Tire loading device and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tire loader (10) for transporting and unloading a tire stack, and a method for transporting and unloading a tire stack, the tire loader (10) comprising a conveying element (20) for holding the tire stack, the conveying element (20) comprising a rear wall (5) and a plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9), each of the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) configured to move relative to the rear wall (5) between an extended position for holding the tire stack within the conveying element (20) and a retracted position for unloading the tire stack from the conveying element (20).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire loader for transporting and unloading stacks of tires and to a method for loading tires onto a loading location such as a trailer. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a tire loader for automatic or semi-automatic loading of tires. [Background technology]

[0002] The transportation of tires generally requires the manual loading and stacking of each individual tire onto the trailer of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV). Typically, tires may be manually loaded by at least one person onto a conveyor or forklift used to transport the tires into the trailer or to the trailer door. At least one additional person (often two) then manually lifts the tires from the forklift or conveyor and then positions each tire in a stack within the trailer. Tires are typically loaded in rows starting at the rear of the trailer's interior load space. Each row of tires generally spans the entire width and height of the trailer's interior load space, and tires may be stacked in various patterns within each row to optimize the available space. Subsequent rows of tires are then added until the row of tires reaches the front of the load space, at which point the trailer reaches maximum capacity.

[0003] Such manual loading of tires onto trailers is very time-consuming, taking up to two to three hours to load and stack a row of tires, resulting in only three trailers being loaded per day. Such time-consuming loading is undesirable due to several factors, including labor costs, limited available docking space for trailers, and meeting expected delivery timescales. The manual loading process is also uncomfortable for workers who must remain inside the trailer to stack the tires.

[0004] Manual loading of tires onto trailers has additional drawbacks, including health and safety concerns due to the risk of tires falling and repeated heavy lifting. Furthermore, such manual loading can make it difficult to effectively utilize the entire loading space within the trailer. Leaving empty space within the trailer is undesirable, as this further increases transportation costs and time.

[0005] Therefore, a need remains for improved systems and methods for loading tires onto trailers. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tire loading apparatus for transporting and unloading a tire stack, the apparatus comprising a conveying element for holding the tire stack, the conveying element comprising a rear wall and a plurality of collapsible side panels, each of the plurality of collapsible side panels configured to move relative to the rear wall between an extended position for holding the tire stack within the conveying element and a retracted position for unloading the tire stack from the conveying element.

[0007] Advantageously, the tire loading apparatus allows for transporting and unloading of tire stacks without the need for manual labor or any additional machinery. Because the tire stack is unloaded by retracting the side panels of the transport element rather than ejecting the tire stack, the structure and integrity of the tire stack can be maintained, and therefore loading is more space-efficient. The rear wall remains in at least a fixed position as the plurality of retractable side panels move between extended and retracted positions.

[0008] The collapsible side panels may be actuated to move relative to the rear wall in any suitable manner. For example, it may be possible to manually push the side panels between the extended and retracted positions. However, to avoid the need for any manual input, the device may include actuation means for each of the plurality of collapsible side panels. In at least some embodiments, the device further includes one or more actuators arranged to actuate the movement of the collapsible side panels between the extended and retracted positions. The one or more actuators may be electrically controllable. For example, a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator mechanism may be disposed between the rear wall and the collapsible side panels. For example, a scissor mechanism may be disposed between the rear wall and the collapsible side panels.

[0009] Optionally, the tire loading apparatus further comprises a support member configured to support the conveying element, the rear wall being rigidly coupled to the support member and the plurality of collapsible side panels being movably coupled to the support member, the support member being connected to an outer surface of the rear wall to avoid interference with a tire stack placed in contact with an inner surface of the rear wall.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tire loading apparatus for transporting and unloading a tire stack, the apparatus comprising a conveying element for holding the tire stack and a support member, the conveying element comprising a rear wall and a plurality of collapsible side panels, each of the plurality of collapsible side panels configured to move relative to the rear wall between an extended position for holding the tire stack within the conveying element and a contracted position for unloading the tire stack from the conveying element, the support member configured to support the conveying element, the rear wall being rigidly connected to the support member, and the plurality of collapsible side panels being movably connected to the support member.

