are erected in a vertical position one by one, the load handling device handles the tires in the axial direction of the tires by arranging a horizontal longitudinal picker bar to the center of the tires and supporting the tires with a rear support. The load handling apparatus can handle 1 to 20 tires simultaneously. Typically, the load handling apparatus handles two or more tires simultaneously. Preferably, the number of tires handled simultaneously is at most 20. Tires may be picked and unloaded from different storage locations to different storage locations. The tire handled by the inventive arrangement may be any kind of tire. The arrangement according to the invention enables the simultaneous handling of different kinds of tyres, i.e. tyres having different nominal dimensions or different internal diameters. Therefore, there is no need to separately classify the tires.

The arrangement may comprise at least one load handling apparatus arranged to move along the shelf track. According to an embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises two or more load handling devices arranged to move along the shelf rail. In this case, the two load handling apparatuses move along their own shelf rails. The rack rails may be adjacent to each other such that the distance of the load handling apparatus moving along the rack rails remains substantially constant. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises two rack rails and a load handling device arranged parallel to each other. The advantage of having two load handling devices is that more tyres can be handled simultaneously and that the tyres can be sorted in the storage rack.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the arrangement comprises a support frame on which a tyre being handled by the load handling apparatus can be temporarily placed. The support brackets are preferably positioned to both sides of the shelf rail. The length of the support frame is substantially the same as the length of the shelf rail. The support frame preferably has the same width as the shelf of the storage space.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the horizontal longitudinal picking bars are arranged to move up and down in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the horizontal longitudinal picking bars. The longitudinal picker bar is movable along the body of the load handling device. The advantage of a movable longitudinal picker bar is that it can handle tires of different sizes.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the load handling device is arranged to the rotatable base. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two load handling devices are arranged parallel to the rotatable base. With a rotatable base, the load handling apparatus can be operated on two opposite storage shelves of an elevated warehouse. This enables faster handling of the tire.

The invention also relates to a method for simultaneously handling one, two or more tyres in a storage rack of an elevated warehouse where the tyres are put in and stored and from which the tyres are taken out. A typical method according to the invention comprises simultaneously handling one, two or more tires by using the arrangement according to the invention, such that the last tire in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal culling bar is handled, such that the longitudinal culling bar reaches between the tire beads, and the rear support supports the tires.

Typically, an elevated warehouse includes a large number of different types of tires. The tires are arranged in succession in the axial direction in the horizontal storage rack so that the tires stand in a vertical position and their centers face the output end of the storage position. Preferably, the sidewalls of the tires are in contact with each other and there is no gap between the tires. The arrangement according to the invention is arranged to be moved in such a way that the tyre is handled from its centre in the axial direction. In this case, sorting may be performed by the nominal size of the tire. The movement of the load handling device is substantially parallel to the axis of the tyre in such a way that the longitudinal picker bar removes or positions a tyre from or into a suitable storage position.

