US 12,269,230 B2
Installation and process for the preparation and fixation of electronic component fastening devices to tire casings
Georges Anaba Anaba, Clermont-Ferrand (FR); Fabien Bard, Clermont-Ferrand (FR); Francis Carteron, Clermont-Ferrand (FR); Lucie Chevrel, Clermont-Ferrand (FR); and Antoine Holtzhauer, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Assigned to COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
Appl. No. 18/020,483
Filed by COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Clermont-Ferrand (FR)
PCT Filed Jul. 26, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/070867
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 9, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/033854, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 17, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2008481 (FR), filed on Aug. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0286235 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B29D 30/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29D 30/0061 (2013.01) [B29D 2030/0072 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A preparation and fixation installation for fixation of a fastening device to an inner surface of a tire casing, the fastening device comprising a sole substantially cylindrical with respect to a center through which an axis of rotation passes, the sole having a front surface and an opposite top surface from which a retaining wall extends and terminates in an opening allowing an electronic member to be mounted in a space delimited by a bottom and an inner wall, the installation comprising:
a positioning device that controls positioning of the casing, the positioning device having a fixed support and one or more rotating means that guide rotation of the casing about its axis of rotation; and
a fixation device that performs fixation of the fastening device to a predetermined location of the inner surface of the casing,
wherein the fixation device comprises:
a robot having a gripping device supported by an elongated arm that pivots and extends from the elongated arm to a free end; and
a gripper disposed along a longitudinal axis l-l at the free end of the gripper device that effects movement of the fastening device between a standby position, where the gripper holds the fastening device by the retaining wall without deformation, and a docking position, where the gripper moves the fastening device toward the envelope to effect docking thereof at the predetermined location of the inner surface of the casing, and
wherein the gripper comprises
a housing comprising a fixed housing and a sliding housing disposed along the longitudinal axis l-l of the gripper, the housing having a predetermined length between an attachment end, where removable attachment of the housing to the robot is achieved, and a docking end, where docking of the fastening device to the casing is achieved; and
a docking finger having a longitudinal axis in common with the longitudinal axis l-l of the gripper, the finger having a predetermined length that extends between an actuation end, where a reciprocating movement of the finger is performed, and an opposite deformation end, where an engagement is performed between the finger and the center of the fastening device aligned along the longitudinal axis of the finger where a vacuum is applied to the gripper.