Method and apparatus for handling ceramic articles

Abstract

Method and plant (1) for handling ceramic articles (2); the plant (1) comprises a collection area (3) having a plurality of first storage units (4), each having a set of ceramic articles (2) placed on a first support structure (4) according to a first given arrangement; a handling machine (6) which re-arranges at least a portion of such ceramic articles (2) on a second support structure (8) so that they are placed according to a second given arrangement which enables them to be picked up by a holding device (9) so as to form a plurality of second storage units (10); at least one intermediate depot (11) which receives at least a portion of the second storage units (10); and a forming machine (12) which forms an order to be shipped, which is configured to transfer at least one first ceramic article (2) from a second storage unit (10) onto a third support structure (13) so as to obtain a shipping unit (14).

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102020000016834, filed on July 10, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to methods and equipment for handling ceramic products. Background Technology

[0004] In the ceramics processing industry, ceramic products leaving the production line are placed on support structures (e.g., pallets), typically stacked one on top of the other, and then combined and / or packaged to obtain storage units, which are stored in suitable collection areas, usually outdoors, from which such storage units are picked up when an order for ceramic products to be shipped must be formed.

[0005] Specifically, known methods and apparatus for handling ceramic products propose that whenever an order for ceramic products to be shipped must be formed, one or more storage units are picked up manually or by means of a suitable conveying device from a collection area and conveyed toward an area for opening and sorting the storage units (also known as a “picking room”). In this area, the operator manually or by means of suitable machinery (e.g., a zero-balancer) picks up the required quantity of ceramic products to be shipped from each storage unit and places such ceramic products onto another support structure (e.g., another pallet, box, shelf, or slats, etc.) to obtain a shipping unit. When the order to be shipped contains different types of ceramic products, such operations are repeated the same number of times as the quantity of the types of ceramic products constituting the order.

[0006] Therefore, the preparation of shipping units requires a certain amount of time, a certain number of conveying devices, and a certain number of operators who perform the actual sorting of ceramic products with or without the aid of appropriate machinery, thus incurring all the disadvantages associated with manual work in terms of error probability, risk of injury to operators handling storage units with significant weight, and labor costs.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for handling ceramic articles, which at least partially overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, while being easy to manufacture and cost-effective. Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, an apparatus and method for handling ceramic products are proposed.

[0009] A method for handling ceramic articles according to the present invention includes: a picking step, during which at least one first storage unit is picked up from an aggregation area comprising a plurality of first storage units, each first storage unit comprising a first support structure and a set of first ceramic articles, the set of first ceramic articles being placed on the first support structure according to a first given arrangement and being carried to a rearrangement station; a rearrangement step, during which a handling machine arranged in an area of ​​the rearrangement station transfers at least a portion of the first ceramic articles of the first storage unit from the first support structure to at least one second support structure to obtain at least one second storage unit, in which the at least a portion of the first ceramic articles is placed according to a second given arrangement different from the first given arrangement; and a dwelling step, the dwelling step being at least partially performed in the... Following the rearrangement step, and during the dwell step, the at least one second storage unit is stored in the first intermediate storage warehouse; the order formation step, during which a forming machine brings at least one first ceramic product from the at least one second storage unit onto a third support structure to generate a shipping unit; the forming machine includes a holding device with a horizontal retainer that grips the at least one first ceramic product during the formation step; wherein, during the rearrangement step, at least a portion of the first ceramic product is positioned on the second support structure such that each first ceramic product can be gripped laterally by the holding device with the horizontal retainer; wherein the dwell step includes a sorting sub-step, during which the at least one second storage unit is guided toward the first intermediate storage warehouse or toward the second intermediate storage warehouse.

[0010] In the second given arrangement, the first ceramic articles are arranged relative to each other such that each first ceramic article has at least two free side surfaces, allowing the first ceramic article to be gripped independently of the other first ceramic articles by the holding device having a horizontal retainer.

[0011] The method includes a first transfer step, during which a first transfer device picks up the at least one second storage unit from the rearrangement station and transfers the at least one second storage unit to the first intermediate storage warehouse; and a second transfer step, during which a second transfer device transfers the at least one first ceramic article from the at least one second storage unit from the intermediate storage warehouse to the forming machine.

