Abstract:
The invention relates to a method and a device for automatically stacking tires (4) on a support (1). According to the inventive method, geometrical data of the tires (4) and/or a digital model of the tires (4) is/are supplied, based on which an algorithm calculates a stacking pattern for the tires (4) on the support (1) by taking into account a predefined size of the support (1), said stacking pattern making it possible to store in a stable manner the largest possible number of tires (4) on the support (1). Positional data of the tires (4) is adopted from the stacking pattern, and associated trajectories of a handling device for stacking the tires (4) are generated and stored according to the stacking pattern. The stored positional data and trajectories are retrieved and are transferred to the handling device which receives the tires (4) in a given receiving position and puts the same on the support (1) in accordance with the positional data and trajectories. The disclosed method and the associated device make it possible to automatically stack tires with a stacking pattern that is optimal for the tires.
Abstract:
A conveyor system (10) and associated method for conveying tires (14) received from a multiplicity of tire presses (A, B) . The conveyor system shown comprises a main, or trench, conveyor (12) flanked on opposite sides by opposing groups of tire presses (A, B) . Discharge conveyors (18) deliver tires (14) from the tire presses (A, B) to the main conveyor (12) at multiple positions along the length of the main conveyor (12) . The tires (14) are delivered from both sides of the main conveyor (12) , which conveys them downstream. An open-loop sequencer (30) activates each discharge conveyor (18) to deliver tires (14) to the main conveyor (12) according to a schedule including the sequence of activating each of the discharge conveyors (18) so as to avoid collisions between tires (14) on the main conveyor (12) .
Abstract:
A sorting conveyor system in which a main conveyor (10) is intersected by one or more cross conveyors (34) forming sorting stations at one or more gaps (14) along a main conveying path (12). The cross conveyor (34) includes a roller-top belt (36) having rollers (50) extending outward of a top article-supporting side (52) and arranged to rotate about axes (54) perpendicular to the main conveying path (12). The cross conveyor (34) includes a bidirectional drive (38) to selectively advance the roller-top belt in one of two opposite directions to discharge articles (20) transferred onto the cross conveyor in the gap off the side of the main conveying path. The cross conveyor also serves as a low-friction roller-top bridge when the roller-top belt (36) is stopped. The bridge allows articles to cross the gap from an upstream portion (16) of the main conveyor to a downstream portion (18).