Process for the multi-stage production of a traction or carrying means

Abstract

A process for the production of a traction or carrying means built up from a plurality of components or assemblies of extruded elastomeric material, wherein, in a first substep, a first component, provided with reinforcing members or cables, of the traction or carrying means is produced and, in further substeps, a traction or carrying means, which is connected to further components or provided with further layers of elastomeric material, fabric layers or reinforcing-member layers, is successively completed, and optionally said traction or carrying means is shaped on one or more sides, wherein the individual substeps follow one another such that a component processed or completed in the respectively preceding substep is fed at room temperature (Rt), after a maximum of 1 to 10 minutes, to the subsequent substep, and such that the temperature of the component does not drop below 30° C. between a respectively preceding substep and the subsequent substep.

Claims

1. A process for producing elastomeric belts comprising: i) providing first component in the form of a back layer by extruding a plasticizable elastomeric material from a first extruder onto a first shaping wheel while running reinforcing members into the plasticizable elastomeric material, wherein the first shaping wheel has a smooth surface; ii) forming a profiled substructure on the back layer by feeding an elastomeric material from a second extruder onto the back layer and then passing over a press-on roller under pressure; and, iii) applying a fire-retardant elastomer coating on the profiled substructure from a third extruder while passing the fire-retardant elastomer coating and the profiled substructure on a second shaping wheel, wherein the fire-retardant elastomer coating has embossed profile matching the profiled substructure; wherein individual substeps i), ii) and iii) in the process follow one another such that a component processed or completed in the respectively preceding substep is fed at room temperature (Rt) after a time period of 1 to 10 minutes, to the subsequent substep for further processing or completion, and such that temperature of the component does not drop below 30° C., between a respectively preceding substep and the subsequent substep; and, wherein the individual substeps i), ii) and iii) in the process follow one another such that a component processed or completed in the respectively preceding substep is fed to the subsequent substep for further processing or completion at the latest after expiry of a time period which, starting from the maximum of 10 minutes at room temperature (Rt), is extended by a maximum of 10 minutes per 10° C. temperature increase, and such that the temperature of the component does not exceed an upper limit of 100° C.

2. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 1, wherein the individual substeps i), ii) and iii) in the process follow one another such that a component processed or completed in the respectively preceding substep is fed at room temperature (Rt) after a time period of 2 to 5 minutes.

3. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 1, wherein individual substeps i), ii) and iii) in the process follow one another such that a component processed or completed in the respectively preceding substep is fed at room temperature (Rt) after a time period of 1 to 10 minutes, to the subsequent substep for further processing or completion, and such that the temperature of the component does not drop below 40° C., between a respectively preceding substep and the subsequent substep.

4. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 1, the temperature of the component does not exceed an upper limit of 80° C.

5. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric belts are V-ribbed belts, and wherein at least one of a further coating, elastomer layer or fabric layer is applied to the profiled substructure in substep iii).

6. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric belts are double-profiled elevator belts provided with partially sheathed carrying cables produced by a profile provided on the first shaping wheel, and wherein in the substep ii) the partially sheathed carrying cables are completely sheathed.

7. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 6, wherein the sheathing is further shaped during the substep ii) with a profile provided on the second shaping wheel.

8. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 7, wherein in substep iii) the elevator belt has is twisted 180° and then component runs onto a third shaping wheel to provide a profiled back layer having an elastomeric material.

9. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 8, wherein the back layer is profiled by the third shaping wheel.

10. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 8, wherein elastomeric materials are a polyurethane which is applied in extruded form to the respective shaping wheel, wherein the extruded polyurethane melt is fed to the respective shaping wheel at a temperature of 180° C. to 220° C., wherein the respective shaping wheel is cooled and the cooling of the shaping wheel and its production speed are set such that, upon running off the shaping wheel, the respective component has a temperature of 60° C. to 100° C., and in which, in the following substeps, directly prior to the feeding of further extruded material, the preceding, already finished component is heated, on its surface to be connected to the further components, to a temperature of 160° C. to 200° C.

11. The process for producing elastomeric belts according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric belts are multi-layer transport belts.

Description

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 is a basic diagram showing the implementation of the process for producing a V-ribbed belt, and

(3) FIG. 2 is a basic diagram showing the implementation of the process for producing a double-profiled elevator belt.

(4) FIG. 1 shows, in the form of a basic diagram, the implementation of the process for producing a V-ribbed belt, in which the profiled V-ribs are provided with a specific fire protection coating.

