SPLITTING FACILITY

Abstract

A facility for manufacturing at least first and second assemblies of M1 filamentary elements and M2 filamentary elements, in which each of the first and second assemblies includes a plurality of filamentary elements wound together in a helix, includes an assembling apparatus and a splitting apparatus. The assembling apparatus of the facility assembles M filamentary elements together into a layer of M filamentary elements around a temporary core, to form a temporary assembly. The splitting apparatus of the facility splits the temporary assembly into at least the first and second assemblies of M1 filamentary elements and M2 filamentary elements.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12: A facility for manufacturing at least first and second assemblies of M1 filamentary elements and M2 filamentary elements, each of the first and second assemblies including a plurality of filamentary elements wound together in a helix, the facility comprising: an assembling apparatus structured to assemble M filamentary elements together into a layer of M filamentary elements around a temporary core, to form a temporary assembly; and a splitting apparatus structured to split the temporary assembly into at least the first and second assemblies of M1 filamentary elements and M2 filamentary elements.

13: The facility according to claim 12, wherein the splitting apparatus includes a separator structured to separate the temporary core from the first and second assemblies.

14: The facility according to claim 12, further comprising: a first separator structured to separate the first assembly from a temporary collection formed of the second assembly and the temporary core; and a second separator structured to separate the second assembly and the temporary core from each other, the second separator being located downstream of the first separator.

15: The facility according to claim 12, further comprising a guide apparatus structured to guide the temporary core between an outlet of the splitting apparatus and an inlet of the assembling apparatus.

16: The facility according to claim 12, further comprising a core splitter structured to split the temporary core between at least the first and second assemblies.

17: The facility according to claim 16, wherein the core splitter includes a first separation section structured to separate at least a first part of the temporary core with first filamentary elements from the temporary assembly so as to form the first assembly.

18: The facility according to claim 16, wherein the core splitter includes a second separation section structured to separate at least a second part of the temporary core with second filamentary elements from the temporary assembly so as to form the second assembly.

19: The facility according to claim 12, wherein the assembling apparatus includes a twister structured to twist the M filamentary elements and the temporary core.

20: The facility according to claim 12, further comprising a balancer apparatus structured to twist-balance the temporary assembly.

21: The facility according to claim 12, further comprising a rotation-maintenance apparatus structured to maintain a rotation of the first assembly and the second assembly about their respective directions of travel, the rotation-maintenance apparatus being arranged downstream of the splitting apparatus.

22: The facility according to claim 12, wherein, upstream of the assembling apparatus, the facility includes no preforming apparatus structured to preform each of the filamentary elements individually.

Description

[0075] The invention will be better understood from reading the description which will follow, which is given solely by way of nonlimiting example and given with reference to the drawings in which:

[0076] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a facility according to a first embodiment of the invention for implementing a method according to a first embodiment and for manufacturing the cord of FIG. 5;

[0077] FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams of separation means of the facility of FIG. 1;

[0078] FIG. 4 is a view in section perpendicular to the axis of the assembly (assumed to be rectilinear and at rest) of a first temporary assembly;

[0079] FIG. 5 is a view in section perpendicular to the axis of the assembly (assumed to be rectilinear and at rest) of an assembly according to a first embodiment, manufactured using the facility of FIG. 1;

[0080] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a facility according to a second embodiment of the invention for implementing a method according to a second embodiment and manufacturing the cord of FIG. 8;

[0081] FIG. 7 is a view in section perpendicular to the axis of the assembly (assumed to be rectilinear and at rest) of a second temporary assembly,

[0082] FIG. 8 is a view in section perpendicular to the axis of the assembly (assumed to be rectilinear and at rest) of an assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, manufactured using the facility of FIG. 6, and

[0083] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a facility according to a third embodiment of the invention for implementing a method according to a third embodiment and manufacturing the cord of FIG. 1.

[0084] FIG. 1 depicts a facility according to a first embodiment of the invention for manufacturing at least first and second assemblies of M1 filamentary elements and M2 filamentary elements. This facility is denoted by the general reference 10.

[0085] The facility 10 comprises, from upstream to downstream when considering the direction in which the filamentary elements travel:

[0086] means 12 of supplying M filamentary elements 14 and a temporary core 16,

[0087] means 18 of assembling the M filamentary elements 14 together into a layer of M filamentary elements 14 around a temporary core 16 to form a temporary assembly 22,

[0088] means 20 of twist-balancing the temporary assembly 22 comprising, in this instance made up of, the M filamentary elements 14 and the temporary core 16,

[0089] means 24 of splitting the M filamentary elements 14 and the temporary core 16 into at least first and second assemblies 26, 28 of M1 filamentary elements and M2 filamentary elements,

[0090] means 34 of maintaining the rotation of each first and second assembly 26, 28 about their respective direction of travel, these means being arranged downstream of the splitting means 24,

[0091] means 35 of twist-balancing at least one of the first and second assemblies 26, 28 which means are arranged downstream of the rotation maintaining means 34, and

[0092] means 36 of storing the first and second assemblies 26, 28.

