Tire Inner Surface Plasma Cleaning for Release Agent Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing unnecessary deposits from tire surfaces, such as release agents, often damage the rubber due to high energy outputs, like laser beams, which remove healthy rubber along with the deposits and cause tire surface damage.
Innovation Solution
A method using plasma treatment with controlled irradiation conditions to selectively remove deposits without damaging the tire rubber, employing a plasma cleaning system with adjustable output strength and precise irradiation to ensure the rubber remains undamaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser beam is used to remove deposits from the tire surface, then the release agent and deposits are removed effectively, but the rubber on the tire surface is damaged due to high output energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy parameter from high-energy laser beams to lower-energy plasma, and further optimizes plasma parameters (power, gas flow rate, treatment time) to achieve effective deposit removal while maintaining rubber surface integrity. This parameter optimization allows the plasma to selectively remove deposits without damaging the underlying rubber.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal ablation mechanism of laser beams with a chemical plasma-based cleaning mechanism. The plasma generates reactive species that chemically react with and decompose the deposit materials, providing a gentler alternative to laser ablation that removes deposits without the harsh thermal effects that damage rubber.
2Productivity
If high energy irradiation is used to remove deposits, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but healthy rubber is removed together with the deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes plasma treatment parameters including power (50-200W), gas flow rate (10-50 sccm), and treatment time (1-10 seconds) to achieve selective deposit removal. These controlled parameters ensure that the plasma energy is sufficient to decompose deposits but limited enough to prevent rubber material loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies plasma treatment with carefully controlled, limited energy input that is sufficient to remove deposits but intentionally kept below the threshold that would cause rubber degradation. This partial action approach achieves the necessary cleaning without excessive energy application that would harm the rubber.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If plasma with lower output strength is used, then rubber damage is prevented, but deposit removal reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically optimizes multiple plasma parameters simultaneously (power, gas flow rate, treatment time, distance from surface) to achieve the delicate balance of effective deposit removal with low-energy plasma. This multi-parameter optimization ensures that even with lower overall energy output, the plasma remains effective at removing deposits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite plasma compositions (mixing different gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon in various ratios) to enhance the cleaning effectiveness of low-energy plasma. The different gas components provide complementary mechanisms for deposit removal, allowing reliable cleaning without requiring high energy input.
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
The method effectively removes unnecessary deposits with lower energy plasma, ensuring the tire rubber remains intact and allowing for secure bonding of attachments without long-term damage or separation issues.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the predetermined range of a tire surface with plasma from an irradiation head
Implementation Method 2
plasma treatment... to remove the deposits
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning method capable of reliably removing unnecessary deposits on a tire surface without damaging the rubber on the tire surface using plasma treatment and a method for manufacturing a tire to which this cleaning method is applied are provided. Irradiation conditions of plasma (P) in which rubber in a predetermined range (11A) on a tire surface is not damaged by the irradiated plasma (P) are identified in advance. An irradiation head (3) held by an arm (5) and a tire (10) held by a rotation mechanism (7) are moved continuously or intermittently while controlling movement of at least one of them using a control device (6), the plasma (P) is irradiated from the irradiation head (3) to the predetermined range (11A) of an inner surface (11) of the tire (10) under the atmospheric pressure under the irradiation condition identified in advance, and unnecessary deposits (X) such as a release agent adhering to the predetermined range (11A) are removed.