Tire Mold Insert for Durable Sidewall 2D Code Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing pneumatic tires with two-dimensional codes on the side surface portion face challenges such as reduced contrast due to rubbing during storage, difficulty in engraving without compromising tire strength, and surface scratching during cleaning, which affects the readability of the codes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a tire mold with a replaceable member having a smooth flat surface is used to vulcanize the tire, allowing for the engraving of a two-dimensional code on a planar surface region with a dot pattern formed by two types of gray scale elements, ensuring the code's contrast is maintained by controlling the surface roughness and orientation of the planar surface region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a two-dimensional code is engraved on a tire side surface portion by providing a recessed region, then the code does not blur when tires are rubbed during storage, but additional processing is required for the tire mold which increases man-hours
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by forming a protruded portion on the mold inner surface during the initial mold manufacturing process, before tire production begins. This protruded portion creates a recessed region in the tire sidewall where the two-dimensional code is engraved, preventing code blurring during storage without requiring additional processing on already-used molds.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the mold structure into two distinct parts: the mold body and the replaceable member with the protruded portion. This segmentation allows the protruded portion to be easily replaced or adjusted without processing the entire mold, reducing maintenance time and complexity while maintaining code readability.
2Ease of manufacture
If sandblasting is used to clean the mold inner surface, then dirt is removed, but the surface is scratched and glossiness is lost which reduces code contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cleaning function from the mold surface itself by providing a replaceable member that can be removed and cleaned separately. The protruded portion on this replaceable member creates the code-forming recessed region, and when cleaning is needed, only the replaceable member is removed and cleaned, preventing damage to the permanent mold body and maintaining surface glossiness for code contrast.
Solution Approach 2:
The replaceable member acts as a consumable or short-lived component that can be easily replaced when worn or damaged. Instead of maintaining the entire expensive mold body, only the relatively inexpensive replaceable member with the protruded portion needs to be replaced, ensuring continuous production while maintaining code quality.
3Weight of moving object
If dot holes are formed in a reduced thickness side rubber member to create a two-dimensional code, then weight is reduced, but tire strength is likely to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating the dot holes only in the recessed region of the sidewall where the two-dimensional code is formed, rather than reducing thickness across the entire sidewall. The protruded portion on the mold creates a localized recessed area, allowing code formation with dot holes in a specific location while maintaining the original rubber member thickness and strength in the surrounding areas.
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 approach inhibits the reduction in contrast of the two-dimensional code, ensuring it remains readable and maintains the tire's strength and glossiness, even after multiple cleaning cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a mold body 62 and a member 64. A portion of the member 64, which is contactable with an unvulcanized tire, has a flat surface 64A
Implementation Method 2
a two-dimensional code 40 in which a dot pattern is formed by two types of gray scale elements formed identifiable from each other by surface unevenness
Implementation Method 3
cleaning is performed to remove dirt adhered to the mold inner surface by sandblasting. The mold inner surface is likely to be scratched by sandblasting
Data Source
AI summary
In manufacturing a pneumatic tire, a replaceable member having a smooth flat surface is attached to a mold body of a tire mold configured to vulcanize an unvulcanized tire into a predetermined shape by contact with the unvulcanized tire. A mold inner surface that forms the shape of a tire side surface portion includes a curved surface of the mold body and the flat surface surrounded by the curved surface. A vulcanized tire is produced by vulcanizing the unvulcanized tire by bringing the unvulcanized tire into contact with the mold inner surface. A two-dimensional code is engraved in a planar surface region of the vulcanized tire, which corresponds to the flat surface. In the two-dimensional code, a dot pattern is formed by two types of gray scale elements that are formed identifiable from each other by surface unevenness.