Transfer device and method for transferring tire components from a container to a service station

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conveying device and method for conveying a plurality of first tire components (91) from a first container (2) and a plurality of second tire components (92) from a second container (3) to a service station (4), wherein the conveying device comprises a first workbench (S1) and a second workbench (S2) for receiving the first container and the second container respectively, wherein the first workbench and the second workbench are arranged side by side in a lateral direction, wherein the conveying device also comprises a base (5) and a removal component (6) mounted to the base, and the removal component can be moved relative to the base toward the first workbench and the second workbench, so as to be used for picking up and removing a first tire component from a first container located at the first workbench and for picking up and removing a second tire component from a second container located at the second workbench.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an invention patent application entitled "Conveying device and method for conveying tire components from a container to a service station", with an international application date of April 9, 2018, an international application number of PCT / NL2018 / 050216, and a national application number of 201880024157.4. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a conveying device and a method for conveying tire components from a container to a service station. Background Art

[0003] US5,064,330A discloses a strip-shaped component removal and transfer device for taking out strip-shaped components one by one from a container having a plurality of vertically stacked shelves and transferring the strip-shaped components to a service station of a tire building machine. The device comprises a lifter on which a container is supported and which intermittently raises and lowers the container. When the container is empty, the lifter lowers the container to a lower limit position. Thereafter, the empty container is removed from the lifter by means of a forklift or the like and replaced with a full container.

[0004] During the exchange of an empty container for a full container, the conveying of the strip-shaped component to the service station is temporarily interrupted and waits for the operator to act. This significantly affects the operating efficiency of the known strip-shaped component removal and conveying device and any workstation located downstream of the device.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a conveying device and a method for conveying tire components from a container to a service station, wherein the efficiency of conveying the tire components to the service station can be improved. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a conveying device for conveying a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a service station, wherein the conveying device comprises a first work station and a second work station for receiving the first container and the second container respectively, wherein the conveying device also comprises a base and a taking-out component mounted to the base, and the taking-out component can be moved toward the first work station and the second work station in a lateral direction relative to the base, and is respectively used to pick up and take out a first tire component from a first container located at the first work station and to pick up and take out a second tire component from a second container located at the second work station, and wherein the first work station and the second work station are arranged on the same side of the base in a lateral direction, and wherein the taking-out component is configured to be used The first tire component and the second tire component are transferred to the service station along an unloading direction transverse or perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein the taking-out component is configured to pick up and take out the first tire component and the second tire component from the first container and the second container respectively along the first taking-out direction and the second taking-out direction parallel to the unloading direction, and to move the taken-out first tire component and the second tire component in the lateral direction so as to align them with the service station in the unloading direction, so as to transfer the taken-out first tire component and the second tire component to the service station along the unloading direction, the second taking-out direction being opposite to the first taking-out direction, wherein the taking-out component is configured to transfer the taken-out second tire component across the first workbench to the service station.

[0007] Thus, a single removal component can be used to remove a first tire component from a first container located at a first workstation and to remove a second tire component from a second container located at a second workstation. The first container and the second container can be placed in their respective workstations so that the second container is ready to interact with the removal component as soon as the first container has been emptied, and vice versa. Thus, interruptions when switching between containers can be reduced to a minimum and the efficiency of delivering tire components to the service station can be improved.

[0008] The removed one second tire component may first be moved out of the second container along a second removal direction opposite to the first removal direction, and then moved laterally to be aligned with the service station and transferred across the first work station along the unloading direction.

[0009] Preferably, the first work table and the second work table are arranged on the same side of the base as the service table in the lateral direction, and / or the first work table and the second work table are arranged side by side in the lateral direction.