[0012] During the second transfer step, the second transfer device transfers the at least one second storage unit from the first intermediate storage to the forming machine. During the forming step, the forming machine picks up the at least one first ceramic article from the at least one second storage unit and brings the at least one first ceramic article onto the third support structure.

[0013] The picking step is repeated for a third storage unit, which includes a set of second ceramic products different from the first ceramic product; the rearrangement step is repeated for at least a portion of the second ceramic products to obtain at least one fourth storage unit; the dwell step is repeated for the at least one fourth storage unit; the second transfer step is repeated for at least one of the second ceramic products in the at least one fourth storage unit; the second transfer step is repeated for the at least one fourth storage unit; the forming step is repeated for at least one of the second ceramic products in the at least one fourth storage unit; the second transfer device and the forming machine are controlled by a control unit to produce the shipping unit including a given number of the first ceramic products and a given number of the second ceramic products.

[0014] The first intermediate storage warehouse and the second intermediate storage warehouse are different areas of the same storage warehouse.

[0015] An apparatus for handling ceramic articles according to the present invention comprises: a collection area including a plurality of first storage units; each of the first storage units including a first support structure and a set of first ceramic articles placed on the first support structure according to a first given arrangement; a handling machine arranged in an area of ​​a rearrangement station and configured to rearrange at least a portion of the first ceramic articles in the set on corresponding second support structures such that they are placed according to a second given arrangement different from the first given arrangement, to generate a plurality of second storage units; at least one first intermediate storage tank configured to receive at least a first portion of the plurality of second storage units; a second intermediate storage tank receiving a second portion of the plurality of second storage units; and a third intermediate storage tank. A first conveying device picks up the at least one second storage unit from the rearrangement station and conveys the at least one second storage unit to the first intermediate storage warehouse or the second intermediate storage warehouse; a second conveying device conveys the at least one first ceramic product from the at least one second storage unit from the intermediate storage warehouse to a forming machine; and a forming machine for forming an order to be shipped, the forming machine including a holding device arranged and configured to pick up at least one first ceramic product from at least one of the plurality of second storage units and bring the at least one first ceramic product onto the third support structure to obtain a shipping unit; the holding device is of the type having a horizontal holder, and a second given arrangement allows the first ceramic product to be picked up by the holding device.

[0016] The forming machine includes: a first transport device for receiving and transporting the at least one second storage unit; and a second transport device for receiving the third support structure and transporting the transport unit toward the output station.

[0017] In the second given arrangement, the first ceramic articles are arranged relative to each other such that each first ceramic article has at least two free side surfaces, allowing the first ceramic article to be gripped independently of the other first ceramic articles by the holding device having a horizontal retainer.

[0018] The forming machine includes a packing device for packing the shipping unit.

[0019] The first intermediate storage warehouse and the second intermediate storage warehouse are different areas of the same storage warehouse.

[0020] The device includes a control unit configured to control at least the forming machine and includes a schedule of orders to be shipped, the schedule associating each order to be shipped with a shipping date and the composition of the ceramic products to be shipped.

[0021] An order awaiting shipment is a shipment unit, and the composition of the ceramic products awaiting shipment is the quantity and type of the ceramic products awaiting shipment. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a device for handling ceramic products according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a device for handling ceramic products according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 A floor plan of the machine that forms orders awaiting shipment; this machine is... Figure 1 and Figure 2 Part of the equipment shown;

[0026] Figure 4 and Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the two consecutive steps in forming an order to be shipped, particularly during the picking of ceramic products from a stack arranged on a transport aircraft and during the placement of the ceramic products onto a support structure arranged on another transport aircraft. Figure 3 The machine shown is for forming orders that are ready for shipment. Detailed Implementation

[0027] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the attached drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates the entire equipment used for transporting ceramic products 2.

[0028] In this disclosure, the term "ceramic article 2" is understood to refer to a single ceramic product, such as a single ceramic tile or brick, or a box of ceramic products of the same type, or a stack of boxes of ceramic products, or multiple ceramic articles of the same type combined together, for example by means of one or more straps or by means of packaging.

