Process and apparatus for building tires for vehicle wheels

Abstract

An apparatus for building a tire for a vehicle wheel includes at least one forming support and at least one assembly device for assembling components of elastomeric material on the forming support. The at least one assembly device includes at least one dispensing device for dispensing a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material and at least one application device for applying the continuous elongated element in a form of coils disposed in side by side relationship or at least partly superposed, wound on the forming support and forming the at least one component of elastomeric material of the tire. The apparatus also includes at least one pressure device operatively acting on an applied portion of the continuous elongated element, wherein the pressure device includes a central roller and two side rollers, each laterally offset relative to the central roller and on the opposite side relative to the other side roller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for building a tire for a vehicle wheel comprising: at least one forming support and; at least one assembly device for assembling components of elastomeric material on the forming support, wherein said at least one assembly device comprises: at least one dispensing device for dispensing a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material; at least one application device for applying said continuous elongated element in a form of coils disposed in side by side relationship or at least partly superposed, wound on the forming support, and forming said at least one component of elastomeric material of the tire; and at least one pressure device operatively acting on an applied portion of the continuous elongated element, wherein the pressure device comprises a central roller and two side rollers, each side roller laterally offset from the central roller and positioned on opposite sides of the central roller; wherein the central roller is carried by a central small arm hingedly connected to a pair of fixed arms about a first articulation axis; wherein the side rollers are carried by lateral small arms each laterally offset toward opposite sides of the central small arm; and wherein the lateral small arms are hingedly connected to the pair of fixed arms about the first articulation axis.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central roller has a rotation axis distinct from a rotation axis of the side rollers.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a peripheral work surface of the central roller at least partly faces at least one of the peripheral work surfaces of the side rollers.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein, along a direction parallel to rotation axes of the central roller and the side rollers, the peripheral work surface of the central roller has a superposition width with said at least one of the peripheral work surfaces of the side rollers between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the central roller and each of the side rollers are movable irrespective of each other along a direction substantially orthogonal to the forming support.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pressure device comprises spring elements operatively associated with the central roller, and the two side rollers, to maintain said rollers in contact with said portion of the continuous elongated element.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the spring elements is associated with one of the rollers in a manner independent of the others.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spring elements are pneumatic cylinders.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, along an application direction, the central roller is interposed between the application device and the two side rollers.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the central roller has a maximum diameter between about 20 mm and about 80 mm.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, along an application direction, a first distance between the application device and the central roller is between about 20 mm and about 200 mm.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, along an application direction, a second distance between the central roller and the two side rollers is between about 10 mm and about 100 mm.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly device comprises a head supporting the application device and pressure device.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central roller has a peripheral contact edge having a radius of curvature in diametrical section that is between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two side rollers has a peripheral contact edge having a radius of curvature in diametrical section between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the diametrical section of each of the two side rollers is asymmetric, and said peripheral contact edge is the external one.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a peripheral work surface of the central roller has a width between about 3 mm and about 10 mm.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a peripheral work surface of each of the side rollers has a width between about 3 mm and about 10 mm.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side rollers have a minimum distance from each other between about 3 mm and about 10 mm.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the side rollers has a maximum diameter between about 20 mm and about 80 mm.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a peripheral work surface of the central roller and each of the side rollers has raised elements, for exerting a hammering action on the portion of the continuous elongated element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) This description will be set out hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top view of a plant for tire production comprising an apparatus for building tires in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of an assembly device being part of the apparatus in question and comprising a pressure device in accordance with the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged portion of the assembly device seen in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4a is a side view of the pressure device seen in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 4b is a front view of the pressure device seen in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 5 shows an enlarged portion of the pressure device in FIG. 4b with a forming support carrying a continuous elongated element already laid and spaced apart from the pressure device, for the sake of clarity;

(8) FIG. 5a is a diagrammatic plan view showing rollers of the pressure device acting on the continuous elongated element;

(9) FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic diametrical section of a tire for vehicle wheels obtained with the plant seen in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) With reference to the drawings, a plant for tire production comprising an apparatus 2 for building tires in accordance with the present invention has been generally identified with reference numeral 1.

(11) Plant 1 is intended for manufacturing tires 3 (FIG. 6) essentially comprising at least one carcass ply 4 preferably internally coated with a layer of airtight elastomeric material or a so-called liner, two so-called beads 6 integrating respective annular anchoring structures 7 possibly associated with elastomeric fillers 7a and in engagement with the circumferential edges of the carcass ply 4, a belt structure 8 applied to the carcass ply 4 at a radially external position, a tread band 9 applied to the belt structure 8 at a radially external position, in a so-called crown region of the tire 3, and two sidewalls 10 applied to the carcass ply 4 at laterally opposite positions, each at a side region of the tire 3, extending from the corresponding bead 6 to the corresponding side edge of the tread band 9.

