Laser Tire Processing Device Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laser treatment methods for tires lack an efficient technique to accurately position and align the laser beam with the tire surface for precise data matrix encoding, leading to potential distortions and reduced readability of the encoded patterns.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that determine the position of the tire surface by analyzing the deviation between real and reference geometry elements, allowing for precise alignment and orientation of the laser beam path to minimize distortions and ensure accurate data matrix encoding, using a combination of sensor devices and data processors to adjust the spatial and angular positions of the laser treatment device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional laser treatment methods are used without precise positioning, then the processing speed is maintained, but the manufacturing precision of the data matrix encoding deteriorates due to distortions and misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata matrix encoding precisionVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary scanning of the tire surface to detect its three-dimensional shape and position before laser encoding. This advance measurement allows the control system to calculate and apply compensation parameters, ensuring the laser beam is correctly positioned and oriented on the actual tire surface before encoding begins, thereby resolving the precision-complexity contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where the scanned tire surface data is continuously fed back to the control system, which adjusts the laser beam positioning and orientation in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures that despite variations in tire shape or position, the laser encoding maintains high precision without requiring overly complex mechanical positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the tire surface is deformed, then the ease of operation is reduced due to alignment difficulties, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates because of increased distortion in the encoded pattern

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoded pattern accuracyVSAvoidlaser alignment difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the parameters of the laser beam path, including its position coordinates and orientation angles, based on the detected tire surface geometry. By adapting these parameters to match the actual deformed tire shape, the system maintains encoding accuracy without requiring manual realignment, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection and calculation of compensation parameters before laser encoding on deformed surfaces. This advance preparation allows the system to pre-calculate the correct beam path parameters needed to compensate for surface deformations, making the encoding process as easy as operating on regular surfaces while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If the laser beam path is not precisely aligned with the tire surface, then the productivity is maintained, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to distorted data matrix patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata matrix readabilityVSAvoidpositioning adjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical positioning and alignment mechanisms with a computational approach. Sensors detect the tire surface geometry, and a control system calculates the optimal laser beam path parameters, substituting physical adjustment mechanisms with software-based positioning. This eliminates time-consuming manual alignment while ensuring high data matrix readability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection and calculation of laser beam path parameters before encoding begins. By pre-determining the correct beam positioning and orientation based on detected tire geometry, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming trial-and-error alignment adjustments during the encoding process, thus maintaining productivity while achieving high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach enables the creation of machine-readable data matrices on tires with reduced distortion, ensuring high accuracy and readability, even on deformed tires, by accurately positioning the laser beam relative to the tire surface.

Implementation Method 1

identifying a real geometry element in the shape representation, the real geometry element corresponding to a reference geometry element if the tire is non-deformed and/or positioned in a reference position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight sheet method:

Implementation Method 2

providing the tire with a machine readable data matrix by laser treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP3147114B1Laser tire processing device
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 4 JET TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3147114B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3147114B1 patent drawingFigure 3~8
  • EP3147114B1 patent drawingFigure 9~11

AI summary

It is described a method of positioning with respect to each other a part (146) of a surface (104) of a tire (106) and a laser beam path (130) of a laser treatment device (128), the method comprising: determining the position of the part (146) by: determining a shape representation of the part (146); identifying in the shape representation a real geometry element which corresponds to a symmetrical reference geometry element if the tire is non-deformed and/or positioned in a reference position; determining the position of the part (146) based on a deviation of the real geometry element and the reference geometry element from each other; the method of positioning further comprising: depending on the position of the part (146), positioning the laser beam path (130) and the part (146) relative to each other. Further, a tire processing device (100), a tire (106) and a computer program product is described.