Radially Expandable Tire Processing Head for Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire production processes face challenges in applying semi-finished products, such as self-sealing sleeves, due to differences in tire sizes and bead diameters, which hinder easy insertion and adhesion to the radially inner surface, leading to potential air bubbles and defects.
Innovation Solution
A device with a processing head and movement group that radially expands and presses the semi-finished product against the tire's inner surface, using a pressing element to facilitate adhesion and expel air, allowing for flexible application on green or vulcanized tires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a semi-finished product is inserted into a tyre, then the self-sealing function is achieved, but air bubbles and adhesion defects occur due to tire size and bead diameter variations
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing element is made radially movable relative to the processing head, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and apply varying pressure to the semi-finished product during rotation. This dynamic adjustment ensures consistent adhesion quality across different tire sizes and bead diameters, preventing air bubbles and defects while maintaining reliable self-sealing function.
2Manufacturing precision
If the pressing element applies high pressure to ensure adhesion, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases due to radial movement mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing element utilizes the natural curvature and rotation of the processing head to achieve radial movement. The rotating processing head itself provides the mechanical advantage needed to press the semi-finished product against the tire inner surface, eliminating the need for complex additional actuation mechanisms while maintaining high adhesion quality.
3Productivity
If the processing head rotates at high speed to increase productivity, then production rate improves, but adhesion quality deteriorates due to reduced pressing time
Solution Approach 1:
The semi-finished product is pre-positioned on the processing head before rotation begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the product is already in the correct location and orientation, allowing the system to rotate at high speeds without compromising adhesion quality, as the pressing action is maintained throughout the rotation cycle.
Data Source
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AI summary
A processing head (14) is provided that is axially insertable in the tyre (3) retained by a support group (15). The processing head (14) comprises at least one or more radially extendable arms (20), having each a proximal end (20a) that is constrained with respect to the processing head (14) and a distal end (20b) carrying at least one pressing element (21). Driving devices (22) operate on each arm (20) in order to move it between a rest position in which the pressing element (21) is moved close to the geometric rotation axis (X) and a work position in which the pressing element (21) is moved away from the geometric rotation axis (X) in order to exert a thrust action towards a radially inner surface (3a) of the tyre (3). A movement group (16) provides for mutually moving the processing head (14) and the tyre (3) around and along a geometric rotation axis (X), in order to complete the application of a semi-finished product (2) by the pressing elements (21).