Automated cell for performing container control during a process of picking rubber blocks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12378086-B2
Application number	US-202117461565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2021
Priority date	Feb 23, 2021
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated cell ( 100 ) for handling containers in which rubber blocks are arranged. The cell includes: a frame that allows the fixed installation of the cell; an automatic centering system having a guiding means that allows precise positioning of a loaded container in a loading space ( 112 ) of the cell; a clamping system having a holding means that maintains the positioning of the loaded container in the loading space of the cell; and a locking system having a locking means that maintains the positioning of the container in the loading space of the cell.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automated cell for controlling containers in which rubber blocks are arranged, the cell comprising:
a frame that allows the fixed installation of the cell;
an automatic centering system comprising a guiding means that allows positioning of a loaded container in a loading space of the cell;
a clamping system comprising a holding means that maintains the positioning of the loaded container in the loading space of the cell; and
a locking system comprising a locking means that ensures the maintenance of the positioning of the container in the loading space of the cell,
wherein the guiding means comprises a pair of guides aligned at the entrance to the cell
wherein the holding means comprises a tiltable holding frame with a pivotable chassis mounted on the frame such that the chassis moves between a standby position, where the chassis remains tilted to allow loading and positioning of the container in a loading space of the cell, and a clamping position, where the chassis descends,
wherein the locking means comprises a barrier mounted on the frame such that the barrier moves between an unlocked position, where the barrier remains tilted to allow loading and positioning of the container in the loading space of the cell, and a locked position, where the barrier moves up to lock and abut the container in a known plane, and
wherein the chassis comprises:
a securing means that allows the chassis to be moved between the standby position and the clamping position;
a clamping member for forming the tiltable holding frame; and
one or more flaps, each flap being pivotally moveable up and down.

2. The cell of claim 1 , wherein the guiding means comprises a platform installed on the frame to provide a space where the container is held in the loading space.

3. The cell of claim 2 , wherein the platform comprises at least one set of rollers for moving the container into the loading space.

4. The cell of claim 1 , further comprising sensor(s) for collecting data corresponding to the container and its positioning relative to the loading space of the cell.

5. A clamping process performed by an automated cell for controlling containers in which rubber blocks are arranged,
the automated cell comprising:
a frame that allows the fixed installation of the cell;
an automatic centering system comprising a guiding means that allows precise positioning of a loaded container in a loading space of the cell;
a clamping system comprising a holding means that maintains the positioning of the loaded container in the loading space of the cell; and
a locking system comprising a locking means that ensures the maintenance of the positioning of the container in the loading space of the cell, and

the process comprising the following steps:
a step of positioning a container in the loading space of the cell, during which the chassis remains in the standby position, and the barrier remains in the unlocked position;
a step of locking the barrier, during which the barrier moves from the unlocked position to the locked position to press the container against the frame of the cell; and
a clamping step, during which the chassis moves from the standby position to the clamping position to position the tiltable holding frame,
wherein the locking step further comprises a step of lowering one or more flaps to engage the container posed in the loading space of the cell.

6. The clamping process of claim 5 , further comprising a step of measuring the physical environment containing the cell to arrive at an accurate positioning of the container.

Assignees

• Michelin & Cie

Inventors

• Marcet Gregory
• Favro Gwenael
• Tarrit Maxime

Classifications

• B65G57/28

  by assembling the articles and tilting the assembled articles to a stacked position · CPC title

• B65G47/1478

  by means of pick-up devices, the container remaining immobile · CPC title

• B23Q7/00

  Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting (incorporated in working-spindles B23B13/00) · CPC title

• B65G61/00 Primary

  Use of pick-up or transfer devices or of manipulators for stacking or de-stacking articles not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60D1/58

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title