Abstract
The invention relates to a preform device for positioning extruded rubber mixtures, characterized in that the preform device consists of an inlet module (2) and an outlet module (3), wherein both the inlet module (2) and the outlet module (3) each have a base surface (11, 12) and a contact face (19, 21) opposite the base surface (11, 12, 13), and wherein the surface of the contact face (19, 21) of the inlet module (2) is smaller than the surface of the base surface (11, 12) of the inlet module (2). The invention also relates to an extruder mold system for molding extruded rubber mixtures into a complete rubber element (40), having the preform device and at least one final forming device, and to a corresponding extruder system (22).
Claims
1. A preform device for positioning extruded rubber mixtures, wherein the preform device comprises: an inlet module and an outlet module, wherein both the inlet module and the outlet module each have a base surface and a contact face opposite the base surface, and wherein the surface of the contact face of the inlet module is smaller than the surface of the base surface of the inlet module; the inlet module comprises a first flow duct for the arrangement of a first extruded rubber mixture and a second flow duct for the arrangement of a second extruded rubber mixture; the outlet module comprises a first flow duct for the arrangement of the first extruded rubber mixture and a second flow duct for the second extruded rubber mixture; the inlet module and the outlet module are insertable in a receiving device of an extruder system independently of each other and from different directions and can separately be configured for a selected rubber extrusion profile the inlet module configured to guide rubber components from an extruder head to one module of a plurality of outlet modules based on the selected profile; the outlet module configured to guide the rubber components to one mold system of a plurality of extruder mold systems based on the selected profile.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein both the inlet module and the outlet module each have at least two opposing side faces, a base surface and a contact face opposite the base surface, and wherein the contact face of the inlet module is congruent with the contact face of the outlet module, and the two opposing side faces of the inlet module each have a trapezoid surface with a taper angle ß.sub.In, and each of the two opposing side faces tapers towards the contact face of the inlet module, and the two opposing side faces of the outlet module each have a trapezoid surface with a taper angle ß.sub.Out, and each of the two opposing side faces tapers towards the contact face of the outlet module.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the preform device is more than 25 kg and the total weight of the outlet module of the preform device is less than 20 kg.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein both the inlet module and the outlet module have at least a third flow duct provided for the arrangement of a third rubber component.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein both the inlet module and the outlet module have at least a fourth flow duct provided for the arrangement of a fourth rubber component, and/or a fifth flow duct provided for the arrangement of a fifth rubber component.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the inlet module and the outlet module of the preform device are suitable for attachment to a receiving device of an extruder system.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the inlet module of the preform device has a length in the range from 300 mm to 1200 mm, preferably in the range from 400 mm to 800 mm, and/or a height in the range from 60 mm to 300 mm, and/or a depth in the range from 40 mm to 150 mm, and/or a taper angle ß.sub.In (23) in the range from 30 to 60°.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the outlet module of the preform device has a length in the range from 300 mm to 1200 mm, and/or a height in the range from 60 mm to 300 mm, and/or a depth in the range from 40 mm to 150 mm, and/or a taper angle ß.sub.Out in the range from 15° to 120°.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein a seal is attached to the contact face of the inlet module or to the contact face of the outlet module.
10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a final forming device for molding extruded rubber mixtures into a complete rubber element.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the outlet module is introduced into a receiving device of an extruder system.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
(1) The drawing shows:
(2) FIG. 1: a schematic depiction of the process arrangement of the extruder heads, the preform device, the final forming device and the resulting complete rubber element in an extruder system;
(3) FIG. 2: a schematic depiction of the insertion of the inlet module and outlet module of a preform device according to the invention in a receiving device of an extruder system;
(4) FIG. 3: a schematic depiction of the arrangement of flow ducts in an inlet module and outlet module of a preform device according to the invention;
(5) FIG. 4: a top view of a base surface, depicted schematically, of an outlet module of a preform device according to the invention;
(6) FIG. 5: a top view of a base surface, depicted schematically, of an inlet module of a preform device according to the invention;
(7) FIG. 6: a view of an outlet module, depicted schematically, of a preform device according to the invention;
(8) FIG. 7: a view of an inlet module, depicted schematically, of a preform device according to the invention;
(9) FIG. 8: a schematic depiction of the taper angle ß.sub.In of an inlet module of a preform device according to the invention;
(10) FIG. 9: a schematic depiction of the taper angle ß.sub.Out of an outlet module of a preform device according to the invention;
(11) FIG. 10: a cross-sectional view through a portion of a final forming device, depicted schematically, of an extruder mold system according to the invention in one embodiment, wherein the cross-sectional plane runs perpendicularly to the extrusion direction and the vertically displaceable components are moved vertically such that they form an outlet opening.
