Gripper with Rotary Drive for Tire Alignment on Wheel Rims
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for aligning pneumatic tires with wheel rims in mass production are complex and costly, requiring sophisticated clamping and rotary drive mechanisms, which complicates integration and conveying tasks.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a clamping fixture, a measuring device, an evaluating and control unit, a positionable rotary drive mechanism, and a gripper with radially adjustable fingers and lift-off elements, allowing for precise rotation and detachment of tire beads from the rim, enabling efficient alignment and conveying without the need for advanced clamping fixtures or rotary drives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a sophisticated clamping fixture with positionable rotary drive mechanism is used, then the precision of tire alignment is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the clamping function (performed by a simple fixed clamping fixture) from the rotation function (performed by the gripper with rotary drive mechanism). This segmentation allows each component to be simpler while maintaining overall system precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper acts as an intermediary between the simple fixed clamping fixture and the tire wheel. It provides the necessary rotation capability without requiring the clamping fixture itself to be complex or positionable.
2Manufacturing precision
If a sophisticated clamping fixture with integrated rotary drive is used, then the alignment function is improved, but the ease of integration into mass production facilities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both the conveying function (holding and transporting the wheel) and the rotation function (aligning the tire on the rim). This eliminates the need for specialized alignment equipment, facilitating integration into existing mass production facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment function is merged with the existing conveying gripper functionality. Instead of adding a separate alignment mechanism to the production line, the gripper itself is equipped with the rotary drive capability, combining multiple functions in one component.
3Manufacturing precision
If sophisticated clamping and rotary drive mechanisms are used, then the alignment capability is improved, but the conveying task complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper performs dual functions as both a conveying device and an alignment device. By integrating the rotary drive mechanism into the gripper, the same component that transports the wheel also performs the alignment operation, eliminating the need for separate conveying and alignment systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for changing the rotational angle position of a pneumatic tire relative to a rim, on which the pneumatic tire is fitted to the rim, includes a manipulating device with a gripper adapted to be rotated by a positionable rotary drive mechanism and having radially adjustable gripper fingers with oppositely facing lift-off devices. Via the gripper it is possible to load a wheel into a clamping fixture, and following unseating of the tire beads from the clamped rim the pneumatic tire can be rotated relative to the rim through a computed angular difference.