METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIR EXTRACTION IN THE AREA OF A HEATING PRESS

Abstract

A method and the apparatus serve for air extraction in the area of a heating press. Extracted air is fed to at least one exhaust air treatment device. In the area of the device, the extracted air is modified in terms of at least one parameter. It is intended, in particular, to use a tire heating press as the heating press.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An apparatus for air extraction in an area of a heating press, comprising: at least one extraction device; at least one extraction line; at least one air delivery device; at least one exhaust air treatment device; at least one control unit, wherein the extraction device has at least one extraction opening; and at least one flap arranged in an area of the at least one extraction line, the at least one flap being adjustable by the control unit so that the at least one extraction line is completely and/or gradually closeable and openable.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one exhaust air treatment device includes at least one filter.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one exhaust air treatment device includes at least one heat exchanger.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one extraction device includes a plurality of extraction devices that are each assigned individually to a respective heating press and arranged in an area of the respective heating press.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one extraction device is an extraction hood.

21. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one extraction device has the at least one extraction opening arranged in an outer area in a lower area of the extraction device.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one extraction opening is an extraction slot.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the at least one control unit is operatively configured so that extraction capacity at various of the extraction devices assigned to a heating press is subjected individually to open-loop and/or closed-loop control by controlling a plurality of the flaps and/or controlling a delivery rate of the at least one air delivery device.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the individual extraction capacity of the extraction devices assigned to a heating press is subjected to open-loop and/or closed-loop control in dependence on a production step that is being carried out currently and/or as a next step with the heating press.

25. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising at least one pressure sensor and/or at least one temperature sensor in communication with the control unit, the control unit being operative to evaluate measurement data from the pressure sensor and/or temperature sensor to determine a production step currently being carried out with the heating press and/or a current demand for extraction capacity at the at least one extraction device.

26. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the heating press is a tire heating press or a double tire heating press.

27. A heating press for vulcanizing tires, comprising an apparatus for air extraction according to claim 16.

28. A method for air extraction in an area of a heating press, comprising the steps of: extracting exhaust air, composed of exhaust gases and air, with an air delivery device in the area of the heating press; subjecting the exhaust air to at least one exhaust air treatment; and, controlling an extraction capacity in dependence on a production step that is being carried out with the heating press.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the exhaust air treatment includes recovering thermal energy present in the exhaust air.

30. The method according to claim 28, including using an apparatus for air extraction in the area of the heating press, which apparatus comprises: at least one extraction device; at least one extraction line; at least one air delivery device; at least one exhaust air treatment device; at least one control unit, wherein the extraction device has at least one extraction opening; and at least one flap arranged in an area of the at least one extraction line, the at least one flap being adjustable by the control unit so that the at least one extraction line is completely and/or gradually closeable and openable.

Description

[0077] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated schematically in the drawing. In the drawing:

[0078] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration relating to the implementation of air extraction in the area of a tire heating press,

[0079] FIG. 2 shows another design implementation of air extraction in the area of a heating press,

[0080] FIG. 3 shows an additionally modified design principle, and

[0081] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment for carrying out extraction directly at the tire heating press.

[0082] According to the embodiment, illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1, of an apparatus according to the invention for air extraction (100), extraction takes place above and/or adjacent to or behind a tire heating press (200). The tire heating press (200) is designed as a double tire heating press.

[0083] The apparatus for air extraction (100) has two extraction devices (110), which are designed as extraction hoods and are each connected via extraction lines (120) to an air delivery device (130) designed as a pump.

[0084] Arranged in the area of each of the extraction devices (110), at the bottom, is an extraction opening (111), which is embodied, for example, as an extraction slot running around the outer edge of the extraction devices (110).

[0085] Arranged in the extraction line (120), in the area in which the extraction line (120) is connected to the extraction device (110) arranged centrally above the tire heating press (200), is a flap (150), wherein the extraction line (120) can be opened and closed gradually by means of the flap position within said line.

[0086] Arranged in the area of the air delivery device (130) is an exhaust air treatment device (140), which has both a filter (141) and a heat exchanger (142).

[0087] The second extraction device (110) is arranged above a conveyor belt (240) by means of which the fully vulcanized and somewhat cooled tire can be conveyed away from the tire heating press (200).

[0088] According to the embodiment in FIG. 2, extraction likewise takes place above, adjacent to or behind the tire heating press (200). Here too, control of the flap (150) can be used to adjust the quantity of air extracted.

[0089] Moreover, the embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, of an apparatus for air extraction (100) in the area of a heating press (200) has a heat pump (143) in the area of the exhaust air treatment device (140).

[0090] According to the embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, of an apparatus for air extraction (100), extraction above, adjacent to or behind the heating press (200) is likewise provided. For this purpose, the apparatus for air extraction (100) has five extraction devices (110).

[0091] Two extraction devices (110) are furthermore arranged centrally above the tire heating press (200) and above the conveyor belt (240). An additional extraction device (110) is arranged above the deposition surface (230) on which the fully vulcanized tire is temporarily stored for cooling before being conveyed on the conveyor belt (240). Two additional extraction devices (110) are installed directly at the heating press (200), wherein one of the extraction devices (110) is arranged on the lower side of the tire heating press (200), in the area of the opening, and the other extraction device (110) is arranged on the upper side of the tire heating press (200), in the area of the opening.

[0092] All the extraction devices (110) are connected via extraction lines (120) to at least one air delivery device (130). A flap (150) is arranged in the area of each of three of the extraction lines (120).

[0093] In one embodiment of the invention, the various flaps (150) are controlled in accordance with the production step currently being carried out or the production steps currently being carried out, so that more or less air is extracted, depending on the local occurrence of exhaust gas in the corresponding area of the tire heating press (200).

[0094] If a tire is currently being vulcanized or if the respective tire heating press (200) is subsequently opened, then, in a variant according to the invention of the method and of the apparatus, the flap (150) assigned to the extraction device (110) arranged centrally above the tire heating press (200) is opened wide or to the maximum in order to maximize the local extraction capacity.

[0095] If the vulcanized tire is then loaded onto the deposition surface (230), the flap (150) assigned to the extraction device (110) arranged centrally above the tire heating press (200) is closed somewhat further, and the flap (150) assigned to the extraction device (110) arranged above the deposition surface (230) is opened further.

[0096] If the vulcanized tire is then loaded onto the conveyor belt (240), the flap (150) assigned to the extraction device (110) arranged centrally above the tire heating press (200) may be closed somewhat further, and the flap (150) assigned to the extraction device (110) arranged above the deposition surface (230) is closed again, and the flap (150) assigned to the extraction device (110) arranged above the conveyor belt (240) is opened wide.

[0097] Once the vulcanized tire has been conveyed away with the aid of the conveyor belt (240), the flap (150) assigned to the extraction device (110) arranged above the conveyor belt (240) is closed again.

[0098] In conjunction with control of the flap positions, demand-dependent control of the delivery rate of the air delivery device (130) is implemented in one embodiment of the invention.

[0099] FIG. 4 illustrates, in a perspective detail view, extraction directly at the tire heating press (200) when using two air delivery devices (130), each designed as a pump, as well as an associated filter (141) and a heat exchanger (142).

[0100] An extraction device (110) running around in a ring shape is arranged in the area of the lower end of the container (220) on the upper part of the tire heating press (200). An extraction device (110) running around in a ring shape is arranged in the area of the mold pressure plate (210) on the lower part of the tire heating press (200).

[0101] Along their extent, the extraction devices (110) running around in a ring shape have a multiplicity of extraction openings (111), into which the exhaust air is sucked.