PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TYRES FOR VEHICLE WHEELS

Abstract

A process and an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels includes assembling at least one tyre component through laying of strip-like elements disposed circumferentially close to each other on a deposition surface radially external to the forming drum, wherein laying of each strip-like element includes: radially moving the strip-like element close to the deposition surface; locking a central portion of the strip-like element against the deposition surface; and pulling the strip-like element in opposite directions starting from the central portion toward the opposite ends thereof, while the central portion is maintained in a locked condition against the deposition surface, so as to progressively lay down the strip-like element against the deposition surface.

Claims

1-29. (canceled)

30. An apparatus for building a tyre for a vehicle wheel, comprising: at least one forming drum; and at least one assembling device for assembling components of a tyre on the forming drum, wherein said at least one assembling device comprises: a laying unit comprising two support elements for a strip-like element to be laid; devices for transverse actuation, operating on the support elements for translating said support elements along a substantially axial direction of the forming drum between a first operating condition, at which said support elements are disposed close to each other, and a second operating condition at which said support elements are moved away from each other; devices for radial actuation, operating on the support elements and designed to translate said support elements between a position at which said support elements are moved radially close to a deposition surface that is radially external to the forming drum and a position at which they are moved radially away from said deposition surface; and a retaining unit comprising a counter-element movable between a first position at which said counter-element is spaced apart from the two support elements, and a second position at which said counter-element is placed between the two support elements and against said deposition surface.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein, in a first operating configuration of the assembling device, the support elements are in the first operating condition and radially spaced apart from each other, and the counter-element is in the first position.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein, in a second operating configuration of the assembling device, the support elements are in the first operating condition and disposed radially close to each other, and the counter-element is in the second position.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein, in a third operating configuration of the assembling device, the support elements are in the second operating condition and disposed radially close to each other, and the counter-element is in the second position.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the counter-element is movable, starting from the first position toward the second position, first along an arched trajectory and afterward along a rectilinear trajectory perpendicular to the deposition surface.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the retaining unit comprises at least one actuator operatively in engagement with the counter-element for moving the retaining unit between the first and second positions.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the retaining unit comprises a locking device acting on said actuator and movable between a locking position, at which said locking device keeps the counter-element in the first position, and a released position, at which the locking device allows movement of the counter-element to the second position upon the action of the actuator.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the retaining unit comprises a support body having an arched guide; and a carriage mounted on the support body and movable relative to said support body along a rectilinear trajectory substantially perpendicular to the deposition surface, wherein the counter-element is hinged on the carriage and operatively in engagement with the arched guide of the support body.

38. The apparatus is claimed in claim 30, wherein each support element comprises at least one support roller and at least one counter roller facing the support roller, said at least one support roller and counter-roller having respective rotation axes transverse to a substantially axial direction of the forming drum, the strip-like element capable of being interposed between said support roller and counter roller.

39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein each support element comprises a plate having a surface for support of the strip-like element, wherein said at least one support roller is located in a seat formed in said surface of the plate.

40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the radially external surface of the forming drum is substantially cylindrical.

41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, comprising a device for varying a diameter of a radially external surface of the forming drum and a device for radially positioning the laying unit and retaining unit relative to the forming drum as a function of said diameter.

Description

[0066] Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a process and an apparatus for building tyres for vehicle wheels in accordance with the present invention. This description will be set out hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0067] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a front view of a laying unit in a first operating configuration and a forming drum, both belonging to an apparatus for building tyres according to the present invention;

[0068] FIG. 1a is an enlarged and partly sectioned portion of the laying unit seen in FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 1b is a partly sectioned side view of the enlarged portion in FIG. 1a;

[0070] FIG. 2 shows the laying unit seen in FIG. 1 in a second operating configuration;

[0071] FIG. 3 shows the laying unit of FIG. 1 in a third operating configuration;

[0072] FIG. 4 shows the laying unit of FIG. 1 in a fourth operating configuration;

[0073] FIG. 5 is a side view of a retaining unit in a first position corresponding to the first operating configuration of the laying unit;

[0074] FIG. 6 shows the retaining unit seen in FIG. 5 in a second position corresponding to the third and fourth operating configurations of the laying unit;

[0075] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary diametrical section of a tyre obtainable with the process and apparatus in question.