[0010] In one embodiment thereof, the first work station is arranged in line with the service station in the unloading direction. Thus, the first tire component can be directly transferred from the first container to the service station.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the first workbench and the second workbench are arranged out of line with the service station in the unloading direction, wherein the taking-out component is arranged to pick up and take out the one tire component from the first container and the second container in the first taking-out direction and the second taking-out direction parallel to the unloading direction, respectively, and to move the one taken-out tire component in the lateral direction to be aligned with the service station in the unloading direction, so as to transfer the one taken-out tire component to the service station in the unloading direction. Thus, regardless of the positioning of the service station, the tire components from the first container and the second container can be taken out and aligned with the service station in the same way.

[0012] In one embodiment thereof, the taking-out component is configured to pick up and take out the one second tire component from the second container in a second taking-out direction parallel to the unloading direction, and to move the one taken-out second tire component in a lateral direction to be aligned with the service station in the unloading direction, so as to transfer the one taken-out second tire component to the service station in the unloading direction. This allows the one taken-out second tire component to be aligned with the service station even though the second work station is not aligned with the service station.

[0013] In one embodiment thereof, the removal means are arranged to move the one removed second tire component in a second removal direction to a removal position completely outside the second container at the second workstation. Typically, the container only allows removal of tire components in the corresponding conveying direction. Thus, by moving the one second tire component completely out of the second container, the one second tire component can be freely moved in a lateral direction relative to the second container.

[0014] In another embodiment, the taking-out component includes a conveyor for conveying the first tire component and the second tire component in the first taking-out direction and the second taking-out direction. The conveyor can effectively take out the first tire component and the second tire component from the corresponding container.

[0015] In one embodiment thereof, the first container and the second container are each provided with a plurality of mutually parallel and spaced rods extending in a lateral direction in a plurality of superimposed and mutually parallel planes to form a series of shelves for supporting the first tire component and the second tire component, respectively, wherein the conveyor is a roller conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers extending in the lateral direction, wherein at least a first set of rollers is arranged to be inserted between the plurality of rods of the first container or the second container for conveying the first tire component and the second tire component on the plurality of rods in a first removal direction and a second removal direction, respectively. Each independent roller can be inserted between a pair of spaced apart rods to engage one tire component supported on the rods.

[0016] In one embodiment thereof, the first container and the second container are each provided with a vertically and / or vertically extending column, wherein the plurality of rods are supported by the column in their respective planes. The column can reliably support the plurality of rods in their superimposed plane. Moreover, the column can prevent the first tire component from being removed in a lateral direction.

[0017] In another embodiment thereof, the shelves are fixed relative to each other. Thus, the first container and the second container can be more rigid.

[0018] In another embodiment thereof, at least some of the rollers are driven rollers. The rollers of the conveyor can thus effectively mobilize the tire components located on the fixed rod set.

[0019] In another embodiment thereof, the take-out means comprises a lateral drive arranged for moving the conveyor towards and away from the first and second workstations in a lateral direction relative to the base. This allows picking up and taking out tire components located at different lateral positions in the first and second containers and / or for aligning a second tire component from the second container with the service station in the aforementioned unloading direction.

[0020] In another embodiment thereof, the second set of rollers is arranged to extend beside the second container in the second removal direction for conveying the one removed second tire component to a removal position on the conveyor completely outside the second container at the second workstation. The second set of rollers can prevent the one removed second tire component from being unsupported when it has been removed from the second container.

[0021] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for transferring a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a service station using a transfer device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0022] a) receiving a first container and a second container in a first workbench and a second workbench, respectively;

[0023] b) moving a retrieval member relative to the base towards a first work station for picking up and retrieving a first tire component from a first container located at said first work station; and

[0024] c) moving the taking-out member relative to the base towards the second work station for picking up and taking out a second tire component from a second container located at the second work station.

[0025] The aforementioned method and the embodiments described below relate to practical implementations of the conveying device according to the first aspect of the present invention. Therefore, the method and its embodiments have the same technical advantages as the conveying device and its corresponding embodiments. For the sake of simplicity, the technical advantages will not be repeated below.