[0011] The support member provides a frame that allows the conveying element to be coupled to other components. This includes, for example, connecting the plurality of collapsible side panels to one or more actuators that generate their movement. The support member may also provide a framework for one or more actuators arranged to drive movement of the collapsible side panels relative to the rear wall. Optionally, in some embodiments, the plurality of collapsible side panels are movably coupled to the support member by an actuator mechanism, such as a scissor mechanism.

[0012] Optionally, each of the plurality of contractible side panels is configured to move between an extended position and a contracted position along a linear path.

[0013] Optionally, each of the plurality of contractible side panels is configured to expand and contract substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall.

[0014] Optionally, each of the plurality of collapsible side panels is disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall, which may help maintain the integrity of the tire stack by providing straight sidewalls.

[0015] The orientation of the plurality of collapsible side panels allows them to surround and retain the tire stack within the conveying element.

[0016] Optionally, the plurality of collapsible side panels are configured to expand and contract to adjust a depth D of the conveying element substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall.

[0017] Extension and contraction of the plurality of collapsible side panels in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall can adjust the depth D and thus the volume of the conveying element so that a stack of tires can be held and unloaded. The side panels can be extended such that the volume of the conveying element defines a depth D sufficient to hold the tire stack. The side panels can be contracted so that the tires are unloaded from the conveying element. Optionally, one or more of the plurality of collapsible side panels is further configured to compress a tire stack held within the conveying element.

[0018] Advantageously, the tyre stack can be compressed within the conveying element so that the tyres are stacked more tightly and securely and can therefore fit into a smaller stowage volume.

[0019] Optionally, the plurality of contractible side panels comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first side panel opposite the second side panel.

[0020] Optionally, the first and second side panels are separated by a width W, and at least one of the first and second side panels is configured to move relative to the rear wall to increase or decrease the width W, which may act to compress the tire stack horizontally.

[0021] Optionally, the plurality of collapsible side panels comprises an upper panel opposite the lower panel separated from the lower panel by a height H, the upper panel configured to move relative to the rear wall to increase or decrease the height H, which may act to vertically compress the tire stack.

[0022] Optionally, the support member comprises a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the conveying element such that the plane of the rear wall is tilted rearward and defines an angle of less than 90° with the ground. For example, the support member may remain stationary while the tilting mechanism tilts the plane of the rear wall rearward toward the support member.

[0023] Advantageously, the tilting mechanism enables the tyre stack to be held more securely within the conveying element.

[0024] Optionally, the support member comprises a drive means for transporting the tire loader, and / or the support member comprises a coupling element for coupling the tire loader to an external drive means.

[0025] The drive means allows the tire stack to be transported to a loading area.

[0026] Optionally, one or more (preferably each) of the plurality of contractible side panels comprises a plurality of contractible plates, which may be independently contractible from one another or may be connected to contract in unison.

[0027] Advantageously, the plurality of collapsible plates allows the collapsible side panels to be more easily collapsed onto the tire stack held within the conveying element, thereby avoiding disruption of the structure of the tire stack.

[0028] Optionally, the plates can be connected to each other with spaces between them, which means that the plates can be collapsed as a single entity, but there is less material in the collapsed side panels, which helps make the conveying element lighter.

[0029] Optionally, one or more (preferably each) of the plurality of contractible side panels comprises a slip element for reducing traction between a surface of the contractible side panel and the tire stack, for example, the slip element comprises a plurality of rolling components, such as rollers, wheels, and / or ball bearings, on an inner surface of one or more (preferably each) of the plurality of contractible side panels.

[0030] Advantageously, the slip element allows the collapsible side panel to be more easily collapsed onto the tire stack held within the conveying element, thereby avoiding disruption of the structure of the tire stack.

[0031] Optionally, the rear wall is sized and shaped to substantially correspond to the inside cross-sectional dimensions of a standard trailer.

[0032] Advantageously, the sizing of the rear wall allows a tire stack to be loaded that corresponds to the inside cross-sectional dimensions of a standard trailer, thus making more efficient use of the trailer's storage volume.

