Optoelectronic Profilometer for Uniform Tire Sealing Agent Application
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for applying a sealing agent to the internal cavity of a pneumatic tire lack uniformity in thickness, leading to variations and inefficiencies that increase the cost and weight of the tire.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an optoelectronic device with an optical profilometer to determine the actual profile of the internal cavity of the pneumatic tire, allowing for precise calculation and application of the sealing agent to ensure uniform thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a reference pneumatic tire is used to determine sealing agent application coordinates, then the application process is simplified, but the actual coordinates of the pneumatic tire being processed do not match the reference coordinates, leading to non-uniform sealing agent thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary 3D scan of the actual pneumatic tire using an optical profilometer before applying the sealing agent. This preliminary measurement allows the system to capture the real coordinates of the tire's internal cavity surface, which may differ from the reference tire coordinates due to manufacturing variations. The scanned data is then used to calculate accurate application coordinates for each point on the actual tire, ensuring uniform sealing agent thickness while maintaining process simplicity.
2Reliability
If an elevated average thickness of sealing agent is applied to ensure adequate minimum threshold, then adequate sealing is achieved in every area, but the cost and weight of the pneumatic tire increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies the sealing agent with locally adapted thickness based on the actual 3D profile of the pneumatic tire's internal cavity. By using the scanned coordinate data, the system calculates the precise distance from the applicator nozzle to the cavity surface at each point, adjusting the application parameters to achieve the minimum required sealing thickness only where necessary. This local quality approach ensures adequate sealing reliability while avoiding excessive sealing agent application in areas where the cavity geometry allows, thereby reducing unnecessary weight and cost.
3Productivity
If sealing agent is applied without considering actual cavity profile, then the application process is faster, but thickness variations occur leading to eccentricity in overall mass
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback from the 3D scan of the actual pneumatic tire profile into the sealing agent application process. The optical profilometer measures the real coordinates of the internal cavity surface, and this information is fed back to the control system to calculate accurate application coordinates. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain high application speed while ensuring uniform sealing agent thickness distribution, preventing mass eccentricity that would occur with reference-based application alone.
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 system achieves a highly uniform application of the sealing agent, reducing variations in thickness and improving the balance and efficiency of the tire production process.
Implementation Method 1
an optoelectronic device (4*) configured in such a way as to emit at least one light beam LB* along a direction of emission. The optoelectronic device (4*) is furthermore configured in such a way as to capture, or acquire (or detect) an image containing the line of light projected onto the surface (5)
Data Source
AI summary
A system for applying a sealing agent to the surface of an internal cavity of a pneumatic tire provided with an applicator device for supplying a strip of sealing agent that is applied to the surface and an opto-electronic device that is integral to the nozzle of the applicator device and that is provided with at least one sensor element that is able to acquire images of the surface and provide a plurality of signals indicative of the plurality of acquired images; and an electronic processing system connected to the opto-electronic device, and to the applicator device and configured so as to acquire the signals that are indicative of the plurality of images acquired by the opto-electronic device; and to control the application of the sealing agent as a function of the plurality of signals that are indicative of the plurality of images acquired by the opto-electronic device.