[0026] In another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of:

[0027] d) conveying the first tire component and the second tire component to a service station in an unloading direction.

[0028] In one embodiment thereof, the first work station is arranged in line with the service station in the unloading direction, wherein in step b) the component removal picks up and removes the one first tire component from the first container in a first removal direction parallel to the unloading direction.

[0029] In one embodiment, the first workbench and the second workbench are arranged to be non-linear with the service station in the unloading direction, wherein in step b), the one tire component is picked up and taken out from the first container and the second container in the first taking-out direction and the second taking-out direction parallel to the unloading direction, respectively, and the one taken-out tire component is moved in the lateral direction to be aligned with the service station in the unloading direction for transferring the one taken-out tire component to the service station in the unloading direction.

[0030] In one embodiment, step c) before step d) further comprises the following steps:

[0031] c1) picking up and removing the one second tire component from the second container in a second removal direction parallel to the unloading direction; and

[0032] c2) moving the one removed second tire component in a lateral direction to align it with the service station in an unloading direction.

[0033] In one embodiment thereof, in step c1), the one removed second tire component is moved in the second removal direction to a removal position completely outside the second container at the second workstation.

[0034] In another embodiment thereof, in step d) the one removed second tire component is transferred in the unloading direction past the first work station to the service station.

[0035] In another embodiment thereof, the second removal direction corresponds to the unloading direction.

[0036] Whenever possible, each aspect and feature described and shown in the specification can be used independently. These independent aspects, especially the aspects and features described in the accompanying dependent claims, can be divided into patent applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The invention will be explained on the basis of the exemplary embodiments shown in the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0038] Figure 1 shows a front view of a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention during conveying of a plurality of first tire components from a first container to a service station;

[0039] Figure 2 The method of transferring a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a service station according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1 A front view of a conveying device;

[0040] Figure 3 Shown according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A side view of a first container and a second container;

[0041] Figure 4-6 The method of transferring a plurality of first tire components from a first container to a service station according to Figure 1 A top view of a conveyor device;

[0042] Figure 7 and 8 The method of transferring the plurality of second tire components from the second container to the service station according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 A top view of a conveyor device;

[0043] Fig. 9 , 10 , 11 and 12 show top views of alternative conveying devices according to a second embodiment, a third embodiment, a fourth embodiment and a fifth embodiment of the present invention, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1-8 A conveying device 1 is shown for conveying a plurality of first tire components 91 from a first container 2 and a plurality of second tire components 92 from a second container 3 to a service station 4. In the exemplary embodiment, the tire components 91, 92 are tire treads. Alternatively, different tire components may be conveyed.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown in , the conveying device 1 includes a first workstation S1 and a second workstation S2 for receiving a first container 2 and a second container 3, respectively. The first workstation S1 and the second workstation S2 are positioned side by side in a lateral direction L. In this exemplary embodiment, the workstations S1, S2 are defined in the lateral direction L by one or more partition walls 10-12 extending perpendicularly to the lateral direction L. The partition walls 10-12 separate the first workstation S1 and the second workstation S2 from each other, and can also be used to guide the loading of the first container 2 and the second container 3 into the corresponding workstations S1 and S2 and / or unloading thereof from the corresponding workstations S1 and S2.

[0046] like Figure 1As shown, the first container 2 includes a carriage 20 for supporting the first container 2 on the ground. Preferably, the carriage 20 includes wheels for easily loading and unloading the first container 2 into and from the first workbench S1. Figure 6 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the first container 2 further comprises a plurality of mutually parallel and spaced apart rods 21 extending in a plurality of planes superimposed and mutually parallel in the first workstation S1 along a lateral direction L to form a series of shelves 22 (e.g., Figure 1 ). Figure 3 As shown in the side view of , the plurality of rods 21 are supported and / or fixed in their respective planes by vertically and / or vertically extending columns 23. In this particular embodiment, the shelves 22 are fixed relative to each other. The first carriage 20 is opened in a direction perpendicular to its rods 21. The columns 23 prevent the first tire components 91 from being removed in a direction parallel to the rods 21. In this exemplary embodiment, three first tire components 91 are supported side by side on each shelf 22 in the lateral direction L.

