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
Our EyeCon 1000 sensors are designed for in-process control applications in the tire material preparation area. These sensors measure the thickness, profile and position of tread extrusions, providing rapid detection of process variations, mounted in-line, just downstream from the extruder. The EyeCon 1000 provides a large field of view and high resolution sensor that can be calibrated to one common coordinate system to support any number of sensors, measuring any shape of extrusion
Our single point sensors, such as the SLS and Optocator families, provide in-process measurements of thickness of calendered rubber sheets, detecting ply overlaps and splicing, measuring radial and lateral runout of green tires, as well as monitoring tread wear for testing stations.
Final Inspection Applications
Our EyeCon 2000 sensors are ideal for measuring distance, surface topography and profiles for 3D modeling in tire geometry applications for finished tire inspection. A selection of models is available for both sidewall and tread inspection, in several configurations to easily fit into inspection stations. Typical applications include run-out calculations, plus detection of tiny bulges and depressions, anywhere they occur on the sidewall. Binocular triangulation insures full surface data is acquired without drop outs, even adjacent to surface steps such as at raised lettering and bar codes.