Apparatus for handing and moving a stack of tires

A rotary apparatus or machine that takes or receives a barrel stack of mounted tires in the vertical position (i.e., barrel stacked), and rotates the stack as a whole to a horizontal position, where each unit or tire is an upright position. The tires can then be rolled off individually or in multiple units to be installed on the equipment being built, or transported from the tire holding area to the assembly floor or installation area.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a machine and apparatus for handling and moving a stack of mounted tires at a receiving facility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When tires that are mounted on wheel-rims are shipped from the tire supplier to the equipment builder or similar facility for use, they typically are stacked vertically, lying flat on top of each other. This is generally referred to as “barrel stacking.” The barrel stacks may be shipped on a pallet or without a pallet. This is the most efficient use of space, and minimizes the cost of shipping as well as the space required at the equipment builder or receiving facility to store the tires.

However, the barrel stack presents problems in reaching and removing units of one or more tires from the top of the stack for use, and lifting the units from a flat position to an upright position for moving and installation. The present invention addresses these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In several embodiments, the present invention comprises a rotary apparatus or machine that takes or receives a barrel stack of mounted tires in the vertical position (i.e., barrel stacked), and rotates the stack as a whole to a horizontal position, where each unit or tire is an upright position. The tires can then be rolled off individually or in multiple units to be installed on the equipment being built, or transported from the tire holding area to the assembly floor or installation area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In several embodiments, the present invention comprises a rotary apparatus or machine2that takes or receives a barrel stack of mounted tires4in the vertical position (i.e., barrel stacked), and rotates the stack as a whole to a horizontal position, where each unit or tire is an upright position. The tires can then be rolled off individually or in multiple units to be installed on the equipment being built, or transported from the tire holding area to the assembly floor or installation area.

FIGS. 1 and 2show the apparatus in a loading position ready to receive a barrel stack of tires. In the embodiment shown, the apparatus comprises a receiving area20for receiving a barrel stack of tires, which may or may not be placed on a pallet. The receiving area comprises a railing along two sides, with a security gate22along a third side. The security gate, when open, allows access to the receiving floor30, which may or may not contain rollers32to help the barrel stack of tires4roll up the receiving ramp24and onto the receiving floor30.

A tire support beam40is attached to one side of the receiving floor30. The tire support beam and receiving floor pivot together, as seen inFIGS. 1-5, so that the support beam40moves from a vertical position (i.e., a loading position) to a horizontal, or approximately horizontal position, while the receiving floor30simultaneously moves from a flat position to a raised, tilted or vertical position. In the latter position (i.e., the off-loading position), the tire support beam40is generally flush with the top end of the off-loading ramp50. While the support beam can be moved to a true horizontal position, in the embodiment shown, the tire support beam in the off-loading position is not fully horizontal (i.e., at a slight angle upward, with the top of the support beam being somewhat higher in elevation than the bottom of the support beam where attached to the receiving floor). This angle assists in keeping tires in place when off-loading.

Movement of the tire support beam and receiving floor is achieved by one or more piston mechanisms44. The piston may be controlled by a control device on the apparatus, or remotely, or both.

The tire support beam40may be unitary, or, as seen inFIGS. 1-5, comprise two component beam with a gap42in the middle. The gap helps hold the tires in place when the device is moved to the off-loading position. In one embodiment, the inside edges of one or both components beams are beveled to help secure the tires in place, while assisting in rolling the tires off the tire support beam when off-loading.

In the embodiment shown, the pivot point is along the side of the receiving floor where the support beam is attached, and the receiving cage railings and security gate remain in place. In one embodiment, the security gate22opens only when the receiving floor is in a flat position (as seen inFIG. 1), and is closed and cannot be opened when the receiving floor and tire support beam are being moved, or the receiving floor is in a raised position, as seen inFIG. 6.

Similarly, one or more security arms52may be placed across the front of the apparatus at or near the top of the off-loading ramp50. These security arms may be lowered to prevent access to the offloading area when the device is in operation, or in some instances, when the device is in the loading position.

FIGS. 7-9show the same apparatus with tires in place.FIG. 7shows a barrel stack of tires with a security tie60on a pallet62already loaded on the apparatus, which is in a loading position. A stack of tires can moved without a security tieFIGS. 8-10show the tires being moved to the off-loading position.

When in the off-loading position, tires can then be rolled off the stack and down the off-loading ramp50individually or in groups as needed. The device itself may be mobile, and moved close to the assembly floor or installation area (i.e., where the tires are installed). The device also may be relative immobile and fixed in place. In the latter case, the barrel tires moved to the assembly floor or installation area by other means.

A barrel stack may be transported to and placed in the rotary machine by a variety of means known in the art, including a forklift. The barrel stack may be secured by a tie, as seen inFIG. 7, or may be unsecured.

In a further exemplary embodiment, as seen inFIG. 11, a mobile or movable tire cage or rack70may be used in conjunction with the rotary apparatus described above. The cage may be wheeled or not wheeled. The cage is placed on or rolled onto the rotary machine, typically in a horizontal position (i.e., the off-loading position for tires), and then rotated to a vertical position (i.e., the loading position for tires). The barrel stack of tires is then placed or loaded in the cage on the machine, and the machine rotates the cage back to a horizontal position. The cage can then be removed from the machine and moved (such as by a forklift or similar means) or rolled from the tire holding area to the assembly floor or installation area, and tires rolled off individually or in multiple units from the cage, to be installed on the equipment being built as needed. A plurality of cages may thus be used with the rotary machine to handle multiple barrel stacks.