[0047] Similarly, the second container 3 also comprises a carriage 30 (preferably with wheels), a plurality of mutually parallel and spaced-apart rods 31 extending in a lateral direction L in a plurality of planes superimposed and parallel to each other in the second workstation S2, and vertical and / or vertically extending columns 33 for supporting the plurality of rods 31 in the respective planes, the plurality of rods forming a series of shelves 32 for supporting the second tire component 92. Preferably, the first container 2 and the second container 3 are at least functionally identical or substantially identical.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the conveying device 1 further comprises a base 5 and a taking-out component 6 mounted to the base 5. The base 5 is located at a side of the first workstation S1 facing away from the second workstation S2 in the lateral direction L. The taking-out component 6 can move toward the first workstation S1 relative to the base 5, and is used to pick up and take out a first tire component 91 from the first container 2 located at the first workstation S1, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 and 4 -6. The taking-out component 6 can also be moved relative to the same base 5 toward the second workstation S2 to pick up and take out a second tire component 92 from the second container 3 located at the second workstation S2, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 , 7 and 8. In particular, the movable range of the taking-out component 6 enables the taking-out component 6 to reach and enter the second container 3 located at the second workstation S2, preferably to reach the farthest second tire component 92 supported on the second container 3.

[0049] like Figure 4-6As shown in FIG. 4 , the service station 4 is arranged to unload the removed tire components 91 , 92 to a downstream tire building line (not shown) in an unloading direction D transverse or perpendicular to the lateral direction L. Figure 4-6 As shown in , the first workstation S1 is aligned with the service station 4 in the unloading direction D. The taking-out component 6 is configured to pick up and take out the first tire component 91 from the first container 2 located at the first workstation S1 in a first taking-out direction T1 parallel to the unloading direction D of the service station 4 and in the same direction as the unloading direction D of the service station 4. Thus, the first component 91 can be directly transferred from the first container 2 to the service station 4. However, the second container 3 at the second workstation S2 is not aligned with the service station in the unloading direction D (i.e., not aligned), as shown in FIG. Figure 7 and 8 . Moreover, in this exemplary embodiment, the removal means 6 is arranged to pick up and remove the second tire component 92 in a second removal direction T2 opposite to the first removal direction T1 and / or the unloading direction D. Once the second tire component has been removed, the removal means 6 is arranged to move the second tire component 92 in a lateral direction L so that it is aligned with the service station 4 in the unloading direction D. Subsequently, the second tire component 92 can be transferred to the service station 4 over the first workstation S1 in the unloading direction D.

[0050] like Figure 4-8 As best seen in the drawing, the take-out means 6 comprises a conveyor 60 for conveying a first tire component 91 in a first take-out direction T1 at a first station S1 and for conveying a second tire component 92 in a second take-out direction T2 at a second station S2. In particular, the conveyor 60 is a roller conveyor 60 comprising a plurality of rollers 61 extending in a lateral direction L. The rollers 61 are sized to fit between a pair of spaced-apart rods 21, 31 of the containers 2, 3. When inserted between the rods 21, 31, the rollers 61 are arranged to extend slightly above the shelves 22, 32 defined by the rods 21, 31 to engage the tire components 91, 92 supported on the shelves 22, 32. Preferably, at least some of the rollers 61 are driven rollers 61, i.e. rollers 61 such as Figure 1 and 2 The roller drive 62 schematically shown in FIG. 6 drives one roller 61, which in turn is connected to the other rollers 61 via a transmission and drives all other rollers 61. The driven roller 61 is arranged to convey and / or push out the engaged tire components 91, 92.

