Plant and method for producing an annular tire on a lightweight monolithic core

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing tires intended to equip vehicle wheels, and more particularly the manufacturing of so-called "airless" tires, i.e. non-pneumatic, in which the tread is supported not pneumatically by a pressurized gas, but mechanically by solid members, such as spokes, which connect said tread to the rim.

[0002] It is known, in particular from document WO-2011 / 065951, to produce a raw annular tire by placing on a core one or more tire components, at least some of which are based on raw rubber, i.e. unvulcanized, then to place the assembly formed by said core and the raw annular tire in a curing mold in order to obtain a cured annular tire, within which the rubber is vulcanized, and finally to separate the cured annular tire from the core. To separate the cured annular tire from the core, this document proposes, for example, to cool the core in order to cause a radial contraction of the latter relative to the cured annular tire, then to use an ejector to axially extract the cured annular tire from the core.

[0003] While such processes offer undeniable versatility in terms of the choice and arrangement of bandage components, and allow for the production of high-performance, high-quality bandages, they still suffer from certain drawbacks.

[0004] In particular, such methods require the use of a relatively heavy, bulky and complex core, which must in particular integrate heating sources, such as electric resistance heating cartridges, which are intended to bring said core to the required temperature during the cooking operation.

[0005] Of course, due to their complexity, such cores are relatively expensive. They also require regular maintenance, particularly to avoid possible failures of the heating cartridges, which could cause uneven heating of the core and cause defects to appear in the bandage during the baking process.

[0006] Furthermore, due to their mass, known cores have a relatively high inertia, both from a mechanical and thermal point of view. Of course, the higher the mass of the core, the more energy is required to transport it from one station to another, and the more the speed of movement must be limited to avoid accidents or overshooting. Similarly, the higher the mass of the core, the more time and energy are required to carry out the alternating heating and cooling cycles. In all cases, a high mass of the core therefore penalizes the cycle time and the operating costs of the installation.

[0007] The objects assigned to the invention therefore aim to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose an improved installation for the manufacture of bandages, as well as a corresponding method, which in particular have improved performance in terms of, on the one hand, reducing the duration of a manufacturing cycle and, on the other hand, reducing energy consumption.

[0008] The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a tire manufacturing installation, said installation comprising an assembly station arranged to place one or more tire components on a core in order to form a green annular tire, a curing station arranged to receive the assembly formed by said core and the green annular tire and to heat said assembly during a curing operation in order to obtain a cured annular tire, and an extraction station arranged to, after the curing operation, separate the cured annular tire from the core, said installation being characterized in that the core has a tubular wall which extends along and around a central axis, and which extends in thickness, radially to said central axis, from a first radially external annular face, called the "receiving face", which is intended to receive the tire component(s), to a second radially internal annular face,called "exchange face", which surrounds the central axis and which is intended to allow heat exchanges between the tubular wall of the core and heat sources external to said core, in that the cooking station comprises a first heat source, heating, which is designed to come into contact with the exchange face of the core when said core is in said cooking station, in order to heat said core and the annular bandage during the cooking operation, then to dissociate from the core in order to leave the exchange face free again when the core and the cooked annular bandage leave said cooking station and are transferred to the extraction station after the cooking operation, and in that said extraction station comprises a second heat source, refrigerant, which is designed so that, when the core and the cooked annular bandage are in the extraction station,come to succeed the first thermal source in contact with said exchange face of the core, in order to cool said core, so as to create a radial clearance between the receiving face of the core and the baked annular bandage, by differential radial contraction of the tubular wall of the core relative to the baked annular bandage, and thus allow an ejector member equipping the extraction station to axially release the baked annular bandage from the core.,

[0009] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to keep the first and second thermal sources in their respective stations, and in particular to keep the heating thermal source in the enclosure of the cooking station, without it being necessary to embed one or the other of said thermal sources, and in particular the heating thermal source, within the core, which provides several advantages.

[0010] Indeed, the invention firstly makes it possible to propose a core, movable from one station to another, which is devoid of an integrated heating source, and consequently a core which has a particularly light structure, of simple and compact shape, and in particular a core whose tubular wall can be particularly thin. Such a core therefore advantageously has low mechanical inertia, which makes it possible to move it quickly and precisely from one station to another, by means of a compact transfer device and with a relatively modest expenditure of energy. Such a core also has low thermal inertia, which makes it possible to heat and cool it quickly, through its exchange face, with a relatively low energy input. The duration of the manufacturing cycle is thus significantly reduced, as is the energy consumption per manufacturing cycle.

[0011] Advantageously, the core is all the more compact as the first thermal source, heating, and the second thermal source, cooling, ultimately share the same exchange face belonging to the core, exchange surface in contact with which said first and second thermal sources alternate depending on the operation carried out on the core, namely the cooking operation and respectively the extraction operation. The implementation of a shared exchange face, preferably a single one, makes it possible to substitute the second thermal source for the first thermal source, and vice versa, at the same location of the core, as close as possible to the receiving face carrying the bandage, and thus to maximize the useful surface area of ​​said exchange face in a given overall volume of the core.In this way, the efficiency of heat exchanges is optimized, in particular the efficiency of exchanges by conduction through the radial thickness of the tubular wall, while maintaining a small overall size of the core.

[0012] Then, since the core dissociates from the first heating thermal source before the extraction operation, said first heating thermal source can advantageously remain hot in the enclosure of the cooking station while the core is subjected, separately, to a transfer to the extraction station then to forced cooling in said extraction station. In this way, the first heating thermal source does not undergo said cooling imposed on the core, and on the contrary substantially retains its heat between two successive cooking operations, applied to the successive manufacture of a first annular bandage then of a second annular bandage.Advantageously, the invention therefore makes it possible to minimize the useful mass of the core which will actually be subject to the total amplitude of the temperature variations provided for by the heating and then cooling phases during a manufacturing cycle, since the said useful mass is excluded from the mass which is specific to the first heating thermal source, which can always remain hot. Thus, the installation makes it possible to achieve substantial energy savings and to significantly reduce the time which is necessary, within the cooking station, to bring the core and the bandage to the required cooking temperature.

[0013] Furthermore, by avoiding permanently integrating the heating thermal source, and more particularly the heating cartridges, into the radial thickness of the tubular wall of the core, the invention makes it possible to maintain a very thin tubular wall, which therefore has very low thermal resistance with respect to exchanges by conduction.

[0014] This same absence of a heating thermal source integrated into the tubular wall also makes it possible to apply the second cooling thermal source as close as possible to the receiving face carrying the bandage, without the first heating thermal source remaining interposed radially between said second cooling thermal source and said receiving face carrying the bandage.

[0015] More generally, neither of the first nor second thermal sources therefore acts as a barrier, either in terms of passive thermal resistance linked to its thickness, or in terms of hot / cold antagonism linked to the difference between the temperature of said thermal source and the temperature of the other thermal source, to the heat exchange between the other thermal source and the receiving face, when it is the turn of said other thermal source to act. This absence of interference between the first and second thermal sources, which each work in turn and exclusively with the same core, makes it possible, here again, to reduce energy consumption and accelerate heat transfers, which reduces the duration of a manufacturing cycle.

[0016] Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in more detail on reading the description which follows, as well as with the aid of the appended drawings, provided for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes, among which: There figure 1 illustrates, in a top view, the layout of an installation according to the invention. The figure 2 illustrates, in a perspective view, the installation of the figure 1 . There figure 3 represents, in a perspective view, a core according to the invention, used in the installation of figures 1 And 2 . There figure 4 is a detailed axial sectional view of the core of the figure 3 . There figure 5 is a detailed view, in perspective with material cut away, of the coupling section of the core of the figures 3 et 4 , which coupling section marks the axial limit of the receiving face and is arranged to allow on the one hand the gripping of the core by a gripping tool on board a transfer device capable of transferring said core from one station to another and on the other hand the positioning and centering of said core within the cooking station. figure 6 represents, in a perspective view, the cooking station of the installation of figures 1 And 2 , cooking station which here includes two cooking molds each capable of receiving a core provided with its annular bandage to be cooked. The figure 7 illustrates, in a perspective view, a heating sector belonging to a set of heating sectors which constitute the first thermal source, heating, used within the cooking station. Said heating sector is here equipped with an electric heating resistor which is represented by transparency. The figure 8 illustrates, according to an axial sectional view of one of the molds of the cooking station, the deployment mechanism with two concentric antagonistic pushers which makes it possible to move the heating sectors radially to alternately apply said sectors against the exchange face, to carry out the cooking operation then, after the cooking operation, to release said sectors set back from said exchange face to allow the removal of the core, then the subsequent engagement of a new core for another cooking operation. In this figure, the sectors are in the retracted configuration, set back radially with respect to the exchange face of the core. figure 9 is a detail view of the figure 8 , showing more clearly the radial clearance provided between the heating sectors and the exchange face of the core in the retracted configuration. figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cooking chamber of the figure 8 , in a cutting plane normal to the axis of the core and which here corresponds to the equatorial plane of the annular bandage. The figure 11 illustrates, according to an axial sectional view in the same sectional plane as that of the figure 8 , the deployment mechanism and the heating sectors in the deployed configuration, such that said heating sectors are in contact with the exchange face of the core, in radial compression against said exchange face. figure 12 is a detail view of the figure 11 . There figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the cooking chamber of the figure 11 , in the same cutting plane as the figure 10 . There figure 14 illustrates, in an axial sectional view, an example of an extraction station used in the installation of figures 1 And 2. Said station comprises a horizontal receiving table which supports the baked annular bandage, a suction device, and a lifting plate provided with a central barrel which projects through an opening of the receiving table so that the core carrying the baked annular bandage is threaded onto said central barrel, to allow an air flow generated by the suction device and forming the second thermal, refrigerating source, to circulate in contact with the exchange face of the core, in an annular flow path which is delimited radially by said exchange face of the core and by the central barrel. figure 15 illustrates, in an axial sectional view, the core cooling operation, and the contacting, against the lateral edge of the core, of an ejector forming an annular cap provided with vents allowing air to enter the annular flow path. figure 16 illustrates, in an axial sectional view, the separation operation, during which the cap forming the ejector continues its movement, here vertically downward, to axially push back the core contracted by cooling, so as to extract said core from the baked annular bandage and to recover, on the lifting plate which accompanies the axial movement of the cap, said core thus released. figure 17 is a detail view of the figure 15 . There figure 18 is a detail view of the figure 16 . There figure 19 illustrates, in a perspective view, a buffer station which is used within the installation of figures 1 And 2to allow on the one hand storage of cores, empty or carrying a raw annular bandage, and on the other hand cooked annular bandages coming from the extraction station, said buffer station comprising for this purpose a plurality of storage locations distributed on a rotating mast allowing the locations to be oriented in turn opposite a transfer device responsible for transporting said cores and bandages. figure 20 illustrates, in a perspective view, a transfer device used within the installation of figures 1 And 2to transport the core successively from one station to another, said transfer device comprising for this purpose a robotic arm, of the six-axis anthropomorphic arm type, which carries a gripping tool with jaws allowing in particular, as illustrated in the figure, to grip the core from the inside. To facilitate understanding, a part of said core has been torn away here to make visible the grip of the gripping tool in the coupling section of the core, against which the jaws exert for this purpose a centrifugal radial clamping. figure 21 is a detail view of the figure 20 . There figure 22 illustrates, in a perspective view, the capture and transport, by the transfer device of the figure 20 , of a baked annular bandage separated from its core. The gripping tool this time engages said baked annular bandage from the outside, its jaws exerting a centripetal radial clamping on the external face of said baked annular bandage. The figure 23 is a detail view of the figure 22 . There figure 24 illustrates, in a detailed perspective view, the multi-purpose gripping tool used by the transfer device figures 20 et 22 to be able to transport alternatively a core or a cooked annular bandage.

