Wire Transfer System with Roller Panels for Tire Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for drawing and transferring wires in tire manufacturing require numerous back-and-forth movements, which are inefficient and can lead to misalignment, especially when dealing with racks of significant height, affecting the quality and productivity of reinforced rubber plies.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a mobile structure with adjustable roller panels and holding means that allows for direct and uninterrupted transfer of wires from one rack to another, ensuring precise alignment and uniform tension without the need for manual back-and-forth movements, utilizing a mobile frame with wheels or modules for movement along the rack and a fixed structure for seamless transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual back-and-forth movements are used to draw wires from racks, then operator flexibility is maintained, but productivity decreases and wire alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire drawing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a mobile structure that can move along the rack to transport roller panels, transforming the static manual operation into a dynamic automated system. The mobile structure includes a frame with wheels or mobile modules that travel along guides mounted on the rack, enabling automated wire drawing without manual back-and-forth movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces roller panels as intermediary elements between the wires and the mobile structure. These roller panels capture the wires from the rack and transfer them to the mobile structure, which then conveys them to the drawing installation. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for direct manual handling while maintaining wire alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If racks of significant height are used, then wire storage capacity increases, but wire alignment precision deteriorates due to numerous back-and-forth movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire storage capacityVSAvoidwire alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile structure enables continuous wire transfer from the rack to the drawing installation without interruption. The roller panels remain engaged with the wires throughout the movement, ensuring constant alignment and tension control. This continuous action eliminates the alignment errors that occur during manual back-and-forth operations, even when racks are tall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated mobile structure that uses guided movement and roller panel mechanisms. The mobile structure travels along fixed guides mounted on the rack, providing precise and repeatable positioning that maintains wire alignment regardless of rack height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If numerous back-and-forth movements are performed, then wire transfer is achieved, but operator effort and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator effortVSAvoidwire drawing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile structure is designed to automatically perform the wire drawing operation without requiring continuous manual intervention. Once positioned, the system uses the weight of the roller panels and the tension from the wires to automatically transfer and draw the wires through the drawing installation, reducing operator effort and time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4251551B1System for drawing and transferring wires and method of use
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP4251551B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4251551B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4251551B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a system (100) for drawing and transferring wires arranged in one or more racks (110) of the system, including: - a mobile structure (114) including a frame (114a), a base (114b) and one or more mobile means, - one or more roller panels (116) made up of horizontal and vertical rollers that allow the wires to be organized; and - a fixed structure (120) disposed at the end of the rack (110) and including a frame (120a) and a base (120b), allowing the transfer of the roller panels (116) from the mobile structure towards the fixed structure without loss of alignment of the wires, wherein the mobile structure is positioned next to the fixed structure. The invention also relates to a method for drawing and transferring wires selected for incorporation in a reinforced ply performed by the disclosed system.