[0051] like Figure 4-8As shown in FIG. 1 , the first set of rollers 61 is arranged to be inserted between the plurality of rods 21, 31 of the first container 2 or the second container 3. The second set of rollers 61 is arranged to extend beside the second container 3 in the second removal direction T2, for conveying a removed second tire component 92 to a removal position on the conveyor 60, the removal position being completely outside the second container 3 at the second workstation S2, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 Then, the conveyor 60 can be moved in the lateral direction L to align the one taken-out second tire component 92 with the service station 4 in the unloading direction D.

[0052] The removal means 6 also comprise a lateral drive 63 for moving the conveyor 60 relative to the base 5 in the lateral direction L. In this exemplary embodiment, the lateral drive 63 is formed by a linear motor engaged on one or more guides 50 extending in the lateral direction L on the base 5 .

[0053] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown in FIG, the first workbench S1 and the second workbench S2 are respectively provided with a first elevator 7 and a second elevator 8 for respectively raising or lowering the first container 2 and the second container 3 relative to the taking-out component 6. Figure 1 In FIG. 1 , the first lift 7 has been operated to raise the first container 2 to a raised position in which the removal component 6 can interact with the first container 2. At the same time, the second lift 8 has been lowered to a lowered position in which the second container 3 is completely located under the removal component 6. Figure 2 , the first lift 7 has been operated to lower the first container 2 to a lowered position in which the first container 2 is completely located below the removal component 6. At the same time, the second lift 8 has been operated to raise the second container 3 to a raised position in which the removal component 6 can interact with the second container 3.

[0054] exist Figure 2 , the first container 2 is lowered to a first replacement position that allows the first container 2 to be loaded onto the first workstation S1 and / or unloaded from the first workstation S1. When the first container 2 is in the first replacement position, the removal component 6 is arranged to reach above the first container 2 located at the first replacement position or extend above the first container 2 located at the first replacement position. In particular, the removal component 6 and the first container 2 are spaced apart from each other and / or do not contact each other, so that the loading and / or unloading of the first container 2 can be performed independently and / or simultaneously with the removal of the second tire component 92 from the second container 3.

[0055] Similarly, in Figure 1In the process, the second container 3 is lowered to a second replacement position, which allows loading or unloading the second container 3 to or from the second workstation S2 independently and / or simultaneously with taking out the first tire component 91 from the first container 2.

[0056] The following will refer to Figure 1-8 A method of transferring one or more first tire components 91 from a first container 2 and one or more second tire components 92 from a second container 3 to a service station 4 using the aforementioned transfer device 1 is described.

[0057] Figure 1 and 4 The first step of the method is shown, wherein a first container 2 and a second container 3 are received in a first station S1 and a second station S2, respectively. Preferably, the containers 2, 3 are fixed in position on their respective lifts 7, 8, so that the positioning of the containers 2, 3, in particular the rods 21, 31 of the containers, relative to the rollers 61 of the conveyor 6 is accurate. Figure 1 and 4 , the first lift 7 has been operated to raise the first container 2 to a raised position in which one of the shelves 22 is flush with the rollers 61 of the conveyor 6. Thus, the first container 2 is now ready to be emptied in the second step of the method.

[0058] Figure 4 and 5 Picking up and removing a first tire component 91 from the first container 2 is shown during the second step of the method.

[0059] In particular, Figure 1 and 4 It is shown how the removal part 6 has moved in the lateral direction L to a pick-up position below a first tire component 91 that is closest to the removal part 6. At this point, the first lifter 7 can be operated to slightly lower the first container 2 relative to the removal part 6 so that the rollers 61 of the conveyor 60 extend slightly above the shelf 22. The rollers 61 thus raise the closest first tire component 91 to slightly above and / or out of contact with the rods 21 that form the shelf 22. Since the rollers 61 support the closest first tire component 91, the removal part 6 can be slightly moved in the lateral direction L to align the closest first tire component 91 with the service station 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the closest first tire component 91 is already aligned with the service station 4 and can be directly transferred to the service station 4. Subsequently, the rollers 61 are driven to convey the closest first tire component 91 out of the first container 2 along the first removal direction T1 and convey it to the service station 4 along the unloading direction D.

