Gripper Limiter for Annular Tire Component Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grippers for annular tire components require repeated movement over a significant range to engage bead wires of the same diameter, leading to inefficiency and potential misalignment, and the synchronization of individual adjustment mechanisms in bead transfer rings complicates the system, increasing weight, cost, and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A gripper with synchronized gripper members and a limiter that restricts movement to a subrange within a main range, using a synchronization member and a drive member to adjust the subrange position, allowing for precise and efficient gripping of tire components of varying diameters without complex individual adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the supports are moved over the entire gripping range to engage bead wires of different sizes, then adaptability is improved, but cycle time increases and positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to engage bead wires of different sizesVSAvoidcycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping range is segmented into multiple subranges, each corresponding to a specific size range of bead wires. The drive member can be selectively positioned to different subranges, allowing the supports to engage bead wires of different sizes without traversing the entire gripping range. This segmentation reduces the movement distance and cycle time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual adjustment mechanisms are provided for each segment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to adjust segment positionsVSAvoidnumber of adjustment mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing individual adjustment mechanisms for each segment, the invention merges the adjustment function into a single drive member that can selectively position multiple segments. The drive member engages with the segments through a synchronization mechanism, allowing one adjustment mechanism to control multiple segments simultaneously. This reduces the number of adjustment mechanisms from multiple to one, simplifying the device while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cylinders are used for segment adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but synchronization difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to reposition segmentsVSAvoidsynchronization of segment movements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a synchronization mechanism as an intermediary between the drive member and the segments. This synchronization mechanism ensures that when the drive member moves, all segments move in a coordinated and synchronized manner. The intermediary mechanism translates the single drive member's movement into synchronized movements of multiple segments, eliminating the synchronization problems associated with using multiple independent cylinders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the drive member traverses the full gripping range, then positioning flexibility is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning flexibilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping range is divided into multiple subranges, each with a specific position. The drive member is designed to selectively move to these discrete subrange positions rather than traversing the full range continuously. This segmentation allows the drive member to achieve accurate positioning at predefined locations while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different bead wire sizes by selecting the appropriate subrange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4392241B1Gripper, gripper station and method for gripping an annular tire component

Publication Date: 2025.06.25 VMI HOLLAND BV

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Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a gripper, a gripper station and a method for gripping an annular tire component, wherein the gripper comprises a plurality of gripper members distributed in a circumferential direction about a gripper axis and movable with at least a vector component in a radial direction perpendicular to the gripper axis over a main range with a radially inner endpoint and a radially outer endpoint, wherein the gripper further comprises a limiter (5) for limiting the movement of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction to a subrange within the main range, wherein the subrange has an adjustable subrange position relative to the main range, wherein the gripper comprises a synchronization member (3) for synchronizing movements of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction, wherein the synchronization member defines the main range, wherein the limiter is arranged for limiting the synchronization member to define the subrange.