(12) Apparatus 2 for building tires preferably comprises a line for building carcass structures 11, in which a carcass structure comprising at least one of the carcass plies 4 and the annular anchoring structures 7 is formed on a first forming drum 12. Denoted in FIG. 1 are a plurality of work stations 13 belonging to said line 11 for building carcass structures and each dedicated to formation and/or application of a component of elastomeric material of tire 3 on the first forming drum 12. The first forming drum 12 is sequentially transferred from one station to the following one, by means of robotized arms, not shown, or other suitable devices.

(13) By way of example, in a first station 13 liner 5 is made through winding of a continuous elongated element of elastomeric material into coils disposed mutually in side by side relationship and/or at least partly superposed and distributed along the forming surface of the first forming drum 12. In at least one second station 13 manufacture of one or more carcass plies 4 can be carried out, which carcass plies are obtained by laying strip-like elements on the first forming drum 12, in circumferentially approached relationship, said strip-like elements being formed by cutting to size a continuous strip of elastomeric material comprising textile or metallic cords disposed parallel in side by side relationship. A third building station 13 can be dedicated to integration of the annular anchoring structures 7 with said at least one carcass ply 4, through application of said annular anchoring structures 7 at an axially external position to the flaps of said at least one carcass ply 4 knocked down in the direction of the rotation axis of said first forming drum 12, which flaps will be subsequently turned up around the annular anchoring structures 7.

(14) Apparatus 2 for building tires further comprises a line for building crown structures 14, in which a crown structure comprising at least the belt structure 8 and tread band 9 is formed on a second forming drum 12. Denoted in FIG. 1 is a plurality of work stations belonging to said line 14 for building crown structures and each dedicated to forming and/or applying a component of elastomeric material of tire 3 on the second forming drum 12. The second forming drum 12 is sequentially transferred from one station to the subsequent one, by means of robotized arms, not shown, or other suitable devices.

(15) At least one building station 15 can be dedicated to manufacture of the annular belt structure 8 obtained by laying strip-like elements in circumferentially approached relationship, which strip-like elements are obtained by cutting to size a continuous strip of elastomeric material comprising preferably metallic mutually parallel cords, and/or by winding a textile or metallic rubberized reinforcing cord into axially approached coils, in the crown portion of tire 3. By way of example, a work station 15 can be intended for manufacture of the tread band 9 or sidewalls 10. Tread band 9 and sidewalls 10 are preferably obtained by winding of at least one continuous elongated element of elastomeric material into mutually approached and/or at least partly superposed coils.

(16) Apparatus 2 is further provided with an assembly and conformation station 16 operatively associated with line 11 for building carcass structures and line 14 for building crown structures. In the assembly and conformation station 16 the carcass structure is shaped and associated with the crown structure, so as to obtain a green tire.

(17) Tires built by apparatus 2 are sequentially transferred to a vulcanization unit line 17 integrated into plant 1 from which cured and molded tires 3 are obtained.

(18) As mentioned above, in accordance with the present invention, at least one of the components of only elastomeric material of tire 3, such as liner 5, fillers 7a and/or other parts of elastomeric material of beads 6, sidewalls 10, tread band 9, underliner, underbelt layer, underlayer of the tread band, abrasion-proof elements and/or others, is obtained by an assembly device denoted as a whole at 18 (FIG. 2).

(19) The assembly device 18 comprises a dispensing device in the preferred form of an extruder (not shown), producing a continuous elongated element 19 of elastomeric material. The extruder is provided with a cylinder into which elastomeric material is introduced. The cylinder heated to a controlled temperature, just as an indication included between about 60 C. and about 100 C., operatively houses a rotating screw, by effect of which the elastomeric material is pushed along said cylinder to an outlet orifice of the extruder.

(20) Through the outlet orifice, the continuous elongated element 19 is dispensed at a desired linear speed, corresponding to a so-called target value of the volumetric flow rate, just as an indication included between about 10 cm.sup.3/s and about 60 cm.sup.3/s, and at a temperature just as an indication included between about 90 C. and about 110 C.

(21) An application device 20, operating downstream of the extruder, carries out application of the continuous elongated element 19 coming from the extruder, onto a forming support 12. The forming support 12 can be said first forming drum 12 or said second forming drum 12.

(22) During application, the forming support 12, supported in overhanging by one of said robotized arms for example, is driven in rotation and suitably moved in front of the application device 20 for distributing the continuous elongated element 19 into approached and/or at least partly superposed coils, wound around such a forming support 12, so as to form liner 5 for example, or any other component of elastomeric material of the tire being processed.

(23) The application device 20 comprises (FIG. 2) at least one roller or other applicator member 21 acting in thrust relationship towards the forming support 12, for instance by effect of a pneumatic actuator 22, for applying the continuous elongated element 19 onto the forming support 12 itself.

