Bead-apex storage system and method for handling a plurality of stacks with bead-apexes and spacers

A bead-apex storage system for handling a plurality of carriers, wherein each carrier is arranged to support a stack of bead-apexes stacked in a stacking direction and alternated with spacers separating the bead-apexes from each other in said stacking direction, wherein the bead-apex storage system comprises a plurality of storage stations for storing the carriers and a transfer station for transferring one of the plurality of bead-apexes to a tire building machine, wherein the bead-apex storage system further comprises a spacer gripper for lifting one or more of the spacers with bead-apexes supported thereon from one of the carriers in one of the plurality of storage stations and for carrying said one or more lifted spacers to the transfer station, wherein the bead-apex storage system comprises a spacer gripper base for supporting the spacer gripper, wherein the spacer gripper base is movable from the transfer station to any of the plurality of storage stations, wherein the spacer gripper is arranged for releasing the one or more lifted spacers in the transfer station, wherein the bead-apex storage system further comprises a transfer unit for transferring one or more bead-apexes from the released one or more spacers in the transfer station to the tire building machine, wherein the transfer station comprises a platform with a first section for receiving the one or more released spacers from the spacer gripper and a second section for receiving one or more of the released spacers that are empty when the transfer unit has transferred the respective bead-apexes supported thereon to the tire building machine.