Material or article handling – Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into – within,... – Unstacking apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-08-14
Hess, Douglas (Department: 2167)
Material or article handling
Apparatus for moving intersupporting articles into, within,...
Unstacking apparatus
C414S795700, C414S910000, C206S304000, C209S583000, C242S578000, C294S095000, C294S097000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273670
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for picking and placing tires onto stacks as well as picking and placing stacks of tires onto pallets or conveyors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tires for automobiles and other vehicles come in all different sizes and types. Tires are made to fit various wheel or rim diameters. The term “bead” is used to refer to the inner diameter of the tire. For example, a 14-inch bead tire is for a 14-inch diameter wheel or rim. In addition to the bead, tires are also sized by their width and outside diameter (O.D.) Various width tires are made in each of the bead sizes. Similarly, various outside diameter (O.D.) tires are made for each of the bead and width sizes. Thus, a 14-inch bead tire may have any of a variety of widths and/or heights associated with it. Vehicle tires have a bead typically in the range of 13 inches to 20 inches.
In addition to the above dimensional properties of tires, tire manufacturers make a variety of tread types and side wall types for particular sizes of tires. Thus, it is easy to understand that a tire manufacturer makes a large number of types of individual tires. During the manufacture of the tires, the finished tires are typically transported by conveyor to the end of the manufacturing line. Upon reaching the end of the manufacturing line. the tires are palletized in preparation for shipping or transportation. Typically, the tires coming off the manufacturing line include a variety of different types of tires. Oftentimes, it is desirable that the tires be placed onto stacks according to the type of tire.
Previously, a robotic tire end effector assembly, designed by C&D Robotics of Beaumont, Tex., has been used to pick a single tire from the end of the conveyor line and place the tire onto a pallet. This process of picking and placing a single tire was repeated over and over and over again. Typically, a separate pallet was required for each of the tire types. Typically, four stacks of tires can be placed onto a pallet. This prior art robotic device picked up the tire by positioning a robotic tire end effector assembly within the bead of the tire. Three equidistantly spaced radial wings were then outwardly extended to bear against the lower bead of the tire.
It is desirable to have a robotic tire end effector assembly that is capable of picking up a stack of tires. It is also desirable to have a robotic tire end effector assembly that can pick up and transport a stack of tires without damaging the tires. It is also desirable that the robotic tire end effector assembly be capable of handling a variety of sizes and types of tires. It is also desirable to have a tire handling system that is quick, efficient, and reliable at picking up and palletizing tires of various types and sizes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is for use in the tire manufacturing industry and provides a system for the automatic handling of finished tires without manual intervention. The present invention is a robotic tire end effector assembly that is capable of picking up and transporting a stack of tires without damaging the tires. The robotic tire end effector assembly is capable of handling a variety of sizes and types of tires. The present invention also includes a tire handling system that is quick, efficient, and reliable at picking up and palletizing tires of various types and sizes. Single, multiple, and stacks of tires can be handled by the robotic tire end effector. The weight of each tire is supported by its bead during handling which reduces the potential damaging the tires during handling.
The robotic tire end effector assembly picks up and places tires positioned horizontally onto vertical stacks of tires. The robotic tire end effector assembly includes a totem support assembly having a plurality of vertical support bars capable of bearing against the inside diameter of a range of tire beads and supporting the weight of such tires. A bottom assembly is connected to the lower end of the totem support assembly. The bottom assembly has a plurality of pivot arms with fingers connected thereto. The fingers are capable of bearing against the inside diameter of a tire bead and supporting the weight of the tire.
The present invention also includes a method of picking up a stack of tires with the robotic tire end effector assembly. The method includes the step of positioning the end effector assembly over the top and center of the stack of tires. The end effector assembly is lowered through the bead diameters of the stack of tires with the lower pivot arms and the upper support bars in their fully retracted position. The lower pivot arms are pivoted outwardly until the fingers firmly bear against the inside diameter of the bead of the lowermost tire. The support bars are then extended outwardly until the support bars firmly bear against the inside diameter of the upper tires of the stack. The support bars remove the weight of the upper tires from the lowermost tire in the stack. The end effector assembly is then raised to lift the stack of tires.
Additionally, the tire handling system of the present invention includes a computer with a computer program capable of receiving data from the tires for identification, tracing the tires, dynamic allocation of tires to the robotic tire end effector assemblies and stacking locations, tire pick optimization and the continuous calculation of sorting and pick up options for the conveyors, robots and stacking locations.
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C & D Robotics, Drawing entitled “Tire Handling End Effector,” Mar. 25, 1996.
C & D Robotics, Drawing entitled “Robot Layout,” Apr. 1, 1995.
Glenn Joseph L.
Hayes David L.
Henson Michael L.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld & LLP
C & D Robotics, Inc.
Hess Douglas
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