[0029] The device 1 for handling ceramic products 2 includes: a collection area 3, such as the collection field shown in the figure, the collection area 3 including a plurality of storage units 4, each storage unit including a support structure 5 and a set of ceramic products 2 placed on the support structure 5 according to a first given arrangement; and a handling machine 6 arranged in the area of ​​a rearrangement station 7 and configured to rearrange at least a portion of the ceramic products 2 in a set of ceramic products 2 (in particular, all the ceramic products 2 constituting (forming) the storage unit 4) onto (correspondingly) additional support structures 8 (in particular, at least one additional support structure 8), the at least portion being placed according to a second given arrangement different from the first given arrangement (and such that they can be picked up by a holding device 9) to generate a plurality of storage units 10 (in particular, at least one storage unit 10).

[0030] In other words, the handling machine 6 is configured to rearrange the ceramic articles 2 in the plurality of storage units 4 to form additional storage units 10, which differ from the storage units 4 in terms of the number and / or type of ceramic articles 2 and their relative positions. Specifically, advantageously but not limitingly, the handling machine 6 is configured to pick up each ceramic article 2 from each storage unit 4 from the respective support structure 5 and place it on the additional storage structure 8 to form storage unit 10.

[0031] In such a storage unit 10, ceramic articles 2 are placed such that they can be picked up by the holding device 9 and their stability can be ensured (in particular, without the aid of a belt or other locking element).

[0032] Specifically, advantageously but not necessarily, the first given arrangement causes the ceramic articles 2 to occupy the smallest possible space, for example, the ceramic articles 2 in this first given arrangement are placed on the support structure 5 in a stacked manner and joined together with each other and with the support structure 5, for example by means of multiple straps and / or by means of a package.

[0033] Advantageously but not necessarily, in the second given arrangement, the ceramic articles 2 in the storage unit 10 are arranged on the support structure 8 such that they are stable on such support structure 8 (in particular, without by means of straps or other locking elements fastening them to each other and / or to the respective support structure 8), and such that they can be gripped laterally by the holding device 9, in particular the holding device 9 having a horizontal retainer.

[0034] In other words, in such a second given arrangement, the ceramic articles 2 are arranged relative to each other such that each ceramic article 2 has at least two free side surfaces LS (see Figures 3 to 5This allows them to be gripped independently of other ceramic articles 2 by a holding device 9 with a horizontal retainer (e.g., by a lifting clamp).

[0035] Advantageously, the device 1 includes: an intermediate storage 11 configured to receive at least a portion of a plurality of storage units 10 formed by the handling machine 6; and a forming machine 12 for forming orders to be shipped, the forming machine being configured to transfer at least one ceramic article 2, in particular a given number of ceramic articles 2, from at least one storage unit 10 to a support structure 13 in order to obtain a shipping unit 14.

[0036] Specifically, according to some non-limiting implementations (e.g., Figures 3 to 5 In the embodiments shown, the forming machine 12 includes: a transport device 15 for receiving and transporting the storage unit 10; a transport device 16 for receiving the support structure 13 and transporting the loading unit 14 toward the output station 17; and a holding device 9 arranged and configured to pick up the ceramic article 2 from the storage unit 10 and bring the ceramic article 2 onto the support structure 13, which is preferably of the type having a horizontal holder.

[0037] It should be understood that the holding device 9 can be any other type of holding device 9 suitable for picking up at least one ceramic product 2, in particular a given number of ceramic products 2, independently of other ceramic products 2. For example, when the ceramic product 2 is understood as a ceramic product, the holding device 9 can be a suction holding device 9 having, for example, multiple suction cups; or the holding device 9 can be a fork-shaped holding device 9, etc.

[0038] It should also be understood that the second given arrangement can be any arrangement that allows such a holding device 9 to pick up each ceramic article 2, in particular independently of the other ceramic articles 2.

[0039] Advantageous but not necessary (e.g.) Figures 3 to 5 As shown), the transport device 15 includes two transport machines 18 (specifically, consisting of two transport machines 18) arranged facing each other and the side of the holding device 9, and each transport machine 18 is designed to receive the storage unit 10, advantageously but not necessarily, from which the holding device 9 can pick up different types of ceramic articles 2 to form the transport unit 14.

[0040] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments not shown, forming machine 12 includes a packing device (of a known type and not described further herein) for packing the shipping unit 14 before transporting it toward output station 17.