[0017] The present invention relates to an installation 1 for manufacturing bandages 2.

[0018] More preferably, said installation 1 allows the manufacture of bandages 2 intended to equip vehicle wheels.

[0019] The bandages 2 from installation 1 will thus preferably include a tread intended to come into contact with the road when the vehicle is in service.

[0020] The bandages 2 according to the invention may be used in the composition of pneumatic bandages, in which the bandages 2 are mounted on a rim to form a sealed envelope receiving an inflation gas under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

[0021] However, in a preferred variant, the bandages 2 according to the invention will be included in the composition of non-pneumatic bandages, known as "airless", in which the bandage 2 is supported by a set of solid spokes, of appropriate flexibility, which connect said bandage to the rim.

[0022] The bandage 2 is, in all cases, advantageously closed in a ring on itself around a central axis X2, and more preferably forms a circular base cylinder centered on said central axis X2.

[0023] As is particularly visible on the figures 1 And 2, the installation 1 comprises an assembly station 3 which is arranged to place one or more bandage components on a core 4 in order to form a raw annular bandage 2A.

[0024] The core 4 has a central axis X4 which, in practice, merges with the central axis X2 of the bandage 2 when said bandage is located on the core 4.

[0025] The installation of the bandage component(s) on the core 4 is preferably done by winding, while the core 4 is driven by a rotational movement around its central axis X4, and more preferably by winding a continuous bandage component which extends in one piece over the entire required winding distance around the core, which distance may correspond, depending on the nature of the bandage component, to a single complete turn of the core 4, or where appropriate to several consecutive turns of the core 4, around the central axis X4.

[0026] Of course, it is possible to envisage, in absolute terms, any appropriate means for laying a bandage component, and, for example, to provide, according to a possible implementation variant, that the assembly station 3 can produce at least one bandage component from a plurality of individual strips, by laying said individual strips one after the other on the core and by juxtaposing said individual strips two by two by their edges in order to constitute, by means of said individual strips thus joined together as a whole, a ply-type bandage component.

[0027] However, according to another implementation variant, a method of laying by continuous winding will be preferred, rather than by sequential production from individual strips, in order to increase the speed of laying, and therefore to reduce the duration of the operation of making the raw annular bandage within the assembly station 3.

[0028] Preferably, among said tire components, at least one, and possibly several, will contain raw rubber, i.e. unvulcanized rubber.

[0029] Preferably, among the bandage components, there is at least one tread, preferably based on raw rubber, which forms the radially outer layer of the raw annular bandage 2A.

[0030] Preferably, among the bandage components, there is also at least one, or even several reinforcing components, which will be wound onto the core 4 before the tread in order to form a reinforcement under said tread.

[0031] Among said reinforcing components, there will preferably be at least one hoop, which will be obtained by winding in helical turns on the core 4, around the central axis X4, a continuous reinforcing cable or a reinforcing strip containing, in a matrix, several continuous reinforcing cables arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal direction of said reinforcing strip. Said helical turns are preferably contiguous, or even partially axially overlapping from one turn to the other.

[0032] The reinforcing cable, or the reinforcing cables forming part of the reinforcing strip, will be made of a material which will make them substantially inextensible in their longitudinal direction, and therefore in the circumferential direction of the bandage 2.

[0033] For this purpose, we can consider metal reinforcement cables, or cables made of a suitable polymer, for example aramid (Kevlar), or even fiberglass.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing cable used, or the reinforcing strip used, is made of a material called “Glass-Resin Composite”, abbreviated to “GRC”, in which the reinforcing cable(s) are made of fiberglass, and embedded in a resin, for example a vinylester type resin.

[0035] Said glass-resin composite may be used as such, in a bare form, not coated with rubber, or in a coated form, in which said glass-resin composite is embedded within a layer of raw rubber to form a coated reinforcing cable or, respectively, a coated reinforcing strip. It will be noted that, in either case, the glass-resin composite reinforcing cable will preferably have received a prior treatment, which will promote the adhesion of the rubber to the surface of said reinforcing cable.

[0036] When using the bare form of the glass-resin composite, the laying of said glass-resin composite will be preceded, and where appropriate followed, by the laying of a layer of raw rubber, which will preferably be obtained by winding a strip of raw rubber around the core in helical turns.

[0037] Whether a glass-resin compound is used in coated or bare form, several superimposed bands may be laid successively, by repeatedly repeating the operation of winding the composite in coated form, or, respectively, by repeating the alternation of winding a raw rubber strip followed by winding the composite in bare form, so as to obtain, in all cases, a laminated reinforcing underlayer.

[0038] Among the reinforcing components, there will also preferably be reinforcing plies, called "top plies". These reinforcing plies will preferably be superimposed on a sub-layer formed of at least one hoop, and preferably of several superimposed hoops, said hoops being obtained as described above.

[0039] Each reinforcing ply will comprise a plurality of reinforcing threads which join one edge of the ply to the other edge of said ply and which are arranged parallel to each other, at a predetermined non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the ply, called the "ply angle". For information purposes, said ply angle may preferably be between 15 degrees and 35 degrees. The reinforcing threads may be made of metal, polymer fibers, for example polyamide ("Nylon") or aramid ("Kevlar"), natural textile fiber, for example cotton, glass-resin composite based on glass fibers, or carbon fibers.

[0040] Preferably, two reinforcing plies having different ply angles, possibly of opposite signs, will be superimposed within the same bandage 2 so as to create a cross-reinforced frame, which thus has great rigidity.

[0041] Each reinforcement layer will preferably form a complete and unique turn around the central axis X4, closing on itself, at a junction called a “weld”.

[0042] Once the reinforcement has been made using the reinforcing components, the raw rubber tread will then be placed over the reinforcement.

[0043] The bandage components will be conveyed to the core 4 and positioned on said core by means of suitable laying heads 5, 7, 12, which are visible on the figures 1 And 2 .

[0044] Thus, it may be provided that the, or each, rubber strip mentioned above is laid by a first laying head 5 provided with a pump-type generator 6 which extrudes said rubber strip as said rubber strip is used and wound onto the core 4. If necessary, several first laying heads 5 may be provided, as can be seen in the figures 1 And 2 , to be able to selectively deliver various rubber bands of different formats or different compositions.

[0045] The reinforcing cable or the reinforcing strip, here preferably made of Glass-Resin Composite, may be applied to the core 4 by means of a second laying head 7 comprising an applicator roller 8 which presses said reinforcing cable, or the reinforcing strip, against the core 4.

[0046] Said second laying head 7 will preferably be supplied by an unwinding system 9 arranged to receive a reel 10 which contains a reserve of reinforcing cable, respectively a reserve of reinforcing strip.The unwinding system 9 may comprise an accumulator 11 using a plurality of pulleys which define, by means of a predetermined center distance, a series of zigzags forming a storage path containing a buffer stock of reinforcing cable, respectively of reinforcing strip, and of which said center distance will be adjusted dynamically, and more particularly of which the center distance will be decreased, as the reinforcing cable, respectively the reinforcing strip, is consumed by the core 4, in order to shorten in real time the storage path, and therefore the buffer stock of reinforcing cable, respectively of reinforcing strip, within said accumulator 11, so as to be able to compensate for a possible difference between the speed at which the reel 10 unwinds the reinforcing cable, respectively the reinforcing strip, and the speed at which said reinforcing cable, respectively said reinforcing strip, is wound onto the core 4.Thus, the delivery speed of the reinforcement cable, respectively of the reinforcement strip, can be adjusted in real time to the actual consumption speed, which corresponds to the rotation speed of the core 4.

[0047] Here again, several second laying heads 7 may be provided to be able to deliver different reinforcing cables or reinforcing strips of several formats or several compositions, or to ensure the continuity of production by allowing, when a first reel 10 associated with one of the second laying heads 7 runs out, to use another second laying head 7 associated with a second full reel 10, while the first exhausted reel 10 is replaced in hidden time.

[0048] Any reinforcement plies, intended to be wound in a single complete turn on the core 4, and thus to close on themselves at the end of said complete turn, may be conveyed by a third laying head 12 which will preferably comprise for this purpose a conveyor, for example a belt conveyor 13.

[0049] To simplify the organization of the installation 1 and facilitate the implementation of the different bandage components, the different laying heads 5, 7, 12 can equip, individually or in groups, separate assembly substations 3_1, 3_2.

[0050] More particularly, as seen on the figure 1 , it will be possible to provide on the one hand a first assembly substation 3_1 which comprises the first laying head 5, or a set of first laying heads 5, intended to lay strips of raw rubber, and on the other hand a second assembly substation 3_2 which comprises at least one second laying head 7, preferably two second laying heads 7, intended to lay a reinforcing strip, preferably in bare glass-resin composite or coated with rubber, as well as at least one third laying head 12 for laying reinforcing plies.

