Upright Tyre Storage Shelving with Longitudinal Picking Bar

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tyre storage methods in warehouses, where tyres are stacked in piles, lead to instability, dimension alternation, and increased costs due to the need for sensoring in automated handling systems, as well as inefficiencies in handling different sizes and kinds of tyres, resulting in reduced warehouse capacity and slower handling processes.

Innovation Solution

A high bay warehouse arrangement where tyres are stored upright on shelving tracks, handled using a load handling device with a horizontal longitudinal picking bar and rear support, allowing for axial direction handling and storage, eliminating the need for separate pallets and sensoring, and enabling efficient storage and retrieval of various tyre sizes and kinds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If tyres are stored in piles stacked on top of each other, then storage capacity per floor area is improved, but the tyres may collapse during storing causing dimension alternation that disturbs automated handling systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidtyre dimension consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from horizontal stacking to vertical storage by placing tyres upright on their tread surface. This dimensional change allows tyres to be stored vertically one after another in a row, eliminating collapse while maximizing warehouse height utilization for increased storage capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If tyres are stored in high piles to increase storage capacity, then floor space utilization is improved, but the pile becomes unstable and difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidpile stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

By storing tyres upright vertically rather than stacking horizontally, the system eliminates pile instability. The upright position provides inherent structural stability while allowing the load handling device to access tyres at any height along the vertical arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual forklift handling with an automated load handling device that moves along a shelving track. This automated system provides stable, precise retrieval of upright tyres without the mechanical instability associated with manual pile handling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If sensoring is added to automated handling systems to identify tyres in piles, then handling reliability is improved, but costs increase and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling reliabilityVSAvoidsensing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upright storage arrangement allows tyres to be identified and handled based on their physical position and nominal size without requiring additional sensoring systems. The load handling device retrieves tyres based on their visible position in the vertical arrangement, making the system self-identifying and eliminating complex sensing requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Measurement precision

If multiple smaller piles are created to store different kinds and sizes of tyres, then handling accuracy is improved, but more floor space is needed reducing warehouse capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetyre identification accuracyVSAvoidfloor space usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The load handling device is designed to handle multiple kinds and sizes of tyres through the same upright storage system. The device can accommodate different tyre dimensions while maintaining accurate identification and retrieval, eliminating the need for separate dedicated piles for each tyre type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3707085B1An arrangement and a method for handling tyres and a high bay warehouse
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 PESMEL
  • EP3707085B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3707085B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3707085B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an arrangement for handling one or more tyres simultaneously in storage shelving of a high bay warehouse, where the tyres are brought in and stored and from where the tyres are taken. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a shelving track and a load handling device arranged to move along the shelving track, which load handling device comprises a horizontal longitudinal picking bar having a first end and a second end and which longitudinal picking bar is arranged to handle one or more tyres simultaneously in an axial direction of the tyres when the tyres stand in upright position one after the other so that the longitudinal picking bar is arrangeable to the centre of the tyre, and a rear support arranged to the longitudinal picking bar. The present invention also relates to a method for handling tyres and a high bay warehouse.