The method of the invention is based in particular on picking a tire from a storage location such that the second end of the horizontal longitudinal picking bar reaches between the tire beads of the last tire to be picked. Tire bead here means the edge of the tire that is located on the wheel. For example, if it is desired to pick three tires from a storage location, the load handling apparatus moves along the rack track approximately 2.5 times the nominal size of the tires. In this case, the longitudinal culling bar reaches between the tire beads of the third tire. Tire handling according to the method is controlled by the nominal dimensions of the tire when sensing is not required. The rear support supports the first tire from its side wall and prevents the tire from falling. The method enables the tires to be easily separated from each other at a storage location without the need for complex control systems. Furthermore, the method enables the tires to be stored one after the other so that the sidewalls of the tires are in contact with each other and there is no gap between the tires.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the horizontal longitudinal culling bar reaches substantially the middle of the tire in the width direction of the tire. This allows for tolerance variations in the tire.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the horizontal longitudinal culling bar is supported against the inner surface of the center of the tire. The inner surface of the center of the tire is free to contact the longitudinal culling bar from its center hole without tightening or compressing the tire.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rear support is positioned to the correct position before the tires are picked. According to an embodiment of the invention, the position of the rear support is varied based on the number and/or nominal size of the tires to be handled. For example, if it is desired to pick three tires from the storage rack, the rear support is moved to a corresponding position that is substantially 2.5 times the nominal size of the tires as measured from the second end of the longitudinal picker bar. After positioning the rear support, the load handling apparatus is moved forward along the rack rails in a direction parallel to the depth direction of the storage position. The longitudinal picker bars move horizontally through the center of the tires standing in a vertical position one after the other in the storage rack. The load handling device is stopped when the first tyre contacts the rear support in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal sorting bar. The longitudinal sorting bar now reaches substantially the middle of the last tyre to be sorted in the width direction of the tyres. The longitudinal picking bars are then moved upwardly and the load handling apparatus is moved rearwardly along the rack tracks. The tires hang freely on the longitudinal pickers and the rear support supports the tires from the sidewalls and prevents them from falling.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the tires are handled with a certain lifting curve so that the load handling device moves backwards along the rack track while the horizontal longitudinal culling bar moves upwards. This speeds up the sorting of the tires. In the same manner, when the load handling device is positioning a tire, the longitudinal culling bar may move downward while the load handling device moves forward along the rack rails. This speeds up the positioning of the tire. The simultaneous movement also enables efficient tire handling.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the number of tires to be simultaneously handled is 1 to 20.

According to an embodiment of the invention, during the same load, tires from different storage locations are sorted to a horizontal longitudinal sorting bar. Tires may be picked and unloaded from several different storage locations to several different storage locations. Also, tires having different sizes can be handled during the same load. This improves the efficiency of handling tires in an overhead warehouse. The load handling unit may temporarily place the tire on the arranged support shelf while changing the position on the shelf rail. This enables the position of the tire to be moved on the horizontal culling bar.

Typical arrangements and methods according to the present invention enable sorting of tires by using only the nominal size of the tire without identification/sensing. Since the width of the tires is known, the incoming flow of the warehouse with the tires positioned vertically enables sensorless operation of the load handling apparatus and the vertical position of the tires has no effect on it. When sensing is not required, the reliability of handling the tire increases. In addition, the arrangement and method according to the invention have the advantage that more tires can be handled simultaneously and that the size of the tires handled simultaneously can be different. This eliminates the need to sort tires prior to storage, as different types and sizes of tires can be handled simultaneously using the same arrangement and method.

The invention also relates to an elevated warehouse for tires. An exemplary elevated warehouse according to the present invention includes: a plurality of storage locations organized in storage shelves; a plurality of tires or tire groups arranged in at least some of the storage locations such that the tires are arranged directly on a shelf structure of the storage shelf in a vertical position one after the other; a stacker arranged to move in at least two, preferably four directions; and at least one arrangement according to the invention arranged to the stacker to simultaneously handle one or more tyres in the axial direction of the tyres. The arrangement according to the invention is arranged to a stacker so that the direction of movement of the load handling apparatus can be substantially parallel to the depth direction of the storage location and the horizontal longitudinal picking bars can be moved horizontally.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the arrangement arranged to the stacker comprises two or more load handling devices moving along their own shelf track. Preferably, the arrangement comprises two load handling devices arranged parallel to each other. According to an embodiment of the invention, the stacker comprises a rotatable base and the arranged shelf rail is arranged to the rotatable base.

The elevated warehouse may comprise at least two storage locations, typically more than two storage locations, such as 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 or even 100 or more storage locations. The tire is arranged in the storage position in the axial direction of the tire such that the tire stands upright in a vertical position, preferably one after the other in the depth direction of the storage position, such that the sidewalls of the tire are in contact with each other.

