Butt-Splicing Clamp With Overlapping Fingers For Tire Strip Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for butt-splicing strip members in tire manufacturing lack accurate positioning and sufficient compression at the butt-splice position, leading to potential inaccuracies and material imprint issues.
Innovation Solution
A device with movable clamps featuring overlapping clamp members that project beyond each other, allowing for precise alignment and increased compression during butt-splicing, along with integrated cutting edges and knives for efficient cutting and support, and a method that includes peeling and welding liners for a continuous joint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If teeth of splicing bars are arranged to intermesh with overlap, then compression at butt-splice position is improved, but positioning accuracy of strip members deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into multiple fingers that can be independently positioned. The fingers are segmented such that at least one finger of the first clamp and at least one finger of the second clamp overlap at the butt-splice position, while other fingers extend beyond to provide positioning references. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of compression (through overlapping fingers) and positioning accuracy (through extending fingers that contact reference surfaces).
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the clamp have different functions: some fingers are designed to extend beyond the clamp body to provide positioning references and prevent material thickening, while other fingers overlap to provide compression. This local differentiation of function allows the same clamp structure to simultaneously achieve both positioning accuracy and compression at the butt-splice position.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If teeth are not arranged for clamping cord band portions, then material imprinting is reduced, but clamping effectiveness at butt-splice position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp fingers are designed with smooth surfaces in the regions that contact the strip members at the butt-splice position to prevent material imprinting, while maintaining adequate clamping force through the finger structure and applied load. The local surface quality is optimized for the specific function of each finger region.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlapping fingers themselves provide the clamping action at the butt-splice position without requiring additional teeth or clamping elements. The fingers utilize their own structural rigidity and the applied clamping force to securely hold the strip members in position, eliminating the need for teeth that would cause imprinting.
3Measurement precision
If clamp members project beyond each other with overlap, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp fingers serve multiple functions: they provide clamping force, enable positioning through overlapping configuration, and prevent material thickening through their extended portions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the overlapping projection design.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning and clamping functions are merged into a single clamp structure with overlapping fingers. The fingers that extend beyond the clamp body serve both as positioning references and as clamping elements, combining multiple functions into one integrated component rather than requiring separate positioning mechanisms and clamping mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) and method for butt-splicing strip members (91) for tire components, comprising a first clamp (2) and a second clamp (3) arranged for clamping a first end of a first strip member (91) and a second end of a second strip member, respectively, wherein at least one of the first clamp and the second clamp is movable along a butt-splice direction into a butt-splicing position opposite to the other of the first clamp and the second clamp for butt-splicing the ends, wherein the first clamp (2) comprises a first upper clamp member (21) and a first lower clamp member (22), wherein the second clamp (3) comprises a second upper clamp member (31) and a second lower clamp member (32), wherein the first lower clamp member (22) projects beyond the first upper clamp member (21) over a first overlap distance (XI) and wherein the second upper clamp member (31) projects beyond the second lower clamp member (32) over a second overlap distance (X2).