[0051] The laying heads 5, 7, 12 will of course be provided with displacement mechanisms 14, 15, 16 to be able to position themselves suitably in relation to the core 4 present in the assembly station 3, and more particularly in the substation 3_1, 3_2 considered.

[0052] The first laying head 5 will thus preferably be carried by a first positioning mechanism 14 allowing, when the core 4 is in the first assembly substation 3_1, at least one movement parallel to the central axis X4 of the core 4 and one movement in another direction, called the “transverse axis” Y, which is perpendicular to said central axis X4, and here preferably horizontal.

[0053] A second positioning mechanism 15 will allow the second laying head 7 dedicated to the reinforcement cable or the reinforcement strip to move parallel to the central axis X4 and transversely to the central axis X4 of the core 4 present in the second assembly substation 3_2.

[0054] Likewise, a third positioning mechanism 16 will allow the third laying head 12 dedicated to the reinforcement plies to move at least transversely to the central axis X4 of the core present in the second assembly substation 3_2, preferably on the one hand along the transverse axis Y, here horizontal, and on the other hand along a vertical axis Z, and this in particular in order to be able to adapt the position of the third laying head 12 to the diameter of the core 4.

[0055] Preferably, the second and third positioning mechanisms 15, 16 will be designed to allow the second laying head 7 and the third laying head 12 to present themselves alternately opposite the core 4 present in the assembly station 3, here in the second assembly substation 3_2. In this respect, as can be seen in the figure 1 , the second positioning mechanism 15 may in particular comprise a rail 15_R horizontal and parallel to the central axis X4 of the core, in order to be able to alternately release then engage the second laying head 7 opposite the core 4, while the third positioning mechanism 16 may comprise a rail 16_R horizontal and orthogonal to the central axis X4 in order to be able to alternately release then engage the third laying head 12 opposite the core 4 present in the second assembly substation 3_2.

[0056] The installation 1, and more particularly the assembly station 3, may further comprise a permutation device 17 arranged to position the core 4 opposite the appropriate assembly substation 3_1, 3_2. Said permutation device 17 may for example use two spindles 18 which are each capable of receiving a core 4, and which each materialize the central axis X4 of the core 4 concerned, said spindles 18 being mounted on a rotary head 19, here with a horizontal axis, to be able to exchange their place respectively opposite the first assembly substation 3_1 and the second assembly substation 3_2. Preferably, the spindles 18 extend horizontally, in directions parallel to each other, and are offset vertically relative to each other.Thus, the permutation device 17 makes it possible to maintain the general orientation of the central axis X4 of the core 4, regardless of the substation, namely the first assembly substation 3_1 or the second assembly substation 3_2, in which said core 4 is placed by the permutation device 17.

[0057] The installation 1 also comprises a cooking station 20 arranged to receive the assembly formed by the core 4 and the raw annular bandage 2A carried by said core 4, and to heat said assembly during a cooking operation, as illustrated in the figures 6 And 11 , in order to obtain a 2B baked annular bandage.

[0058] It will be noted that, for convenience of description, the references 2, 2A and 2B generally designate the same object, namely the annular bandage 2, the references 2A and 2B being used simply to differentiate, when this is useful for a good understanding, said annular bandage 2 in its raw state, before the cooking operation, and respectively said annular bandage 2 in its cooked state, after the cooking operation.

[0059] The curing operation here is intended to vulcanize the tire component(s) which initially contain raw rubber, such as, for example, the raw rubber strip(s) which are combined with the bare glass-resin composite reinforcement in its bare form to form a laminate, or the rubber coating of the glass-resin composite reinforcement in its coated form, or the tread.

[0060] Said cooking operation is carried out at a suitable temperature, preferably greater than 120°C, more preferably greater than or equal to 140°C, or even greater than or equal to 150°C, and which may be, for example, between 140°C and 300°C, and in particular between 150°C and 180°C.

[0061] The installation 1 also comprises an extraction station 21 which is arranged to, after the cooking operation, separate the cooked annular bandage 2B from the core 4, as is notably illustrated in the figures 14 à 18 .

[0062] This separation operation will be described in more detail below.

[0063] According to the invention, and as is particularly clearly visible on the figures 3, 4 et 5 , the core 4 has a tubular wall 30 which extends along and around a central axis X30. Said tubular wall 30 extends in thickness E30, radially to said central axis X30, from a first radially external annular face 31, called the “receiving face” 31, which is intended to receive the tire component(s), to a second annular face 32, radially internal, called the “exchange face” 32, which surrounds the central axis X30 and which is intended to allow heat exchanges between the tubular wall 30 of the core 4 and heat sources 23, 24 external to said core 4.

[0064] The central axis X30 of the tubular wall 30 merges in practice with the overall central axis X4 of the core 4, so that these two references can be assimilated to each other in what follows.

[0065] By "axial" or "axially", we mean a direction which is parallel to (and more precisely collinear to, if we reason in three dimensions), or even coincident with, the said central axis X30, respectively X4.

[0066] By "radial", or "radially", we mean a direction which is perpendicular to said central axis X30, respectively X4.

[0067] By "circumferential" we mean a direction or element which, at the point considered, extends perpendicular to a radius, and orthogonally to the central axis, and therefore tangentially to the cylindrical surface with a circular base which is centered on the central axis and which passes through the point considered.

[0068] The receiving face 31 will preferably form a right cylinder, and more preferably a right cylinder with a circular base, said cylinder being centered on the central axis X30 and generated by generating lines parallel to the central axis X30.

[0069] Although it is not excluded, in absolute terms, that the exchange face 32 has a non-strictly cylindrical annular shape, for example a slightly frustoconical shape, said exchange face 32 will preferably form a straight cylinder, preferably a straight cylinder with a circular base, and will preferably be concentric with the receiving face 31.

[0070] Preferably, the radial distance from the receiving face 31 to the central axis X30, a distance which here corresponds in practice to the radius R31 of the straight cylinder formed by said receiving face 31, i.e. to the external radius of the tubular wall 30 and therefore to the internal radius of the annular bandage 2, is equal to or greater than 175 mm, preferably between 200 mm and 500 mm.

[0071] The preferred dimensioning values ​​indicated above advantageously make it possible, in practice, to obtain an annular bandage 2 whose overall dimensions are equivalent to the dimensions usually encountered in known pneumatic bandages which are intended to be mounted on rims having a gripping diameter, on which the bead of the bandage bears, which is between 13 inches and 24 inches, which makes it possible to easily replace existing bandages, in particular existing pneumatic bandages, with bandages 2 obtained according to the invention, while retaining the same dimensional standards.

[0072] Furthermore, the axial height H31 of the receiving face 31, which will correspond in practice to the width W2 of the annular bandage 2, will preferably be between 80 mm and 400 mm.

[0073] The thermal sources 23, 24 will be intended to provide heat to the core 4, to heat the latter, or on the contrary to evacuate heat in order to force the cooling of said core 4.

[0074] By "external to the core" is meant that said thermal sources 23, 24 are not part of the core 4, and are therefore not integrated into the core 4, so that neither of them are transported with the core 4 when the latter is transferred from one station to another station. Preferably, each thermal source 23, 24 is attached to a specific station 20, 21, and is not moved from one station to another station.

[0075] According to the invention, the cooking station 20 comprises a first thermal source 23, heating, which is designed to be applied against the exchange face 32 of the core when said core 4 is in said cooking station 20, as can be seen in the figures 11, 12 And 13 , in order to heat said core 4 and the annular bandage 2 during the cooking operation, then to dissociate from the core 4 in order to leave the exchange face 32 free again, as can be seen on the figures 8 , 9 , 10 And 14 , when the core 4 and the baked annular bandage 2B leave said baking station 20 and are transferred to the extraction station 21 after the baking operation.

[0076] Furthermore, according to the invention, the extraction station 21 comprises a second thermal source 24, refrigerant, which is designed to, when the core 4 and the baked annular bandage 2B are in said extraction station 21, succeed the first thermal source 23 in contact with the exchange face 32 of the core, in order to cool said core 4, as can be seen in the figures 14, 15 And 17 .

[0077] This cooling operation is carried out so as to create a radial clearance between the receiving face 31 of the core 4 and the baked annular bandage 2B, by differential radial contraction of the tubular wall 30 of the core 4 relative to the baked annular bandage 2B, and thus allow an ejector member 25 equipping the extraction station 21 to axially release the baked annular bandage 2B from the core 4, as can be seen in the figures 16 And 18 .

[0078] The tubular wall 30 of the core 40 advantageously contracts more than the baked annular bandage 2B, and therefore the radius R31 of the receiving face 31, which constitutes the external radius of said tubular wall 30, is reduced compared to the internal radius of the baked annular bandage 2B, due to the fact that the core 40 is cooled more quickly than the baked annular bandage 2B which partly retains its heat, since said baked annular bandage 2B is not directly exposed to the second cooling thermal source 24.

[0079] As indicated above, the core 4 according to the invention advantageously offers the same exchange face 32 successively to the first heating thermal source 23 then to the second cooling thermal source 24, which replace one another to cooperate alternately, and exclusively with one another, with said exchange face 32, each within the station 20, 21 which corresponds to it, and, advantageously, directly against the tubular wall 30, therefore directly on the back of the receiving face 31, and consequently in the immediate vicinity of the bandage 2 which is separated from said exchange face 32 only by the thickness E30 of said tubular wall 30.

[0080] Advantageously, the core 4 can therefore, compared to the cores used in the state of the art, be lightened in terms of the mass and volume of the thermal sources, and more particularly the heating sources, which were previously on board.

[0081] Furthermore, the action of the second cooling thermal source 24 is thus neither slowed down nor hindered by a residual presence of the first heating thermal source 23, since said first thermal source 23 is absent from the core 4 when the second thermal source 24 comes into action, and conversely, the action of the first heating thermal source 23 is not penalized by a residual presence of the second cooling thermal source 24, since the latter is absent from the core 4 when the first heating thermal source 23 comes into action. The thermal sources 23, 24 of the invention, although ensuring antagonistic functions, one consisting of heating and the other of cooling, therefore do not hinder each other, and in particular do not mutually slow down their respective actions.

