Laser Tire Marking Without Rotation or Centering Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire marking technologies are inefficient and labor-intensive, requiring complex tire rotation and additional centering devices, which can damage tires and slow down the marking process.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that securely holds tires by their beads, allowing for marking in both lying and standing positions, using a holding device with tire holders and a laser unit positioned for precise marking, eliminating the need for tire rotation and additional centering devices, and enabling marking on both sidewalls and the tread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tire rotation and centering devices are used, then marking precision can be improved, but device complexity and tire damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the tire to position the marking area, the laser device is moved to different positions around the stationary tire. This inverts the traditional approach where the workpiece (tire) rotates and the tool (laser) remains fixed, thereby eliminating the need for complex rotation and centering mechanisms while maintaining marking precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the tire rotation and centering devices from the system entirely. By extracting these unnecessary components and replacing them with a movable laser device, the system achieves the same marking precision with significantly reduced device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If tire rotation is performed, then all surfaces become accessible for marking, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than rotating the tire to bring different surfaces into position, the laser device is moved around the stationary tire to access different marking surfaces. This approach maintains versatility for marking any surface while eliminating the time-consuming rotation process
Solution Approach 2:
The laser device is designed to be dynamically movable along the tire circumference and radially adjustable to reach different surfaces. This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to access all tire surfaces for marking without requiring tire rotation, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining adaptability
3Manufacturing precision
If complex centering devices are used, then marking position accuracy improves, but tire damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex centering devices that cause tire damage. Instead, it uses a simplified system where the laser device moves around the tire with minimal contact or no contact at all, achieving accurate positioning without harmful forces on the tire
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical centering system that applies physical forces to the tire is replaced with a non-contact or minimal-contact positioning approach. The laser device uses optical or electromagnetic fields for positioning and alignment, eliminating mechanical stresses that could damage the tire while maintaining marking position accuracy
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
Ensures rapid, reliable, and gentle marking of tires, improving throughput and precision while minimizing tire damage, especially for new tires, and allowing for marking on the bead side for unmounted tires, essential for fleet management.
Implementation Method 1
A device and method are described for marking a tire (40) using laser beams
Implementation Method 2
The laser unit (100) can be positioned and aligned by means of a radial and axial displacement device (101, 102) and a swivel device (103)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for marking tyres (40) by means of laser beams, said tyres comprising a tread, a first side wall (41) which faces upwards in a horizontal position and has a first bead (42), a second side wall (43) which faces downwards in a horizontal position and has a second bead (47), and a rolling axis (R). The apparatus comprises a laser device (100) for marking the tyre (40) by means of laser beams, a measuring device (200) for detecting at least one of the side walls (41, 43) of the tyre (40), and a holding device (31). The holding device (31) is used to receive and hold the tyre (40) to be marked, by the first bead (42) and/or by the second bead (47). The invention also relates to a method for marking tyres by means of said apparatus.