Automated Bar Handling Store and Feed Station for Safer Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for handling metal bars are complex, cumbersome, and lack automation, posing safety risks for operators and inefficiently transferring bars between storage and user machines, with manual operations being prevalent.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a store with containing elements, a feed station with rotatable arms for bar collection and transfer, and movement means to align the store with the feed station, allowing for automated removal and return of bars to storage, reducing manual intervention and ensuring bar integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bridge cranes are used to transfer bars from store to feed station, then bars can be moved between locations, but the operation becomes complex and cumbersome requiring precise positioning and guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The handling system is divided into distinct functional modules: a store with multiple containing elements for different bar types, a feed station with separation mechanisms, and automated removal means. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall operation while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The store is designed to automatically present containing elements to the removal means through movement means, eliminating the need for external bridge cranes. The system serves itself by automatically positioning and transferring bars from store to feed station, reducing operational complexity and improving efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If manual operations are used for bar handling, then flexibility in operation is maintained, but safety risks for operators increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated removal means independently performs the bar transfer operation without requiring manual intervention. The store automatically positions containing elements and the removal means extracts bars, creating a self-service system that eliminates operator exposure to safety risks while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable control.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical handling operations are replaced with an automated mechanical system comprising movement means and removal means. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to physically handle heavy bars, removing safety hazards while preserving operational flexibility through automated control mechanisms.
3Productivity
If bridge cranes are used for bar transfer, then bars can be moved between store and feed station, but the process lacks appropriate automation
Solution Approach 1:
The store is equipped with movement means that automatically position containing elements in front of the removal means, and the removal means automatically extracts and transfers bars to the feed station. This self-service automation eliminates the need for manual bridge crane operations while maintaining efficient bar transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system enables continuous bar transfer operations without the interruptions inherent in manual crane operations. The movement means continuously presents containing elements and the removal means continuously extracts bars, creating an uninterrupted automated flow that improves productivity while eliminating manual intervention.
4Quantity of substance
If bars are handled in bundles using bridge cranes, then storage and retrieval is possible, but the procedure becomes extremely complex and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The store contains multiple containing elements that can independently hold different bundles of bars. Each containing element can be individually positioned by the movement means and serviced by the removal means, allowing parallel handling of multiple bar types without complex coordination, thus maintaining high storage capacity while simplifying procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The removal means is designed with universal capability to handle different types of bars and containing elements through the same automated mechanism. The movement means similarly provides universal positioning for all containing elements, creating a multi-functional system that manages diverse bar storage without increasing procedural complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Apparatus for handling bars, comprising a store (15, 15') provided with one or more containing elements (11, 12, 13) in each of which a respective bundle (F1, F2, F3) or group of bars (B1, B2, B3) is positioned, a feed station (18) located downstream of said store (15, 15'), and configured to transfer the bars (Bl, B2, B3) to a destination station (29), a removal device (20) of the bars (B1, B2, B3) associated with the feed station (18) and configured to remove the bars (B1, B2, B3) from at least one containing element (11, 12, 13) of the store (15, 15') and to transfer them onto the feed station (18), and movement means (16, 17, 41) of the store (15, 15') suitable to take at least one of said containing elements (11, 12, 13) into correspondence with the removal device (20).