Green Bicycle Tire Profiling for Automated Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bicycle tires, especially when green, lack structural consistency for mechanical handling due to non-metallic bead cores and the absence of reinforcement belt layers, leading to deformation and the need for manual processing.
Innovation Solution
A profiling process and apparatus that translates the tread band radially outward to impart a cross-sectional convex profile, allowing for mechanical restraint and precise positioning of the tire for automated handling and transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If green tyres are handled manually due to lack of structural consistency, then handling safety is improved, but productivity decreases and manual labor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The profiling unit is activated before the transfer member engages the tyre. It preliminarily shapes the green tyre by translating the tread band radially outward to create a convex profile, ensuring the tyre is properly formed before handling operations begin. This preliminary action enables subsequent automated handling while maintaining safety.
2Manufacturing precision
If green tyres are processed manually, then deformation control is improved, but device complexity increases and automation level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The profiling unit acts as an intermediary device between the green tyre and the transfer member. It temporarily shapes the tyre by translating the tread band radially outward to create a convex profile with gripping areas, enabling automated handling while maintaining shape control. This intermediary action bridges the gap between unstructured green tyres and automated handling requirements.
3Ease of operation
If a profiling process is implemented to create gripping areas, then ease of mechanical handling is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The profiling unit applies localized action by translating only the tread band radially outward, creating convex profile and gripping areas at specific locations on the tyre. This local quality change enables mechanical gripping without requiring complete structural modification of the entire tyre, thus improving handling ease while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A green tyre (2) for bicycles is built, comprising at least one carcass ply (4) having axially opposite end flaps (4a) engaged with respective bead cores (5) and a tread band (6) applied in a radially outer position around said at least one carcass ply (4). The green tyre (2) removed from the building drum, is profiled so as to translate the tread band (6) in a radially outer direction with respect to the bead cores (5), so as to impart a cross-sectional convex profile to the tyre (2) in a radially outer direction. The profiled tyre is engaged by means of a transfer member (31) while the tyre itself is mechanically restrained so as to maintain at least partly said cross-sectional convex profile in the radially outer direction.