The present invention as embodied by “system for automatic lube spray for Off
The Road (OTR) green tires" succinctly fulfils the above-mentioned need(s) in the
art. The present invention has objective(s) arising as a result of the abovementioned need(s), said objective(s) being enumerated below. In as much as the
objective(s) of the present invention are enumerated, it will be obvious to a
person skilled in the art that, the enumerated objective(s) are not exhaustive of
the present invention in its entirety, and are enclosed solely for the purpose of
illustration. Further, the present invention encloses within its scope and purview,
any structural alternative(s) and/or any functional equivalent(s) even though,
such structural alternative(s) and/or any functional equivalent(s) are not
mentioned explicitly herein or elsewhere, in the present disclosure. The present
invention therefore encompasses also, any improvisation(s)/modification(s)
applied to the structural alternative(s)/functional alternative(s) within its scope
and purview. The present invention may be embodied in other specific form(s)
without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word "comprise" and variations such
as "comprises" and "comprising" may imply the inclusion of an element or
elements not specifically recited.
A system (10) for automatic lube spray for Off The Road (OTR) green tire (1)
comprises a handling unit (100), a gripping and rotating unit (200), a spraying
and exhaust unit (300), and an operator control unit (400).
The handling unit (100) comprises a trolley (101) on which the OTR green tire (1)
is transferred from the tire building machine for lube spraying. The trolley (101)
is placed in the vicinity of the the gripping and rotating unit (200).
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The gripping and rotating unit (200) comprises a column (201) which is
positioned vertically. An arm (202) at one end coupled to the column (201). Said
arm (202) can be reciprocated along the length of the column (201) and can be
rotated around the axis of the column (201). The rotation of the arm (202) can be
upto 180 degrees.
On the free end of the arm a gripper mechanism (203) is coupled. The gripper
mechanism (203) comprises a shaft (2031). A motor (500) is supported on the
shaft (2031) by means of a supporting mechanism (501) to rotate the shaft
(2031). The supporting mechanism (501) can comprise a panel (502) to support
the motor (500), and the panel (502) is coupled to the shaft (2031) by means of a
bearing (503). So that when the shaft (2031) is rotated in axial direction by the
motor (500), the motor (500) does not rotate in radial direction.
The gripper mechanism (203) having a disc (2032) is positioned at a bottom end
of the shaft (2031) in such a way that when the shaft (2031) is axially rotated the
disc (2032) rotates radially. The disc (2032) having a plurality of slots. A plurality
of paddles (2033) are suspended from a top surface of the disc (2032) to the
bottom surface of disc (2032) through the slots. Number of paddles (2033) are
equivalent to the number of slots. A top end of all the paddles (2033) is coupled
to a linkage mechanism (2034) on top surface of the disc (2032). A bottom end of
the paddles (2033) having a gripping portion. The linkage mechanism (2034)
positioned on the top surface of the disc (2032) to enable the paddles (2033) to
move synchronously in the slot. The linkage mechanism (2034) including a
polygonal plate (2035). The number of sides of the polygonal plate (2035) is
equivalent to number of slots and number of paddles (2033). The top end of each
of the paddles (2033) are coupled to the polygonal plate (2035) of the linkage
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mechanism (2034) by means of a linking bars (2036). The axial length of all the
linking bars (2036) coupling the paddles (2033) to the polygonal plate (2035) is
same to ensure the synchronous movement of the paddles (2033).
An actuator (204) supported on the disc (2032) by means of a bracket. The
actuator actuates the gripper mechanism (203). The actuator (204) actuates
gripper mechanism (204) to actuate the linkage mechanism (2034). When, the
actuator (204) actuates the linkage mechanism (2034), i.e., the actuator (204)
rotates the polygonal plate (2035) in clockwise or counter clockwise direction for
radially contracting or expanding the plurality of paddles (2033). The plurality of
paddles (2033) contracts or expands based on the size of the OTR green tire (1).
This synchronous movement of paddles (2033) ensures the accurate gripping of
the OTR green tire (1) to the arm (202) and prevents falling of the OTR green tire
(1) due to in-accurate gripping from the arm (202).
