METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A CONVEYOR BELT

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for making conveyor belts in an apparatus having a vulcanizing press. The method minimizes the press opening times and the throughput of the press is thus optimized. With the method, a check is made during the method whether a conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press, and depending on the information from this check, the decision is made as to how far the press opens the press plates. Here, an operating open position and a full opening of the press are provided.

Claims

1. A method for making a conveyor belt in an apparatus having a vulcanizing press having an infeed end and an outfeed end, wherein the vulcanizing press includes a press upper part and a press lower part, wherein the press upper part and the press lower part have respective press plates which are fastenable to the corresponding ones of the press parts, the press plates being disposed in respective planes that are mutually parallel, wherein the press upper part in relation to the press lower part is to be spaced apart in a manner perpendicular to the plate plane by a lifting assembly, the method comprising the steps of: a) checking whether a conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press, and transferring the item of information to an evaluation and control unit; b) if no conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press, then controlling, via the control unit, the lifting assembly such that the press is fully opened and a conveyor belt blank is able to be threaded thereinto; c) if a conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press, then controlling, via the control unit, the lifting assembly so as to cause the press to be fully opened to a predefined operating opening position; d) drawing the conveyor belt into the press by a predefined length; e) lowering the press upper part toward the press lower part via the lifting assembly, wherein the control unit controls the travel path in dependence upon the conveyor belt blank thickness measured; f) vulcanizing; g) checking whether a conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press, and transferring the item of information to the evaluation and control unit; h) if a conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press, continuing the method at step c); and, i) if no conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press, controlling the lifting assembly via the control unit so as to cause the press to be fully opened, the completely vulcanized conveyor belt to be removed, and to be able to start anew.

2. An apparatus for carrying out a method for making a conveyor belt, the apparatus comprising: a vulcanizing press having an infeed end and an outfeed end; said vulcanizing press further including a press upper part and a press lower part; said press upper part and said press lower part having respective press plates which are fastenable to the respective press parts and are disposed in planes that are mutually parallel; a lifting assembly for causing said press upper part in relation to said press lower part to be spaced apart perpendicular to said plate planes; a first and/or second measuring device; a third measuring device; a control unit receiving information from said first and/or second measuring device as to whether a conveyor belt blank is present for vulcanizing in the press; the mutual spacing of the press plates of the apparatus being measurable by said third measuring device; and, the lifting assembly being actuatable by the control unit so as to cause predefined mutual positions of the press plates to be assumed via said lifting assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit has mechanical measuring means.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit has optical measuring means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of the method according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic of an apparatus according to the invention, having a closed pressing space;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic of an apparatus according to the invention, having an operating open pressing space; and,

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic of an apparatus according to the invention, having a fully opened pressing space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031] For improved clarity, the method steps a) to i) in FIG. 1 are shown in abbreviated form in a schematic flow diagram.

[0032] The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 has a vulcanizing press 1. The vulcanizing press 1 has four hydraulic cylinder units 2, each having two hydraulic cylinders 3. The hydraulic cylinders 2 here are electrically connected to an electrical evaluation and control unit (not shown here). The press 1 furthermore has a lower press table 4 and a press upper part 5. The press table 4 and the upper part 5 are mutually disposed so as to be in parallel planes. The hydraulic cylinders 3 are connected to the press upper part 5. A conveyor belt 6 is disposed between the press table 4 and the press upper part 5, the conveyor belt in a first part 7 being completely vulcanized, in a second part 8 being in the blank state, and in a third part 9 being clamped between the press table 4 and the press upper part 5. The press table 4 and the press upper part 5, visualized in a simplified manner here, act as press plates and are heatable by way of a heating system (not shown here). The conveyor belt 6 in the region 9 between the press plates 4 and 5 is capable of vulcanization in a known manner. The more intricate details pertaining to the vulcanization are known and therefore not shown here for reasons of simplification.

[0033] Each part 7 and 8 of the conveyor belt 9 is assigned one light gate 10a, 10b, the latter being shown here schematically. The light gates 10a and 10b are connected to the electrical control unit 20. It is testable by way of the light gates 10a, 10b whether a conveyor belt blank 6, 8 is present for vulcanizing in the press. The position of the press upper part 5 is measurable by way of a spacing measurement device 11.

[0034] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the device in various states of opening. The press in FIG. 3 is opened in an operating position so that the conveyor belt 6 is capable of being drawn through between the press plates 4 and 5. The internal spacing 12 of the press plates 4 and 5 is set such that the conveyor belt 6 is just movable at slight clearance between the press plates 4 and 5.

[0035] The press 1 in FIG. 4 is shown in the maintenance position, so as to be fully opened.

[0036] According to the method of the invention, the light gates 10a and 10b initially measure whether a conveyor belt blank 6, 8 is present for vulcanizing in the press 1. The control unit acquires the measured values of the light gates 10a and 10b. If there is no conveyor belt 6 present, the control unit controls the lifting cylinder units 2, wherein the latter lift the press upper part 5 to the topmost position. The press 1 according to FIG. 4 is now open for maintenance works or for threading a new conveyor belt blank.

[0037] If a conveyor belt blank 6, 8 is introduced into the press, this will be measured by the light gates 10a and 10b. The measured values are acquired by the control unit 20; the lifting cylinder units 2 move the press plates 4 and 5 to the closed position according to FIG. 2. The conveyor belt blank 6, 8 is now vulcanized in a known manner. After the vulcanization has been terminated, the light gates 10a and 10 b again measure whether a conveyor belt blank 6, 8 is present for vulcanizing in the press 1. Should this be the case, the control unit 20 controls the lifting cylinder 2; the press part 5 is opened to the operating position according to FIG. 3. The conveyor belt blank 6 can now be drawn onward by one cycle length.

[0038] If a conveyor belt blank 6, 8 is no longer present for vulcanizing in the press 1, the press by way of the controller and the lifting cylinders 2 is fully opened to the maintenance position according to FIG. 4. The method can then recommence.

[0039] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

Part of the Specification

[0040] 1 Vulcanizing press [0041] 2 Hydraulic cylinder units [0042] 3 Hydraulic cylinder, lifting cylinder [0043] 4 Press table, press plate [0044] 5 Press upper part, press plate [0045] 6 Conveyor belt [0046] 7, 8, 9 Regions of the conveyor belt 6 [0047] 10a Light gate at the press outfeed [0048] 10b Light gate at the press infeed [0049] 11 Spacing measurement device [0050] 12 Internal spacing of the press plates 4, 5 [0051] 20 Evaluation and control unit