(24) Operatively interposed between the extruder and the application device 20 is a conveyor 23, the function of which consists in bringing the continuous elongated element 19 coming out of the extruder onto the forming support 12 and until the application device 20.

(25) In the preferred embodiment herein illustrated, the conveyor 23 comprises a conveyor belt 24 defined by a cogged rubber belt or a metal belt, passing over rollers 24a, 24b. The conveyor belt 24 on the upper part has a forward stretch supporting the elongated element 19.

(26) The continuous elongated element 19 coming out of the conveyor belt 24 at the end roller 24a is continuously laid on support 12 by the applicator roller 21. In particular, the applicator roller 21 presses the continuous elongated element 19 sliding under and against it, against the forming support 12 for determining adhesion of same. The applicator roller 21 therefore rotates in the opposite direction relative to rotation of the forming support 12.

(27) Downstream of the applicator member 21 there is a pressure device 27 which is preferably mounted on a head 28 also carrying the application device 20. The applicator member 21 and pressure device 27 are further operatively supported relative to conveyor 23. The head 28 is in fact mounted on a structure holding the conveyor 23.

(28) The pressure device 27, better shown in FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b and 5, comprises a substantially box-shaped supporting frame 29 formed with an upper wall 30 and a pair of side walls 31a defining an inverted-U shape. A bottom wall 31b connects the two side walls 31a and is secured to head 28.

(29) Respective fixed arms are secured to lower portions of the side walls 31a, which arms each have a first end 32a integral with the supporting frame 29 and a second end 32b. The second ends 32b of the two fixed arms 32 face each other for supporting a central roller 33a and two side rollers 33b, as described in detail in the following.

(30) In particular, a central small arm 34 is hinged, at a central portion thereof, on the second ends 32b of the fixed arms 32 around a first articulation axis X-X. A first end 34a of the central small arm 34 has a fork rotatably carrying the central roller 33a. E second end 34b of the central small arm 34, opposite to the first one 34a, is hinged on a spring element 35 in turn mounted on the supporting frame 29. Preferably, as in the embodiment shown, the spring element 35 is a pneumatic cylinder. An end of the pneumatic cylinder 35, belonging to the rod 35a of the cylinder 35 itself is hinged on said central small arm 34 around a second articulation axis Y-Y and an opposite end, belonging to the body 35b of the cylinder 35, is hinged on a bracket integral with the upper wall 30 of the supporting frame 29.

(31) Two side small arms 36 are positioned on opposite sides of the central small arm 34. The lateral small arms 36 are parallel to each other and cross the central small arm 34. Each of the lateral small arms 36 has a central portion thereof hinged on the second ends 32b of the fixed arms 32 and on the central small arm around the first articulation axis X-X. A first end 36a of each of the lateral small arms 36 rotatably carries one of the side rollers 33b. A second end 36b of each of the lateral small arms 36, opposite to the first one 36a, is hinged on a respective spring element 37 in turn mounted on the supporting frame 29.

(32) Preferably, as in the embodiment shown, each of the two spring elements 37 is a pneumatic cylinder. an end of each of the pneumatic cylinders 37 belonging to the rod 37a of cylinder 37, is hinged on the respective lateral small arm 36 around a third articulation axis Z-Z and an opposite end, belonging to the body 37b of the cylinder 37, is hinged on a bracket integral with the upper wall 30 of the supporting frame 29. Each of the pneumatic cylinders 37 is associated with one of rollers 33b in a manner independent of the others.

(33) The central roller 33a, two side rollers 33b and the applicator roller 21 have rotation axes that are substantially parallel to each other. The central roller 33a is substantially aligned with the applicator roller 21 along a trajectory or application direction of the continuous elongated element on the forming support 12. The two side rollers 33b are coaxial to each other and offset towards opposite sides of the central roller 33a (FIGS. 5 and 5a).

(34) The central roller 33a has a rotation axis A-A distinct from the rotation axis B-B of the side rollers 33b and the rotation axis C-C of the applicator roller 21. In particular, along said application direction, the central roller 33a remains positioned between the applicator roller 21 and the two side rollers 33b (FIG. 3).

(35) The central roller 33a has (FIG. 5a) a maximum diameter Da, intended as the diameter of the radially outermost portion, included between about 20 mm and about 80 mm. Each of the side rollers 33b has a maximum diameter Db included between about 20 mm and about 80 mm.

(36) Immediately after laying carried out by the applicator member 21, the central roller 33a exerts a first pressure P.sub.1 on a central region 38 of the just laid portion of the continuous elongated element 19, and subsequently the two side rollers 33b exert respective second pressures P.sub.2 on side regions 39 of the same portion (FIGS. 5 and 5a). The central 33a and side 33b rollers roll against the continuous elongated element 19, that has already adhered to the forming support 12 and rotate in opposite ways relative to the rotation direction of said forming support 12.

