TyrePick-GT, flexible robotic storage for green tires

Green tire storage is an essential part of the tire manufacturing process in order to balance production fluctuations between tire building and curing operations.

Cimcorp’s fully automated green tire handling and storing system consists of a variable number of MBR 800 TyrePick robots with an MP-OPS storage management & control system, universal tire-pallets and pallet conveyor system.

Each green tire is loaded on the universal tire pallet before being stored in the floor storage. Pallet loading is carried out automatically either by an electric monorail system or a separate tire handling manipulator. Tire-pallets in the storage are stacked one on the other by a TyrePick robot. The robot can handle 1-2 pallets at a time with a multi-gripper. One tire-stack in the storage consists of max. 6 pallets. Empty and loaded pallets are stored in the same dynamic buffer storage. The tires are retrieved from the storage according to picking orders which follow the curing sequence. Picking is performed according to FI-FO principle.

The MBR buffer storage system can be applied to different sizes and types of tires (PCR, UHPT, TBR etc.). The picking and storing strategy is the first-in/first-out principle. The article selection and number of locations on the floor are freely-programmable instead of being fixed with stationary equipment. Data tracking throughout the storage and conveyors is an integrated part of the control system.

Quality control
Green tires do not touch each other in any phase of the process, nor are they squeezed flat because each tire is properly supported on the pallet while being handled, transported and stored in the storage. This kind of handling is essential to maintain the high quality of green tires.

TyrePick-FT, buffer storage and palletizing cell for finished tires

Sorting, buffering and palletizing are essential operations, which are strongly connected to the automated inspection of finished tires. Cimcorp’s solution is to perform all these handling tasks with one flexible fully automated solution. Sorting, stacking, buffering, de-stacking and palletising functions are all integrated into Cimcorp’s TyrePick concept.

System components

A fully automated buffer storage and palletizing system consists of a variable number of Cimcorp’s TyrePick robots with an MP-OPS control system. MP-OPS manages not only the buffer storage, but also the material flow and palletizing operations within the TyrePick system.

The MBR buffer storage and palletizing system can be applied to different sizes and types of tires (PCR, UHPT, TBR etc.). The storing and picking strategy follows the first-in / first-out principle.

The article selection and number of locations on the floor are freely-programmable instead of being fixed with stationary equipment. To optimize the floor space, the storage area can be divided into different tire diameter groups. Each group has an independent storage grid which is freely-programmable and can be changed according to the daily production program.

TyrePick-OP, automated order picking system in shipping area

Accurate, flexible and prompt dispatch operations play a key role in the total distribution chain of tires. Errors in picking and delays in distribution can cause unexpected extra logistics costs.

Cimcorp’s automated order picking systems have been developed to manage dispatch operations with high performance and error-free picking. The content of each delivery route is sent to the floor storage from the warehouse in advance to guarantee fast and flexible picking operations while delivery vehicles are being loaded.

System overview

Tire pallets arrive from the warehouse to the selected robot pick-up position where pallet and tire stacks are centered before the stacks are picked by the robot. The TyrePick robot picks and allocates the tires to floor storage to wait for the order picking.

Order picking can be done in reverse sequence to the vehicle’s unloading sequence at the destination (first in - last out). This is managed by the storage management and control system MP-OPS. MP-OPS takes care that there are always enough tires on the floor storage to fulfill incoming picking orders. If a certain tire type which is needed for incoming orders is running out, MP-OPS orders replenishments from the main warehouse in quantities of full pallets. Extra tires in the storage can be returned to the warehouse if they are not used for future orders.

TyrePick robots are able to pick tires from any location of the floor storage and to deposit tires onto any out-feed conveyor within the system. Depending on the order size, a robot can pick any number of tires from the tire stack, from one single tire up to a full stack.
Cimcorp’s automated order picking system can be applied to different sizes and types of tires (PCR, UHPT, TBR etc.). The storing and picking strategy is the first-in first-out principle. The article selection and number of locations on the floor are freely-programmable rather than fixed with stationary equipment. Data tracking in the buffer storage and on the conveyors is an integrated part of the control system.