[0093] The facility 10 also comprises guide means G, paying-out means D and traction means T for guiding, paying out and pulling the filamentary elements and assemblies as conventionally used by those skilled in the art, for example pulleys and capstans.

[0094] The supply means 12 here comprise six storage reels 38 for each filamentary element 14 and a storage reel 40 for the temporary core 16. In FIG. 1, only two of the six reels 38 have been depicted in order to maintain the clarity of the figure.

[0095] The assembly means 18 comprise a distributor 42 and an assembly guide 44. The assembly means 18 comprise means 46 of twisting the M filamentary elements 14 and the temporary core 16. The twisting means 46 comprise a device 48 also commonly known as a twister to those skilled in the art, for example a four-pulley twister. Downstream of these twisting means 46, the twist-balancing means 20 comprise a twister 50, for example a four-pulley twister. Finally, downstream of the twister 48, the assembly means 18 comprise a bracket 52 and a nacelle 53 bearing the final twist-balancing means 35 and the storage means 36. The bracket 52 and the nacelle 53 are mounted with the ability to rotate so as to maintain the assembly pitch of the assemblies 26, 28.

[0096] In this first embodiment, the splitting means 24 comprise means 54 of separating the temporary core 16 from the first and second assemblies 26, 28. These separating means 54 comprise, on the one hand, means 56 of separating the first assembly 26 from a temporary collection 25 formed by the second assembly 28 and the temporary core 16 and, on the other hand, means 58 of separating the second assembly 28 and the temporary core 16 from one another.

[0097] FIG. 2 depicts the separating means 56. The temporary assembly 22 travels in an upstream direction of travel X. After passing through the separating means 56, the first assembly 26 travels in a downstream direction of travel X1 and the temporary collection 25 travels in a downstream direction X2. The separating means 56 comprise guide means 57 allowing, on the one hand, the translational movement of the first assembly 26 and the temporary collection 25 respectively in the downstream directions X1, X2 and, on the other hand, the rotation of the first assembly 26 and of the temporary collection 25 respectively about the downstream directions X1, X2. In this particular instance, the means 57 comprise an inclined rotary roller 61.

[0098] FIG. 3 depicts the separating means 58. The temporary collection 25 travels in an upstream direction of travel Y. After passing through the separating means 58, the second assembly 28 travels in a downstream direction of travel Y1 and the temporary core 16 travels in a downstream direction Y2. The separating means 58 comprise guide means 59 allowing on the one hand the translational movement of the second assembly 28 and of the temporary core 16 in the downstream directions Y1, Y2 respectively and, on the other hand, the rotation of the second assembly 28 and of the temporary core 16 respectively about the downstream directions Y1, Y2. In this particular instance, the means 59 comprise an inclined rotary roller 61′.

[0099] A person skilled in the art will know how to determine the inclination of the rollers 61, 61′ notably according to the speeds of travel and diameters of the assemblies.

[0100] With reference to FIG. 1, the separating means 54 also comprise, downstream of the separating means 56, 58, means 60, 60′ of guiding the first and second assemblies 26, 28 respectively. The guide means 60, 60′ respectively, in a similar way to the means 57, 59, allow the translational movement of each first and second assembly 26, 28 in its respective downstream direction and the rotation of each first and second assembly 26, 28 about its respective downstream direction. Each guide means 60, 60′ comprises an inclined rotary roller similar to the rollers 61, 61′

[0101] The means 34 of maintaining the rotation comprise, for each assembly 26, 28, a twister 62, for example a four-pulley twister making it possible to maintain the rotation of each assembly respectively about the downstream directions X1, Y1.

[0102] The final twist-balancing means 35 also comprise, for each assembly 26, 28, a twister 63, for example a four-pulley twister.

[0103] The storage means 36 here comprise two storage reels 64, 66 for respectively storing each first and second assembly 26, 28.

[0104] In order to recycle the temporary core 16, the facility 10 comprises means 69 of guiding the temporary core 16 between, on the one hand, an outlet 68 of the splitting means 24 and, on the other hand, an inlet 70 into the assembly means 18.

[0105] It will be noted that the facility 10 is not provided with preforming means, particularly with means for individually preforming the filamentary elements 14 arranged upstream of the assembly means 18.

[0106] FIG. 4 depicts the temporary assembly 22 comprising M filamentary elements wound together in a helix around the temporary core 16 comprising N filamentary element(s) 17. The temporary assembly 22 comprises M=6 filamentary elements 14. The temporary core 16 here comprises a single filamentary element 17 (N=1).

