Tire Production Handling Devices Simultaneous Movement Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing tire production methods experience significant delays due to dead times and safety intervals caused by data transmission and processing times, leading to increased cycle times and reduced efficiency in tire manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control method where handling devices are driven simultaneously during part of their movement sequence, with a master axis coordinating sub-processes and local controllers to minimize communication times and avoid dead times, allowing for continuous and coordinated movements without waiting periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sequential process steps with safety intervals are used, then reliability and safety are improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased cycle times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess safetyVSAvoidcycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous movement of the green tire through overlapping process steps, eliminating idle waiting periods between sequential operations. Multiple handling devices operate simultaneously to maintain continuous motion, thereby improving productivity while maintaining safety through coordinated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system pre-coordinates multiple handling devices and process steps in advance, preparing subsequent actions while previous operations are still in progress. This allows safety intervals to be minimized while maintaining reliable operation through pre-planned coordinated movements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If data transmission and processing times are reduced, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication timeVSAvoidfeedback accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is divided into hierarchical levels with distributed intelligence. Local controllers handle real-time actuator control with minimal communication overhead, while higher-level controllers manage coordination. This segmentation allows fast local responses without sacrificing overall system precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time feedback loops at multiple levels, with actuators reporting status and position information continuously. This enables precise control decisions to be made with minimal delay, maintaining measurement precision while reducing overall communication cycle times

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If handling devices are moved simultaneously, then productivity is improved by reducing dead times, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess speedVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple handling devices are merged into a coordinated system under unified control, where devices that would normally operate sequentially now work simultaneously. The control system integrates positioning and movement coordination to manage the increased complexity while achieving faster overall processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2236272B1Method and device for controlling the production of tyres
Publication Date: 2012.07.04 HARBURG FREUDENBERGER MASCHINENBAU GMBH
  • EP2236272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2236272B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2236272B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves subdividing a production process into two temporal consecutive process steps. A green tire loaded during individual steps and/or tool used in one of the steps and/or material is moved during the production. The movement of the green tire and/or tool and/or material associated to one of the steps and partially overlapped with the movement of the green tire and/or tool and/or material associated to other process step is executed. Subprocesses are temporally coordinated by a control axis (4) i.e. virtual axis (9). Servomotors are controlled by the control axis. An independent claim is also included for a device for controlling production of a tire.