Telescopic Transfer Ring for Tire Building Drum Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire building assemblies face inefficiencies due to the large stroke required by lifters, which leads to increased wait times and the need for recalibration when switching between drums of different diameters, and pneumatic actuators that can only be actuated over the entire stroke, reducing process efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A transfer ring with a telescopic extension mechanism using a first and second drive member, allowing for compact construction and efficient movement of holding members through a radial drive system, including a transmission ratio and actuator control for proportional displacement, enabling adjustments without interrupting the tire building process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large stroke is used for the lifters to allow sufficient displacement between innermost radial position and radial outward position, then the bead gripper can be inserted, but the process efficiency is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter mechanism is segmented into multiple drive members (first drive member and second drive member) that can move independently. This allows the lifter to achieve the necessary radial displacement for bead gripper insertion through coordinated movement of smaller segments rather than requiring a single large stroke, thereby maintaining process efficiency while enabling proper bead gripper insertion.
2Ease of operation
If a large stroke is used for the lifters, then the bead gripper can be inserted, but the fork ring must be sufficiently large to accommodate the lifters, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The first drive member and second drive member are arranged in a nested configuration where the second drive member is supported by the first drive member. This nested structure allows the lifters to achieve the required radial displacement within a more compact fork ring geometry, eliminating the need for an excessively large fork ring while still accommodating bead gripper insertion.
3Productivity
If pneumatic actuators are used for the lifters, then the lifters can be actuated over the entire stroke, but additional process steps are needed to set, adjust or recalibrate the stroke when switching between drums of different diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The drive members are designed with adjustable stroke characteristics that can be dynamically modified without interrupting the tire building process. The first drive member and second drive member can be controlled to provide different stroke lengths adapted to different drum diameters, eliminating the need for additional recalibration process steps while maintaining full actuator operation capability.
4Ease of operation
If the lifters are retracted to allow bead gripper insertion, then the bead gripper can access the bead, but the retraction takes time and the bead gripper must wait until all lifters are fully retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The first drive member and second drive member can be actuated in a coordinated sequence where the first drive member initiates the retraction and the second drive member follows. This preliminary coordinated action ensures that the lifters are fully retracted in an optimized manner, allowing the bead gripper to access the bead without unnecessary waiting time while maintaining safe and reliable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a transfer ring for transferring one or more tire components, wherein the transfer ring has a frame that extends circumferentially about a central axis defining a central aperture for receiving a tire building drum, wherein the transfer ring has a plurality of holding members distributed circumferentially about the central axis for holding the one or more tire components, wherein the transfer ring further has a radial drive for moving the holding members with respect to the frame in a contraction direction and an expansion direction, wherein the radial drive has, for at least one holding member of the plurality of holding members, a first drive member that is arranged for translational movement with respect to the frame and a second drive member that is arranged for translational movement with respect to the first drive member.