Pallet Management System for Tyre Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the tyre manufacturing process, complex products that are not immediately usable due to dimensional tolerances issues or other production stoppages are often stored without proper management, leading to inefficiencies in the reuse of recovered products in rubber mixtures.

Innovation Solution

A management system for pallets of containers of recovered products, which includes a belt system for loading, identification, storage, and immobilization of pallets, ensuring that recovered products can be efficiently reused in rubber mixtures. The system includes provisioning, standby, and emptying zones for pallets and containers, along with identification and gripping mechanisms for precise handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If recovered products are stored on pallets without special management, then storage simplicity is maintained, but product traceability and reuse efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage simplicityVSAvoidproduct traceability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments pallets into different types (full pallets, empty pallets, standby pallets) and manages them separately through distinct conveyance paths and control mechanisms, enabling traceability while maintaining operational simplicity for each segment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An identification and gripping means acts as an intermediary between the pallet and the control system, enabling tracking and management of pallets without complex physical modifications to the pallets themselves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If pallets are continuously managed through multiple zones, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepallet availabilityVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functions (conveyance, identification, control, sorting) are merged into integrated belt systems with embedded sensors and controllers, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyance belts serve multiple functions: transporting pallets, identifying them, controlling their movement, and sorting them into different zones, thereby reducing overall system complexity while improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of substance

If containers are emptied and reused, then resource efficiency is improved, but handling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer reuseVSAvoidhandling operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container emptying process is automated through integrated mechanisms that automatically empty containers onto the conveyance system without manual intervention, reducing handling complexity while maintaining high resource efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The emptying and reuse process continues without interruption as containers are continuously emptied, transferred, and refilled through the automated system, maximizing resource efficiency while minimizing handling complexity through continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3735665B1Management of pallets of containers of recovered products

Publication Date: 2025.05.21 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)

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AI summary

In the field of tyre manufacture, the invention is directed to a method for the management of pallets of containers of recovered products, retrieved from a system for the storage of recovered products. The invention also relates to a management system (100) for the management of pallets of containers of recovered products, retrieved from a system for the storage of recovered products according to an ongoing campaign.