Tire Transport Arm Positioning with Optical Tilt Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire transport systems risk damaging tires due to the arms hitting tilted or deformed tires during lifting, especially when tires are stacked and stored over time, as they are soft and sticky, leading to potential damage and transport inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A tire transport apparatus equipped with at least three arms, an arm extension/retraction mechanism, a lift mechanism, optical reflection sensors, and a controller, which uses optical reflection and laser distance sensors to detect tire position and adjust arm placement to avoid contact, ensuring accurate lifting and minimizing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the arm is lowered to lift the tire, then the tire can be transported, but the hook may hit the tilted tire causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire transport capabilityVSAvoidtire damage from hook contact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical reflection sensor detects the tire's position and tilt state before the arm lowers to lift it. This preliminary detection allows the control system to determine whether the arm should be lowered, preventing harmful contact before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optical reflection sensor provides real-time feedback on the tire's position and tilt state to the control system. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the arm's movement to avoid hitting the tilted tire while still enabling successful tire lifting when conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the arm is lowered inside the tire, then the tire can be lifted, but the protrusion may contact the tilted tire causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire lifting capabilityVSAvoidtire damage from protrusion contact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical reflection sensor detects the tire's position and tilt state before the arm lowers inside the tire. This preliminary detection allows the control system to determine whether the arm should be lowered, preventing the protrusion from contacting and damaging the tilted tire.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optical reflection sensor provides real-time feedback on the tire's position and tilt state to the control system. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the arm's movement to prevent the protrusion from hitting the tilted tire while still enabling successful tire lifting when conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the arm is extended outward, then the hook can support the upper opening edge, but the arm may hit the tilted tire during extension

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire support capabilityVSAvoidtire damage from arm extension contact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical reflection sensor detects the tire's position and tilt state before the arm extends outward. This preliminary detection allows the control system to determine whether the arm should be extended, preventing the arm from hitting the tilted tire during extension while still enabling successful tire support when conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optical reflection sensor provides real-time feedback on the tire's position and tilt state to the control system. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the arm's extension movement to avoid hitting the tilted tire while still enabling successful tire support when conditions are appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 system effectively prevents tire damage by adjusting arm positions based on sensor feedback, enhancing transport efficiency by accurately lifting and handling tilted or deformed tires without contact.

Implementation Method 1

The optical reflection sensor is a sensor that can detect reflected light when emitting light downward

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The optical reflection sensor may be a laser distance sensor that detects a distance to an object below

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS12378084B2Tire transport apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.08.05 MURATA MASCH LTD

AI summary

A tire transport apparatus includes at least three arms each having an arm main body and a protrusion disposed to protrude outward at a lower part of the arm main body to lift the tire, an arm extension/retraction mechanism configured to move the at least three arms in a horizontal extension/retraction direction, a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the at least three arms, at least three optical reflection sensors disposed on an outer side of a circle including distal ends of the protrusions when the at least three arms are above the tire and in a retracted state to detect an object below, and a controller configured to determine that one or more arms among the at least three arms are in an inappropriate position, if one or more optical reflection sensors among the at least three optical reflection sensors detect the tire.