Bar Handling Feed Station With Automated Bundle Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing handling of metal bars in construction is complex and cumbersome, requiring manual operation and the use of bridge cranes, which lacks automation, poses safety risks, and inefficiently transfers bars between storage and user machines.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising a store with containing elements, a feed station with rotatable arms and a movement system that automatically transfers bars from storage to a destination station, allowing for efficient separation, transfer, and return of bars, while ensuring bar integrity and operator safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bridge cranes are used to transfer bars from store to work plane, then bars can be moved between locations, but the operation becomes complex and cumbersome requiring manual guidance and positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of bar transfer operationVSAvoidcomplexity of handling system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual bridge crane operations with an automated robotic system featuring a mobile robot that autonomously navigates to containing elements, grasps bundles of bars, and delivers them to the work plane. This substitution eliminates the need for manual guidance and positioning of bridge cranes, transforming a complex manual operation into an automated process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile robot performs self-service by autonomously navigating to the correct containing elements, selecting bundles of bars, and delivering them to the work plane without human intervention. The system independently completes the entire transfer operation, from locating storage to depositing bars at the destination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If manual operations are used for bar handling, then flexibility in operation is maintained, but automation is substantially lacking and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of bar removal operationVSAvoidsafety risks to operators

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual handling operations with an automated mobile robot system that performs all bar bundle manipulation tasks. This substitution completely removes operators from the hazardous environment of bar handling, eliminating safety risks associated with manual operations while achieving full automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile robot acts as an intermediary between the store containing elements and the work plane, performing all intermediate handling operations. This intermediary system protects human operators from direct exposure to harmful factors such as heavy bar bundles and complex mechanical operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If bridge cranes are used for bar transfer, then bars can be moved from store to work plane, but the procedure becomes extremely complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of bar transfer processVSAvoidtime for bar handling operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces slow manual bridge crane operations with a fast mobile robot system that can quickly navigate to containing elements, grasp bundles, and deliver them to the work plane. This substitution dramatically reduces handling time and increases productivity by eliminating the complexities of manual crane operation and positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile robot system is pre-programmed with knowledge of containing element locations and work plane destinations, allowing it to perform preliminary navigation and positioning actions automatically. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming manual planning and setup operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Extent of automation

If containing elements are fixed in store, then bar storage is simple, but automatic removal of bars from store becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of bar removal from storeVSAvoidcomplexity of store system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the store system dynamic by allowing containing elements to be mobile or accessible to the mobile robot. The robot can navigate to different containing elements, select specific bundles, and remove them automatically. This dynamic approach enables full automation of bar removal while maintaining storage simplicity through modular containing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11130640B2Apparatus and method for handling bars

Publication Date: 2021.09.28 M E P MASCH ELECTRONICS PIEGATRICI SPA

AI summary

An apparatus for handling bars includes a store provided with one or more containing elements, with a respective bundle or group of bars positioned in each. A feed station is located downstream of the store and configured to transfer the bars to a destination station. A removal device of the bars is associated with the feed station and is configured to remove the bars from at least one containing element of the store and transfer them onto the feed station. Movement means of the store, suitable to take at least one of said containing elements into correspondence with the removal device, are also included.