Tyre Changing Machine Bed and Tool Holder Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tire changing machines are cumbersome and time-consuming due to the need for frequent adjustments in height and positioning of the wheel-holder unit, which affects productivity and safety, especially when handling different tire sizes and during transitions between mounting and removing tires.

Innovation Solution

A tire changing machine with a bed fixed to the supporting surface, featuring a wheel-holder unit and tool-holder arms that can move longitudinally and laterally, allowing tools to be fixed at optimal positions relative to the bed, enabling efficient and automatic tire mounting and removal without the need for repeated adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the wheel-holder unit is positioned at a fixed working height, then the tool can perform operations efficiently, but the machine cannot accommodate different tire sizes and requires frequent height adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidaccommodation of different tire sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel-holder unit is made movable along the vertical axis through a drive system, allowing dynamic adjustment of its position. This enables the unit to be raised to the optimal working height for each specific tire size before operation, and lowered when not in use, thus accommodating different tire sizes while maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The vertical position of the wheel-holder unit is changed as a variable parameter depending on the tire size being processed. The drive system enables continuous adjustment of the unit's height, allowing optimization of the working height parameter for each specific operation while maintaining safety at lower positions when idle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the wheel-holder unit is kept at a high working height, then tool operations are optimized, but operator safety is compromised when tires come free during removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool operation optimizationVSAvoidoperator safety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel-holder unit dynamically changes its vertical position based on operational needs. During active tire removal or mounting operations, the unit is raised to the optimal working height for tool operation. When operations are complete or during loading/unloading phases, the unit is lowered to a safe position, eliminating the safety hazard of high-speed tires at operator level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the wheel-holder unit requires frequent height adjustments, then the machine can adapt to different tire sizes, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different tire sizesVSAvoidoperational throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel-holder unit is pre-positioned at the optimal working height for the specific tire size before the operation begins. The drive system enables this preliminary positioning action to be completed quickly, so that when the tire is placed on the unit, no further height adjustments are needed during the actual tire changing operation, thus maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the wheel-holder unit is positioned lower for safety, then operator safety is improved, but the tool cannot reach optimal operating positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidtool operating position
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel-holder unit's vertical position is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase. During active tool operations, the unit is raised to the optimal height for tool performance. During tire loading, unloading, or when the tire is not secured, the unit is lowered to a safe position away from operator level, thus achieving both safety and operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3323644B1Apparatus for mounting and removing a tyre
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 NEXION SPA
  • EP3323644B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3323644B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3323644B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

A tyre changing machine (1) placed on a supporting surface (S) comprises: a wheel-holder unit (2) which rotates about a horizontal axis of rotation (201); a bed (5) defining a floorplate (501) which extends along its horizontal placement surface (S') to receive and support the wheel (R) resting on it; a drive system (3) for driving the wheel-holder unit (2) along the axis of rotation (201); a tool-holder turret (4) movably connected to the bed (5) to support a tool (8; 8') at least in a working position where it interacts with a wheel tyre; a connecting member (502) situated on the floorplate (501) in a fixed position; a tool-holder arm (6) fixable to the floorplate (501) by means of the connecting member (502) in such a way as to project from the floorplate (501) transversely to the placement surface (S') and to hold a further tool (7; 7') in an operating work position where it can interact with the tyre (P).