[0060] Figure 5A situation is shown in which one of the first tire components 91 discussed previously has been removed from the first container 2 and two first tire components 91 remain on the shelf 22. The removal component 6 has moved in the lateral direction L to a pick-up position located below the next closest first tire component 91 among the first tire components 91 supported on the shelf 22. The first lifter 7 can be operated again, first raising the first container 2 as the removal component 6 moves below the next first tire component 91, and then lowering the first container 2 again so that the roller 61 lifts the next first tire component 91 from the shelf 22. Once the next first tire component 91 is raised, the removal component 6 moves in the lateral direction L so that the next first tire component 91 is aligned with the service station 4 in the unloading direction D. Thus, the next first tire component 91 moves to the position of the first tire component 91 that has been removed previously. Subsequently, the roller 61 is driven to transport the next first tire component 91 out of the first container 2 along the first removal direction T1 and transport it to the service station 4 along the unloading direction D.

[0061] Figure 6 A situation is shown in which the last first tire component 91 supported on the shelf 22 is picked up, aligned with the service station 4 in the lateral direction L and removed from the first container 2 to the service station 4 along the first removal direction T1 in the same manner as the first tire component 91 that has been removed previously.

[0062] The aforementioned process can be repeated for each shelf 22 of the first container 2 until the first container 2 is completely emptied. Preferably, the shelf 22 is emptied from the bottom or lower shelf 22 toward the top shelf 21, so that the first container 2 is gradually lowered as the removal part 6 empties the increasingly higher shelves 22.

[0063] Figure 2 and 7 The picking up and removal of the second tire component 92 from the second container 3 is shown during the third step of the method. The first container 2 is lowered to the first replacement position below the removal component 6, so that the removal component 6 can pass over the first workstation S1 and / or the first container 2 at the first replacement position to the second workstation 3. At the same time, the emptied first container 2 is replaced by a "new" full first container 2. Figure 2 and 7As shown in FIG, the removal component 6 moves in the lateral direction L to a pick-up position below the closest second tire component 92 on the shelf 32 of the second container 3. The second lift 8 can be operated like the first lift 7, first raising the second container 3 as the removal component 6 moves below the closest second tire component 92, and then lowering the second container 3 again so that the roller 61 lifts the closest second tire component 92 from the shelf 32. Once the closest second tire component is raised, the roller 61 moves in contact with the second container 3. Figure 1 and 4 -6 is driven in the opposite direction to take out the second tire component 92 which is closest to the tire component 92 in a second taking-out direction T2 which is opposite to the first taking-out direction T1.

[0064] Figure 7 1 shows a situation in which the closest second tire component 92 has been conveyed along the second removal direction T2 to a removal position on the conveyor 60, which is completely outside the second container 3. Figure 7 As shown in , the take-out component 6 is then moved in the lateral direction L to align the taken-out second tire component 92 with the service station 4 in the unloading direction D. However, after the alignment, the taken-out second tire component 92 is still located on the opposite side of the first workstation S1 relative to the service station 4. Therefore, the roller 61 of the conveyor 6 is operated to convey the taken-out second tire component 92 over the first workstation S1 to the service station 4 along the first take-out direction T1 and / or the unloading direction D.

[0065] Repeat for each second tire component 92 on the shelf 32 Figure 7 and 8 The process can be repeated for each shelf 32 of the second container 3 Figure 7 and 8 The process is continued until the second container 3 is emptied. At this point, for the next cycle of the method, the second container 3 can be lowered and the "new" filled first container 2 can be raised again.