[0082] In this way, the core 4 can have a light, thin structure, which optimizes thermal exchanges, and therefore makes it possible to significantly reduce the quantity of energy required for a manufacturing cycle, as well as the duration of said manufacturing cycle.

[0083] For information purposes, the thickness E30 of the tubular wall 30 of the core 4, which radially separates the exchange face 32 from the receiving face 31, will preferably be less than or equal to 40 mm, preferably less than or equal to 25 mm, preferably less than or equal to 20 mm, or even less than or equal to 15 mm, and for example equal to 12 mm.

[0084] More preferably, the E30 thickness will be between 6 mm and 40 mm, or between 6 mm and 30 mm, even more preferably between 8 mm and 25 mm, between 8 mm and 20 mm, or even between 10 mm and 15 mm.

[0085] Such a range of thickness E30 of tubular wall advantageously presents a good compromise between low thermal resistance, which is lower the thinner the tubular wall 30 is, and sufficient structural rigidity of the tubular wall 30, and more generally sufficient structural rigidity of the core 4, which is higher the thicker said tubular wall 30 is.

[0086] In this respect, it will be noted that, advantageously, the intrinsic rigidity of the tubular wall 30 is sufficient so that it is not necessary to provide internal stiffeners in the bore 33 which delimits the exchange face 32, which makes it possible to leave said bore 33 completely clear, and thus to have optimal access to an exchange face 32 whose extent is maximized.

[0087] Of course, the above dimensional characteristics concerning the thickness E30 of the tubular wall 30 are preferably combined with the choice mentioned above concerning the radial distance R31 from the receiving face 31 to the central axis X30, which is preferably equal to or greater than 175 mm, and preferably between 200 mm and 500 mm.

[0088] The different thickness and radius dimensions mentioned above preferably correspond to dimensions considered at rest and “cold”, that is to say when the core 4 is free of constraints and at room temperature, typically between 20°C and 25°C.

[0089] Preferably, and always with the aim of maintaining a good compromise between sufficient structural rigidity and minimizing the thickness E30 and therefore minimizing the thermal resistance of said tubular wall 30, the ratio R32 / R31 between on the one hand the internal radius R32, that is to say the radius of the exchange face 32 considered in relation to the central axis X30, X4, and on the other hand the external radius R31, that is to say the radius of the receiving face 31 in relation to said central axis X30, X4, will be equal to or greater than 80%, preferably equal to or greater than 85%, or even equal to or greater than 90%, and for example between 91% and 97%, or even between 95% and 97%.

[0090] If the face 31, 32 concerned has a cylindrical shape with a circular base and a constant radius, then the radius R31, R32 considered will be said constant radius of the circular base. Otherwise, for example if the internal face 32 has reliefs so that its distance from the central axis X30 varies as a function of the azimuthal position considered around said central axis X30, then it will be possible to preferably consider, to establish the ratio R32 / R31 above, the average radius of said face 31, 32, that is to say the average of the distances from the central axis X30 of all the points of the face 31, 32 concerned.

[0091] Furthermore, in order to allow maximization of the surface area of ​​the exchange face 32 on the back of the receiving face 31, and thus in order to make the most of the power of the thermal sources 23, 24 which exploit in turn this exchange face 32, the core 4 will preferably be arranged so that the exchange face 32, actually available for the application of the thermal sources 23, 24, axially overlaps the receiving face 31 over an axial height, called “common height” Hc, which represents at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, or even at least 95%, of the axial height H31 of the receiving face 31, as can be seen on the figure 4 .

[0092] This common height Hc is here equal to the axial height H32 of the exchange face 32, and more particularly to the axial height H32 of the right cylindrical portion with a circular base and constant radius R32 of the exchange face 32, free, accessible and reserved for the thermal sources 23, 24, as can be seen on the figure 4 .

[0093] Furthermore, as is particularly visible on the figures 3, 4, 5 , 10 , 13 , Or 19 , the receiving face 31 of the core 4 is preferably formed in one piece so as to present a continuity of material all around the central axis X30, X4.

[0094] In other words, the receiving face 31 is preferably continuous over 360 degrees around the central axis X30, so as not to present any splitting or consequently any joint plane when said receiving face 31 is traveled around said central axis X30.

[0095] This will thus produce, after extraction of the baked annular bandage 2B from the core 4, an internal face of the annular bandage 2 which has an excellent surface condition, without burrs or other undesirable regularity defects, which will then make it possible to couple and fix spokes directly against said internal face of the annular bandage, without it being necessary to carry out prior machining such as deburring or polishing on said internal face of the annular bandage 2.

[0096] Preferably, the tubular wall 30, and more generally the core 4, can form a single-piece piece of revolution, which forms an uninterrupted closed contour around the central axis X30, X4.

[0097] Preferably, and as is visible on the figures 3, 4 , 10 , 19 And 20, the core 4 is made up for more than 90% of its mass, preferably for more than 95% of its mass, more preferably for more than 98% of its mass, or even for the entirety - i.e. 100% - of its mass, of a single single-piece shell 34, with a circular base, centered on the central axis X30, X4, and which comprises at least the tubular wall 30.

[0098] Core 4 will thus have a particularly simple, robust and inexpensive structure to manufacture.

[0099] The tubular wall 30 preferably has a full thickness E30, that is to say that the ratio between the possible volume of void (cavities) and the volume of full material, in the region of the space which extends between the exchange face 32 and the receiving face 31, is zero, or substantially zero, that is to say here at least less than 5%, or even less than 1%. This will in particular ensure efficient heat transfers, and in particular an efficient heat supply, by conduction through the thickness E30 of the tubular wall 30.

[0100] According to a preferred embodiment, said thickness E30 of the tubular wall 30 will be constant, the profile of the exchange face 32, considered in a fictitious plane normal to the central axis X30, X4, having the same shape as the profile of the receiving face 31, preferably a circular profile of constant radius.

[0101] The bore 33 of the ferrule 34 will preferably be completely clear, and in particular without stiffeners added and fixed on the internal face of the ferrule 34, and more particularly without stiffeners added on the internal face of the tubular wall 30.

[0102] Preferably, as clearly visible on the figures 3 et 4 , said bore 33 will axially pass through the core 4 from one side to the other, thus being open at both axial ends of said core 4. This will make it particularly easy for the thermal sources 23, 24 to have access to the exchange face 32, from the inside of the core 4.

[0103] As an indication, having regard to the thinness of the tubular wall 30, and more generally having regard to the thinness of the shell 34, the free volume of the bore 33 inside the core 4 may preferably represent more than 85%, preferably at least 90% of the total overall volume occupied by the core 4. Said overall volume corresponds here to the volume of the cylinder which is delimited radially by the radially external wall of the core 4, here therefore of the shell 34, and which extends axially from a first fictitious base plane normal to the central axis X4 and tangent to the first axial end of the core 4, here of the shell 34, to a second fictitious base plane normal to the central axis X4 and tangent to the second axial end of the core 4, here of the shell 34, axially opposite the first end.

[0104] The tubular wall 30, and preferably more generally the shell 34, will be made of a material chosen so as to have good thermal conductivity, typically equal to or greater than 20 W m -1< K -1< at 20°C, preferably equal to or greater than 40 W m -1< K -1< at 20°C, or even equal to or greater than 100 W m -1< K -1< at 20°C, and for example between 150 W m -1< K -1< and 200 W m -1< K -1< at 20°C.

[0105] Furthermore, in order to present good structural rigidity, the material constituting the tubular wall 30, and more generally the material constituting the shell 34, will preferably present a Young's modulus in tension equal to or greater than 70,000 MPa.

[0106] Preferably, the tubular wall 30, preferably the ferrule 34, and in particular if the ferrule 34 forms the core 4 as a whole in a single piece, will be made of a metal alloy, for example an aluminum alloy.

[0107] Preferably, and as is visible in particular on the figures 3, 4, 5 , 9 And 12, the core 4 has, in the axial extension of the receiving face 31, projecting axially from said receiving face 31, an annular coupling section 35 which has at least one of the following two arrangements, and preferably each of the following two arrangements: (i) a first arrangement according to which the coupling section 35 has, on its radially external face 35_out, on the one hand a shoulder 36 which is radially re-entrant relative to the receiving face 31, which shoulder 36 thus forms an axial limit of the receiving face 31 and an axial stop capable of stopping an axial MX+ insertion movement of the core 4 in at least one of the stations 3, 20, 21, and on the other hand a frustoconical portion 37 which axially precedes the shoulder 36, opposite the receiving face 31, to ensure centering of the core 4 relative at the station during said MX+ introduction movement, and (ii) a second arrangement according to which the coupling section 35 comprises,on its radially internal face 35_in which axially extends the exchange face 32, outside said exchange face 32, one or more gripping recesses 38, such as an annular groove 38, provided to allow said core 4 to be gripped by a gripping tool 108 which is mounted on a transfer device 100 making it possible to transport the core 4 from one station to another.,

[0108] Preferably, the annular coupling section 35 is formed in one piece with the tubular wall 30. Consequently, said coupling section 35 is preferably an integral part of the ferrule 34.

[0109] As is clearly visible on the figures 4, 5 And 9, the frustoconical portion 37 is connected to the tubular wall 30 by its wide base, so that the radially external face 35_out of the coupling section has a shape which converges towards the central axis X30, X4 as one moves away from the receiving face 31 and the corresponding shoulder 36 to go towards the axial end of the core 4 which is closest to said receiving face 31, and therefore closest to said shoulder 36.

[0110] It will be noted that the first arrangement, which provides a truncated portion 37 associated with a shoulder 36, is preferably used in particular to suitably position the core 4 within the cooking station 20.

[0111] Preferably, the annular groove 38 will be located axially outside and beyond the receiving face 31, so as not to encroach on the useful surface which is located radially on the back of said receiving face 31, and which is reserved for the exchange face 32. According to one possible arrangement, the annular groove 38 may start radially above the shoulder 36, and more particularly radially above the intersection between said shoulder and the frustoconical portion 37. Thus, more generally, it will be noted that the coupling section 35 advantageously does not interfere with the axial space of the core 4 which corresponds with the tubular wall 30, so as not to encroach on the receiving 31 and exchange 32 faces, nor consequently reduce the surface area of ​​said faces 31, 32 or interfere in their operation.