[0033] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for loading a stack of tyres using a tyre loader as described herein, the method comprising: The method includes extending each of the plurality of collapsible side panels to an extended position (step 100); stacking one or more rows of tires on the transport element (step 200); driving the tire loading device to the loading location (step 300); positioning the transport element so that one or more rows of tires are sandwiched between a wall of the loading location and the rear wall of the transport element, or between a stack of tires previously loaded at the loading location and the rear wall of the transport element (step 400); and collapsing the plurality of collapsible side panels to a collapsed position (step 500) to unload the one or more rows of tires onto the loading location.

[0034] Optionally, the method further comprises moving the plurality of collapsible side panels between an extended position and a retracted position in step 100 and / or step 500 while the rear wall remains in a fixed position.

[0035] Optionally, the method further comprises, in step 100 and / or step 500, moving the plurality of collapsible side panels along a linear path between the extended and retracted positions.

[0036] Optionally, the method further comprises moving the plurality of collapsible side panels substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall in step 100 and / or step 500.

[0037] Optionally, the method further includes, after step 100 and before step 200, step 150 of opening the plurality of collapsible side panels to an open position. The method further includes, after step 200 and before step 300, step 250 of closing the side panels to compress one or more rows of tires. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] One or more non-limiting examples will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a tire loader according to one embodiment of the present invention with a plurality of collapsible side panels in an extended position. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the tire loader with the plurality of collapsible side panels in the extended position. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a tire loader with a plurality of retractable side panels in a retracted position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the tire loader with the plurality of retractable side panels in the retracted position. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the tire loader with the plurality of collapsible side panels in the open position. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the tire loader with the plurality of collapsible side panels in the closed position. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the tilting mechanism of the tire loader. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates a method for loading a stack of tires using a tire loader. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a tire loader 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The tire loader 10 includes a conveying element 20 suitable for holding a stack of tires (not shown). The conveying element 20 includes a rear wall 5 and a plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall 5. The rear wall 5 and the plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 define a volume V for holding the stack of tires, where V=H*W*D. The volume defined by the conveying element 20 is adjustable by moving the plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 relative to the rear wall 5. The plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 can be adjusted to change the depth D, width W, and height H.

[0040] The depth D of the volume V can be adjusted by extending or retracting the plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 define a depth D=d1 when they are in an extended position.

[0041] A support member 30, i.e., a frame, is rigidly coupled to the rear wall 5 of the carrier element 20. A plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 are movably coupled to the support member 30. As shown in FIG. 2 , the plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 are movably coupled to the support member 30 by a scissor mechanism 40. The scissor mechanism 40 includes collapsible supports 41, 42 connected by a connecting pin assembly to form an "X" shape. Each of the supports 41, 42 of the scissor mechanism 40 has a first end closer to the rear wall 5 and a second end further from the rear wall 5. In this embodiment, the first end of each of the supports 41, 42 is rigidly connected to the rear wall 5, and the second end of each of the supports 41, 42 is rigidly connected to at least one of the lateral side panels 7, 8. Thus, opening and closing the scissor mechanism 40 contracts and expands the plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 relative to the rear wall 5.

[0042] 3 and 4, the plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 are configured to move along a linear path between an extended position and a retracted position. The plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 can be retracted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall 5. The side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 can be retracted to a depth D=d0, such that the conveying element 20 can no longer hold the tire. In this configuration, the plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 are in the retracted position, and the inner surface of the rear wall 5 is exposed.

[0043] The plurality of collapsible side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 includes a top panel 9, a bottom panel 6, a first side panel 7, and a second side panel 8, where the top panel 9 is opposite the bottom panel 6 and the first side panel 7 is opposite the second side panel 8. The top panel 9 is separated from the bottom panel 6 by a height H. The first side panel 7 and the second side panel 8 are separated by a width W.

