Dual-Conveyor Tire Strip Laying for Independent Axial Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing application devices for tire component material strips on a tire building drum cannot simultaneously correct the contour and orientation of multiple strips without affecting each other, leading to reduced accuracy and increased cycle time.

Innovation Solution

A laying device with two conveyor belts that automatically detect and adjust the contour and orientation of each strip independently, using cameras and actuators to move the belts relative to the drum, ensuring high axial accuracy and preventing relative movement between the strips and the belts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single conveyor belt is used to apply material strips, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases when multiple strips need to be applied simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication speedVSAvoidconveyor belt configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single conveyor belt system is segmented into multiple independent conveyor belts (first conveyor belt, second conveyor belt, etc.), each capable of conveying and positioning material strips independently. This segmentation allows multiple strips to be applied simultaneously without interfering with each other, thus increasing productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple material strips are corrected simultaneously on the same conveyor belt, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to mutual interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial accuracyVSAvoidconveyor belt system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor system is divided into separate conveyor belts for each material strip, allowing independent detection and correction of contour and orientation for each strip. This segmentation eliminates mutual interference between strips during correction, ensuring high axial accuracy for each strip while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through standardized modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the conveyor belt speed is increased to reduce cycle time, then the productivity improves, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to reduced detection and adjustment time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle timeVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs detection of contour and orientation, calculation of correction values, and adjustment of conveyor belt positions in advance before the material strips are applied to the tire building drum. This preliminary action ensures that all necessary corrections are completed while the strips are still on the conveyor belts, allowing high conveyor speeds during application without compromising detection and adjustment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4289610B1Laying device for laying up strips of material previously cut to length
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4289610B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a laying device (1) and a method for laying pre-lengthened material strips (2, 3) for tire components onto a rotating tire construction drum (4), wherein the laying device (1) has a first conveyor belt (5), wherein the contour and orientation of a first material strip (2) on the first conveyor belt (5) can be automatically detected and the axial orientation of the first material strip (2) relative to the tire construction drum (4) can be automatically adjusted to a target size, wherein the laying device (1) is configured to simultaneously automatically detect the contour and orientation of a second material strip (3) on a second conveyor belt (6) and to automatically adjust the axial orientation of the second material strip (3) relative to the tire construction drum (4) to a target size independently of the axial orientation of the first material strip (2).