(37) Downstream of the pressure device 27, therefore, the continuous elongated element 19 laid on the forming support 12 has a central strip compressed by the central roller 33a and two side strips compressed by the side rollers 33b (FIG. 5a).

(38) The pneumatic cylinders 35, 37 push rollers 33a, 33b against the continuous elongated element 19 and, through the central small arm 34 and lateral small arms 36, maintain rollers 33a, 33b in contact with the continuous elongated element 19. Due to the described structure, the central roller 33a and each of the side rollers 33b are movable independently of each other along a direction substantially orthogonal to the peripheral surface of the forming support 12.

(39) The portion of the continuous elongated element 19 that has just come out of the extruder and has been submitted to said pressures P.sub.1, P.sub.2, has an average temperature t.sub.m substantially equal to or not much lower than the exit temperature and preferably included between about 90 C. and about 110 C.

(40) Distance d.sub.1 between the rotation axis C-C of the applicator roller 21 and the rotation axis A-A of the central roller 33a is preferably included between about 20 mm and about 200 mm. Distance d.sub.2 between the rotation axis A-A of the central roller 33a and the rotation axis B-B of the side rollers 33b is preferably included between about 10 mm and about 100 mm (FIGS. 3 and 5a).

(41) As a result, a first distance S.sub.1 measured along the application direction between the application device 20 and central roller 33a, intended as the distance measured between the contact point of the applicator roller 21 with the continuous elongated element 19 and the contact point of the central roller 33a with the continuous elongated element 19, is included between about 20 mm and about 220 mm.

(42) A second distance S.sub.2 measured along the application direction between the central roller 33a and the two side rollers 33b, intended as the distance measured between the contact point of the central roller 21 with the continuous elongated element 19 and the axis passing by the two contact points between the side rollers 33b and the continuous elongated element 19, is included between about 10 mm and about 110 mm.

(43) The periods of time intervening between the action of the applicator roller 21, the action exerted by the central roller 33a and the action exerted by the side rollers 33b on the same portion of continuous elongated element 19 depend on the above stated distances and the linear application speed V that is preferably included between about 0.1 m/s and about 2 m/s, more preferably between about 0.5 m/s and about 1.5 m/s.

(44) Between laying of a portion of the continuous elongated element 19 and the pressing action carried out by the central roller 33a on the same portion there is a first time interval T.sub.1 included between about 0 s and about 1 s. In addition, between the pressing action carried out by the central roller 33a and the pressing action carried out by the two side rollers 33b there is a second time interval T.sub.2 included between about 0 s and about 1 s.

(45) In the embodiment shown, the peripheral work surface 40a of the central roller 33a has, in diametrical section, an arched and symmetric peripheral contact edge (FIGS. 5 and 5a) which has a radius of curvature r.sub.a preferably included between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm. Also the peripheral work surface 40b of each of the side rollers 33b is arched and symmetric (FIG. 5) and has a radius of curvature r.sub.b preferably included between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm.

(46) In accordance with an alternative embodiment not shown, said peripheral work surface 40b of each of the side rollers 33b is asymmetric and the edge in contact with the continuous elongated one 19 is the outer edge.

(47) In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the peripheral work surface 40a of the central roller 33a partly faces the peripheral work surfaces 40b of the two side rollers 33b. In other words, in a front view as the one in FIG. 5, the peripheral work surface 40a of the central roller 33a is partly superposed on the peripheral work surfaces 40b of both the side rollers 33b. The facing or superposition widths 1a, measured along a direction parallel to the rotation axes of the rollers, are included between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm.

(48) Width La of the peripheral work surface 40a of the central roller 33a is included between about 3 mm and about 10 mm. Width Lb of the peripheral work surface 40b of each of the side rollers 33b is included between about 3 mm and about 10 mm.

(49) In addition, the two side rollers 33b are mutually spaced apart by a minimum distance d.sub.m, measure parallel to the rotation axes, included between about 3 mm and about 10 mm.

(50) The central roller 33a and each of the side rollers 33b act on a common region of the continuous elongated element 19. As a result, the continuous elongated element 19 has two parallel bands compressed both by the central roller 33a and the side rollers 33b (FIG. 5a). The central region 38 and side regions 39 and, consequently, the aforesaid central strip and side strips are partly superposed at said bands according to superposition widths 1s preferably included between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm.

(51) Due to the width and position of the side rollers 33b, the side edges 41 of the continuous elongated element 19 are compressed and preferably also squashed through an hammering action. To this aim, preferably, the peripheral work surface 40a, 40b of the central roller 33a and/or of the side rollers 33b has a knurling defining raised elements 41 delimiting corresponding grooves.

(52) Alternatively, smooth rollers are used on softer and adhesive compounds for example, where surface working of the rollers could cling to the continuous elongated element of elastomeric material.