Rubber and Tire Sensors

Overview

Meticulous Rubber and Tire Inspection

LMI Technologies Inc. specializes in 3D sensors that produce fast throughput and high resolution inspection data to meet production and quality requirements for the tire inspection industry. LMI 3D sensors can be found throughout rubber and tire factories, used for both in-process and final inspection applications.

A unique environment requires unique solutions. With inconsistent surface properties ranging from lubricants to slopes and varying patterning, our sensors are equipped with extremely fast closed loop laser/LED intensity and camera exposure controls. This ensures maximum visibility throughout the entire production process.

The Rubber & Tire Division works closely with System Integrators & Original Equipment Machine Suppliers and Tire Manufacturers to deliver the most effective solutions for their particular 3D sensor needs.

Applications

In-Process Applications

Tread_Extrusion_MonitoringOur EyeCon 1000 sensors are designed for in-process control applications in the tire material preparation area. These sensors are mounted in-line, just downstream from the extruder and measure the thickness, profile and position of the tread extrusion, providing rapid detection of process variations. The EyeCon 1000 provides a large field of view and high resolution that can be calibrated to a common coordinate. This allows a configuration which supports the use of multiple sensors to measure any shape of extrusion

Single point sensors such as those in the SLS and Optocator families, are used to provide in-process measurements of thickness of calendered rubber sheets. This provides the ability to detect ply overlaps and splicing, measurement of radial and lateral runout of green tires, as well as monitor tread wear for testing stations.

Final Inspection Applications

Tire_Final_InspectionOur EyeCon 2000 sensors are used to measure distance, surface topography and profile data in tire geometry applications for finished tire inspection. A selection of models is available in several configurations for both sidewall and tread inspection, to easily fit into inspection stations. Typical applications include run-out calculations, as well as detection of tiny bulges and depressions anywhere they occur on the sidewall. Binocular triangulation ensures full surface data is acquired without drop outs, even adjacent to surface steps such as at raised lettering and bar codes.