[0076] In FIG. 1 a laying unit associated with a forming drum 2 is identified with reference numeral 1.

[0077] The laying unit 1 and forming drum 2 belong to an apparatus for building tyres 3 for vehicle wheels, which tyres 3 essentially comprise a carcass structure 4 having at least one carcass ply 5 (FIG. 7).

[0078] A layer of airtight elastomeric material, a so-called “liner” 6, can be applied to the inside of the carcass ply/plies 5. Two annular anchoring structures 7, each comprising a so-called bead core 7a carrying an elastomeric filler 7b at a radially external position are in engagement with respective end flaps 5a of the carcass ply or plies 5. The annular anchoring structures 7 are integrated in the vicinity of regions usually identified as “beads” 8, at which usually engagement between tyre 3 and a respective mounting rim occurs. A belt structure 9 comprising one or more belt layers 9a, 9b is circumferentially applied around the carcass ply/plies 5, and a tread band 10 is circumferentially superposed on the belt structure 9. So-called “under-belt inserts” 11 can be associated with the belt structure 9, each of them being located between the carcass ply/plies 5 and one of the axially opposite end edges of the belt structure 9. In addition to the under-belt inserts 11, or as an alternative, annular inserts (not shown) of elastomeric material and/or comprising textile or metallic cords substantially parallel to the circumferential extension direction of the tyre (belt layer to 0 degrees), or other reinforcing elements can be radially superposed at least on the axially opposite end edges of the belt layers 9a, 9b, and/or interposed between the belt layers 9a, 9b, at least at said end edges. Two sidewalls 12, each extending from the respective bead 8 to a respective side edge of the tread band 10, are applied to the carcass ply/plies 5 at laterally opposite positions.

[0079] Building of tyre 3 as above described is carried out through assembly of respective semifinished products on the building drum 2 by means of at least one assembling device

[0080] Tyre 3 thus built lends itself to be submitted to a curing treatment and/or other processing operations provided in the work cycle.

[0081] In the embodiment shown, built and/or assembled on the forming drum 2 is at least part of the components designed to form the carcass structure 4 of tyre 3. More particularly, the forming drum 2 is adapted to first receive liner 6, if any, and subsequently the carcass ply or plies 5. Afterwards, devices not shown coaxially engage one of the annular anchoring structures 7 around each of the end flaps 5a, set an outer sleeve comprising the belt structure 9 and tread band 10 at a coaxially centred position around the cylindrical carcass sleeve, and shape the carcass sleeve into a toroidal configuration through radial expansion of the carcass ply, so as to determine application of same against a radially internal surface of the outer sleeve.

[0082] In accordance with the present invention, during building of tyre 3, the carcass ply 5 is made by means of the laying unit 1 designed for application of a plurality of strip-like elements 13 in circumferential mutual-contact relationship on a deposition surface 14 radially external to the forming drum 2, so as to form at least one ply layer having a continuous circumferential extension around the geometric axis “X-X” of said forming drum 2. In this regard, it is important to point out that said deposition surface 14 can be the radially external surface of the forming drum 2 itself or, preferably, the radially external surface of some components of tyre 2 already laid on said forming drum 2, such as liner 6, for example. The radially external deposition surface 14 of the forming drum 2 shown is substantially cylindrical and is suitable for manufacture of a cylindrical carcass sleeve.

[0083] The forming drum 2 is positioned and rotatably supported around its geometric axis “X-X”. Devices not shown, in the form of a motor-driven mandrel for example, are used to set the forming drum 2 in rotation about said geometric axis “X-X”.