[0112] Furthermore, the internal face of the ferrule 34 may also have, preferably at the transition between the exchange face 32 and the annular groove 38, a collar 39 which projects radially into the interior of the bore 33. The presence of said collar 39 makes it possible in particular to avoid weakening of the core 4 radially in line with the step formed by the shoulder 36. Said collar 39 may also contribute to facilitating the docking of the gripping tool 108 in said annular groove 38, by materializing a wall of the annular groove 38. Still with the aim of facilitating the docking and engagement of the gripping tool 108 in the annular groove 38, the wall of the annular groove 38 which is situated axially opposite the collar 39 may preferably form a slope 38A which converges towards the bottom of said annular groove. 38, towards collar 39.

[0113] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the ferrule 34, and more generally the core 4, has a symmetrical shape with respect to a median plane PM which is normal to the central axis X4, X30 and which intersects the receiving face 31 at half the axial height H31 thereof, that is to say in practice a median plane which corresponds to the equatorial plane of the annular bandage 2. This being the case, one could also envisage, in absolute terms, a variant of ferrule 34 which is not symmetrical with respect to the median plane PM.

[0114] In any event, it will be noted that the ferrule 34 preferably comprises, as can be seen on the figures 3 et 4 , two coupling sections 35, 35', each located at one of the axial ends of the core 4, on either side axially of the tubular wall 30.

[0115] Each of said coupling sections 35, 35' will preferably be provided, as indicated above, with a shoulder 36, 36', a frustoconical portion 37, 37' and a gripping recess such as an annular groove 38, 38'.

[0116] Particularly preferably, the second coupling section 35' will have an arrangement which is symmetrical to the arrangement of the first coupling section 35 with respect to a plane normal to the central axis X4, preferably with respect to the median plane PM.

[0117] Advantageously, the choice of a symmetrical arrangement of the ferrule 34, and more particularly of the coupling sections 35, 35' will make it possible to produce the core 4 in a particularly simple shape, but will also make it possible to grasp, manipulate and use the core 4 indifferently in one direction or the other along the central axis X4, X30, which will simplify the implementation of said core 4, and more generally of the manufacturing method according to the invention.

[0118] Preferably, the maximum radial thickness of each coupling section 35, 35' will not exceed the thickness E30 of the tubular wall 30. More preferably, and more generally, the ferrule 34 will have at all points, over the entire axial length occupied by the ferrule 34, a wall thickness which is equal to or less than the thickness E30 of the tubular wall 30, that is to say a thickness which will be equal to or less than 40 mm, preferably equal to or less than 25 mm, or even equal to or less than 15 mm. Thus, the ferrule 34 forming the core 4 will be particularly thin and light.

[0119] According to a possible preferred dimensioning criterion, the ferrule 34, or even preferably the core 4 in its entirety, will be entirely contained in a fictitious gauge envelope, which is formed by a portion of a straight cylinder with a circular base, centered on the central axis X4, X30, and which extends from a first internal gauge radius whose value is between 135 mm and 480 mm, first internal radius which corresponds in practice to the radius of the narrowest passage of the bore 33, and therefore preferably to the internal radius of the coupling section 35 (where appropriate, the smallest internal radius of the coupling section if the internal radius of the coupling section varies along or around the axis), to a second external gauge radius whose value is equal to the value of the internal gauge radius increased by a value called “radial gauge thickness” which is non-zero, preferably greater than or equal to 8 mm, or even equal to or greater than 10 mm,and in any event less than or equal to 50 mm, preferably less than or equal to 30 mm, or even less than or equal to 20 mm.,

[0120] Preferably, the first thermal source 23, used by the cooking station 20, comprises a plurality of heating sectors 40, said heating sectors 40 being designed so as to be applied against the exchange face 32, from the inside of the core 4.

[0121] Each heating sector 40 advantageously forms a solid block, which covers an angular sector representing a portion of the circumference of the exchange face 32, and whose radially external face 40_out, which comes into contact with the exchange face 32, in centrifugal radial support, preferably has a curved shape, here generally concave and for example in the arc of a cylinder, which is conjugated to said exchange face 32, here generally concave, in order to match said exchange face 32. As such, the radius of curvature of the radially external face 40_out of the heating sector, considered in a plane normal to the central axis X4, is preferably equal to the radius R32 of the exchange face 32.

[0122] Preferably, the first thermal source will comprise six to twelve heating sectors 40, preferably eight heating sectors 40, distributed in azimuth, preferably equally distributed in azimuth, around the central axis X4, X30, opposite the circumference of the exchange face 32, as can be seen on the figures 10 And 13 .

[0123] Preferably, said heating sectors 40 will be identical to each other, for convenience of production and for the purpose of interchangeability.

[0124] Preferably, said heating sectors 40 each carry at least one electrical heating resistor 41, as is notably visible by transparency on the figure 7 .

[0125] The electrical heating resistor 41 will be designed and sized to be able to bring and maintain the heating sector 40 at a temperature deemed adequate to obtain the cooking of the annular bandage 2, typically in a temperature range as mentioned above, and therefore for example at a temperature between 150°C and 180°C.

[0126] Preferably, the path of the electrical heating resistor 41 through the heating sector 40 is not rectilinear, but follows a sinuous line which preferably has several lobes 42 so as to best cover the radially external surface 40_out, and more generally the volume, of the heating sector 40.

[0127] Whatever the shape of the first thermal source 23, and in particular when the latter comprises heating sectors 40 as described above, said first thermal source 23, and more particularly said heating sectors 40, are designed so as to occupy during the cooking operation, then to release after the cooking operation, a contact surface on the exchange face 32, called “useful heating surface”, which represents axially at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, preferentially at least 90%, or even at least 95% of the axial height H31 of the receiving face 31 covered by the annular bandage 2, and angularly, in azimuthal coverage around the central axis X30, at least 270 degrees, preferably at least 300 degrees, or even at least 330 degrees.

[0128] Thus, the first thermal source 23, and more particularly the heating sectors 40, will cover almost the entire back of the receiving face 31, which will maximize the efficiency of the heat supply to the annular bandage 2 by conduction through the tubular wall 30.

[0129] It will be noted that the cumulative angular coverage of the heating sectors 40, considered as a whole, around the central axis X4, X30 will advantageously be as extensive as possible, and therefore as close as possible to a total coverage over 360 degrees. Indeed, the only interruptions of said cumulative angular coverage will correspond to the fractionation clearances J_ang which separate two by two the adjacent heating sectors 40, when said heating sectors 40 are in contact with the exchange face 32, as can be seen on the figure 13 . Preferably, said fractionation games J_ang will each be less than 10 degrees, preferably each less than 5 degrees, or even each less than 3 degrees, and for example each equal to 2 degrees.

[0130] Advantageously, the invention makes it possible to make the best use of the exchange face 32, both for cooking and for the cooling necessary for extraction.

[0131] Preferably, the core 4, as well as the first and second thermal sources 23, 24, will be dimensioned for this purpose so as (i) on the one hand to maximize the ratio between, in the numerator, the surface area of ​​the exchange face 32, considered as the cylinder whose radius is equal to the average radius R32 of the exchange face 32 and the axial height is equal to the common height Hc on which said exchange face 32 axially overlaps the receiving face 31, and, in the denominator, the surface area of ​​said receiving face 31, considered as the cylinder whose radius is equal to the average radius R31 of said receiving face, and the height is equal to the axial height H31 of said receiving face, and (ii) on the other hand to maximize the proportion of the exchange face 32 which is effectively exploited by the thermal sources 23, 24.

[0132] Thus, preferably, the core 4, as well as the cooking 20 and extraction 21 stations, and their respective heat sources 23, 24, are arranged so that, during a manufacturing cycle of a bandage 2, the first heat source 23 of the cooking station 20 alternately covers then uncovers a first surface area of ​​the exchange face 32, called the “useful heating surface area”, then the second heat source 24 of the extraction station 21 alternately covers then uncovers a second surface area of ​​the exchange face 32, called the “useful cooling surface area”, and that the ratio between on the one hand the smallest of said first and second useful surfaces of the exchange face and on the other hand the surface area of ​​the receiving face 31 covered by the manufactured bandage is equal to or greater than 70%, preferably equal to or greater than 80%, or even equal to or greater than 90%.In practice, to comply with this criterion, it will be necessary in particular to ensure cumulatively that the thickness E30 of the tubular wall is less than a certain threshold, proportionally to the radius R31 of the receiving face 31, that the common height Hc over which the exchange face 32 and the receiving face 31 overlap axially exceeds a predetermined percentage of the axial height H31 of the receiving face 31, and that each of the first and second thermal sources cooperates with a proportion of the total available surface area of ​​the exchange face 32 which is greater than a given threshold.

[0133] According to a preferred characteristic which may constitute an invention in its own right, the cooking station 20 comprises a cooking mold 50 which is designed to delimit a closed cooking chamber 51 inside which the assembly formed by the core 4 and the raw annular bandage 2A is placed to carry out the cooking operation, and the invention allows the core 4 to “drop” the first heating thermal source 23 after the cooking operation and to leave, in a way “abandon”, said first heating thermal source 23 within the cooking station 20, and more particularly to store, after removal of the core 4, said first heating thermal source 23 in the closed cooking chamber 51, at a temperature called “waiting temperature” which is relatively high, preferably close to the cooking temperature, for example between 150°C and 180°C, and in any case at a waiting temperature which is strictly higher,here much higher than the temperature to which the core 4 is cooled in the extraction station 21. Thus, the first heating thermal source 23, here more particularly the heating sectors 40, can be kept safe in the cooking enclosure 51 and thus maintain a high temperature without significant energy input, while waiting for the next cooking operation, while moreover the core 4 will be cooled and separated from the cooked annular bandage 2B in the extraction station 21. Thus, a loss of energy from the heating thermal source 23 between two successive cooking operations will be avoided.,

[0134] As is particularly visible on the figures 6 And 8 à 13, the cooking station 20 preferably comprises a cooking mold 50 designed to delimit a cooking enclosure 51 which is intended to receive and contain the assembly formed by the core 4 and the raw annular bandage 2A in order to carry out the cooking operation.

[0135] Said cooking mold 50 comprises for this purpose a lower plate 52, on which the core 4 rests, an external crown 53 designed to surround the radially external face of the bandage 2 to be cooked, and an upper plate 54 which cooperates with the external crown 53, axially opposite the lower plate 52, to close the cooking enclosure 51.