[0041] Additionally, advantageously but not restrictively (e.g.) Figure 1 or Figure 2As shown), the device 1 includes: at least one conveying device 19, which is designed to pick up storage units 4 from the collection area 3 and convey the storage units 4 to the rearrangement station 7; a conveying device 20, which conveys the storage units 10 generated in the rearrangement station 7 to the intermediate storage 11; and a conveying device 21, which conveys the ceramic products 2 in the storage units 10, in particular a given number of ceramic products 2 in the storage units 10, from the intermediate storage 11 to the forming machine 12.

[0042] More specifically, advantageously but not necessarily, the conveying device 21 conveys the storage unit 10 from the intermediate storage 11 to the forming machine 12, which (the forming machine 12) is configured to convey the ceramic articles 2, in particular a given number of ceramic articles 2 intended to form the shipping unit 14, onto the support structure 13 in order to obtain the shipping unit 14.

[0043] Advantageously but not limitingly, each of such conveying devices 19, 20 and 21 includes (in particular) automatically or manually driven holding vehicles or lifting loading and unloading vehicles or forklifts, etc.

[0044] According to some non-limiting embodiments, such as those shown in the figures, the device 1 further includes an additional collection area 22, which is designed to receive a portion of the storage unit 4 with low usage frequency, that is, a portion of the storage unit 4 that holds ceramic articles 2 that are requested at low frequency to form orders for shipment (thus forming shipping unit 14).

[0045] Advantageously but not necessarily, the device 1 also includes a control unit 23 configured to at least control the forming machine 12 and include a schedule of orders to be shipped, which associates each order to be shipped with the composition of the ceramic products 2 to be shipped, in particular with the type of ceramic products 2 to be shipped and the quantity of ceramic products 2 to be shipped (each type) and the shipping date, in order to attempt to automate the handling of the ceramic products 2.

[0046] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments, the device 1 also includes an identification unit (not shown) arranged in the area of ​​the collection area 3 and configured to identify each storage unit 4 picked up from the collection area 3 and transmit the data to the control unit 23, such that the storage unit 4 is classified between the rearrangement station 7 and the additional collection area 22 based on what the identification unit detects and what is included in the schedule.

[0047] According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments, the control unit 23 is configured to also control the transmission devices 19, 20 and 21, particularly when such transmission devices 19, 20 and 21 are automated devices (e.g., automated driving vehicles).

[0048] Also according to other non-limiting embodiments (e.g., Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the device 1 includes an additional intermediate storage 24 for receiving a portion of the storage units 10. In this case, advantageously but not necessarily, the conveying device 20 is configured to convey some storage units 10 toward the intermediate storage 11 and other storage units 10 toward the additional intermediate storage 24, in particular according to the schedule of orders to be shipped.

[0049] Specifically, advantageously but not limitingly, intermediate storage 11 is arranged and configured to house storage unit 10, which is intended (based on the schedule) to be used for forming shipping unit 14 in the days immediately following its production in rearrangement station 7. That is, this storage structure 10 is also referred to as a "high-rotation" storage structure 10 for housing ceramic products 2 of the frequently requested type. Therefore, based on the schedule of pending orders, storage structure 10 is intended to remain in intermediate storage 11 for a short period of approximately 1 to 2 days. Meanwhile, another intermediate storage 24 is arranged and configured to house storage unit 10, which is intended to be used for forming shipping unit 14 only after the storage unit 10 has been produced in rearrangement station 7 for more than 2 days, based on the schedule of pending orders. That is, this storage structure 10 is also referred to as a "low-rotation" storage structure. The storage structure 10 (rotation) accommodates ceramic products 2 of a type requested at a lower frequency than the frequency at which they are requested to be arranged in the intermediate storage 11. Therefore, the storage structure 10 is intended to keep (remain) in the intermediate storage 24 for more than 2 days.

[0050] According to a non-limiting embodiment not shown, intermediate storage 11 and another intermediate storage 24 are different areas of the same intermediate storage.

[0051] Advantageously but not limitingly, the device 1 includes an opening / cutting station 25 located directly upstream of the rearrangement station 7, in the area of ​​which the storage unit 4 is opened manually or by means of a suitable machine (not shown) to separate the ceramic articles 2 of the storage unit 4 from the support structure 5 so that they can be picked up and transferred onto the support structure 8 to form the storage unit 10.

