Noise Reducer Adhesive Detection Using Electromagnetic Radiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The adhesive material applied to noise reducer elements for vehicle tires is often not distributed uniformly, leading to areas with insufficient or improper adhesion, which can result in premature detachment and quality control challenges during tire production.

Innovation Solution

A process and apparatus utilizing electromagnetic radiation to illuminate and detect the adhesive layer on noise reducer elements, generating a digital image to assess adhesive distribution and ensure correct application, allowing for automatic and repeatable quality control without disrupting the production cycle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive material is applied to noise reducer elements, then the elements can be attached to tyres, but the adhesive is not distributed uniformly causing areas with insufficient adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion qualityVSAvoidadhesive distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies adhesive material to the noise reducer element before the element is mounted on the tyre. This preliminary application allows the adhesive to be distributed in advance, ensuring proper adhesion before the element is subjected to the stresses of tyre operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates a control system that monitors the adhesive application process and provides feedback to adjust the distribution. This ensures uniform adhesive distribution across the noise reducer element surface, preventing areas of insufficient adhesion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If quality control is performed on adhesive distribution, then defective elements can be prevented from being applied, but the production cycle time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality control accuracyVSAvoidproduction cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The quality control system performs adhesive distribution verification before the noise reducer element is mounted on the tyre. This preliminary check prevents defective elements from entering the production stream, avoiding rework and ensuring quality without disrupting the main production flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual quality control inspection with an automated optical or sensor-based detection system. This substitution enables rapid, non-contact measurement of adhesive distribution, maintaining high quality control accuracy while minimizing impact on production cycle time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If manual inspection of adhesive distribution is performed, then quality can be monitored, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesive distribution detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual inspection procedures with automated optical sensors or imaging systems. These systems use light reflection or absorption characteristics to detect adhesive distribution patterns, providing precise measurements without requiring complex mechanical inspection apparatus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an optical copy or image of the adhesive distribution on the noise reducer element surface. This digital representation allows for automated analysis and comparison against acceptance criteria, simplifying the inspection process while maintaining high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 method enables accurate and repeatable control of adhesive distribution, preventing defective noise reducer elements from being applied to tires and ensuring proper adhesion, thereby reducing waste and maintaining tire integrity even at high speeds.

Implementation Method 1

A process and apparatus utilizing electromagnetic radiation to illuminate and detect the adhesive layer on noise reducer elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Light

Data Source

PatentUS11648743B2Apparatus for applying noise reducer elements to tyres for vehicle wheels

Publication Date: 2023.05.16 PIRELLI TYRE SPA

AI summary

A process and apparatus for applying noise reducer elements to tyres. Each noise reducer element has an anchoring surface coated with an adhesive layer. The anchoring surface is illuminated with a reference radiation. The radiation emitted by the anchoring surface is detected; and a digital image representative of the anchoring surface is determined as a function of the emitted radiation. Each pixel of the digital image is associated with a respective brightness value representative of the amount of adhesive present in an area of the anchoring surface corresponding to such each pixel. One or more noise reducer elements are applied on the radially inner surface of a tyre.