The disc (2032) of the gripper mechanism (203) can be equipped with a sensor,
preferably a proximity sensor, more preferably inductive proximity sensor. When
the disc (2032) is brought closer to the OTR green tire (1), the sensor senses the
OTR green tire (1) and sends signals to the operator control unit (400). The
operator control unit (400) can actuate the actuator (204) for radially contracting
or expanding the plurality of paddles (2033).
The gripped OTR green tire (1) is picked and lifted from the trolley (101) to
appropriate height from the ground in such a way that when the arm (202) is
rotated around the column (201), the arm (202) does not collide with other units
of the system (10). The arm (202) is rotated around the axis of the column (201)
to correspond to a chamber (301) of the spraying and exhaust unit (300) and the
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arm (202) is reciprocated downward to position the OTR green tire (1) in the
spraying and exhaust unit (300).
The spraying and exhaust unit (300) comprises a lube tank (307) to store the lube
for coating surfaces of the OTR green tire (1). A first nozzle (302) and a second
nozzle (304) is in a fluid communication with the lube tank (307). The first nozzle
(302) sprays lube for coating on internal surface of the OTR green tire (1) and the
second nozzle (304) sprays lube for coating on external surface of the OTR green
tire (1), when positioned in the chamber (301). The first nozzle (302) is
positioned on centre of the spraying and exhaust unit (300) and is guided
vertically, horizontally and/or radially by means of a first guiding means (303).
The second nozzle (304) positioned at an appropriate distance from the outer
radius of the OTR green tire (1) for spraying the lube coating on the outer surface
of the OTR green tire (1). The second nozzle (304) can be guided vertically,
horizontally and/or radially by means of a second guiding means (305).
For exemplifying the first guiding means (303) and the second guiding means
(305) can be rails, motorized gears or similar guiding means.
The positioning of the first nozzle (302) and the second nozzle (304) can be
automated by means of the operator control unit (400). The motor (500) rotates
the shaft (2031) to rotate the gripped OTR green tire (1) in the spraying and
exhaust unit (300). The motor (500) can be controlled by the operator control
unit (400) to control or vary rotational speed of the shaft (2031) for uniform
coating of the lube on the surfaces of the OTR green tire (1) based on the size of
the OTR green tire (1). An exhaust outlet (306) is integrated with the chamber to
carry away the hazardous Lube fumes and spilling. The exhaust outlet (306)
having a filtering unit and an absorption unit to filter and absorb the hazardous
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material and the clean air is then sent to the environment, making the system (10)
more environment friendly.
In an embodiment, an operator can input the size of the OTR green tire (1) to be
coated by means of the operator control unit (400). Based on input of size of the
OTR green tire (1), the plurality of paddles (2033) radially expands when the
sensor detects the OTR green tire (1) for gripping of the tire by the gripping and
rotating unit (200), the first nozzle (302) and the second nozzle (304) are
positioned appropriately to coat the lube on internal and external surface of the
OTR green tire (1).
The system (10) may be surrounded by a fence (600) for enhanced protection for
the operator operating the system (10).
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for
illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various
modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements without deviating from
the scope of the invention may be made by a person skilled in the art.
