AGV Robotized Arm Green Tyre Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for feeding green tires to curing apparatuses are inflexible and inefficient, requiring significant structural modifications and lacking automation for loading tires, especially in small spaces and varying production plant layouts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with automated guided vehicles (AGVs) equipped with robotized arms to autonomously pick up and load green tires from storage units to curing apparatuses, utilizing a command and control unit to manage the movement and loading process, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If overhead conveyors with baskets are used to transport green tyres from storage to curing apparatuses, then automatic transport is achieved, but the structure becomes bulky and requires industrial sheds of considerable height (at least 5 metres)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed overhead conveyors with dynamic AGVs that move autonomously on the factory floor. The AGVs can adapt their paths and positions dynamically, eliminating the need for fixed high-altitude conveyor structures and reducing the required shed height while maintaining automated transport functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical overhead conveyor system with an automated guided vehicle system that uses navigation (laser, optical, or magnetic tracks) and onboard motors. This replacement eliminates the bulky overhead infrastructure while achieving the same automated transport objective through a more space-efficient mobile platform.
2Extent of automation
If fixed overhead guides are installed for conveyor operation, then automated transport path is established, but structural modifications become time-consuming and complex when path changes or relocation are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic, reconfigurable transport paths using AGVs that can follow laser-guided, optical, or magnetic tracks. These paths can be easily modified by changing the guide patterns without structural work, and AGVs can be relocated to different factories or production lines, providing high adaptability while maintaining automated transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin, flexible guiding mechanisms such as laser beams, optical fibers, or magnetic strips on the floor to define AGV paths. These guiding elements can be easily laid down, repositioned, or removed without structural modifications, enabling quick path changes and plant layout adaptations while preserving automated navigation.
3Extent of automation
If robotized arms are used for loading green tyres into curing apparatuses, then automatic loading is achieved, but the system becomes complex and less flexible for different plant layouts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multi-functional AGVs that can perform both transport and loading operations. The AGVs are equipped with onboard lifting mechanisms and tyre-handling capabilities, allowing them to load tyres directly into curing apparatuses without requiring separate complex robotized arm systems. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining automatic loading functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The AGVs are designed to autonomously perform loading operations using their own onboard mechanisms rather than relying on external robotized arms. The vehicles can independently pick up tyres from storage units, navigate to curing apparatuses, and load them without human intervention or complex external robotic systems, simplifying the overall automation architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for feeding green tyres to curing apparatuses, said method comprising: storing in a warehouse (10) a plurality of storage units (20), each one supporting a plurality of green tyres (GT); providing at least a first row (L1) of curing apparatuses (30), a first feeding area (FA1) facing towards said first row (F1) of curing apparatuses (30), a first loading aisle (LA1) being interposed between said first row (L1) of curing apparatuses (30) and said first feeding area (FA1); providing, in said first loading aisle (LA1), a first AGV (50), supporting a first robotized arm (60); providing a second AGV (40); sending to said second AGV (40), from a command and control unit, a second command signal (CS2) in order to activate said second AGV (40) and transport a first storage unit (201) of said plurality of storage units (20) from said warehouse (10) to said first feeding area (FA1); sending to said first AGV (50), from said command and control unit, a first command signal (CS1) for moving said first AGV (50) along said first loading aisle (LA1) and bringing said first robotized arm (60) in proximity to said first storage unit (201); sending to said first robotized arm (60), from said command and control unit, a first pick-up command (PC1) in order to activate said first robotized arm (60), so that said first robotized arm (60) picks up said green tyre (GT) from said first storage unit (201) and loads said green tyre (GT) into a given curing apparatus (301) belonging to said first row (L1) of curing apparatuses (30).