The stacker is arranged to move in at least two directions, preferably in opposite directions (such as up and down). The stacker may also be arranged to move back and forth in more than two directions, such as along a storage aisle between storage shelves. Typically, these additional directions of movement are perpendicular to the first and second directions of movement. In an elevated warehouse where the storage spaces are organized in shelves, i.e. with storage locations adjacent to each other and stacked on top of each other, the stacker is preferably arranged to move in four directions so that it can be placed in front of all storage locations. The stacker may also be arranged to move in more than four directions if desired. According to an embodiment of the invention, the stacker comprises a rotatable base and the arranged shelf rail is arranged to the rotatable base.

In the elevated warehouse according to the invention, the receiving of incoming tyres from the tyre production process, the positioning of the tyres to the storage locations and the picking of ordered tyres from the storage locations for sending them out of the storage space are all handled with the same stacker and the arrangement according to the invention arranged to said stacker. Therefore, the storage operation can be simplified, and the efficiency is higher and the speed is higher. No separate storage or buffer or intermediate storage space is required to sort the tires to be ordered before and after storage. Furthermore, there is no need to sort the tires prior to storage, as different kinds and sizes of tires can be handled simultaneously with the same arrangement.

A typical overhead warehouse according to the present invention achieves more efficient and stable simultaneous handling of one or more tires by using a load handling device that picks and positions tires in an axial direction from their centers by using their nominal dimensions.

Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates a load handling apparatus for handling an arrangement of tyres according to an embodiment of the present invention,

figure 2 illustrates an arrangement for handling tires according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement for handling tires according to another embodiment of the present invention, and

fig. 4 illustrates an elevated warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 illustrates a load handling apparatus for handling an arrangement of tires according to an embodiment of the present invention. The load handling device 101 comprises a substantially vertical body 102 and a fixed length horizontal longitudinal picker bar 103 having a first end and a second end. The longitudinal pick bars 103 are arranged from a first end of the longitudinal pick bars to the body 102 of the load handling device 101 in such a way that the length direction of the longitudinal pick bars 103 is substantially perpendicular to the body 102 of the load handling device 101. The horizontal longitudinal picker bar 103 is arranged to move up and down along the body 102 of the load handling device 101. The horizontal longitudinal culling bar 103 may be arranged to pass through the center of the tires when the tires are stored in the vertical position one after the other in the storage rack. The longitudinal picker bar 103 may simultaneously carry one or more tires in the axial direction of the tires.

The load handling device 101 further comprises a rear support 104 arranged to the longitudinal picker bar 103. The rear support 104 has a plate-like structure and the plate-like structure is arranged substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the longitudinal picker bar 103. The rear support 104 keeps the tire in its vertical position at the longitudinal culling bar 103 and prevents it from falling off during handling of the tire. The size of the rear support 104 can be adjusted in the height direction by the extension plates 105 arranged to both sides of the lower portion of the rear support 104. The extension plate 105 is movable and can be turned to form an extension of the rear support 104 as needed. The rear support 104 is arranged to be movable in the length direction of the longitudinal picker bar 103. The position of the rear support 104 may vary based on the number and/or nominal size of tires to be handled.

The longitudinal sorting bar 103 further comprises a support plate 106 arranged to a second end of the longitudinal sorting bar 103. The support plate 106 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the longitudinal culling bar 103. The support plate 106 may assist the load handling apparatus 101 in separating tires when picking from the storage space and prevent tires from falling off the longitudinal picker bar 103.

FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement for handling tires according to an embodiment of the present invention. The arrangement 201 comprises an elongated shelf rail 202 and the load handling apparatus 101 of fig. 1. The load handling apparatus 101 is arranged to move back and forth along the rack rail 202 in a direction parallel to the depth direction of the storage position. The load handling device 101 comprises a horizontal longitudinal picker bar 103 arranged from a first end thereof to the body 102 of the load handling device 101 and a movable rear support 104 arranged to the longitudinal picker bar 103. The longitudinal picker bar 103 is arranged to move up and down along the body 102 of the load handling device 101. The rear support 104 may include extension plates 105 on both sides of the rear support 104 and a detection plate on the surface against the tire 203 that detects contact of the tire 203 during picking.

