Gravity Roller Orientation for Winter Tire Spikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for separating and aligning spikes for car winter tires are costly, require complex adjustments for different spike geometries, and subject spikes to mechanical stress, leading to coating abrasion.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a bunker for temporary spike storage, an orientation unit with two rollers that use gravity and counter-rotation to orient spikes, and a chicane for alignment, reducing mechanical stress and allowing easy adaptation to varying spike geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If vibratory-driven spiral conveyors are used to separate and align studs, then the studs can be conveyed and oriented, but the device becomes cost-intensive and requires complex adaptation to specific stud geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex vibratory-driven spiral conveyor system with a simple roller conveyor system. Instead of using vibration mechanics to convey and orient studs, the invention uses gravity-fed conveyance combined with simple rotating rollers that passively orient studs through their rotation, eliminating the need for complex mechanical vibration systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of stud orientation from the complex spiral conveyor system and isolates it into a simple roller-based mechanism. By removing the vibratory drive and spiral geometry, the patent keeps only the core orientation function implemented through simple rotating rollers
2Productivity
If long spiral conveyors are used to convey studs, then the studs can be transported, but the studs are subjected to mechanical stress leading to coating abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vibration-based conveying system with a gravity-based system. Studs are conveyed by gravity flow onto the rollers and then transported by the gentle rotation of rollers, eliminating the high mechanical stresses and vibrations that cause coating abrasion in spiral conveyors
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses gravity as the driving force, allowing studs to be conveyed in a gravity-fed manner without requiring additional mechanical energy input. This creates a low-stress conveying path where studs move naturally under gravity rather than being forced through complex mechanical systems
3Manufacturing precision
If spiral conveyors are adapted to specific stud geometries, then the orientation can be optimized, but the device requires complex development for each stud geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal roller conveyor system that can handle various stud geometries without requiring complex adaptations. The simple rotating rollers provide a geometry-independent orientation mechanism that works with different stud shapes, eliminating the need for custom-designed conveyors for each stud type
Solution Approach 2:
The invention achieves adaptability to different stud geometries by changing the operational parameters of the rollers (such as rotation speed and gap settings) rather than changing the physical structure of the conveyor system. This allows the same device to effectively orient different stud geometries
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables cost-effective, robust spike orientation and alignment with minimal mechanical stress, resulting in reduced wear and efficient spike insertion into winter tires.
Implementation Method 1
The two rollers are designed to convey the spikes in the direction of the rotation axes of the rollers by gravity and the rotation of the rollers
Implementation Method 2
the rollers are designed to rotate in opposite directions and against gravity on their facing sides
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for singulating and aligning spikes (2) for passenger car winter tires, comprising a hopper (3) for temporarily storing the spikes (2) and for the unoriented discharge of the spikes (2), an orientation unit (5) for orienting the spikes (2), and a baffle (8) for aligning the spikes (2). The orientation unit (5) is a roller chair (6) with two rollers (7), wherein the two rollers (7) are configured to convey and orient the spikes (2) in the direction of the axes of rotation (R) of the rollers (7) by gravity (g) and the rotation of the rollers (7). The rollers (7) are spaced apart from each other and are configured to rotate in opposite directions on their facing sides against gravity (g). The invention further relates to a method for singulating and aligning spikes.