Tyre Forming Support Synchronous Decoupling Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tyre manufacturing processes face challenges in achieving high regularity and uniformity in the carcass structure, particularly in single-station building processes, where supporting members facilitate deposition but hinder subsequent operations like positioning and turning of annular anchoring structures, and require mechanical interventions on forming supports.

Innovation Solution

A process and apparatus where support members are positioned close to the forming support, rotated synchronously, and decoupled to allow easy deposition and subsequent operations without direct coupling, enabling precise and automated carcass structure building without mechanical interventions on the forming support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If support members are coupled with the forming support to facilitate carcass ply deposition, then deposition precision is improved, but subsequent operations (positioning and turning of annular anchoring structures) are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition precisionVSAvoidease of positioning and turning operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are made dynamically configurable through a coupling mechanism that allows them to be selectively coupled to and decoupled from the forming support. During deposition, they are coupled to provide precision; during subsequent operations, they are decoupled to allow easy access and manipulation of annular anchoring structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support members are divided into multiple segments that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows precise positioning during deposition while enabling easy decoupling and repositioning during subsequent operations, resolving the conflict between deposition precision and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If support members are directly coupled with the forming support, then deposition stability is improved, but mechanical interventions on the forming support are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition stabilityVSAvoidmechanical intervention complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the support members and the forming support. This intermediary provides stable support during deposition while eliminating the need for direct mechanical interventions on the forming support itself, reducing device complexity and preserving forming support integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If support members remain positioned during all operations, then deposition quality is maintained, but automated operations become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition qualityVSAvoidautomation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are made dynamically controllable through automated coupling and decoupling mechanisms. They are coupled during deposition to ensure quality, then automatically decoupled to allow subsequent automated operations such as positioning and turning of annular anchoring structures, enabling high-level automation throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3148786B1Process and apparatus for producing tyres for vehicle wheels
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 PIRELLI TYRE SPA
  • EP3148786B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3148786B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3148786B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus (100) for producing tyres for vehicle wheels, wherein a carcass structure is built on a forming support (50) rotatable about a rotation axis (X-X). The building of the carcass structure comprises arranging a pair of support members (60) in a first operative position in which each support member (60) is axially adjacent to a respective axial end portion (50a) of the forming support (50). In particular, in the aforementioned first operative position the support members (60) are coupled with respective gripping members (40) disengaged from said forming support (50) and arranged on axially opposite sides with respect to the forming support (50). The gripping members (40) are rotatable about the rotation axis (X-X) and have a rotation speed synchronised with that of the forming support (50).