[0136] Preferably, the upper plate 54 and the external crown 53 will be fixed to each other so as to form the same mobile assembly, of the removable cover type, which will close on the lower plate 52, and, more particularly, on the core 4 previously placed on said lower plate 52, in order to cover the core 4 carrying the annular bandage 2 to be cooked.

[0137] Said mobile assembly will preferably be guided in translation along the central axis X4, X2, here preferably in vertical translation as is visible on the figure 3 .

[0138] Alternatively, it could be provided that the external crown 53 remains on the lower plate 52 and that only the upper plate 54 forms the removable, axially movable cover.

[0139] Whatever the variant chosen, the external crown 53 preferably comprises a plurality of blocks 53A distributed in azimuth all around the central axis X4, X30 and which have, opposite the cavity of the baking mold 50 receiving the annular tire 2, the negative imprint of the sculpture shapes that it is desired to give to the tread within the baked annular tire 2B.

[0140] As indicated above, the first thermal source 23 comprises a plurality of heating sectors 40, preferably each carrying at least one electrical heating resistor 41.

[0141] Said heating sectors 40 are preferably arranged in the center of the cooking chamber 51 and placed under the control of a deployment mechanism 55 which is designed to place said heating sectors 40 alternately in a deployed configuration, in which said heating sectors 40 are pressed in centrifugal radial compression against the exchange face 32 of the core 4, as illustrated in the figures 11, 12 , 13 , and a retracted configuration, in which said heating sectors 40 are placed radially set back from the exchange face 32, as illustrated in the figures 8 , 9 et 10 , so that, after the cooking operation, the core 4 can be removed from said cooking chamber 51 by operating an axial displacement of said core 4 relative to said heating sectors 40, and leave said heating sectors 40 in the cooking station 20, more preferably leave said heating sectors 40 waiting inside the cooking chamber 51, while the core 4 carrying the cooked annular bandage 2B, coming from the cooking chamber 51, is conveyed towards, then cooled by, the extraction station 21.

[0142] In the retracted configuration, a non-zero radial clearance J_rad, preferably between 5 mm and 8 mm, is created between the location of the radially internal exchange face 32 of the core 4 and the radially external faces 40_out of the heating sectors 40, as is clearly visible on the figure 9 .

[0143] This non-zero radial clearance J_rad is advantageously sufficient to allow the core 4 carrying the annular bandage 2 to slide axially relative to the heating sectors 40, and to axially overlap said heating sectors, without catching said heating sectors.

[0144] More particularly, this non-zero radial clearance J_rad is sufficient to allow the core 4 and the raw annular bandage 2A to be engaged, before the baking operation, around all of the heating sectors 40, between the radially external faces 40_out of said heating sectors 40 and the location of the radially internal face of the crown 53, by performing an axial introduction movement MX+ which stops when the shoulder 36 of the core 4 abuts against the lower plate 52, so that the heating sectors 40 are inside the bore 33 of the core, opposite the exchange face 32.

[0145] This same non-zero radial clearance J_rad is also sufficient to then allow, after the baking operation, the core 4 and the baked annular bandage 2B to be released from all of the heating sectors 40, according to an axial MX- removal movement, here in the opposite direction to the MX+ introduction movement.

[0146] In the deployed configuration, this radial clearance J_rad is caught up to become zero, as seen in the figure 12 , so that, during the cooking operation, the heating sectors 40 are in contact with the exchange face 32, advantageously over the entire surface area of ​​their radially external faces 40_out.

[0147] It will be noted that, preferably, the cooking enclosure 51 is open, here preferably by placing the mobile assembly comprising the upper plate 54 and the external crown 53 in the open configuration as illustrated on the left part of the figure 3 , only when it is necessary to access the interior of the cooking chamber 51 to introduce into said cooking chamber 51 a core 4 carrying a raw annular bandage 2A for the cooking operation or on the contrary to extract from said cooking chamber 51 a core 4 carrying a cooked annular bandage 2B after the cooking operation, while said cooking chamber 51 will otherwise be, the rest of the time, in closed configuration, so as to cover all the heating sectors 40, here preferably by bringing the mobile assembly against the lower plate 52 as illustrated on the right part of the figure 3 .

[0148] Thus, the cooking chamber 51 is kept closed both during the cooking operation, during which said cooking chamber 51 is said to be “full” in that it contains not only the heating sectors 40 but also the core 4 carrying the annular bandage 2, and during the waiting phases between two successive cooking operations, during which the cooking chamber 51 is said to be “empty”, and in particular “empty of core”, in that it no longer contains a core 4, but still contains all of the heating sectors 40. This keeping of the heating sectors 40 warm advantageously makes it possible to avoid heat loss and therefore unnecessary overconsumption of energy.

[0149] Preferably, the deployment mechanism 55 comprises a first pusher 56 mounted axially movable and having a plurality of first ramps 57 which are inclined in a first direction of inclination relative to the main axis X4, X30 and which each cooperate with a heating sector 40, and a second pusher 58 mounted axially movable and having a plurality of second ramps 59 which are inclined relative to the main axis X4, X30 in a second direction of inclination of sign opposite to the first direction of inclination and which each cooperate with one of said heating sectors 40, so that the radial movement of the heating sectors 40 is controlled, making it possible to pass from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration and vice versa, by axially moving the first pusher 56 and the second pusher 58 away from each other, respectively by axially moving the first pusher 56 and the second pusher 58 closer to each other.

[0150] In a particularly preferential manner, as is visible on the figures 8 à 13 , the first pusher 56 is frustoconical, so that the plurality of first ramps 57 is formed by the radially external conical wall of said first pusher 56.

[0151] Likewise, the second pusher 58 is preferably frustoconical, so that the plurality of second ramps 59 is formed by the radially external conical wall of said second pusher 58.

[0152] As is clearly visible on the figures 8 , 9 11 et 12 , said first and second truncated pushers 56, 58 are preferably mounted in opposition by their wide base, so as to form as a whole a bi-cone, the (virtual) apexes of which point towards the outside of the mold 50, each on the side of their respective pusher 56, 58 along the main axis X4, X30.

[0153] Said first and second pushers 56, 58 are centered on the central axis X4, X30, and preferably have substantially a shape of revolution, or at least a shape invariant by rotation of order N around the central axis X4, N being the whole number of heating sectors 40 which are distributed angularly around the central axis X4 to constitute the first thermal source 23.

[0154] Here, in the arrangement illustrated in the figures, the first pusher 56 forms an upper pusher which is placed vertically above the second pusher 58, which forms a lower pusher.

[0155] Furthermore, each heating sector 40 is preferably fixed on a sole 60 which cooperates on the one hand with one of the first ramps 57 of the first pusher 56 and on the other hand with one of the corresponding second ramps 59 of the second pusher 58.

[0156] For this purpose, said sole 60 has a concave shape with two intersecting slopes, combined with the inclined shapes of the ramps 57, 59. More particularly, the sole 60 will form an angular sector, the angular coverage of which around the central axis X2, X4 will preferably be equal to the angular coverage of the corresponding heating sector 40, and the radially internal face of which will be hollowed out so as to form, on the angular sector in question, the corresponding portion of a double truncated imprint, combined with the truncated pushers 56, 58.

[0157] Preferably, the sole 60, here the upper half of said sole 60, is connected to the first pusher 56 by means of a first pad 61 which slides in a first groove 62 which extends along the slope common to the sole 60 and to the first pusher 56, that is to say along the first ramp 57. Said first groove 62 preferably has a T-shaped or dovetail section.

[0158] Likewise, the sole 60 is also connected, here in its lower half, to the second pusher 58, by means of a second pad 63 which slides in a second groove 64 which extends along the slope common to the sole 60 and to the second pusher 58, that is to say along the second ramp 59. Said second groove 64 preferably has a T-shaped or dovetail section.

[0159] The system of pads 61, 63 and grooves 62, 64 will advantageously make it possible to guide the heating sectors 40 on the pushers 56, 58, but also to ensure a radial connection ensuring the centripetal radial return of the heating sectors 40 when the pushers 56, 58 approach each other to pass from the deployed configuration to the retracted configuration. Of course, the shape of the section of the first and second grooves 62, 64, here in T, will therefore be chosen so that the pads 61, 63 remain radially captive in their groove 62, 64.

[0160] Preferably, as seen on the figures 8 And 11 , the first pusher 56 and the second pusher 58 are mounted on a motorized carriage 65 which is mounted to move in axial translation, here vertical, along the main axis X4, X30, relative to the lower plate 52 of the cooking mold 50, lower plate 52 which is itself preferably mounted fixed on the frame of the cooking station 20.

[0161] The second pusher 58 is preferably fixed integrally to the carriage 65, so as to follow the axial movements of said carriage 65.

[0162] The carriage 65 preferably carries a differential displacement member 66, such as a jack 66, the rod 67 of which is mounted to move in axial translation relative to the carriage 65. The first pusher 56 can then advantageously be fixed to and carried by said rod 67, so as to be able to execute, relative to the carriage 65, and therefore relative to the second pusher 58, a differential axial displacement.

[0163] Thus, it is possible to axially separate the first and second pushers 56, 58 from each other, and therefore to radially deploy the heating sectors 40, by executing simultaneously, as can be seen in the figure 11 , on the one hand a first axial movement of the carriage 65, here descending, towards the outside of the cooking mold 50, and on the other hand a second axial movement of the rod 67, in the opposite direction, here ascending.

[0164] Conversely, the pushers 56, 58 can be returned towards each other, and therefore the heating sectors 40 can be radially retracted, by axially raising the carriage 65, towards the inside of the cooking mold 50, while the rod 67 is returned inside said carriage 65 according to an axial movement in the opposite direction, here downward.

