Bar Storage Support Plane for Ordered Automatic Feed

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for transferring bars to user machines are complex, time-consuming, and expensive, often requiring dedicated structures and operators, leading to machine downtimes due to the need to change bar formats and manage long, heavy, and twisted bars.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a support plane and containing and translation units that include movable containing elements and devices, allowing bars to be uniformly distributed and ordered on the plane for efficient storage and delivery to user machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bridge cranes and dedicated structures are used to transfer bars from warehouse to feed plane, then bars can be transferred, but the operation becomes extremely complex and requires multiple operators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebar transfer operationVSAvoidtransfer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer apparatus is divided into multiple independent modules: containing units with containing elements, translation units, and movement devices. Each module can independently hold and transfer bars, allowing the complex transfer operation to be broken down into simple, repeatable actions that reduce operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The containing units are designed to be universal, capable of holding different types of bars (round, square, rectangular sections) and adapting to various bar formats. The same apparatus structure handles both incoming bars from warehouse and outgoing bars to feed plane, eliminating the need for dedicated structures for each operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of time

If operators manually guide and position bars during transfer, then bar positioning can be controlled, but the operation becomes time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebar transfer timeVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The movement devices automatically guide and position bars between containing units without human intervention. The translation units self-adjust to move containing elements to correct positions, and the system autonomously completes the entire transfer operation, eliminating the need for operators and reducing both time and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Bars are pre-positioned in containing elements before transfer begins. The containing units are prepared in advance with bars properly oriented and secured, so that when transfer starts, the bars are already in optimal position for quick, automatic movement to the feed plane

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If bars are scattered on feed plane for picking, then user machines can access bars, but remaining bars must be reassembled and tied into new bundles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebar supply efficiencyVSAvoidbundle reassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus maintains continuous bar supply to the feed plane by having multiple containing units that can be sequentially activated. While one unit supplies bars, another unit is prepared with the next batch, eliminating idle time and the need to stop for bundle reassembly. Bars are delivered in controlled portions that match machine consumption rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Adaptability or versatility

If bar types are changed frequently to meet different product requirements, then user machine versatility is improved, but machine downtimes occur during format changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebar type flexibilityVSAvoidmachine uptime

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is designed with dynamic reconfiguration capability through multiple independently controllable containing units. Each unit can be programmed to hold different bar types, and the system can dynamically switch between bar types by activating different units or repositioning containing elements, allowing rapid format changes without machine downtime

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different bar types are pre-loaded into different containing units before a format change is needed. When a type change is required, the system simply switches to the pre-prepared containing unit with the new bar type, eliminating the time-consuming process of unloading, cleaning, and reloading during format transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12459753B2Apparatus and method to store bars

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 M E P MASCH ELECTRONICS PIEGATRICI SPA

AI summary

Apparatus to store bars (B) comprising a support plane (11), a bundle feed zone (12) and a bar delivery zone (13) associated with respective opposite ends of the support plane (11), wherein the support plane (11) comprises a unit (14) to move the bars (B) in a direction of movement (Z) at least from the bundle feed zone (12) to the bar delivery zone (13).