Tire Sidewall Electronic Device Integration During Vulcanization

Solution Overview

Problem

Attaching an electronic device to the outer surface of a vulcanized tire, such as an RF tag, is a laborious process, especially for large tires.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a lower and upper mold piece to vulcanize a raw tire with an electronic device arranged in the mold pieces or the vicinity of the tire's outer surface during the vulcanization process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an electronic device is attached to the outer surface of a vulcanized tire using adhesives, then the electronic device can be attached to the tire, but the process becomes laborious and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device is arranged in the mold before the vulcanization process begins. The mold includes a mold piece with a cavity that holds the electronic device in position. During vulcanization, the raw tire is formed around the electronic device, integrating it into the tire structure before the tire is vulcanized. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for post-vulcanization attachment processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic device attachment process is merged with the vulcanization process. By placing the electronic device in the mold and vulcanizing the raw tire in one continuous operation, the patent combines two separate processes (device attachment and tire vulcanization) into a single integrated process, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If an electronic device is attached to the outer surface of a vulcanized tire, then the electronic device can be attached, but the process is time-consuming and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device is arranged in the mold before the vulcanization process begins. The mold includes a mold piece with a cavity that holds the electronic device in position. During vulcanization, the raw tire is formed around the electronic device, integrating it into the tire structure before the tire is vulcanized. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for post-vulcanization attachment processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic device attachment process is merged with the vulcanization process. By placing the electronic device in the mold and vulcanizing the raw tire in one continuous operation, the patent combines two separate processes (device attachment and tire vulcanization) into a single integrated process, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If an electronic device is arranged in the mold during vulcanization, then the attachment process is simplified, but the electronic device must withstand high temperature and pressure conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment simplicityVSAvoidelectronic device durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A protective coating or encapsulation material is applied to the electronic device before placing it in the mold. This intermediary layer protects the electronic device from direct exposure to high temperature and pressure during vulcanization, while still allowing the rubber to bond to the device. The protective coating acts as a mediator between the electronic device and the harsh vulcanization environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A sacrificial protective layer or release film is used during vulcanization that can be easily removed or degraded after the process. This disposable protective element shields the electronic device during the high-temperature vulcanization process and is then discarded, leaving the electronic device intact and properly bonded to the tire.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Enables the simple attachment of an electronic device to the tire's outer surface during tire production, improving durability and readability.

Implementation Method 1

a raw tire is set in the mold and vulcanized after the electronic device arrangement process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVulcanization:

Data Source

PatentUS20260014765A1Method for producing tire and tire

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 BRIDGESTONE CORP

AI summary

The provided is a method for producing a tire to obtain a tire with an electronic device 6 attached to a tire side portion, the method including: an electronic device arrangement process in which the electronic device 6 is arranged in at least one of: the lower mold piece 32, the upper mold piece 33, the vicinity of a tire outer surface 20o of the tire side portion 28 of the raw tire 20 on the side that comes into contact with the lower mold piece 32, and the vicinity of a tire outer surface 20o of the tire side portion 28 of the raw tire 20 on the side that comes into contact with the upper mold piece 33; and a vulcanization process in which the raw tire 20 is set in the mold 31 and vulcanized after the electronic device arrangement process.