Tire Inspection Device Bead Centering and Roller Holding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire inspection devices deform the tire beads and prevent accurate imaging of the bead areas where retaining lugs are in contact, leading to geometric distortions and incomplete image acquisition.

Innovation Solution

A device with centering means that lock the first bead by its entire circumference on a reference plate, allowing relative rotation and using internal and outer holding rollers to maintain the tire in a precise open position, enabling complete image acquisition of the inner surface without deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If retaining lugs are used to hold the tire beads, then the tire can be maintained in open position, but the beads deform and geometry is modified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire open position stabilityVSAvoidbead geometry precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Rollers are introduced as intermediary elements between the holding mechanism and the tire beads. The rollers contact the beads at multiple points (two internal rollers and one external roller) to distribute holding forces, preventing direct deformation of the beads while maintaining stable open position during inspection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding mechanism transitions from fixed retaining lugs to rollers with radial axes that can rotate. This parameter change allows the holding points to adapt to the bead shape, reducing deformation while maintaining the tire in open position

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If retaining lugs are fixed relative to the bead, then the tire can be held securely, but image acquisition of the bead areas is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire holding reliabilityVSAvoidbead image completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The holding rollers are designed to rotate on their radial axes during tire rotation, dynamically adjusting their position relative to the imaging path. This allows the tire to be held securely while the imaging system can capture complete bead areas without obstruction from fixed retaining structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple pairs of hooks or lugs are used to hold the tire, then the tire can be maintained in open position, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire open position stabilityVSAvoidholding mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of distributing multiple holding points around the entire tire circumference, the invention concentrates three rollers (two internal, one external) at specific strategic locations. This local quality approach provides sufficient stability for open position maintenance while minimizing device complexity compared to multiple distributed hooks or lugs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2548006B1Maintenance device for the visual inspection of a tyre
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP2548006B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2548006B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2548006B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for inspecting the inner surface between first and second beads of a tire (P), including means for acquiring an image of the inner surface of a tire (1), and centering means capable of locking the first bead over the entire circumference thereof on a reference plate, and driving the tire into relative rotation about the XX' axis thereof relative to said image acquisition means. The device includes means for opening and holding the second bead, which comprises two inner holding rollers (32, 32) having a substantially radial axis, and at least one outer holding roller (33) having a substantially radial axis, which are arranged substantially in the middle of the angular sector formed by the two inner holding rollers (31, 32) and are capable of bearing on the outer portion of said second bead, wherein the inner (31, 32) and outer (33) holding rollers are mounted so as to be rigidly connected in rotation relative to the axis XX' of said image acquisition means (1).