# US 10,442,117 B2 · Laser based tyre mold vent cleaning process and device

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- Number: US 10,442,117 B2
- Document ID: US10442117B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/489,188
- Filed: 2017-04-17
- Published: 2018-10-18
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-17
- Assignees: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay; CEAT Tyres Ltd.
- Applicants: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay; CEAT Tyres Ltd.
- Inventors: Ramesh Kumar Singh; Sachin Alya; Rinku Kumar Mittal; Adbul Rahim; Shashikant Kharat; Pratik Sampatraj Parmar; Kumar Keshav
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10442117B2

## CPC

- B29C 33/72: Cleaning {(extruder parts B29C48/27; in general B08B7/00)}
- B08B 5/02: Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)}
- B08B 7/0042: {by laser}
- B29C 33/10: with incorporated venting means
- B29D 30/0606: {Vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses (for solid tyres B29D30/02)}
- B29D 30/0662: {Accessories, details or auxiliary operations}
- G01B 11/002: {for measuring two or more coordinates}
- G01B 11/2518: {Projection by scanning of the object}
- B29D 2030/0663: {Mould maintenance, e.g. cleaning, washing, repairing}
- B29L 2030/00: Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof {(conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733)}
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A vent hole cleaning system is disclosed. The cleaning system is comprised of a housing containing a work table and a support column. The system further comprises a robotic arm mounted on the support column. Further, a subsystem is mounted at an end, opposite to the support column, of the robotic arm. The subsystem may comprise a scanner configured to generate a contour profile of a mold. Further, a vision system may be mounted on the subsystem. The vision system may be communicably connected to the scanner. Further, the system may comprise a cleaning head communicably connected to the vision system and the scanner to enable precision positioning on the mold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vent hole cleaning system, the vent hole cleaning system comprising:
a housing comprising a work table and a support column;
a robotic arm mounted on the support column; and
a subsystem mounted at a distal end of the robotic arm, the subsystem comprising:
a scanner configured to generate a contour profile of a mold surface having vents;
a vision system mounted on the subsystem, wherein the vision system is communicably connected to the scanner; and
a cleaning head communicably connected to the vision system and the scanner to enable real time precision positioning of the vents on the mold surface by mapping the contour profile from the scanner with a CAD file provided to the vision system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vent hole cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning head further comprises a collimator, wherein the collimator is configured to provide a low energy beam.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vent hole cleaning system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the low energy beam is further projected onto a lens, wherein the lens is retained in a defined position within the cleaning head.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vent hole cleaning system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lens is retained using a retaining element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vent hole cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning head further comprises an air inlet passage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vent hole cleaning system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the air inlet passage is further connected to a nozzle.