[0107] Each filamentary element 14 comprises, in this instance is made up of, a single metallic elementary monofilament of circular cross section, in this instance made of carbon steel, having a diameter of between 0.05 and 0.50 mm, and here equal to 0.26 mm. Each filamentary element 17 comprises several multifilament strands, each referred to as an overtwist, each comprising several elementary monofilaments and assembled together in a helix to form a plied yarn. The elementary monofilaments are textile, in this instance made of PET.

[0108] FIG. 5 depicts each first and second assembly 26, 28 manufactured using the facility according to the first embodiment of the invention. The first assembly 26 comprises a layer of M1=3 filamentary elements 14 wound together in a helix. Likewise, the second assembly 28 comprises a layer of M2=3 filamentary elements 14 wound together in a helix. Each assembly 26, 28 has no centre wire. Each first and second assembly 26, 28 is of single-helix type.

[0109] Each first and second assembly 26, 28 has a structural elongation greater than or equal to 2.0% measured in accordance with standard ASTM A931-08. Advantageously, it has a structural elongation greater than or equal to 3.0%, preferably 4.0% and more preferably 5.0%, measured in accordance with standard ASTM A931-08. In this particular instance, the structural elongation of each first and second assembly 26, 28 is equal to 5.0% measured in accordance with standard ASTM A931-08.

[0110] Each filamentary element of the layer of each first and second assembly 26, 28 exhibits torsional twist about its own axis of revolution. Each filamentary element of the layer of each first and second assembly 26, 28 has no preforming marks.

[0111] Such assemblies 26, 28 are notably used in tires and, more preferably, in the protective or hooping plies of tires as described hereinabove.

[0112] A method for manufacturing assemblies 26, 28 according to a first embodiment and implemented using the facility 10 will now be described. This method allows the assemblies 26, 28 to be manufactured simultaneously.

[0113] First of all, the filamentary elements 14 and the temporary core 16 are paid out from the feed means 12, in this instance the reels 38, 40.

[0114] The method then comprises a step of assembling the M filamentary elements 14 into a single layer of M filamentary elements around the temporary core 16. During this assembling step, the temporary assembly 22 is formed. The assembling step is performed by twisting using the twister 48, the bracket 52 and the nacelle 53.

[0115] Next, the method comprises a step of twist-balancing the temporary assembly 22, which step is performed using the twister 50.

[0116] Next, the method comprises a step of splitting the temporary assembly 22 into the first and second assemblies 26, 28. In this first embodiment, the step of splitting the temporary assembly comprises a step of separating the temporary core 16 from the first and second assemblies 26, 28. During the splitting step, the first assembly 26 is separated from a collection 25 formed by the second assembly 28 and the temporary core 16, then the second assembly 28 and the temporary core 16 are separated from one another.

[0117] On the one hand, regarding the first and second assemblies 26, 28, the method comprises a step of maintaining the rotation of the first and second assemblies 26, 28 about their respective downstream direction of travel X1, Y1. This step of maintaining downstream of the step of splitting the temporary assembly 22 is performed using the means 34.

[0118] The method also comprises a step of twist-balancing the first and second assemblies 26, 28. This final twist-balancing step is performed downstream of the intermediate twist-balancing step, using the means 35.

[0119] Finally, each first and second assembly 26, 28 is stored in the storage reels 64, 66.

[0120] On the other hand, regarding the temporary core 16, the method comprises a step of recycling the temporary core 16. During this recycling step, the temporary core 16 is recovered downstream of the splitting step and the temporary core 16 previously recovered is introduced upstream of the assembly step. This recycling step is continuous.

[0121] It will be noted that the method thus described has no steps of preforming each of the filamentary elements 14 individually.

[0122] FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate a method and temporary assemblies implemented and manufactured using a facility in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. Elements analogous to those depicted in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by identical references.

[0123] Unlike in the first embodiment, the facility of FIG. 6 has no means 69 of guiding the temporary core 16 between the outlet 68 and the inlet 70. Furthermore, the splitting means 24 comprise means 55 of splitting the temporary core between at least the first and second assemblies 26, 28.

[0124] The splitting means 55 comprise means 56 of separating at least a first part 27 of the temporary core 16 with first filamentary elements 29 from the temporary assembly 22 so as to form the first assembly 26. The splitting means 55 also comprise means 58 of separating at least a second part 27′ of the temporary core 16 with second filamentary elements 29′ from the temporary assembly 22 so as to form the second assembly 28.

