Programmable Shuttle Tyre Deposition Sequence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tyre production plants lack flexibility in producing structurally different tyres without modifying the plant, and are limited by rigid sequencing of semifinished product deposition, which restricts the production of varied tyre batches and hampers quick adaptation to new technologies or temporary plant failures.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow a forming drum to be moved along a deposition line with programmable sequence, enabling the deposition of semifinished products at different radial and axial positions, and allowing the shuttle to skip or change the order of dispensing stations, thereby increasing plant flexibility and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid sequencing system is used for semifinished product deposition, then the manufacturing process is simple and stable, but the plant flexibility to produce different tyre types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed, static deposition sequence to a dynamic, programmable sequence. The forming drum can be moved along the deposition line in different orders, skipping or revisiting dispensing stations as needed. This dynamic control allows the same plant to produce multiple tyre types by simply changing the deposition sequence program, thereby improving adaptability without permanently increasing physical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of deposition sequence from a fixed physical arrangement to a programmable variable. By controlling the forming drum's movement along the deposition line through software programming, the system can adjust the deposition order, positions, and timing to match different tyre specifications, enabling flexible production while maintaining equipment simplicity.
2Productivity
If the forming drum visits all dispensing stations in sequence, then all components are deposited, but production time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The forming drum is capable of skipping dispensing stations that are not required for the current tyre type being produced. By programmatically determining which stations to visit and which to skip, the system reduces unnecessary movement and deposition time, thereby improving production efficiency without compromising the completeness of required component deposition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the plant configuration is modified to produce different tyre types, then product variety increases, but the cost and time of plant reconfiguration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deposition line is designed with universal dispensing stations that can deposit various semifinished products. The forming drum's programmable movement along the line allows a single plant configuration to serve multiple tyre production needs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for physical reconfiguration when changing tyre types, as the same equipment can be programmed to produce different products, thereby reducing reconfiguration costs and time.
Data Source
AI summary
In an apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels, a forming drum is loaded on a shuttle movable on a guide along a deposition line. The shuttle is moved on the guide in the two running directions to bring it to dispensing stations of semifinished products disposed in at least some deposition locations positioned in space succession along the deposition line. At each of the dispensing stations, at least one semifinished product is laid on a radially external surface to the forming drum carried by the shuttle for forming at least one component of a tire. The shuttle is moved on the guide in a different sequence from the space succession of the deposition locations along the deposition line.