[0052] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the conveying machine 6 includes at least one splitting device configured to split the storage unit 4 before transferring the ceramic article 2 from the support structure 5 to the support structure 8. According to some advantageous but non-limiting embodiments, the control unit 23 is also configured to control the conveying machine 6.

[0053] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for handling ceramic articles 2 is also provided, which is advantageously but not necessarily carried out by the aforementioned equipment 1 for handling ceramic articles 2.

[0054] Advantageously but not necessarily, the method includes: a picking step, during which at least one storage unit 4 is picked up from a collection area 3 comprising a plurality of storage units 4 of the type described above, and the at least one storage unit 4 is brought to a rearrangement station 7; and a rearrangement step, during which a transport machine 6 arranged in the area of ​​the rearrangement station 7 transfers at least a portion of the ceramic articles 2 in the storage unit 4, in particular all the ceramic articles 2 in the storage unit 4, from the support structure 5 to at least one additional support structure 8 to obtain at least one storage unit 10 in which the ceramic articles 2 are placed according to a second given arrangement (described above) such that the ceramic articles 2 can be picked up by the holding device 9 independently of the other ceramic articles 2.

[0055] Specifically, advantageously but not necessarily, during such a rearrangement step, the ceramic articles 2 are arranged on the support structure 8 such that they are stable on the support structure 8 (in particular, without by means of straps or other locking elements fastening them to each other and / or to the respective support structure 8), and such that each ceramic article 2 can be gripped laterally, in particular by a holding device 9 having a horizontal retainer.

[0056] Advantageously but not limitingly, the method of handling ceramic articles 2 further includes: a dwelling step, at least in part, after the rearrangement step, during which at least one storage unit 10 is stored in an intermediate storage 11 (advantageously an intermediate storage 11 of the type described above); and a forming step of an order to be shipped, during which a forming machine 12 brings at least one first ceramic article 2 from the storage unit 10 onto a support structure 13 to produce a shipping unit 14.

[0057] Advantageously but not necessarily, the method includes: a first transfer step, during which, advantageously but not limitedly, storage unit 10 is transferred from rearrangement station 7 to intermediate storage 11 via transfer device 20; and a second transfer step, during which, at least one ceramic article 2 (in particular a given number of ceramic articles 2 in storage unit 10) is advantageously but not limitedly transferred from intermediate storage 11 to forming machine 12 via transfer device 21.

[0058] Advantageously but not necessarily, during the second transfer step, the transfer device 21 transfers the storage unit 10 from the intermediate storage 11 to the forming machine 12. In this case, advantageously but not necessarily, during the forming step, the forming machine 12 picks up at least one ceramic article 2 or a number of ceramic articles 2 from the storage unit 10 and brings it or them onto the support structure 13 to form the shipping unit 14.

[0059] Specifically, when the order to be shipped is a mixed order, that is, when the shipping unit 14 to be produced contains ceramic articles 2 of different types (i.e., with different geometries (shapes and / or sizes) and / or aesthetic and / or functional characteristics), at least the conveying device 21 and the forming machine 12 are controlled by the control unit 23 (advantageously a control unit of the type described above) to produce a shipping unit 14 that includes a given number of ceramic articles 2 of the first type and a given number of ceramic articles 2a of the second given type, which are different from the first type.

[0060] Advantageously, but not necessarily, in this case, the method proposes the above-described method steps to repeat on an additional storage unit 4 comprising a group of such second-type ceramic articles 2a. Specifically, the picking step is repeated at least a second time on the additional storage unit 4 comprising a group of second-type ceramic articles 2a; the rearrangement step is repeated on at least a portion of the second-type ceramic articles 2a to obtain an additional storage unit 10a composed of such second-type ceramic articles 2a, the second-type ceramic articles 2a being arranged such that they can be picked up by the holding device 9; the dwelling step is repeated on such storage unit 10a composed of second-type ceramic articles 2a; and the second transfer step and the composition step are repeated on at least one of such second-type ceramic articles 2a to obtain the shipping unit 14.

[0061] It should be understood that the quantity of ceramic articles 2 constituting shipment unit 14 and / or the quantity of the types of ceramic articles 2 intended to constitute shipment unit 14 (see [reference]). Figures 3 to 5 When using this method, the steps can be repeated any number of times.

