Gripper technology gains traction on tyre handling

Zimmer Group has completed over 35 different projects, totalling over 5,000 development hours, in applications relating to the automated handling of tyres, rims and wheels. And the company’s technology continues to gain traction within this sector.

The route to finished wheels is complex with many different manufacturing processes and steps. As with virtually all areas of automotive manufacturing, automation plays a key role in the production of tyres and rims. There are several key challenges to be addressed when handling tyres and rims including the different material processing and manufacturing stages for the tyres, plus the wide range of sizes to be accommodated.

Zimmer Group’s expertise and know-how extends across the sector and includes passenger car radial tires (PCR), truck and bus radial tires (TBR) and off-the-road tires (ORT), and covers all of the processes from calendering, right through to the handling and palletising of finished tyres.

Tyres must be handled at several different stages of manufacture, including in their green state, and then subsequently as finished products. In the production of the tyre, various semi-finished items are placed together and are assembled into what is termed a ‘green tyre’. This is completed in two stages, firstly the casing, and then the tread/belt assembly. The ‘green tyre’ is then ready for the vulcanisation process.

Handling these yet unfinished products can be achieved in several ways, depending upon the specific requirements of each individual customer. Zimmer UK managing director Richard Mason explains: “Our solutions are tailored around the configuration and demands of each individual application. Some solutions call for internal gripping concepts and this can be achieved using 4 or 6 jaw systems. Alternatively, it is possible to grip around the circumference of the Green Tyre if that solution is preferred.”

Following the vulcanisation process, the finished tyres are then transported for palletising, where there may be several different formats for palletising the tyres. Some configurations have the tyres placed horizontally to build up columns on the pallet or stillage, other configurations have the tyres placed at an angle to allow them to effectively interlock with each other for transportation. Depending upon a combination of throughput requirements and palletising layout, tyres can be gripped, handled, and transferred individually, or in pairs. There is also a gripping concept available from Zimmer Group which will pick up a vertical column of multiple tyres in a single cycle if required.

Flexible solutions for rim and wheel handling

Every tyre needs a rim to make it functional, and Zimmer Group also makes a valuable contribution to the manufacture of these products. The challenges here include the fact that there is a wide range of diameters, typically from 14” to 24” and of course a variety of designs, and different finishes which need to be protected during handling.

Zimmer Group has developed a standard solution for handling the most common car rim sizes. The design of this pneumatically operated solution, which incorporates long stroke grippers with up to 220mm per jaw, means that little or no set up time is required when changing from one product size to another.

Other valuable features include Z axis compensation, to allow for variation in pick height, active stroke limitation to optimise cycle times, and consistent positioning using clamping elements. Regardless of whether the rims are being handled through mechanical processes or surface treatments, the system allows flexible operation as a single, double, or multiple gripping solution.

With the knowledge and expertise gained from over 35 different projects, Zimmer Group is now able to offer a holistic approach to the many different handling and transfer operations which are required within tyre and wheel rim manufacture. There is also a solution available for wheel to vehicle assembly on automotive production lines, which completes the technology line up.

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