US 12,304,737 B2
Automated flow control for rubber product manufacturing processes
Gregory Marcet, Clermont-Ferrand (FR); Gwenael Favro, Clermont-Ferrand (FR); and Olivier Combe, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Assigned to COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Filed by COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/461,650.
Claims priority of application No. 2104772 (FR), filed on May 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0055837 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B25J 9/00 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B65B 65/00 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 47/90 (2006.01); B65G 63/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1378 (2013.01) [B65B 65/003 (2013.01); B65G 1/0485 (2013.01); B65G 47/90 (2013.01); B65G 63/002 (2013.01); B25J 9/0093 (2013.01); B25J 15/0071 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0258 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A supply installation for a site for producing rubber products from rubber blocks of rubber mixtures of predetermined weight and volume, the supply installation comprising:
an input station where the supply installation performs a process of entry of empty bins for receiving, during a picking process, rubber blocks identified to satisfy a rubber product production campaign;
a discharge station where the supply installation performs a process of discharging full bins containing the picked rubber blocks;
a supply means that manages the transport of the empty bins and the full bins to the supply installation; and
a picking station that performs a process of picking the rubber blocks grouped in a container according to the status of the current rubber product production campaign,
wherein the picking station comprises:
at least one automated cell with at least one container assigned to the or each cell; and
at least one robot that performs a picking process of the rubber blocks grouped in the containers, with the robot operatively disposed relative to the at least one automated cell and relative to the supply means, and
wherein the at least one automated cell comprises:
a frame that allows the at least one automated cell to be secured;
an automatic centering system comprising a guiding means that allows precise positioning of a container deposited in a loading space of the at least one automated cell;
a clamping system comprising a holding means that maintains the positioning of the container deposited in the loading space of the at least one automated cell; and
a locking system comprising a locking means that ensures the maintenance of the positioning of the container deposited in the loading space of the at least one automated cell.