Tire Component Servicer Cutter Blade Angle Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing servicer for supplying tire components to a tire building drum or transfer wheel has a limited blade angle due to clearance requirements, resulting in obtuse cutting angles for the leading and trailing ends of tire components, which negatively impacts the quality of the tire splice.
Innovation Solution
The servicer includes a conveyor and a cutter with a blade that can move at a sharper cutting angle than the blade angle, allowing for sharper cutting ends and improved splicing quality, while also reducing friction and actuation force through the differential angle between the cutting and blade planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a larger blade angle is used to improve cutting angle quality, then the splice quality is improved, but the clearance space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second angular dimension by defining both a blade angle (between blade plane and conveyor plane) and a cutting angle (between cutting plane and conveyor plane). The cutting plane is oriented at a smaller angle than the blade plane, creating a differential angular arrangement that allows sharp cutting angles without requiring proportionally large clearance spaces. This dimensional separation enables independent optimization of cutting geometry and clearance requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If the blade angle is reduced to minimize clearance space, then the device compactness is improved, but the cutting angle becomes obtuse which reduces splice quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the angular parameters into two distinct components: the blade angle (geometric orientation of the blade) and the cutting angle (actual cutting direction). By decoupling these two parameters, the system can use a small blade angle for compactness while maintaining a sharp cutting angle through the cutting plane orientation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of space efficiency and cutting quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If the blade cuts at a sharp angle to improve splice quality, then the cutting precision is improved, but the friction between blade and leading end increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the friction problem by introducing a dimensional separation between the blade orientation and the cutting direction. The blade plane is oriented at a larger angle than the cutting plane, which causes the blade to move away from the leading end during cutting. This angular differential creates a self-lubricating effect that reduces friction between the blade and the material, allowing sharp cutting angles without excessive frictional forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A servicer and method are provided for supplying a tire component to a tire building drum or a transfer wheel. The servicer comprises a conveyor for supporting the tire component and a cutter for cutting through the tire component. The cutter comprises a blade extending in a blade plane. The blade plane extends at a blade angle with respect to the conveyor plane about a blade axis parallel to the conveyor plane and transverse to the transport direction. The blade is movable with respect to the conveyor plane in a cutting direction in a cutting plane. The cutting plane extends at an oblique cutting angle with respect to the conveyor plane about an axis parallel to the conveyor plane and transverse to the transport direction, wherein the cutting angle is smaller than the blade angle.