(12) FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of the process arrangement in an extruder system 22. The figure shows the flow ducts 30 with associated extruder heads which bring the various rubber components to the preform device 1, from where they are conveyed further in the extrusion direction 15 to the final forming device 20. The final forming device 20 here molds the complete rubber element 40 which results as the final product of the extrusion process.
(13) FIG. 2 shows a schematic depiction of the insertion of an outlet module 3 and an inlet module 2 of a preform device 1 according to the invention in a receiving device 18 of an extruder system. The figure shows that the side face 4 of the inlet module tapers towards the contact face 19 of the inlet module 2, whereby the inlet module 2 may be received in the receiving device 18 with precise fit in the extrusion direction 15. In contrast, the outlet module 3 of the preform device 1 according to the invention is received in the receiving device 18 of the extruder system against the extrusion direction 15. Because of this design, it is possible to remove the outlet module 3 from the receiving device 18 of the extruder system independently and in particular without removing the inlet module 2. Insertion of the outlet module 3 with precise fit is also guaranteed by the tapering side face 5 of the outlet module 3, as described above for the inlet module 2.
(14) FIG. 3 shows a schematic depiction of a cross-section through a preform device 1 according to the invention, consisting of an inlet module 2 and an outlet module 3, in a further embodiment, wherein the plane of the cross-section runs parallel to the extrusion direction 15. The outlet module 3 and the inlet module 2 of the preform device 1 according to the invention are arranged in FIG. 2 such that the contact face 19 of the inlet module 2 lies directly opposite the contact face 21 of the outlet module 3. FIG. 3 shows that the first, second and third flow ducts 6, 7, 8 bring together the various rubber elements from the base surface 12 of the inlet module 2 towards the base surface 13 of the outlet module 3, so that the various rubber elements are in the correct position for then being transferred to a final forming device (not shown) for molding the complete rubber element. The preform device 1 according to the invention, shown in FIG. 3, therefore positions the individual rubber components, each comprising an extruded rubber mixture, which are pressed through the flow ducts 6, 7, 8.
(15) FIG. 4 shows a schematic depiction of a view onto the side of the outlet module 3 of a preform device 1 according to the invention in a further embodiment, which comprises the base surface 11 of the outlet module 3. The figure shows the outlet openings 13 of the flow ducts 6, 7, 8 of the outlet module 3 which lie in the base surface 11 of the outlet module 3. The base surface 11 of the outlet module 3, shown in FIG. 4, of a preform device 1 according to the invention is polygonal. The two outer outlet openings 13 of the flow ducts 17 of the outlet module 3 in practice often constitute the outlet openings 13 of the flow ducts 17 for the wing components of a tire tread, while the middle outlet openings 13 of the flow ducts 17 of the outlet module 3 frequently position the base components. A tire tread is one example of a complete rubber element.
(16) FIG. 5 shows a schematic depiction of a view onto an inlet module 2 of a preform device 1 according to the invention, showing the side of the inlet module 2 which comprises the base surface 12 of the inlet module 2. The figure shows the various inlet openings 14 of the flow ducts of the inlet module 2 through which the individual rubber components are pressed from the extruder heads of the extruder system (not shown) into the inlet module 2 of a preform device 1 according to the invention. The two outer inlet openings 14 of the flow ducts 16 of the inlet module 2 in the base surface 12 of the inlet module 2 in practice often constitute the inlet openings 14 for such flow ducts 16 which convey the wing components of a tire tread. The other inlet opening 14 shown in FIG. 5 constitutes the inlet opening of the flow duct 16 for the base component of the tire tread. The inlet module 2 shown in FIG. 5 of a preform device 1 according to the invention therefore comprises three flow ducts for a maximum of three different rubber components. A tire tread often has three rubber components and is therefore an example of a complete rubber element.