[0165] It will be noted that, advantageously, such a deployment mechanism 55 makes it possible to compensate for the opposing axial force components exerted respectively by the first and second pushers 56, 58 against the heating sectors 40, since each heating sector 40 cooperates simultaneously, thanks to its sole 60, with each of the two pushers 56, 58, and that the concave shape of said soles 60 means that each heating sector 40 therefore simultaneously receives on the one hand, on a first inclined face of the radially internal face of the sole 60, the axial force component generated by the first pusher 56 in one direction, and on the other hand, on the other inclined face of the radially internal face of the sole 60, the axial force component generated by the second pusher 58 in the opposite direction, so that the resultant of said axial components, of opposite sign, is substantially canceled within each sole 60, and that only the radial force component remains,useful for the radial movement of the heating sectors 40.,

[0166] Thus, the deployment mechanism 55, by balancing the action of the two opposing pushers 56, 58, ultimately does not exert any resulting axial force on the heating sectors 40, which would tend to modify the axial position of said heating sectors 40 within the cooking mold 50, to shear the bandage 2, or even to tear said heating sectors 40 and / or the core 4 out of the cooking mold 50.

[0167] The cooking station 20 is therefore particularly respectful of the core 4 and the annular bandage 2.

[0168] Furthermore, according to a preferred characteristic which may constitute an invention as such, the cooking station 20 may have an adjustment system 69 making it possible to adjust the vertical position, along the central axis X4, X30, of the first heating thermal source 23, here therefore of the heating sectors 40, relative to the lower plate 52 of the cooking mold 50, and more particularly relative to a fixed table 68, here horizontal, which receives the lower plate 52 of the cooking mold 50, and therefore relative to the core 4, and more particularly relative to the median plane PM of said core 4.

[0169] Thus, it will advantageously be possible to adapt on a case-by-case basis the height at which the horizontal median plane PM60 which is common to all the soles 60 is positioned, relative to the median plane PM of the core 4, before deploying the heating sectors 40, and therefore to define on a case-by-case basis, relative to the median plane PM of the core 4, the vertical position of the axial range in which said soles 60, and consequently the heating sectors 40, will be deployed.

[0170] Such vertical adjustment capacity advantageously makes it possible to use the same deployment mechanism 55 and / or the same set of heating sectors 40, of given axial height, for different formats of cores 4, which are intended to manufacture bandages of different widths W2, and which consequently have receiving faces 31 of different axial heights H31, and therefore exchange faces 32 of different axial heights H32.

[0171] The adjustment system 69 can preferably be formed by an elevator 69 which supports the soles 60 and makes it possible to adjust the altitude of these, and therefore more generally the overall altitude of the deployment mechanism 55, relative to the fixed table 68, as shown diagrammatically in the figure 8 . As an indication, the useful travel of the elevator 69, which defines the amplitude of the available vertical adjustment, may be between 50 mm and 200 mm, between 80 mm and 150 mm, and for example equal to 100 mm.

[0172] The carriage 65 may advantageously be mounted “floating”, that is to say in free vertical suspension on the elevator 69, by means of the set of soles 60 which are supported by said elevator 69. The carriage 65 will thus not have to come directly into engagement with the table 68 or more generally with the frame of the cooking station 20.According to such an arrangement, to radially deploy the heating sectors 40, simply by activating the jack 66, an axial displacement, along the main axis X4, X30, here a downward vertical displacement, of the carriage 65 and the second pusher 58 relative to the soles 60, and therefore simultaneously an axial displacement, here upward vertical, of the rod 67 of the jack 66 and therefore of the first pusher 56 relative to these same soles 60, while said soles 60 are, while they slide radially, supported by the elevator 69 and therefore maintained at a constant altitude relative to the table 68 and therefore relative to the cooking mold 50 and to the core 4 resting on said table 68, altitude which corresponds to the axial position which had been previously defined by the adjustment system 69 and which remains constant during the radial movement of the soles 60 and their associated heating sectors 40.

[0173] The second thermal source 24, refrigerant, used by the extraction station 21, is preferably formed by a forced air flow 70, which flows in contact with the exchange face 32, as is visible on the figures 14, 15 And 17 .

[0174] The forced air flow 70 coming into contact with the exchange face 32 may be air at ambient temperature, or possibly air which has been previously cooled to have a temperature lower than ambient temperature.

[0175] For information purposes, the forced air flow 70 coming into contact with the exchange face 32 may thus have a temperature of between 15°C and 35°C.

[0176] Advantageously, the use of a forced air flow 70, in particular if the air is simply taken at ambient temperature from the workshop where the installation 1 is located, makes it possible to achieve “dry” cooling of the core 4, which in particular does not require a hydraulic circuit, and consequently presents no risk of water splashes or heat transfer fluid leaks.

[0177] It will be noted in this respect that, more generally, the heating and cooling of the core 4 are preferably carried out by “dry” techniques, using on the one hand one or more electric heating techniques, by means of electric heating resistors, which act here by conduction for the heating sectors 40, and preferably by radiation for preheating the cores 4 in a drying station 91 as will be detailed below, and on the other hand an air cooling technique.

[0178] In this case, air cooling is all the more suitable since the core 4 used in accordance with the invention has a thin thickness, and more generally a low mass.

[0179] As can be seen in particular on the figures 14, 15 And 17 , the extraction station 21 comprises a central barrel 71, onto which the core 4 carrying the baked annular bandage 2B is threaded so as to delimit, between the radially external face 71_out of said central barrel 71 and the radially internal exchange face 32 of the tubular wall 30 of the core 4, an annular flow path 72.

[0180] The central barrel 71 is preferably centered on the central axis X4, X30, and therefore coaxial with the core 4 when said core 4 is located in the extraction station 21.

[0181] The radially external face 71_out of the central barrel 71 preferably has a shape matching that of the exchange face 32, and more preferably a straight cylindrical shape with a circular base.

[0182] Said flow path 72 is connected to a suction device 73 by means of a manifold 74, so that, when the suction device 73 is activated, a forced air flow 70 is created which enters the flow path 72 through an inlet zone 72_in located at a first axial end of the annular flow path, forced air flow 70 which travels along said flow path 72 along the exchange face 32, then which is discharged through the manifold 74 at a second axial end of said flow path, located axially opposite the first axial end.

[0183] For information purposes, the radial width E72 of the flow path 72, i.e. the distance which radially separates the exchange face 32 of the core 4 from the external face 71_out of the central barrel, is preferably between 5 mm and 20 mm.

[0184] This provides, thanks to the central barrel 71, effective channeling and acceleration of the forced air flow 70 in the flow path 72, with a good compromise between cooling efficiency and moderation of pressure losses, and therefore moderation of the energy consumption of the suction device 73. Advantageously, the relatively high speed of the forced air flow 70 through the flow path 72, and therefore in contact with the exchange face, makes it possible to quickly extract the heat from the core 4.

[0185] For information purposes, the flow rate of the forced air flow 70, generated by the suction device 73, will preferably be between 4,000 m3 / hour and 6,000 m3 / hour.

[0186] Preferably, when the core 4 is in position around the central barrel 71 for the cooling operation, so that the central barrel 71 occupies the bore 33 of the core 4, said central barrel 71 axially overlaps the core 4, and more particularly the tubular wall 30 of said core, over a common axial height which represents at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, preferentially at least 90%, or even at least 95% of the axial height H31 of the receiving face 31 covered by the baked annular bandage 2B.

[0187] Thus, the extent of the exchange face 32 in contact with which the forced air flow 70 will circulate will be maximized, that is to say the “useful refrigerating surface area” mentioned above.

[0188] For information purposes, said useful cooling surface area may thus represent axially at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, preferentially at least 90%, or even at least 95% of the axial height H31 of the receiving face 31 covered by the annular bandage 2, and angularly, in azimuthal coverage around the central axis X4, X30, at least 300 degrees, preferably at least 330 degrees, or even 360 degrees.

[0189] Preferably, as seen on the figures 14 à 18 , the extraction station 21 comprises a lifting plate 75 which carries the central barrel 71 and which is intended to receive the core 4 when said core 4 is separated from the baked annular bandage 2B.

[0190] Said lifting plate 75 is mounted axially movable, here in a vertical direction.

[0191] The extraction station 21 further preferably comprises a horizontal receiving table 76 which is pierced with an opening 77. Said opening 77 is arranged so as on the one hand to allow the free passage of the central barrel 71 and the core 4 through said receiving table 76, and on the other hand to have an annular retaining rim 77A which forms an axial stop against the baked annular bandage 2B.

[0192] Thus, when the core 4 carrying the baked bandage 2B is placed in position in the extraction station 21 to carry out the cooling operation, the core 4 is suspended in the void of the opening 77, above the lifting plate 75, being retained only by the baked annular bandage 2B which rests on the receiving table 76, resting on the retaining rim 77, as can be seen in particular in the figure 17 .

[0193] Of course, the diameter of the opening 77 must be sufficiently wide to be strictly greater than the external diameter of the core 4, but also sufficiently narrow to provide stable and resistant support for the baked annular bandage 2B. As such, the diameter of the opening 77 will preferably be greater by a value between 2 mm and 6 mm than the external diameter of the core 4, that is to say here twice the radius R31 of the receiving face 31.

[0194] The extraction station 21 also comprises a cap 78, which is designed to bear axially against the core 4, preferably on the end edge of said core 4 which is located axially opposite the receiving table 76 and the lifting plate 75.

[0195] More particularly, said cap 78 is designed to come into contact over the entire circumference of the end edge of the core 4, formed here, on the figures 15, 16 , 17 et 18 , by the free and annular end of the second coupling section 35'.

[0196] Preferably, said cap 78 is annular in shape and more preferably cylindrical in shape with a circular base.

[0197] The cover 78 is preferably provided with vents 79 which allow the air intended for cooling to pass through said cover 78, here more preferably which allow the air to pass radially through the radial thickness of said cover 78, to enter the flow path 72 delimited between the central barrel 71 and the tubular wall 30 of the core 4.

[0198] Advantageously, such a cap 78 fulfills the function of a silencer, by making it possible to attenuate the whistling noise which is generated by the suction of the forced air flow 70 through the flow path 72. For this purpose, the contact, here annular, between the cap 78 and the end edge of the core 4 may be sealed or substantially airtight.

[0199] Next and above all, said cap 78 preferably forms the ejector member 25, which here makes it possible to axially push the core 4 through the opening 77 of the receiving table 76, while the baked annular bandage 2B is held in abutment on the retaining rim 77A of said opening 77 of the receiving table, so as to extract, here axially, the core 4 from the baked annular bandage 2B.

[0200] The 78 cap can therefore advantageously fulfill a dual function, first as a silencer, then as an ejector organ.

