Tyre Visual Inspection Apparatus with Rotating Support Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current visual inspection methods for tires are inefficient, as operators struggle to inspect the entire surface of large tires safely and effectively, often missing small surface defects near the sidewalls, which can indicate functional anomalies and lead to production quality issues and waste.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a visual inspection process and apparatus that uses multiple support and rotation devices to orient the tire in a way that allows for comprehensive external inspection without the operator needing to change position significantly, utilizing rollers and abutment rollers to facilitate the identification of defects on the sidewalls during rotation, ensuring safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the operator manually handles and moves large tires to inspect the entire outer surface, then the inspection coverage is improved, but the operator safety and health are compromised due to harmful movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by implementing automated rotation devices that dynamically adjust the tire's orientation during inspection. The tire rotates automatically on support rollers and abutment rollers, eliminating the need for operators to manually move heavy tires while maintaining complete surface visibility for inspection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses support rollers and abutment rollers as intermediary devices between the operator and the tire. These rollers facilitate controlled rotation and positioning of the tire, allowing the operator to inspect the entire surface without direct physical contact or harmful manual handling movements
2Measurement precision
If the operator moves to different positions to inspect sidewalls, then the inspection quality is improved, but the lighting conditions deteriorate and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic rotation of the tire using support rollers and abutment rollers that allow the tire to be rotated to different orientations while remaining in a fixed inspection position. This maintains optimal lighting conditions while enabling complete surface inspection through automated positioning
3Device complexity
If traditional visual inspection methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the defect detection capability deteriorates for small surface defects near sidewalls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces abutment rollers as intermediary devices that specifically enable inspection of sidewall areas. These rollers provide controlled contact points that allow the tire to be positioned and rotated to expose sidewall defects to the operator's view, significantly improving detection capability for small defects in previously difficult-to-reach areas
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection process is segmented into different phases using support rollers for general rotation and abutment rollers for specific sidewall inspection. This segmentation allows the operator to systematically examine different portions of the tire surface, ensuring comprehensive defect detection
Data Source
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AI summary
A tyre (4) is loaded into a visual inspection station (2) and supported according to a first visual inspection orientation, in which its own geometric axis of rotation (X) extends horizontally in a vertical first visual inspection plane (V1). While the tyre (4) is rotated around its geometric rotation axis (X), at least a first visual inspection is carried out, for example on its own tread band (7). In the visual inspection station (2), the following actions are also carried out: rotate the tyre (4) around a vertical orientation axis (OA), to position it according to a sidewall check orientation where the geometric rotation axis (X) lies in a vertical sidewall inspection plane, perpendicular to the vertical first visual inspection plane (V1); rotate the tyre (4) positioned according to the sidewall check orientation around the geometric axis of rotation (X) and simultaneously carry out at least one sidewall visual inspection on axially outer surfaces of the tyre (4).