Tire Curing Defect Detection via Infrared Thermal Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing vehicle tires lack efficient quality control mechanisms to detect defects such as air inclusions, foreign bodies, and under-cured parts, which are difficult to identify using traditional visual and tactile inspections.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing infrared radiation detection to identify defects in tires by analyzing heat emission patterns after the curing process, providing immediate and reliable identification of imperfections through thermal distribution profiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional visual and tactile inspection methods are used to detect defects in tires, then the inspection process is simple and low-cost, but the detection precision and reliability are insufficient for identifying defects such as air inclusions, foreign bodies, and under-cured parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical visual and tactile inspection methods with thermal imaging technology that detects infrared radiation emitted by the tire. This substitution enables detection of internal defects like air inclusions and under-cured parts through thermal patterns without requiring physical contact or complex disassembly, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from visual appearance to thermal radiation characteristics. By measuring temperature distribution and thermal conductivity variations across the tire surface, the system can identify defects that are invisible to the human eye, such as air inclusions and foreign bodies, thus improving defect detection precision
2Reliability
If extensive quality control testing is performed on each tire to ensure high detection accuracy, then defect identification reliability improves, but production time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs quality control inspection immediately after the curing process while the tire is still hot and emitting detectable thermal radiation. This preliminary action allows defect identification before the tire moves to subsequent production steps, ensuring high reliability without requiring additional time for separate testing phases, thus maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates thermal imaging inspection into the continuous production flow at the curing station output. The inspection process operates continuously as tires pass through, without interrupting the manufacturing sequence or requiring tires to be removed from the production line, thereby maintaining both high reliability and productivity
3Productivity
If defects are detected early at the curing station output using thermal imaging, then production downtime is reduced and efficiency improves, but the detection system requires sophisticated thermal radiation sensing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the tire's own thermal radiation as the detection signal source. The heat naturally emitted by the tire after curing serves as the inspection probe, eliminating the need for external heating devices or complex active sensing systems. This self-service approach enables early defect detection that improves productivity while keeping the detection system relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal radiation as an intermediary between the cured tire and the detection system. By capturing the infrared radiation naturally emitted by the warm tire, the system translates thermal energy into detectable electrical signals that reveal internal defects, achieving high productivity with a detection system of moderate complexity
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
Enables prompt and reliable detection of defects at the curing station output, reducing production downtime and improving manufacturing process efficiency by identifying issues before they affect subsequent tire production.
Implementation Method 1
detecting electromagnetic radiations in the infrared band, coming from the tyre leaving the curing station, said electromagnetic radiations being emitted by the tyre, when the latter releases the heat accumulated during the curing
Implementation Method 2
detecting first electromagnetic radiations representative of heat emission from different portions of said cured tyre while said cured tyre is releasing said accumulated heat
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the manufacturing of tires for wheels of vehicles includes: extracting a cured tire from a curing station, in which the cured tire has accumulated heat during a curing process; and verifying the presence of possible defects or imperfections in that cured tire. The verification includes detecting first electromagnetic radiations representative of a heat emission from different portions of the cured tire while the cured tire frees the accumulated heat; providing at least one output signal representative of the first electromagnetic radiations detected to allow an analysis of the cured tire and to verify the presence of the possible defects or imperfections. A plant for the manufacturing of tires for wheels of vehicles is also described.