[0084] The laying unit 1 is mounted close to the forming drum 2 and is suitable to apply the strip-like elements 13 on said forming drum 2 during rotation thereof. Preferably, the forming drum 2 is rotated by steps and after each rotation step the laying unit 1 applies one strip-like element 13.

[0085] Apparatus 1 further comprises a feeding unit 15 designed to supply the laying unit 1 with the strip-like elements 13 of predetermined length, one by one. The strip-like elements 13 are obtained by cutting operations sequentially carried out on at least one continuous elongated element 16 coming from a drawing and/or calendering device, or a feeding reel, and therefore all have the same width “W”. Preferably, this width “W” is included between about 20 mm and about 40 mm.

[0086] The continuous elongated element 16, and consequently the strip-like elements 13 obtained therefrom, have a plurality of cords or similar thread-like elements of metal or textile material, extending parallel to each other along the longitudinal extension of the elongated element and the strip-like element itself, and at least partly coated with a layer of elastomeric material applied through a drawing and/or calendering operation.

[0087] Each feeding unit 15 comprises at least one cutting member 17 designed to cut-off the continuous elongated element 17 perpendicularly or according to a predetermined inclination to the longitudinal extension of same, for obtaining the individual strip-like elements 13.

[0088] Combined with the cutting member 17 is at least one pick-up member 18 movable between a first work position at which it engages one final end of the continuous elongated element 16 close to the cutting member 17, and a second work position at which it is moved apart from the cutting member 17.

[0089] Following translation from the first to the second work positions, the pick-up member 18 drags along the continuous elongated element 16 so as to lay it down beyond the cutting member 17 and preferably at a radially approached position relative to the forming drum 2, over a stretch of a length corresponding to that of the strip-like element 13 to be obtained following the subsequent operation of the cutting member 17.

[0090] In the accompanying figures, denoted at 19 is a pair of guide rollers operating on the continuous elongated element 16 at a region immediately upstream of the cutting member 17.

[0091] The laying unit 1 comprises two support elements 20 movable along a guide structure 21 upon the action of transverse-actuation devices, of the worm screw type for example, not shown as they can be made in any manner convenient to a person skilled in the art. The support elements 20 lend themselves to retain the strip-like element 13 at the instants intervening between cutting of said strip-like element upon the action of the cutting member 17 and application of same onto the forming drum 2.

[0092] In greater detail, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, each support element 20 comprises a plate 22 having a surface 22a on which the elongated element 16 dragged along by the pick-up member 18 and the cut-off strip-like element 13 rest.

[0093] Each plate 22 is carried at the lower end of a respective arm 23 connected, at its opposite end, to the guide structure 21. The guide structure 21 extends along a direction coincident with an axial direction referred to the forming drum 2 or has a predetermined angle relative to this axial direction, which angle is preferably included between about 5° and about 20°, being established based on the orientation that the strip-like elements 13 must take on the deposition surface 14 radially external to the forming drum 2.

[0094] The plate 22 is connected to the respective arm 23 through side walls 24 forming, together with the plate itself, a C-shaped guide laterally confining the path of the strip-like element 13 (FIG. 1b).

[0095] Formed in plate 22 is a seat 25 in which two support rollers 26 are located which are free to rotate about respective longitudinal axes “Y-Y” oriented transversely of the longitudinal extension of plate 13. The support rollers 26 emerge from the surface 22a so that the strip-like element 13 can rest thereon.

[0096] Each of the support elements 20 further comprises a counter-roller 27 facing the support rollers 26 (FIGS. 1a and 1b). The counter-roller 27 is rotatably mounted on a frame 28 for free rotation around its rotation axis “Z-Z”. A spring element 29, a helical spring for example, interposed between frame 28 and an upper wall 30 of the respective arm 23 pushes the counter-roller 29 towards the support rollers 26 and the strip-like element 13 when the latter is retained on the support elements 20.

