Automated Tire Inspection via Rotating Sensor Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual tire inspection is time-consuming, error-prone, and subjective, leading to inconsistent testing and increased costs, while existing automated systems are complex, costly, and often limited in their ability to thoroughly check tires for defects.
Innovation Solution
A tire testing device equipped with sensory recording devices and a rotation mechanism that allows for the entire inner and outer tire surface to be recorded during a single rotation, combined with an evaluation device for automated defect detection, and a spreading mechanism to improve image quality and coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual visual inspection is used, then inspection can be performed with simple equipment, but inspection time is long and error rate is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated optical inspection system. Sensors (cameras) capture images of the tire surface, and an evaluation unit automatically analyzes these images for defects. This substitution of mechanical/manual inspection with automated sensing and evaluation systems directly increases inspection speed while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
2Productivity
If automated tire testing systems are implemented, then inspection speed increases, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a multi-functional testing device that can perform various tire inspections using a single integrated system. The device includes adjustable contact elements that can accommodate different tire sizes and types, and the evaluation unit can detect multiple defect types (surface defects, dimensional deviations, foreign objects). This universal design increases testing efficiency while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamically adjustable contact elements that can be positioned at different locations and angles to accommodate various tire geometries. The contact elements can be moved radially and axially, allowing the system to adapt to different tire sizes and types without requiring multiple fixed configurations, thereby maintaining efficiency while managing complexity through flexibility.
3Measurement precision
If existing automated testing systems are used, then some areas of the tire can be tested, but complete surface coverage is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tire surface inspection into multiple captured images that are subsequently evaluated together. The sensor captures the entire tire surface by rotating with the tire, and the evaluation unit processes these segmented images to provide complete surface coverage. This segmentation approach enables comprehensive defect detection accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through software-based image processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tire testing device (10) with a rotation device (12) which has several contact elements (14a-14d) for clamping a tire (100) to be tested, wherein the contact elements (14a-14d) can be positioned on the contour of the circumferential tire beads (102) of the tire (100) to be tested and at least one contact element (14a-14d) can be driven in a rotating manner and is configured to rotate the tire (100) to be tested.