Tire Curing Mold Cleaning Robot With Articulated Dry Ice Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry ice blasting methods for cleaning tire curing molds are noisy, increase production costs due to the need for soundproof cabinets and complex transport equipment, and may not effectively reach all areas of the mold surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot with a basket and a pivotal lifting arm and support arm, featuring a movable head with a horizontal rotatable joint, allowing for orthogonal movement and efficient application of dry ice to the inner surfaces of tire curing molds, ensuring thorough cleaning without the need for soundproof enclosures or complex transport systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If dry ice blasting is performed using a soundproof cabinet and complex transport equipment, then noise is reduced below safety limits, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The noisy dry ice blasting operation is extracted from the traditional fixed cabinet setup and transferred to a mobile robot system that can perform cleaning directly at the mold location, eliminating the need for soundproof cabinets and complex transport equipment while maintaining noise control through targeted application
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical transport system and fixed cabinet structure are replaced with a mobile robotic system equipped with articulated arms and dry ice nozzle, substituting complex mechanical infrastructure with a flexible, programmable mechanical system that achieves the same cleaning function with reduced overhead
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dry ice blasting is performed using a soundproof cabinet and complex transport equipment, then noise is reduced below safety limits, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The expensive soundproof cabinet infrastructure and complex transport equipment are extracted from the system and replaced with a cost-effective mobile robot platform, significantly reducing the quantity of capital equipment required while maintaining noise control through precise, targeted dry ice application
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, permanent infrastructure (soundproof cabinets, fixed transport systems) with a more economical mobile robot system that can be deployed and repositioned as needed, effectively using a cheaper, more flexible solution instead of costly fixed installations
3Area of stationary object
If the robot arm rotates completely on the turntable to clean the entire mold surface, then cleaning coverage is improved, but the process becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system uses dynamic, multi-axis articulated arms with adjustable degrees of freedom instead of simple rotation, allowing the nozzle to reach different mold surfaces through coordinated movement of multiple joints, achieving complete coverage without requiring complete rotation of the entire arm assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional rotation on a turntable to three-dimensional positioning using articulated arms with multiple rotation axes, enabling the nozzle to access surfaces from various angles and positions simultaneously, greatly improving efficiency while maintaining comprehensive coverage
4Manufacturing precision
If the orthogonal rotation axis of the horizontal rotatable joint is within -20 to +20 degrees, then multiple applications of dry ice to the same area are achieved, but the robot structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal rotatable joint incorporates dynamic angle adjustment capability within a limited range (-20 to +20 degrees), allowing the nozzle to pivot and apply dry ice multiple times to the same area through controlled, repetitive motion rather than requiring complex mechanical structures for complete rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves enhanced cleaning precision by varying the rotation angle parameter within a specific range, allowing multiple passes over the same area with different angles to improve penetration and removal of rubber residuals, rather than requiring broader rotational capability
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
The robot provides effective and efficient cleaning of tire curing molds, achieving a high cleanliness grade of '0' with reduced noise and production costs by allowing precise and multiple applications of dry ice to the desired areas within the mold surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
Dry ice blasting is known for the non-estructive cleaning from a nozzle towards into inner volume of the cleaning mold
Implementation Method 2
The preferred frozen gas is CO2 in order to access micro.gcale spaces and having non-abrasive effects on the molds
Data Source
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AI summary
Invention is a cleaning robot for cleaning the inner surfaces (5) of the half mold (4) of tire curing molds comprising a basket (10) wherein a lifting arm (50) placed in a manner pivotal on a proximal end (52), the lifting arm (50) pivoted on a distal end (54) of a support arm (70). The cleaning robot fits completely into the basket (10) when the positioned as close and comprising a movable head (80) having a nozzle (82) coupled in a manner to establish fluid communication to the dry ice inlet (84) and located at the distal end (76) of the support arm (70) and a free end which is configured movably closer to the inner surface (5) such as at a vicinity of the inner surface (5) along the contour of its when the positioned as open.