[0097] Associated with the support elements 20 are radial-actuation devices designed to translate said support elements 20 close to or away from the deposition surface 14 radially external to the forming drum 2 along a radial trajectory “R” (FIG. 2).

[0098] These radial-actuation devices are not shown or described in detail as they can be made in any manner convenient to a person skilled in the art, and for example can operate on the guide structure 21 and/or directly on the support elements 20, in order to bring the strip-like element 13 in contact relationship with the deposition surface 14.

[0099] The assembling device, of which the laying unit 1 is part too, further comprises a retaining unit 31 (FIGS. 5 and 6) the function of which is to hold each strip-like element 13 against the deposition surface 14 during application of same operated by the support elements 20.

[0100] The retaining unit 31 comprises a support body 32 in turn including a support plate 33 disposed in a radial and preferably vertical plane relative to the forming drum 2. Mounted on the support plate 33 and integral therewith is a guide plate 34 extending perpendicular to the support plate 33. Formed in the guide plate 34 is an arched guide 35 in the form of a groove, extending over an arc subtending an angle of about 90°. The arched guide 35 has a lower end stretch 35a substantially rectilinear and aligned with a radial trajectory “R” referred to the forming drum 2, and an upper end stretch perpendicular to the radial trajectory “R”. The arched guide 35 extends from the lower end stretch 35a to the support plate 33.

[0101] The retaining unit 31 comprises a carriage 36 slidable on the support plate 33 in a rectilinear guide, not shown, extending in a radial and preferably vertical direction referred to the forming drum 2. Carriage 36 comprises a first portion 37 operatively in engagement with the rectilinear guide and a second portion 38 defined by a movable plate integral with the first portion 37 and extending alongside the guide plate 34. Carriage 36 is movable on the rectilinear guide between a first position, at which it lies close to the upper end stretch 35b of the curved guide 35 (FIG. 5), and a second position at which it lies close to the lower end stretch 35a of the curved guide 35 (FIG. 6).

[0102] A first end of a small arm 39 is hinged on the second portion 38 at a fulcrum 40, so as to enable the small arm 39 to rotate around an axis parallel to the support plate 33. A second end of the small arm 39 carries a counter-element 41. The first end of the small arm 39 is further integrally linked to a first end of a lever 42. Lever 42 is disposed perpendicular to the small arm 39 and parallel to the guide plate 34 and the movable plate 38 and interposed therebetween. A second end of said lever 42 is engaged in the curved guide 35 through a roller.

[0103] An actuator 43, preferably defined by a pneumatic cylinder, is mounted on the support plate 33 and connected through a control rod 44 thereof, to the first portion 37 of carriage 36. In the embodiment shown, actuator 43 is disposed over carriage 36, with the control rod 44 facing downwards and oriented in a radial direction relative to the forming drum 2.

[0104] The retaining unit 31 further comprises an auxiliary actuator 45 preferably defined by a pneumatic cylinder too, which is mounted on the support plate 33 and has a control rod 46 extending through the support plate 33. The control rod 46 of the auxiliary actuator 45 is perpendicular to the support plate 33, emerges from the face of the support plate 33 carrying carriage 36 and has a stop member 47 at a final end thereof which is provided with a roller 48. The stop member 47 co-operates with a protrusion 49 integrally mounted on the first portion 37 of carriage 36 in the vicinity of the connection with the control rod 41 of actuator 43. In the embodiment shown, the stop member 47 has a C-shaped conformation connected at one end with the control rod 46 and at the opposite end carrying roller 48. The auxiliary actuator 45 and protrusion 49 define a locking device 50.

[0105] The retaining unit 31 is movable between a first configuration (FIG. 5) and a second configuration (FIG. 6).

[0106] In the first configuration, carriage 36 is in the first position, the second end of lever 42 is engaged in the upper end 35b of the curved guide 35 and the small arm 39 lies in alignment with the support plate 33 and in a radial direction relative to the forming drum 2. The counter-element 41 is in its first position, spaced apart from the two support elements 20.