[0066] Optionally, the method can be automated to a greater extent by providing a series of first sensors (e.g. photocells) arranged beside each container 2, 3 for detecting the presence of a tire component 91, 92 on each shelf 22, 32. The sensor data is stored in a controller (e.g. PLC), which is optionally connected to the removal unit 6 so that the removal unit 6 can be automatically controlled towards the correct shelf 22, 32. The method can be further automated by providing a second sensor (e.g. photocell) at a downstream position of the container 2, 3 in each removal direction T1, T2, T102, T201, T301, T302 to detect whether a tire component 91, 92 is actually removed.

[0067] Fig. 9 An alternative conveyor device 101 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown, which differs from the previously discussed conveyor device 1 in that it has a first station S101 and a second station S102 spaced apart from the service station 4 in the unloading direction D by a distance that allows the first tire component 91 and the second tire component 92 to be completely picked up and removed from the first container 2 at the first station S101 and the second container 3 at the second station S102, respectively, before being conveyed to the service station 4. Thus, in contrast to the previously discussed embodiment, the removal means 6 of the alternative conveyor device 101 are arranged for picking up and removing the second tire component 92 along a second removal direction T102 corresponding to the first removal direction T1 and / or the unloading direction D.

[0068] Likewise, the first set of rollers 61 is arranged to be inserted between the rods 21, 31 of the containers 2, 3, while the second set of rollers 61 extends beside the first container 2 and the second container 3 in the second removal direction T102. Thus, the rollers 61 can convey the tire components 91, 92 to a removal position on the conveyor 60 completely outside the first container 2 or the second container 3. Subsequently, the first tire component 91 can be unloaded directly onto the service station 4 in the unloading direction D, while the second tire component 92 should first be moved in the lateral direction L so that it is aligned with the service station 4. Apart from the aforementioned differences, the alternative conveyor device 101 functions in the same manner as the previously discussed conveyor device 1.

[0069] Fig.10 An alternative conveyor device 201 according to a third embodiment of the invention is shown, which differs from the previously discussed conveyor devices 1, 101 in that its service station 204 is not aligned with any container 2, 3. Instead, the service station 204 is located at the base 5 or at a position between the base 5 and the first container 2 in the lateral direction L. Therefore, both the first tire component 91 and the second tire component 92 are completely removed from their respective container 2, 3 in a removal direction T201, T2 facing away from the service station 204 and then aligned with the service station 204 in the lateral direction L before the tire components 91, 92 are unloaded in the unloading direction D towards the service station 204.

[0070] Fig.11An alternative conveyor device 301 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown, which differs from the previously discussed conveyor devices 1, 101, 201 in that its first work station S301 and second work station S302 are not arranged side by side in the lateral direction L. Instead, the work stations S301, S302 are arranged one behind the other in a direction parallel to their respective removal directions T301, T302. The work stations S301, S302 are preferably arranged out of alignment with the service station 4 in the unloading direction D, so that the containers 2, 3 can be easily replaced without interfering with the service station 4.

[0071] The taking-out component 6 is configured to reach into the first container 2 and to pick up and take out a first tire component 91 in a first taking-out direction T301 facing away from the service station 4 to a taking-out position located above the second workstation S302. Then, the taken-out first tire component 91 is aligned with the service station 4 in the lateral direction L and then unloaded along the unloading direction D. Similarly, the taking-out component 6 is configured to reach into the second container 3 and to pick up and take out a second tire component 92 in a second taking-out direction T302 facing toward the service station 4 to a taking-out position located above the first workstation S301. Then, the taken-out second tire component 92 is aligned with the service station 4 in the lateral direction L and then unloaded along the unloading direction D.

[0072] Fig.12 An alternative conveyor device 401 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention is shown, which differs from the previously discussed conveyor devices 1, 101, 201, 301 in that its workstations S401, S402 are arranged side by side in the lateral direction L, but at the same time offset relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction L. Although the method for picking up and removing the second tire component 92 from the second container 3 corresponds essentially to the method described above, Figure 7 and 8 The method shown in , but the alternative structure of the workstations S401, S402 as shown has the additional advantage of easy access to the containers 2, 3. The workstations S401, S402 do not block each other in the lateral direction L.