[0044] In addition to moving substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall 5, at least some of the plurality of collapsible side panels 7, 8, and 9 may move in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the rear wall 5. The top panel 9 may be extended and retracted such that the height H may increase or decrease between a maximum height. Additionally, the first and second side panels 7, 8 may be extended and retracted such that the width W may increase or decrease between a maximum width and a minimum width. As shown in FIG. 5, the height increases to a height h1 and the width increases to a width w1 (i.e., the open position). As shown in FIG. 6, the height decreases to a height h0 and the width decreases to a width w0 (i.e., the closed position). The extent to which the plurality of collapsible side panels 7, 8, and 9 are opened or closed will depend on the dimensions of the tire stack and the extent to which they are compressed. To facilitate movement of the side panels 7, 8, and 9 between the open and closed positions, the top panel 9 and the first and second side panels 7, 8 are movably coupled to the support member 30 by a linear actuator 51.

[0045] As shown in Figure 7, the conveying element 20 can be tilted. The conveying element 20 is coupled to the support member 30 such that the plane of the rear wall is tilted at an angle towards the support member 30. As a result, the plane of the rear wall 5 is tilted rearward to define an angle of less than 90° with the ground. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the tilt of the conveying element 20 causes the lower side panel 6 to have an angle of 5.15° with the ground and the rear wall to define an angle of 84.85° with the ground.

[0046] The support member 30 may be provided with drive means, such as wheels or tracks, for transporting the tire loader 10. Additionally or alternatively, the support member 30 may be provided with coupling elements for coupling the support member 30 to an external drive means, such as a forklift. Coupling the support member 30 to a forklift may allow the transport element 20 to be further tilted.

[0047] Each of the side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 may comprise a number of plates, for example plates 8a-8j as seen in Figure 7. The plates 8a-8j are connected together in a linear arrangement, but with spaces between them to reduce the weight of the conveying element 20.

[0048] For example, in Figure 7 it can be seen that the side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 may also have rolling elements (such as bearings) 9 embedded therein, meaning that at least the inner surface of the side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 is provided with slip elements to reduce the traction between the inner surface of the side panel and the tire held in the conveying element 20.

[0049] The rear wall 5 of the conveying element may be sized and shaped to substantially correspond to the inner cross-sectional dimensions of the trailer.

[0050] Control of the scissor mechanism 40, and optionally the linear actuators 51 that drive the movement of the side panels 6, 7, 8, 9, may be controlled by a control unit 60 (see Figures 3 and 4). If the support member 30 is coupled to a forklift, the control unit may instead be present within the forklift.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 8, a method for loading a stack of tires will be described.

[0052] In step 100, the side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 are stretched in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rear wall 5 until the side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 reach an extended position and the volume accommodated by the conveying element 20 has a depth D=d1 substantially perpendicular to the rear wall 5.

[0053] In step 200, the tires are stacked, either manually or by automatic means, within the volume defined by the conveying element 20. The tires may be stacked in a fishbone configuration.

[0054] In step 300, the tire loader 10 drives to a loading location. The tire loader 10 can be driven by the drive means of the transport element 20 or by an external drive means, such as a forklift, coupled to the transport element. The loading location can be a storage bay of a truck.

[0055] In step 400, the conveying element 20 is positioned so that one or more rows of tires are sandwiched between the wall of the loading location and the rear wall 5 of the conveying element 20, or between a stack of tires previously loaded at the loading location and the rear wall 5 of the conveying element 20.

[0056] In step 500, the plurality of side panels 6, 7, 8, 9 are retracted to a volume depth D=d0. The rear wall remains fixed in place while the plurality of retractable side panels are pulled back to the retracted position. The stack of tires is released from the transport element and lowered to the loading area floor.

[0057] Optionally, step 150 may be completed after step 100 and before step 200. Step 150 includes stretching at least one of the side panels 7, 8, 9 to an open position. The side panels 7, 8, 9 are stretched in a direction parallel to the plane of the rear wall 5 to increase the width W and / or height H of the volume V.

[0058] Optionally, step 250 may be completed after step 200 and before step 300. Step 250 includes contracting at least one of the side panels 7, 8, 9 to a closed position, where the side panels 7, 8, 9 are contracted in a direction parallel to the plane of the rear wall 5 to reduce the width W and / or height H of the volume V, thereby compressing the tires held within the tire stack.