[0107] In the second configuration, carriage 36 is in its second position, the second end of lever 42 is engaged in the lower end 35a of the curved guide 35 and the small arm 39 is perpendicular to the support plate 33 and to a radial direction relative to the forming drum 2. The counter-element 41 is in its second position, set against the deposition surface 14.

[0108] During movement from the first to the second configurations, the small arm 39 and counter-element 41 first describe an arched trajectory and subsequently a rectilinear trajectory substantially perpendicular to the deposition surface 14.

[0109] In use, while the support elements 20 are in the first operating condition, at which they are close to each other and spaced apart from the deposition surface 14 radially external to the forming drum 2 (FIG. 1), the retaining unit 31 is in the first configuration (FIG. 5), the small arm 39 and counter-element 41 are alongside each other and spaced apart from the radial trajectory “R” followed by the support elements 20 for moving close to the forming drum 2 (first operating configuration of the assembling device). As shown in FIG. 5, carriage 36 is retained in the first configuration by the stop member 47 which is close to the support plate 33 and, being disposed under the protrusion 49, prevents descent of said carriage 36.

[0110] After carrying out cutting to size of the strip-like element 13, the support elements 20 are radially moved close to the forming drum 2 (FIG. 2). The pneumatic actuator 43 is put under pressure but it cannot move carriage 36 because the stop member 47 is still in its locking position.

[0111] When the support elements 20 are about to reach or have reached the position which is the closest to the forming drum (FIG. 2) or the deposition surface 14, the auxiliary actuator 45 is driven and the stop member 47 is moved away from the support plate 33. Carriage 36 is now free to translate and is pushed downwards by the pneumatic actuator 43, causing rotation-translation of the small arm 39 until bringing the counter-element 41 against a central portion of the strip-like element 13 (FIGS. 3 and 6; second operating configuration of the assembling device). Translation of the counter-element 41 is partly simultaneous with the radial movement of the support elements 20 and the strip-like element 13 towards the forming drum 2. Movement of the counter-element 41 from the first to the second positions is carried out in a time “t.sub.1” preferably included between about 0.05 s and about 0.1 s.

[0112] While the strip-like element 13 is locked on the deposition surface 14 by means of the counter-element 41, the support elements 20 are moved apart from each other, preferably at a translation speed, measured relative to said deposition surface 14, included between about 3 m/s and about 5 m/s (third operating configuration of the assembling device).

[0113] The support rollers 26 and counter-roller 27 of each support element 20 roll on the strip-like element 13 and pull it in opposite directions until the ends thereof are reached and released preferably in a time “t.sub.2” included between about 0.15 s and about 0.40 s. The strip-like element 13 is progressively laid down starting from the central portion towards the opposite ends thereof and it adheres to and gets stuck on the forming drum 2.

[0114] In a variant of the apparatus, not shown, each of the support elements 20 further comprises a presser roller. The two presser rollers, during movement of the support elements apart from each other, progressively press the strip-like element 13 against the deposition surface 14, starting from the central portion towards the opposite ends thereof.

[0115] The deposition cycle of each strip-like element 13 is carried out in a time “t.sub.3” included between about 0.20 s and about 0.50 s.

[0116] When deposition has been completed, the forming drum 2 is rotated through a pitch around its axis “X-X”, the retaining unit 31 is brought back to its first configuration and the support elements 20 are brought back to their first operating condition. The just described cycle is repeated for application of each strip-like element 13.

[0117] In a variant not shown, the apparatus further comprises a device for varying the diameter of the radially external surface of the forming drum 2 and a device for radially positioning the laying unit 1 and retaining unit 31 relative to the forming drum 2 as a function of the drum diameter. To this aim, the support plate 32 is mounted, for instance, on a frame and can be displaced and locked on this frame to the desired position.