Green Tyre Handling Device Attitude Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high-automation tire production plants, the transfer device struggles to perfectly position green tires in loading baskets due to long stroke lines and high speeds, leading to tire inclination, which causes mechanical interference, handling errors, and quality issues in vulcanization and molding processes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for controlling the attitude of green tires during transfer by using a gripping device with a control unit that adjusts the downward stroke to align the tire's longitudinal axis with the loading basket's vertical axis, ensuring a controlled attitude and minimizing horizontal deviation, thereby optimizing tire positioning and handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the transfer device operates at high speed along a long stroke line, then productivity is improved, but the positioning precision of the green tyre deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit calculates and determines the optimal downward stroke trajectory in advance before the transfer operation begins. By pre-computing the stroke path that minimizes horizontal deviation, the system prepares the positioning strategy beforehand, allowing high-speed operation while maintaining precision through predetermined optimal paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors the actual downward stroke execution and compares it with the optimal trajectory. The control unit uses this feedback to adjust subsequent strokes, ensuring that despite high speeds and long stroke lines, the positioning precision is maintained through continuous correction based on real-time performance data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the downward stroke is executed quickly, then productivity is improved, but the attitude control of the green tyre deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfer speedVSAvoidattitude control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the downward stroke parameters based on real-time conditions. By making the stroke characteristics variable rather than fixed, the system can optimize each stroke individually to maintain attitude control even at high speeds, adapting the motion profile to minimize horizontal deviation while preserving transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the downward stroke (such as speed profile, acceleration, and trajectory) to optimize attitude control. By modifying these parameters dynamically during operation, the system maintains precise attitude control despite high transfer speeds, ensuring the green tyre's longitudinal axis remains aligned with the loading basket's vertical axis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the stroke line is made longer to accommodate more loading baskets, then productivity is improved, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of loading basketsVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

For each loading basket along the extended stroke line, the control unit pre-calculates the optimal downward stroke parameters specific to that position. By determining the best stroke path in advance for each destination, the system maintains positioning accuracy across the entire long stroke line, allowing accommodation of more loading baskets without sacrificing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3526020B1Method and apparatus for handling green tyres
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • EP3526020B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3526020B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3526020B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method is described for handling a built green tyre (100) for subsequent process comprising at least a moulding and vulcanisation and/or treatment of the green tyre surface. The green tyre (100) is carried by a gripping device (13) with a longitudinal axis (A) thereof arranged vertically, and handled along a first horizontal axis (X) up to reaching a predetermined transfer position (27) overlying a selected loading basket (24a). The gripping device (13) performs a controlled downward stroke to obtain a controlled attitude of the green tyre in which a deviation (S) between the longitudinal axis (A) and a vertical axis of symmetry of the selected loading basket (24a) is lower than a predetermined maximum threshold value. The subsequent process(es) is/are performed while maintaining the controlled attitude.