Automatic Heel-Pressing Tool Lifting Mechanism for Tyre Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tyre assembling machines cause excessive stretching of the tyre and heel during the assembly process, requiring manual intervention and operator skill to manage the lifting of the articulated arm, which can lead to inconsistent results.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a cam and valve train mechanism in the intermediate articulation point of the articulated arm, featuring a bush with a 360° annular groove and a bolt with a prismatic coupling, allowing the heel-pressing tool to maintain height initially and then automatically lift as the arm rotates, ensuring consistent and controlled insertion of the tyre onto the rim.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the heel is inserted inside the rim channel using the existing device, then the tyre can be assembled onto the rim, but the tyre and heel suffer from heavy stretching and excessive stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetyre assembly capabilityVSAvoidstretching stress on tyre and heel
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The articulated arm is made dynamically adjustable during the assembly operation. The pneumatic cylinder enables the arm to be lifted intermittently at controlled moments during the rotation of the heel-pressing tool, changing the arm's position from fixed to variable. This dynamic adjustment reduces the stretching stress on the heel and tyre while maintaining assembly capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the articulated arm is lifted manually during heel insertion, then the stretching stress on the tyre is reduced, but the operation becomes dependent on operator skill and experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestretching stress on tyreVSAvoidoperator skill dependence
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the lifting action automatically through the pneumatic cylinder controlled by the rotation sensor. The sensor detects when the heel-pressing tool has completed a 180° rotation and automatically triggers the pneumatic cylinder to lift the articulated arm. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for operator judgment and skill, making the process consistent and repeatable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A rotation sensor provides feedback about the position and rotation of the heel-pressing tool. This feedback is used to control the pneumatic cylinder, which lifts the articulated arm at the correct moment in the rotation cycle. The feedback loop ensures that the lifting action occurs precisely when needed, reducing stress on the tyre without requiring operator intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If manual lifting of the articulated arm is performed, then tyre assembly can proceed with reduced stress, but the process lacks consistency and reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress on heel during insertionVSAvoidassembly consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation sensor provides continuous feedback on the position of the heel-pressing tool, enabling the control system to trigger the pneumatic cylinder at the precise moment when the tool has rotated 180°. This feedback-controlled timing ensures that the articulated arm is lifted consistently at the correct point in each assembly cycle, improving reliability and reducing variability in the stress applied to the heel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically performs the lifting action through the pneumatic cylinder, which is triggered by the rotation sensor without operator intervention. This self-service approach ensures that every assembly operation follows the same controlled sequence, eliminating inconsistencies that arise from manual operation and improving overall process reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 automatic lifting mechanism reduces operator dependence and ensures consistent tyre assembly by maintaining the heel-pressing tool's height until a predefined point, then gradually raising it, thereby minimizing stress on the tyre and heel, improving the efficiency and reliability of the assembly process.

Implementation Method 1

the said means are of cam and valve train type, integrated in the intermediate articulation point of the said articulated arm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 2

the heel-pressing tool adheres to the tyre because of friction and rotates together with the tyre

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP1897710B1Improved device for tyre disassembling machines designed to simplify tyre assembling without exessive stretching
Publication Date: 2009.03.25 SOC ITALANA COSTR ELETROMECCANICHE - S I C E
  • EP1897710B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1897710B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1897710B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an improved device for tyre disassembling machines in general, designed to simplify tyre assembling on rim without excessive stretching. The device comprises means (M) designed to determine the gradual automatic lifting of a heel-pressing tool (A) in a predefined point of its rotation together with the tyre (P), during the assembling operation of the tyre on the corresponding rim (C).