WE CLAIM:
1. A system (10) for automatic lube spray for Off The Road (OTR) green tire
comprises
a. a handling unit (100), the handling unit (100) having a trolley (101)
on which the OTR green tire (1) is transferred from the tire building
machine for lube spraying;
b. a gripping and rotating unit (200), the gripping and rotating unit
(200) comprises
i. a column (201),
ii. an arm (202), the arm (202) at one end coupled to the column
(201), said arm (202) is capable of being reciprocated in upward
and downward direction and the arm (202) is capable of being
rotated along the axis of the column (201),
iii. a gripper mechanism (203), on the free end of the arm (203) the
gripper mechanism (203) is coupled,
iv. a sensor, the sensor is positioned appropriately on the gripper
mechanism (203), and
v. an actuator (204), the actuator (204) when actuated actuates the
gripper mechanism (202) for gripping when the sensor senses
the OTR green tire (1);
c. a spraying and exhaust unit (300), the spraying and exhaust unit
(300) comprises,
i. a chamber (301) in which the OTR green tire (1) from the
gripping and rotating unit (200) is positioned,
ii. a first nozzle (302) for spraying lube for coating on internal
surface of the OTR green tire (1) in the chamber (301),
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iii. a first guiding means (303) for guiding the first nozzle (302)
vertically, horizontally and/or radially,
iv. a second nozzle (304) for spraying lube for coating on the
external surface of the OTR green tire (1) in the chamber (301),
v. a second guiding means (305) for guiding the second nozzle
(304) vertically, horizontally and/or radially, and
vi. an exhaust outlet (306) is integrated with the chamber (301) to
carry away the lube fumes and spilling due to the spraying by
the first nozzle (302) and the second nozzle (304);
and
d. an operator control unit (400), the operator control unit (400) is
positioned remotely from the system (10), the operator control unit
(400) is capable of controlling gripping and rotating unit (200) and
the spraying and exhaust unit (300).
2. The system (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripper mechanism
(203) having
a. a shaft (2031),
b. a disc (2032) positioned at a bottom end of the shaft (2031) in such a
way that when the shaft (2031) is axially rotated the disc (2032) is
radially rotated, the disc (2032) having a plurality of slots,
c. a plurality of paddles (2033) are suspended from a top surface of the
disc (2032) to the bottom surface of disc (2032) through the slots, the
paddles (2033) having the gripping portion for gripping the OTR
green tire (1), and
d. a linkage mechanism (2034), the linkage mechanism (2034) linking
the paddles (2033) at the top end of the paddles (2033) on a top
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surface of the disc (2032) for synchronous movement of the paddles
(2033).
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the linkage mechanism (2034)
having
a. a polygonal plate (2035), and
b. a linking bars (2036), the top end of each paddles (2033) are coupled
with the polygonal plate (2035) by means of the linking bars (2036).
4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the polygonal plate (2035) is
capable of being rotated in a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction for
radially contracting or expanding the plurality of paddles (2033).
5. The system as claimed in claims 3 and 4, wherein the number of sides of
the polygonal plate (2035) is equivalent to the plurality of paddles (2033).
6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein axial length of all the linking
bars (2036) are same to ensure the synchronous movement of the paddles.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 and 2, comprises a motor (500), said
motor (500) is supported on the shaft (2031) by means of a supporting
mechanism (501) to rotate the shaft.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the supporting mechanism
(501) comprises a panel (502) to support the motor (500), the panel (502)
is coupled to the shaft (2031) by means of a bearing (503) so that when the
shaft (2031) is rotated in axial direction by the motor (500), the motor
(500) do not rotate.
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9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor senses the OTR green
tire (1) near the gripper mechanism (203) and sends the signal to the
operator control unit (400), the operator control unit (400) controls the
actuator (204) to actuate the gripper mechanism (203) for accurate
gripping of the OTR green tire (1).
11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exhaust outlet (306) having
a filtering unit and an absorption unit to filter and absorb the hazardous
material and the clean air is then sent to the environment, making the
system more environment friendly.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein operator is capable to input the
size of the OTR green tire (1) to be coated through the operator control
unit (400).
13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the operator control unit (400)
based on the inputted size of the OTR green tire (1), controls
a. the gripper mechanism (203) for gripping the OTR green tire (1),
b. the arm (202) for accurate picking and placing of the OTR green tire
(1) in the chamber (301),
c. the first nozzle (302) to position the first nozzle (302) in the chamber
(301) for spraying of the lube on internal surface of the OTR green
tire (1),
d. the second nozzle (304) to position the second nozzle (304) in the
chamber (301) for spraying of the lube on external surface of the OTR
green tire (1), and
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e. the motor (500) to control or vary the rotational speed of the shaft
(2031) for uniform spraying of lube on the OTR green tire (1).