Pivotable Tire Blank Tool Arm Gravity Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing green tire blanks face challenges in accurately positioning strips on rotationally symmetrical members due to significant arm weight, leading to deformation and increased mass, bulk, and cost associated with torque transmission, especially at high speeds and with geometric imperfections.

Innovation Solution

The tool design articulates the arm around axes passing through the center of gravity, reducing the effect of gravity on the strip and minimizing the moment of inertia, allowing for adjustable application force and reduced bulk, enabling precise strip placement and adaptation to speed and material rheology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the arm is designed to carry extrusion means and motorization means, then the functionality and productivity are improved, but the weight of the arm increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidarm weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The arm is divided into multiple articulated segments that can move independently. This segmentation allows the heavy extrusion and motorization means to be distributed across different segments, reducing the moment of inertia and gravitational effect on the strip while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The arm is designed to move in a horizontal plane, keeping the extrusion point at a constant height. This equipotential design eliminates gravitational variations during the extrusion process, ensuring consistent application force on the strip regardless of arm position, while the horizontal motion reduces the effective weight impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

2Manufacturing precision

If the arm rotates with high angular acceleration to adapt strip position, then the manufacturing precision and adaptability are improved, but the resistive torque increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrip positioning precisionVSAvoidresistive torque
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The arm employs dynamic control with variable acceleration profiles that adapt to the specific positioning requirements. The system uses feedback control to minimize unnecessary accelerations while achieving the required positioning precision of 0.1mm, thereby reducing peak resistive torque demands on the drive system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A robotic manipulator with multiple degrees of freedom serves as an intermediary between the fixed extrusion station and the rotating drum. This intermediary can achieve precise positioning through coordinated motion of multiple joints, distributing the torque requirements across different axes rather than requiring a single high-torque rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the application force is increased to stiffen the arm against excitations at high speed, then the stability is improved, but the strip may suffer deterioration at low speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearm stabilityVSAvoidstrip deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The application force is dynamically adjusted based on the operating speed and excitation levels. At high speeds where geometric imperfections cause significant excitations, the force increases to stiffen the arm. At low speeds, the force is reduced to prevent strip deterioration, with smooth transitions between regimes to avoid abrupt changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback control that monitors arm position, speed, and excitation levels to automatically adjust the application force. Sensors detect vibrations and positioning errors, and the control system modulates the extrusion force accordingly, maintaining optimal values across varying operating conditions without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This design minimizes deformation, reduces the device's bulk and mass, and allows for precise positioning and pressure adjustment, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs by eliminating unnecessary forces and improving mechanical stability.

Implementation Method 1

the weight of the arm, which carries the extrusion means or even motorization means, generates an additional force on the strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the moment of inertia of the arm around this axis can reach non-negligible values

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMoment of inertia: Moment of Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP2707204B1Tool for positioning a strip for producing a tire blank and method for performing a tire blank
Publication Date: 2016.03.30 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP2707204B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2707204B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP2707204B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a tool, including: a mounting; and an arm (16) having a member (18) for extruding the strip, and a roller (20) for applying the strip. The arm is pivotable, relative to the mounting, about a first axis (28) that is parallel to a geometrical axis (22) of the roller, and about a second axis (32) that is tangential to a circumference of the roller, wherein the first and/or second axis passes through a center of gravity of the arm.