(17) FIG. 6 shows a schematic depiction of a view onto an inlet module 2 of a preform device 1 according to the invention, showing the side of the inlet module 2 which comprises the contact face 19 of the inlet module 2. The figure shows the contact face 19 of the inlet module 2 of a preform device 1 according to the invention, and the various flow ducts 16 of the inlet module 2 which guide the flow ducts from the extruder heads of the extruder system to the flow ducts of the outlet module of a preform device according to the invention. It shows also the various side faces 10 of the inlet module 2, and the side face 4 of the inlet module 2 which has a trapezoid surface tapering towards the contact face 19. Because of this taper, the inlet module 2 may be received in the receiving device of an extruder system according to the invention in the opposite direction, wherein the term “opposite direction” refers to the receiving device of the outlet module.
(18) FIG. 7 shows a schematic depiction of a view onto the side of the outlet module 3 of a preform device 1 according to the invention in a further embodiment, which comprises the contact face 12 of the outlet module 3. The figure shows the contact face 21 of the outlet module 3 of a preform device 1 according to the invention, and the various flow ducts 17 of the outlet module 3 which guide the extruded rubber mixtures from the flow ducts of the inlet module of a preform device according to the invention to a final forming device. It shows also the various side faces 9 of the outlet module 3, and the side face 5 of the outlet module 3 which has a trapezoid surface tapering towards the contact face 21. Because of this taper, the outlet module 3 may be received in the receiving device of an extruder system according to the invention in the opposite direction, wherein the term “opposite direction” refers to the receiving device of the inlet module.
(19) FIG. 8 shows a schematic depiction of a side view onto an inlet module 2 of a preform device 1 according to the invention, showing the side face 4 with trapezoid surface of the inlet module 2. It also shows the taper angle ß.sub.In23.
(20) FIG. 9 shows a schematic depiction of a side view onto an outlet module 3 of a preform device 1 according to the invention, showing the side face 5 with trapezoid surface of the outlet module 3. It also shows the taper angle ß.sub.Out24.
(21) FIG. 10 shows a schematic depiction of a portion of a final forming device 20 of an extruder mold system according to the invention in one embodiment, wherein the cross-sectional plane runs perpendicularly to the extrusion direction 15. Some of the vertically displaceable components 25 have been moved vertically in comparison with the first end-mounted vertically displaceable component 26 shown. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, the first end-mounted vertically displaceable component 26 is in the lowest position, so that at this point no rubber mixture can emerge. FIG. 10 also shows that, because of the above-mentioned component 25 which has been moved vertically upward, an outlet opening 31 is created for the flow duct of the final forming device. It is evident that the profile of the complete rubber element 40 changes depending on how the vertically displaceable components 25 have been moved. FIG. 10 also shows the extrusion direction 15 and a locking device 10 for fixing the vertically displaceable components 25. The locking device 10 is pressed onto the first end-mounted vertically displaceable component 26 such that the resulting pressure on the first displaceable component 26 and the vertically displaceable components 25 situated behind it is sufficiently large to fix the individual vertically displaceable components 25 in their respective preset positions. The force must be sufficient for the various vertically displaceable components not to move, even during operation, under the high pressure of the rubber mixtures during molding. Preferably, the locking device 29 is a screw as described in one embodiment above which is tightened with a tightening torque of maximum 20 Nm.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
(22) 1 Preform device 2 Inlet module 3 Outlet module 4 Side faces of inlet module with trapezoid surface 5 Side faces of outlet module with trapezoid surface 6 First flow duct 7 Second flow duct 8 Third flow duct 9 Side face of outlet module 10 Side face of inlet module 11 Base surface of outlet module 12 Base surface of inlet module 13 Outlet opening of a flow duct of the outlet module 14 Inlet opening of a flow duct of the inlet module 15 Extrusion direction 16 Flow duct of inlet module 17 Flow duct of outlet module 18 Receiving device of extruder system 19 Contact face of inlet module 20 Final forming device 21 Contact face of outlet module 22 Extruder system 23 Taper angle ß.sub.In 24 Taper angle ß.sub.Out 25 Vertically displaceable component 26 First end-mounted vertically displaceable component 27 Upper module of final forming device 28 Lower module of final forming device 29 Locking device for fixing the vertically displaceable components 30 Flow ducts of extruder heads 31 Outlet opening of flow duct of final forming device 40 Complete rubber element