[0125] The means 56, 58 of separating the first and second assemblies from one another comprising guide means making it possible on the one hand to cause the translational movement of the first and second assemblies 26, 28 in their respective downstream directions and, on the other hand, to cause the first and second assemblies 26, 28 to rotate about their respective downstream directions. Unlike in the first embodiment, the separation means 56, 58 of the second embodiment comprise a single inclined rotary roller 61. The inclined rotary roller 61′ does not separate the first and second assemblies 26, 28 from one another but only guides the second assembly 28.

[0126] Unlike in the method according to the first embodiment, the method according to the second embodiment comprises no step of recycling the temporary core 16. In this second embodiment, the step of splitting the temporary assembly comprises a step of splitting the temporary core 16, in this instance the entirety of the temporary core 16, between the first and second assemblies 26, 28.

[0127] During the splitting step, at least the first part 27 of the temporary core 16 with the first filamentary elements 29 is split from the temporary assembly 22, so as to form the first assembly 26. During the splitting step, at least the second part 27′ of the temporary core 16 with the second filamentary elements 29′ is also split from the temporary assembly 22, so as to form the second assembly 28. Thus, the first and second assemblies 26, 28 are formed simultaneously.

[0128] Before the splitting step, the first and second parts 27, 27′ of the temporary core 16 constitute the temporary core 16.

[0129] Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the temporary assembly 22 comprises a layer of M filamentary elements distributed in two parts 29, 29′ and wound together in a helix around the temporary core 16 comprising N filamentary elements 17 and distributed in two parts 27, 27′. The temporary assembly 22 comprises M=6 filamentary elements 14. The temporary core 16 here comprises two filamentary elements 17 (N=2).

[0130] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, each assembly 26, 28 comprises M1=M2=4 filamentary elements comprising a layer of filamentary elements 14 wound together in a helix and a centre wire 15 comprising one or more filamentary element(s) 17 of the temporary core 16 and around which the filamentary elements 14 of the layer are wound together in a helix.

[0131] In this particular instance, the first assembly 26 comprises a layer of P1 filamentary elements 14 wound together in a helix and a centre wire 15 comprising, in this instance made up of, the first part 27 (N1 filamentary element(s), here N1=1) of the N filamentary element(s) 17 of the temporary core 16 and around which the first part 29 of the M filamentary elements formed by the P1 filamentary elements 14 of the layer are wound together in a helix. Here, P1+N1=M1.

[0132] The second assembly comprises a layer of P2 filamentary elements 14 wound together in a helix and a centre wire 15 comprising, here consisting of, the second part 27′ (N2 filamentary element(s), here N2=1) of the N filamentary element(s) 17 of the temporary core 16 and around which the second part 29′ of the M filamentary elements formed by the P2 filamentary elements 14 of the layer are wound together in a helix. Here, P2+N2=M2.

[0133] FIG. 9 illustrates a facility according to a third embodiment of the invention and able to manufacture the cord of FIG. 1. Elements analogous to those depicted in the preceding figures are denoted by identical references.

[0134] Unlike in the first embodiment, the facility of FIG. 9 has no means 60 of guiding the temporary core 16 between the outlet 68 and the inlet 70. The facility 10 comprises means 72 of storing the temporary core 16 which are arranged downstream of the outlet 68. These means 72 comprise for example a storage reel 74. The guide means 69 of the third embodiment allow the temporary core 16 to be guided between the outlet 68 and the storage means 72.

[0135] The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described hereinabove.

[0136] Specifically, it is possible to envisage exploiting the invention with filamentary elements each comprising several metallic elementary monofilaments. Such filamentary elements, referred to as strands, are intended, once assembled, to form a multistrand rope.

[0137] It is possible to envisage, during the splitting step, separating the temporary core, the first assembly and the second assembly simultaneously from one another in pairs.

[0138] It is also possible to envisage obtaining assemblies 26, 28 of filamentary elements comprising a layer of several filamentary elements wound together in a helix around a central core comprising several filamentary elements. Such assemblies 26, 28 may then be obtained for example from temporary assemblies 22 of structure 2X+2Y, for example 4+14, 4+16, 4+18, 6+14, 6+16 or 6+18 so as to exhibit structures of the X+Y type where X>1, for example 2+7, 2+8, 2+9, 3+7, 3+8 or 3+9.

[0139] It may also be possible to envisage exploiting a method in which the assemblies 26, 28 do not necessarily have the same structure. Thus, assemblies 26, 28 with respective structures X+Y, Z+T where X≠Z and/or Y≠T, may be obtained from a temporary assembly 22 of structure (X+Z)+(Y+T). For example, a temporary assembly 22 of structure 3+15 makes it possible to obtain two assemblies of structures 1+8 and 2+7.

[0140] It might also be possible to envisage splitting the temporary assembly into more than two assemblies, for example into 3 or 4.