[0062] According to another non-limiting embodiment of the method, the method includes an additional transfer step, which occurs at least partially prior to the formation step of the order to be shipped. During this additional transfer step, at least one storage unit 4 comprising a group of ceramic articles 2 of a third type is transferred from the collection area 3 to another collection area 22, the third type being different from the first type (and particularly different from the second type). This other collection area 22 is advantageously another collection area of ​​the aforementioned type. In this case, advantageously but not limitingly, the second transfer step also includes a picking sub-step, during which at least one additional ceramic article 2 is picked up from the storage unit 4 comprising the ceramic articles 2 of the third type and transferred to the forming machine 12 to form the shipping unit 14.

[0063] According to another embodiment of the method, the dwelling step includes a sorting sub-step during which each storage unit 10 generated during the rearrangement step is directed toward one of the intermediate storage units 11 or 24 described above, advantageously according to the schedule of orders to be shipped as described above with reference to device 1.

[0064] The scope of this invention offers several advantages over the current state of the art. These advantages include the following.

[0065] The method and apparatus 1 for handling ceramic articles 2 of the present invention allow for the automation of the handling of ceramic articles 2 and, more specifically, the formation of shipping units 14. This has the advantage of reducing the number of operators required to perform the aforementioned operations, and thus reducing labor costs. Because fewer operators are required and the operations they must perform are less dangerous, there is an advantage of reduced accident risk within the apparatus 1. Furthermore, the elimination of human error results in increased operational accuracy. Additionally, the method and apparatus 1 for handling ceramic articles 2 of the present invention allow for increased operating hours of the apparatus 1, thereby potentially reducing the number of operators and thus optimizing productivity.

Claims

1) A method of handling ceramic articles (2), the method comprising: a picking step, during which at least one first storage unit (4) is picked from a collection area (3) comprising a plurality of first storage units (4), each first storage unit (4) comprising a first support structure (5) and a set of first ceramic articles (2) placed on said first support structure (5) according to a first given arrangement, and taken to a rearrangement station (7); a rearrangement step, during which a handling machine (6) arranged in the area of said rearrangement station (7) transfers at least part of said first ceramic articles (2) of said first storage unit (4) from said first support structure (5) to at least one second support structure (8) so as to obtain at least one second storage unit (10) in which said at least part of said first ceramic articles (2) is placed according to a second given arrangement different from said first given arrangement; a dwelling step, at least partially subsequent to said rearrangement step, and during which said at least one second storage unit (10) is stored inside a first intermediate repository (11); a constituting step of an order to be shipped, during which a forming machine (12) takes at least one first ceramic article (2) from said at least one second storage unit (10) onto a third support structure (13) so as to produce a shipping unit (14); said forming machine (12) comprising holding means (9) with horizontal holders which grasp said at least one first ceramic article (2) during said constituting step; wherein, during said rearrangement step, said at least part of said first ceramic articles (2) is placed on said second support structure (8) so that each first ceramic article (2) can be grasped on the side by said holding means (9) with horizontal holders, wherein said dwelling step comprises a sorting sub-step, during which said at least one second storage unit (10) is directed either towards said first intermediate repository (11) or towards a second intermediate repository (24).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, In said second given arrangement, said first ceramic articles (2) are arranged with respect to one another so that each first ceramic article (2) has at least two free lateral surfaces (LS) so that said first ceramic article (2) can be grasped by said holding means (9) with horizontal holders independently of other first ceramic articles (2). 3) The method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a first transfer step, during which first transfer means (20) pick said at least one second storage unit (10) from said rearrangement station (7) and transfer said at least one second storage unit (10) to said first intermediate repository (11) or to said second intermediate repository (24); and a second transfer step, during which the second transfer device (21) transfers said at least one first ceramic article (2) from said first intermediate repository (11) or said second intermediate repository (24) to said forming machine (12) in said at least one second storage unit (10).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, During said second transfer step, said second transfer device (21) transfers said at least one second storage unit (10) from said first intermediate repository (11) or said second intermediate repository (24) to a forming machine (12), during said constituting step, said forming machine (12) picks up said at least one first ceramic article (2) from said at least one second storage unit (10) and brings said at least one first ceramic article (2) onto said third support structure (13).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, The picking step is repeated for a third storage unit comprising a set of second ceramic articles (2a) different from said first ceramic articles (2); the rearranging step is repeated for at least a portion of said second ceramic articles (2a) so as to obtain at least one fourth storage unit (10a); the dwelling step is repeated for said at least one fourth storage unit (10a); the second transfer step is repeated for at least one of said second ceramic articles (2a) in said at least one fourth storage unit (10a); the constituting step is repeated for at least said at least one of said second ceramic articles (2a) in said at least one fourth storage unit (10a); said second transfer device (21) and said forming machine (12) are controlled by a control unit (23) so as to generate said shipment unit (14) comprising a given number of said first ceramic articles (2) and a given number of said second ceramic articles (2a).