With the horizontal longitudinal picker bar 103, one or more tires 203 stored in their vertical position one after the other in the storage rack of the elevated warehouse can be easily handled. The tire 203 is carried in the axial direction in such a manner that the longitudinal sorting bar 103 is arranged to the center of the tire 203. The tire 203 hangs freely on the longitudinal picker bar 103 without tightening or pressing the tire 203, and the rear support 104 supports the tire from falling.

When picking one or more tires 203 from a storage location, the rear support 104 is first moved to a position corresponding to the number and/or nominal size of the tires 203 that are desired to be picked. The load handling device 101 is then moved along the rack rail 202 in such a way that the horizontal longitudinal picker bar 103 passes through the center of the tire 203. When the first tire 202 in the storage position comes into contact with the detection plate of the rear support 104, the movement of the load handling apparatus 101 is stopped. The second end of the longitudinal culling bar 103 now reaches substantially the middle of the last tire 203 to be culled in the width direction of the tire 203. The longitudinal picker bar 103 is then moved upwardly while the load handling device 101 is moved rearwardly along the rack rails 202. The rear support 104 supports the sidewalls of the picked tire 203 and prevents the tire 203 from falling off. The extension plate 105 of the rear support 104 may be rotated downward as needed to serve as an extension of the rear support 104.

FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement for handling tires according to another embodiment of the present invention. In arrangement 301, two arrangements 201 of fig. 2 are arranged to a rotatable base 302. The arrangement 301 comprises a first load handler 101 arranged to move back and forth along the first shelf rail 202 and a second load handler 101 'arranged to move back and forth along the second shelf rail 202'. The shelf rails 202, 202 ' are arranged adjacent to each other to the rotatable base 302 in such a way that the distance of the load handling apparatus 101, 101 ' moving along the shelf rails 202, 202 ' remains substantially constant. The support brackets 303, 303 'are disposed to both sides of the shelf rails 202, 202'. The arrangement 301 is arranged to a stacker 304 which is arranged to move in four directions between storage shelves. The rotatable base 302 enables the load handling apparatus 101, 101' to handle tyres from both sides of the stacker 304, i.e. from two opposing storage racks.

Fig. 4 illustrates an elevated warehouse according to an embodiment of the present invention. The elevated warehouse 401 comprises a plurality of storage locations 402 organized in storage shelves 403 in which the storage locations 402 are adjacent to each other and stacked on top of each other. A plurality of tires 404 are arranged in the storage location 402. The tires 404 are placed one after another in the axial direction into the storage locations 402 in such a way that the tires 404 stand upright in a vertical position and only the sidewalls of one tire 404 are visible from each storage location 402. The storage shelf 403 has a shelf structure 405 directly upon which the tires 404 are disposed. The storage location 402 is accessible only through one side, which is designated as the output of the storage location 402. Thus, the output of the storage location 402 is where the horizontal longitudinal picking bars of the load handling devices 101, 101' may enter the storage location 402 to pick or position one or more tires 404.

The elevated warehouse 401 also comprises a stacker 304 arranged to move up and down and back and forth along the storage aisles between the storage shelves 403 so that it can be placed in front of all the storage locations 402. The arrangement 301 of figure 3 is arranged to a stacker 304 such that the direction of movement of the load handling apparatus 101, 101' is substantially parallel to the depth direction of the storage location 402 and the longitudinal picking bars can be moved horizontally. This enables the longitudinal picker bar to carry the tire 404 in an axial direction from the central bore of the tire 404.

In the elevated warehouse 401, receiving tires 404 received from the production process, positioning the tires 404 to the storage locations 402, and picking ordered tires 404 from the storage locations 402 to send them out of the storage space are all handled using the same stacker 304 and arrangement 301 arranged to the stacker.