(5) Here, the traction or carrying means is designed as a V-ribbed belt 1, consists of three components or assemblies 1a, 1b and 1c and is produced in three substeps, designated in the diagram by stage I, stage II and stage III.

(6) In the first substep (stage I), a first component is produced in the form of a back layer 2 of the V-ribbed belt that is provided with reinforcing members.

(7) This occurs on a first shaping wheel 3 which has a substantially smooth surface. In this respect, and not shown in further detail here, a plasticizable elastomeric material, for example polyurethane, is passed from an extruder to the temperature-controlled shaping wheel. At the same time, the reinforcing members or cords run into the elastomeric material and onto the shaping wheel via a corresponding feed.

(8) By means of a roller-guided press-on belt 4 acting on a circumferential sector of the shaping wheel, the reinforcing members and the extruded material are brought further together and connected to one another under pressure on the smooth shaping wheel 3.

(9) In the second substep (stage II), the back layer 2 is provided with the profiled substructure 5 of the V-ribbed belt, the actual “ribs” of the V-ribbed belt. For this purpose, further elastomeric material is fed from a second extruder (likewise not shown in further detail), together with the back layer 2, to the shaping wheel 6 and connected to one another under pressure, here by means of the press-on roller 7. The substructure 5 is profiled on the shaping wheel 6 during the second substep.

(10) In a third substep (stage III), a further fire-retardant elastomer coating is applied to the profiled substructure. For this purpose, an elastomeric material 8 provided with fire-retardant additives is fed from a third extruder (likewise not shown in further detail here), together with the back layer 2 already provided with the substructure 5, to the shaping wheel 9 and applied as a further layer to the existing assembly under pressure of the press-on roller 10. The elastomeric material 8 provided with fire-retardant additives is profiled on the shaping wheel 9 during the third substep, that is to say shaped here into the already embossed profile.

(11) The V-ribbed belt shown here is produced at room temperature. The individual substeps in the process follow one another such that a component processed or completed in the respectively preceding substep is fed at room temperature (Rt), after a maximum of 1 to 10 minutes, here 4 minutes, to the subsequent substep for further processing or completion, and such that the temperature of the component does not drop below 30° C., preferably 40° C., between a respectively preceding substep and the subsequent substep. This is readily possible with the continuously operating production system shown in FIG. 1 and results in a secure interconnection of the individual layers.

(12) FIG. 2 shows, in the form of a basic diagram, the implementation of the process for producing a double-profiled elevator belt.

(13) Here, the traction or carrying means is designed as an elevator belt 11, consists of three components or assemblies 11a, 11b and 11c and is produced in three substeps, designated in the diagram by stage I, stage II and stage III.

(14) In the first substep (stage I), a first component is produced in the form of a layer 13 of the elevator belt that is provided with only partially sheathed carrying cables 12.

(15) This occurs on a first shaping wheel 14 which has a surface profile which is negative to the profile of the layer 13. In this respect, and not shown in further detail here, a plasticizable elastomeric material is passed from an extruder to the temperature-controlled shaping wheel. At the same time, the carrying cables 12 run into the elastomeric material and onto the shaping wheel 14 via a corresponding feed.

(16) By means of a roller-guided press-on belt 15 acting on a circumferential sector of the shaping wheel 14, the carrying cables and the extruded material are brought further together and connected to one another under pressure. In this first substep, the carrying cables 12 are only partially sheathed.

(17) In the second substep (stage II), the partially sheathed carrying cables are completely sheathed. The complete sheathing is achieved by means of a profile provided on a second shaping wheel 16. For this purpose, further elastomeric material is fed from a second extruder (likewise not shown in further detail), together with the layer 13, to the shaping wheel 16 and connected to one another under pressure, here by means of the press-on roller 17.

(18) In a third substep (stage III), after the elevator belt has been twisted through 180°, the first component is provided with a profiled back layer 18 consisting of elastomeric material, wherein the back layer is applied to a third shaping wheel 19 and profiled, in the same way as described above, with the addition of further extruded material and using a press-on roller 20.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(19) (Part of the Description)

(20) 1 V-ribbed belt 1a-1c components/assembly of the V-ribbed belt 2 back layer 3 shaping wheel 4 press-on belt 5 substructure 6 shaping wheel 7 press-on roller 8 fire-retardant elastomeric material 9 shaping wheel 10 press-on roller 11 elevator belt 11a-11c components/assembly of the elevator belt 12 carrying cable 13 first layer of the elevator belt 14 shaping wheel 15 press-on belt 16 shaping wheel 17 press-on roller 18 profiled back layer of the elevator belt 19 shaping wheel 20 press-on roller