6. The method of claim 3, wherein, The picking step is repeated for a third storage unit comprising a set of second ceramic articles (2a) different from said first ceramic articles (2); the rearranging step is repeated for at least a portion of said second ceramic articles (2a) so as to obtain at least one fourth storage unit (10a); the dwelling step is repeated for said at least one fourth storage unit (10a); the second transfer step is repeated for said at least one fourth storage unit (10a); the constituting step is repeated for at least said at least one of said second ceramic articles (2a) in said at least one fourth storage unit (10a); said second transfer device (21) and said forming machine (12) are controlled by a control unit (23) so as to generate said shipment unit (14) comprising a given number of said first ceramic articles (2) and a given number of said second ceramic articles (2a).

7. The method of any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, wherein, said first intermediate repository (11) and said second intermediate repository (24) are different areas of the same repository.

8. An apparatus (1) for handling ceramic articles (2); said apparatus (1) comprises: a collection area (3) comprising a plurality of first storage units (4); a collection area (3) comprising a plurality of first storage units (4); Each of the first storage units (4) comprises a first support structure (5) and a set of first ceramic articles (2) placed on the first support structure (5) according to a first given arrangement; a handling machine (6) arranged in the area of the rearrangement station (7) and configured to rearrange at least a portion of the first ceramic articles (2) of the set of first ceramic articles (2) on respective second support structures (8) so that they are placed according to a second given arrangement different from the first given arrangement, so as to generate a plurality of second storage units (10); at least one first intermediate repository (11) configured to receive at least a first portion of the plurality of second storage units (10); a second intermediate repository (24) receiving a second portion of the plurality of second storage units (10); a first conveying device (20) which picks up and conveys the at least one second storage unit (10) from the rearrangement station (7) to the first intermediate repository (11) or to the second intermediate repository (24); a second conveying device (21) which conveys the at least one first ceramic article (2) of the at least one second storage unit (10) from the first intermediate repository (11) or from the second intermediate repository (24) to a forming machine (12); and a forming machine (12) which forms orders to be shipped, comprising holding devices (9) arranged and configured to pick up at least one first ceramic article (2) from at least one second storage unit (10) of the plurality of second storage units (10) and bring it onto a third support structure (13) so as to obtain a shipping unit (14); the holding devices (9) are of the type with horizontal holders and the second given arrangement enables the first ceramic articles (2) to be picked up by the holding devices (9).

9. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein The forming machine (12) comprises first transport devices (15) which receive and transport the at least one second storage unit (10) and second transport devices (16) which receive the third support structure (13) and transport the shipping unit (14) towards an output station (17).

10. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein In the second given arrangement, the first ceramic articles (2) are arranged with respect to each other so that each first ceramic article (2) has at least two free lateral surfaces (LS) so that it can be gripped by the holding devices (9) with horizontal holders independently of the other first ceramic articles (2).

11. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein The forming machine (12) comprises packing devices which pack the shipping units (14).

12. The apparatus (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein The first intermediate repository (11) and the second intermediate repository (24) are different areas of the same repository. The first ceramic articles (2) are arranged in the first given arrangement so that each first ceramic article (2) has at least two free lateral surfaces (LS) so that it can be gripped by the holding devices (9) with horizontal holders independently of the other first ceramic articles (2).

13. The plant (1) according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a control unit (23) configured to control at least the forming machine (12) and comprising a schedule of orders to be shipped, associating each order to be shipped with a shipping date and a composition of ceramic articles (2) to be shipped.

14. The apparatus (1) according to claim 13, wherein The order to be shipped is a shipping unit (14) and the composition of ceramic articles (2) to be shipped is the number and type of ceramic articles (2) to be shipped.

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