[0059] Various modifications to the above-described embodiment may be possible. For example, extension of the side panels to increase / decrease depth D may be actuated by mechanisms other than a scissors mechanism, such as a screw drive, pneumatic actuator, hydraulic actuator, etc.

[0060] While the present invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it should be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention should not be deemed limited by the foregoing specification, but is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tire loading device (10) for transporting and unloading a tire stack, said device comprising: a conveying element (20) for holding the tire stack, the conveying element (20) comprising a rear wall (5), a plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9), and a support member (30); each of the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) is configured to move relative to the rear wall (5) between an extended position for holding a tire stack within the conveying element (20) and a retracted position for unloading the tire stack from the conveying element (20); the support member (30) is configured to support the conveying element (20); The rear wall (5) is rigidly connected to the support member (30), The tire loader (10) has a plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) movably coupled to the support member (30).

2. A tire loading device (10) for transporting and unloading a tire stack, said device comprising: a conveying element (20) for holding the tire stack, the conveying element (20) comprising a rear wall (5) and a plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9); each of the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) is configured to move relative to the rear wall (5) between an extended position for holding a tire stack within the conveying element (20) and a contracted position for unloading the tire stack from the conveying element (20).

3. a support member (30) configured to support the conveying element (20); The rear wall (5) is rigidly connected to the support member (30), 3. The tire loader (10) of claim 2, wherein the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) are movably coupled to the support member (30).

4. A tire loader (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of retractable side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) is configured to extend and retract along a linear path.

5. A tyre loader (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) is disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall (5).

6. 6. A tyre loading device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) are configured to extend and contract in order to adjust a depth D of the conveying element (20) substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall (5).

7. 7. The tire loading device (10) of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) are further configured to compress the tire stack held within the conveying element (20).

8. 8. A tire loading apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plurality of collapsible side panels comprises a bottom panel (6), a first side panel (7) and a second side panel (8), the first side panel (6) being opposite the second side panel (7).

9. 9. The tire loading device (10) of claim 8, wherein the first and second side panels (7) are separated by a width W, and at least one of the first and second side panels (7) is configured to move relative to the rear wall (5) to increase or decrease the width W.

10. 10. A tire loading device (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) comprises an upper panel (9) opposite the lower panel (6) separated from the lower panel (6) by a height H, the upper panel (9) being configured to move relative to the rear wall (5) to increase or decrease the height H.

11. A tyre loading device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 when dependent on claim 1 or 3, wherein the support member (30) comprises a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the conveying element (20) so that the plane of the rear wall (5) is inclined rearwardly so as to define an angle of less than 90° with the ground.

12. A tire loader (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when dependent on claim 1 or 3, wherein the support member (30) comprises a drive means for transporting the tire loader (10) and / or the support member (30) comprises a coupling element for coupling the tire loader (10) to an external drive means.

13. A tyre loading apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each of said plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) comprises a plurality of collapsible plates.

14. 14. Tyre loading apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more (or each) of the plurality of constrictable side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) comprises a slip element for reducing traction between a surface of the constrictable side panel and the tyre stack, the slip element comprising a plurality of rolling elements on an inner surface of the one or more (or each) of the plurality of constrictable side panels.

15. Tyre loading apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more actuators arranged to drive movement of the collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) between the extended and retracted positions.

16. A method for loading a stack of tires using a tire loading device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, said method comprising: Stretching each of the plurality of contractible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) to an extended position, step 100; Stacking one or more rows of tires on the conveying element (20), step 200; Driving the tire loader (10) to a loading location, step 300; Step 400: positioning the conveying element (20) so that the one or more rows of tires are sandwiched between the wall of the loading location and the rear wall (5) of the conveying element (20), or between a stack of tires previously loaded at the loading location and the rear wall (5) of the conveying element (20); and step 500, contracting the plurality of contractible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) to a contracted position to unload the one or more rows of tires to the loading location.

17. After step 100 and before step 200, Step 150: opening the plurality of collapsible side panels (6, 7, 8, 9) to an open position; After step 200 and before step 300, 20. The method of claim 14, further comprising: closing the side panels to compress the one or more rows of tires.

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