[0073] It should be understood that the above description is used to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which are also encompassed within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A conveying device for conveying a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a service station, wherein the conveying device comprises a first worktable and a second worktable for receiving the first container and the second container respectively, wherein the conveying device further comprises a base and a taking-out component mounted to the base, and the taking-out component is movable in a lateral direction relative to the base toward the first worktable and the second worktable, so as to be used to pick up and take out a first tire component from the first container located at the first worktable and to pick up and take out a second tire component from the second container located at the second worktable, respectively, and wherein the first worktable and the second worktable are arranged on the same side of the base in the lateral direction, wherein the first worktable and the second worktable are respectively provided with a first elevator and a second elevator for raising or lowering the first container and the second container respectively relative to the taking-out component, wherein the first elevator is arranged to lower the first container The tire loader and the tire loader are configured to move the tire loader and the tire loader from one container to another so that the tire loader and the tire loader are aligned with the service station in the unloading direction, so as to transfer the removed tire loader and the tire loader to the service station in the unloading direction, wherein the removal component is configured to transfer the removed tire loader and the tire loader from the first container to the service station over the first workbench and the second workbench. 2 . The conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein the first workbench and the second workbench are arranged on the same side of the base as the service table in the lateral direction. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the first workbench and the second workbench are arranged side by side in a lateral direction. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the first work station is arranged in a straight line with the service station in the unloading direction.

5. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the taking-out means is arranged to move the taken-out one second tire component along the second taking-out direction to a taking-out position completely outside the second container at the second workstation. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the second removal direction corresponds to an unloading direction.

7. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the take-out component comprises a conveyor for conveying the first tire component and the second tire component along the first take-out direction and the second take-out direction.

8. The conveying device according to claim 7, wherein the first container and the second container are both provided with a plurality of rods parallel to and spaced apart from each other and extending in a lateral direction in a plurality of superimposed and mutually parallel planes to form a series of shelves for supporting the first tire components and the second tire components, respectively, wherein the conveyor is a roller conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers extending in a lateral direction, wherein at least a first group of rollers is arranged to be inserted between the plurality of rods of the first container or the second container for conveying the first tire components and the second tire components over the plurality of rods in a first removal direction and a second removal direction, respectively.

9. A conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the first container and the second container are each provided with a vertically or vertically extending column, wherein the plurality of rods are supported in their respective planes by the column.

10. The conveyor of claim 8, wherein the shelves are fixed relative to each other.

11. The conveyor of claim 8, wherein at least some of the rollers are driven rollers.

12. The transfer device of claim 8, wherein the take-out component includes a lateral drive configured to move the conveyor in a lateral direction relative to the base toward and away from the first and second stations.

13. The conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the second set of rollers is arranged to extend beside the second container in the second removal direction for conveying the removed one second tire component to a removal position on the conveyor completely outside the second container at the second workstation.

14. A method for transferring a plurality of first tire components from a first container and a plurality of second tire components from a second container to a service station using the transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps: Step a: receiving a first container and a second container in a first workbench and a second workbench respectively; Step b: moving the taking-out component relative to the base toward the first work station for picking up and taking out a first tire component from a first container located at the first work station along a first taking-out direction; and Step c: moving the taking-out component relative to the base toward the second workstation for picking up and taking out a second tire component from a second container located at the second workstation along a second taking-out direction.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the following steps: Step d: conveying the first tire component and the second tire component to the service station in the unloading direction.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first work station and the second work station are arranged on the same side of the base as the service station in the lateral direction.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first work station is arranged in line with the service station in the unloading direction, wherein in step b, the taking out component picks up and takes out the one first tire component from the first container along a first taking out direction parallel to the unloading direction.

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