Tire rack, loading and unloading systems and method

Abstract

A tire loading apparatus and method of packing tires that includes placing the tires in a rack, compressing the tires, and assembling the rack are disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more conveyors, scanners, and robots that load tires from a conveyor to a rack. A tire unloading apparatus is also disclosed. The unloading apparatus includes a scissor mechanism to raise and/or lower tire racks to an unloading platform. The unloading apparatus additionally includes one or more unloaders and conveyors. The sorting and unloading of tires is accomplished with one or more automated conveyors, scanners, and storage structures for reading information from incoming tires and using the tire information to sort and store the tires. A rack to improve compression and support of tires during storage and shipment is also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus for loading a tire onto a rack, said apparatus comprising:
 a first scanner configured to provide information regarding said tire;   a tire conveyor configured to transport said tire;   a robot configured to automatically move said tire from said tire conveyor onto said rack; and   a computer configured to control said robot using said information from said first scanner.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second robot configured to automatically pick up a second tire from said tire conveyor and to automatically place said second tire onto a second rack. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a second scanner configured to provide information regarding said second tire on said tire conveyor, and wherein said computer is configured to use said information from said second scanner to control said second robot. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tire conveyor is located overhead. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said second robot comprises a gantry robot. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lift configured to adjust a height of said rack. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rack conveyor configured to deliver said rack to said first robot. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said robot is further configured to automatically remove an intermediate frame from said rack. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for unloading a rack of tires, said apparatus comprising:
 a load station configured to lift said rack of tires to a platform, wherein said platform is configured to facilitate access to said load station and a conveyor;   an unloader configured to move said tires from said rack of tires to said conveyor; and,   said conveyor configured to deliver said tires to at least one of a tire unloading system, a forklift, a railcar, a tire rack, a tire storage location and a placement station.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said unloader comprises at least one of a robot, a machine and a human. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said unloader is configured to disassemble said rack of tires to facilitate removal of said tires. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said unloader is configured to remove an intermediate frame from said rack of tires. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said unloader is configured to reassemble said rack of tires for return shipment of said rack of tires in a configuration having a substantially smaller volume than that of a loaded rack of tires. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a vision system configured to identify information about said rack of tires. 
   
   
       15 . A method of unloading tires from a rack, said method comprising:
 moving said tires from said rack onto a tire conveyor using a first robot, said tire conveyor configured to direct tires to one of a loader and a storage structure;   reading identification information on said tires using a computer-controlled vision system;   removing said tires from said tire conveyor using a second robot, wherein said identification information facilitates control of said second robot;   placing said tires in one of said loader and said storage structure.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising at least partially disassembling said rack.