Tire Building Drum Diameter Adjustment for Consistent Overlap Splice

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing vehicle tires, such as lap or butt splicing, often result in tire imbalance, non-uniformity, and sidewall constriction due to inconsistent overlap splices in the carcass ply, which affect tire quality.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a tire building drum with a sensor to measure and adjust the drum diameter for a precise overlap splice, ensuring a consistent material overlap of 2-6 mm, thereby maintaining the lap splice within a tolerance range and minimizing sidewall constriction by using an optical sensor to detect and adjust the material length of the carcass ply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If overlap splicing is used to join carcass ply material ends, then the tire can be manufactured continuously, but the overlap area causes sidewall constriction and tire imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous manufacturingVSAvoidsidewall constriction and tire imbalance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the overlap splice by precisely controlling the material overlap length (2-6mm) and adjusting the drum diameter to compensate for material length variations. This parameter optimization reduces the harmful effects of the overlap area while maintaining continuous manufacturing capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary measurement of the carcass ply material length using a sensor before splicing, and pre-adjusts the drum diameter accordingly. This preliminary action ensures that the overlap splice achieves the predetermined material overlap, preventing sidewall constriction before the splicing operation occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the material length of the casing ply varies, then production flexibility is maintained, but the overlap splice quality becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction flexibilityVSAvoidoverlap splice quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a sensor that measures the actual material length of the carcass ply and feeds this information back to the control system. The control algorithm then determines the required drum diameter adjustment to achieve the target overlap splice quality, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains precision despite material length variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention makes the drum diameter dynamic by allowing it to be adjusted based on the measured material length. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to maintain consistent overlap splice quality across different material lengths, transforming a static drum into a responsive component that adapts to production variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 method ensures consistent quality of the overlap splice, reducing sidewall constriction and improving tire production by maintaining a predetermined material overlap, thus enhancing the overall quality and performance of vehicle tires.

Implementation Method 1

determining the material length of the casing ply with an optical sensor that detects the front and rear end sections and calculates the material length from this data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the tire construction drum is expanded by 0.1 to 1%, preferably 0.2 to 0.6%, the expansion relating to the original drum diameter with the tire inner liner wound on it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical expansion:

Data Source

PatentEP3552811B1Method for producing a tyre for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3552811B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a vehicle tire comprising the following steps: - placing and winding a tire inner liner (8) onto a tire manufacturing drum (1), wherein the material ends of the tire inner liner (8) are joined together with an overlap splice (12) on the tire manufacturing drum, - cutting and supplying a carcass ply (2) with a conveying means (6), - determining the material length (11) of the carcass ply (2) with a sensor (7), - comparing the actual value of the material length (11) of the carcass ply with a target value, - adjusting the drum diameter (14) to a length deviation of the measured carcass ply (2), wherein the drum diameter (14) is adjusted so that, after winding the carcass ply (2) onto the tire manufacturing drum (1), a defined overlap splice (12) with a predetermined material overlap is achieved, - placing and winding the carcass ply onto the tire manufacturing drum, - splicing the two together Material ends (4,5) of the carcass layer (2) on the tire building drum, joining both material ends together, - completing the vehicle tire.