Tyre Building Drum Holder With Pin-Based Angular Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing holding devices for forming drums in tire manufacturing plants face issues with size, weight distribution, high shear stress, and precision due to complex structures and friction-based coupling, leading to inefficiencies under high accelerations and decelerations, which limit production speed and accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A holding device with an anti-rotation unit featuring radially movable pins and an actuation mechanism that ensures precise angular positioning and reduces sliding, using a compact design with a motor and thrust bearing to enhance stability and precision during rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex holding device structure with friction-based coupling is used, then the forming drum can be held during rotation, but the device size and weight increase, and precision is reduced under high accelerations and decelerations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device is divided into multiple functional modules: a holding element with clamping jaws for gripping the forming drum, a positioning element with radial pins for angular positioning, and a drive element with a motor. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without the complexity of a monolithic structure, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the anti-rotation function from the holding element by introducing a separate positioning element with radial pins that extend into positioning slots. This extraction eliminates the need for friction-based anti-rotation coupling, reducing structural complexity while maintaining holding stability under high accelerations and decelerations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a friction-based coupling system is used to hold the forming drum, then rotation can be maintained, but precision in angular positioning is reduced and wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation maintenanceVSAvoidangular positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces positioning slots as an intermediary mechanism between the positioning element and the forming drum. These slots guide the radial pins to achieve precise angular positioning without relying on friction-based coupling. The slots act as a mediator that translates the positioning action into accurate angular orientation, resolving the contradiction between rotation maintenance and positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If a compact holding device design is used, then production speed can be enhanced, but stability under high acceleration and deceleration conditions may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidstability under acceleration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device employs dynamic elements including radially movable pins that can extend and retract, and clamping jaws that can open and close. These dynamic features allow the compact device to maintain stability under high accelerations and decelerations by adapting its grip strength and positioning, enabling high production speed without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If radial pins are used for angular positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but the risk of sliding increases without proper alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular positioning precisionVSAvoidsliding resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning slots are designed to preliminarily guide the radial pins into correct alignment before the positioning action is completed. This preliminary alignment ensures that the pins engage properly with the slots, preventing sliding while achieving precise angular positioning. The slots prepare the interaction between the pins and the forming drum, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and sliding resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution enables efficient and precise holding of the forming drum, improving angular positioning and reducing wear, thus enhancing production speed and accuracy while maintaining stability under high acceleration and deceleration conditions.

Implementation Method 1

using a compact design with a motor and thrust bearing to enhance stability and precision during rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3807082B1Process and apparatus for building tyres
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • EP3807082B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3807082B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3807082B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for building tyres, a holding device (8) comprises a fixed body (10), a rotatable body (11) and a motor (12) coupled to the rotatable body (11) to drive it in rotation. The rotatable body (11) comprises a first element (13) provided with a housing axial seat (14) configured for receiving the rotating shaft (4) of a forming drum (2) and a second element (15) provided with at least one holding member (15a) for holding rotating shaft (4) elastically moveable between a first axial position and a second axial position. An actuator (19) operates between the first element (13) and the second element (15) to displace the second element (15) from the first axial position to the second axial position. An anti-rotation unit (21) is selectively displaceable between an active condition, in which it rotatably constrains together the rotating shaft (4) and the first element (13) of the rotatable body (11), and a passive condition, in which it does not interfere with the rotating shaft (4) of the forming drum (2).