[0201] In its axial movement relative to the baked annular bandage 2B and relative to the receiving table 76, under the thrust of the ejector member 25, the core 4 is accompanied by the lifting plate 75 which receives and supports said core 4, as is clearly visible on the figure 18 .

[0202] More particularly, as soon as the cooling operation has made it possible to create sufficient radial clearance between the receiving face 31 of the core 4 and the radially internal face of the baked annular bandage 2B, the cap 78 forces the axial depression of the core 4 through the annular bandage 2, in the direction of the lifting plate 75, so that the core 4 comes into contact with said lifting plate 75, here by the free end of its first coupling section 35, then continues its axial travel, under the thrust of the cap 78, gradually pushing back the lifting plate 75, which descends progressively to accompany the movement of the core 4, until the core 4 is completely free of the annular bandage 2.

[0203] Thus, the released core 4 is finally found on the lowered lifting plate 75, while the baked annular bandage 2B released from its core 4 is found on the receiving table 76 which overhangs said lifting plate 75.

[0204] The ejector member 25, here more particularly the cap 78, can be guided in axial translation by a gantry 80 comprising a plurality of vertical posts 81, for example three vertical posts equally distributed at 120 degrees from each other around the central axis X4, X30.

[0205] The ejector member 25, here the cap 78, can be driven in axial translation by any suitable motorized drive system 82, preferably a screw-nut type drive system 82.

[0206] Preferably, the ejector member 25 and the lifting plate 75 will be controlled according to a master / slave relationship, the descent of the slave plate 75 adapting to the movement requirements imposed by the master ejector member 25.

[0207] The dimensions of the cap 78 will of course be adapted to form the ejector member 25. As such, to allow the cap 78 to slide inside the annular bandage 2 without interfering with said annular bandage or damaging the latter, the overall external radius of the cap 78 will be, slightly but strictly, less than the radius R31 of the receiving face 31 of the core 4 considered at the temperature at which the extraction operation is carried out.

[0208] It will also be noted that it is advantageous in this respect that the coupling section which cooperates with the ejector 25, here the second coupling section 35', forms a radial tightening relative to the tubular wall 30 and therefore relative to the receiving face 31 of the core, since this allows the ejector member 25 to push the core 4 without interfering with the annular bandage 2, by taking an annular and therefore well-balanced support on the free edge of said coupling section 35'.

[0209] Preferably, the installation 1 also comprises a buffer station 85 which allows temporary storage of cores 4, in particular reserve cores 4 which are empty of annular bandage and / or cores 4 carrying a raw annular bandage 2A, as well as temporary storage of cooked annular bandages 2B extracted from their core 4.

[0210] Said buffer station 85 preferably comprises for this purpose, as can be seen in the figure 19 , at least one mast 86 which is provided with a plurality of storage locations 87, 97.

[0211] Preferably, among said storage locations 87, 97, the buffer station 85 includes at least a first type of storage locations 87, called “core locations” 87, which are arranged to each receive at least one core 4, empty or carrying a raw annular bandage 2A.

[0212] Preferably, said core locations 87 each comprise for this purpose at least one suspension branch 88, preferably at least two suspension branches 88, which are arranged in such a way that the core 4 to be stored can be suspended by engaging the central recess of said core, i.e. here the bore 33, on said at least one suspension branch or said at least two suspension branches 88.

[0213] Said suspension benches 88 preferably project radially or substantially radially relative to the mast 86, and preferably extend horizontally, or possibly at a slight slope of 3 degrees to 10 degrees relative to the horizontal, here an ascending slope which increases as one moves away from the mast 86.

[0214] According to a preferred characteristic which may constitute an invention in its own right, the suspension branches 88 may be provided with a hooking member, of the tenon or collar type, which projects radially on one and / or the other of said suspension branches 88, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the suspension branch 88 in question, and which is arranged so as to be able to be introduced into and cooperate with the annular groove 38 of the core 4 which is engaged in the core location 87, so as to prevent the stored core 4 from slipping and falling.

[0215] Preferably, among the storage locations 87, 97, the buffer station 85 includes a second type of storage locations 97, called “bandage locations” 97, which are arranged to each receive at least one cured annular bandage 2B and, particularly preferably, to be able to rotate the cured annular bandage 2B in order to avoid ovalization of said cured annular bandage 2B under the effect of gravity.

[0216] Preferably, said tire locations 97 are provided for this purpose with rotating support branches 98, preferably two rotating support branches 98, of the roller type, which are designed to carry the cured annular tire 2B by supporting the radially external face of said cured annular tire 2B, and to drive said cured annular tire 2B in rotation on itself around its central axis (X2). Here, the cured annular tire 2B being stored so that its central axis X2 extends substantially horizontally, said rotating support branches 98 will preferably be located at least in the lower half of said tire relative to the central axis X2, to carry the cured annular tire 2B from below.

[0217] Preferably, said tire locations 97 are also provided with at least one guide branch 99, and preferably at least two guide branches 99, preferably also rotatably mounted about their respective longitudinal axes, guide branches 99 which are arranged to engage in the central recess of said baked annular tire 2B and cooperate with the radially inner face of the baked annular tire 2B, preferably here at least in the upper half of said baked annular tire 2B relative to the central axis X2, to hold said baked annular tire 2B in place at the tire location 97 and guide said baked annular tire 2B during its rotation by the rotating support branches 98, here located at a lower altitude than said guide branches 99.

[0218] Advantageously, the cured annular bandage 2B can thus be stored while still hot within the buffer station 85, typically at a temperature of between 20°C and 120°C, and in particular at a temperature initially higher than 50°C, or even higher than 80°C, directly from the extraction station 21 where said cured annular bandage 2B has been separated from its core 4, and complete its vulcanization, and its cooling, at the bandage storage location 97, where said annular bandage 2 rests by its external face on the two contact lines provided by the two rotating support branches 98, without risk of deforming, since said annular bandage 2 is driven for as long as necessary in rotation around its central axis X2 by said support branches 98 which each rotate on itself around their longitudinal axis and mesh by friction on the external face of the annular bandage 2,while the guide branches 99 guide the rotation of said annular bandage 2 from the inside of the latter.,

[0219] Preferably, the rotating support branches 98 and / or the guide branches 99 of the location for the bandage 97 may be slightly inclined, for example from 2 degrees to 10 degrees, relative to the horizontal, so as to descend gently towards the mast 86, and thus allow the annular bandage 2 to come and remain, during its rotation, in stable support against a reference stop 120.

[0220] Said reference stop 120 may for example be formed by a finger 120, possibly provided with a roller, which projects transversely relative to one and / or the other of said support branches 98 and / or guide branches 99, preferably so that the edge of the annular bandage 2B can come to bear, sliding or preferably rolling, against said finger 120.

[0221] By thus creating a well-type bandage location 97, which allows the baked annular bandage 2B to position itself spontaneously, and to remain, in the hollow of said bandage location 97, any accidental ejection of the baked annular bandage 2B from said bandage location 97 will advantageously be avoided.

[0222] The rotation of the baked annular bandage 2B about its central axis X2 within its bandage storage location 97 is preferably relatively slow, for example between 0.5 rpm and 5 rpm.

[0223] It will be noted that, overall, the buffer station 85 is advantageously arranged to support the cores 4 from the inside, so as not to damage the receiving face 31 of said cores 4, nor where appropriate the raw annular bandage 2A carried by the core 4, and to support on the contrary the baked annular bandages 2B mainly or even exclusively from the outside, so as not to alter the surface condition of the internal face of said baked annular bandages 2B, and thus preserve said internal face with a view to the assembly, by gluing or by molding, of the radii of the bandage.

[0224] In absolute terms, the core locations 87 could be separated from the bandage locations 97 by distributing these locations by type on two separate masts. This being the case, the two types of storage locations 87, 97 will preferably be present and grouped on the same mast 86, to reduce the size and cost of the buffer station 85.

[0225] Preferably, and in particular to ensure better stability of the mast 86 by placing the most complex and heaviest mechanical components, such as the motorized rotating support branches 98, as close to the ground as possible, the locations for bandages 97 may be positioned in the lower part of the mast 86, typically in the lower half or third of the mast 86, and the upper part of the mast 86, typically at least the upper half or two-thirds of the mast 86, may be reserved for the locations for cores 87, as can be seen in the figure. figure 19 .

[0226] Preferably, the mast 86 may have several faces, each carrying one or more storage locations 87, 97, and be mounted in rotation, here around its vertical axis, so as to form a carousel, as illustrated in the figure 19 .

[0227] In this way, the buffer station 85 will thus be able to alternately present its different faces, and therefore the storage location 87, 97 which is to be accessed from among the plurality of existing storage locations 87, 97, opposite the transfer device 100 which conveys the cores 4 and the annular bandages 2 to the buffer station 85, then which recovers them to take them to another destination.

[0228] In order to avoid bending or tilting of the mast 86 when pitching, said mast 86 may be supported by stabilizing legs 89, preferably provided with casters 90 which rest on the ground and which are oriented so as to be able to roll on the ground to accompany the rotation of the mast 86 around its vertical axis.

[0229] Furthermore, the installation 1 preferably comprises a baking station 91, of the electric oven type, which makes it possible to preheat at least one, or preferably several empty cores 4 of bandage, and to keep said core(s) 4 at a temperature called the “preheating temperature” which is higher than the ambient temperature and lower than the baking temperature, said preheating temperature preferably being between 50°C and 100°C.

[0230] The cores 4 can thus be preheated before being transported to the assembly station 3 and receiving the raw annular bandage 2A.

[0231] Advantageously, the preheating operation will allow the assembly station 3 to place the tire components constituting the annular tire 2 on a core 4 that is already hot, and therefore already partially expanded, so that, after the operation of assembling the tire components on the core 4, the baking operation will only increase the temperature of the core 4 moderately compared to the preheating and assembly temperature, which will minimize the tendency of the core 4 to expand, and therefore will avoid generating during the baking operation excessively high expansion stresses against the tire 2, which, due to the presence of at least one hoop-type reinforcing component, is substantially inextensible in the circumferential direction of the core 4.

[0232] This will preserve the quality and integrity of bandage 2 and core 4.

[0233] Furthermore, the placement of the bandage components on a hot core 4 improves the tack of said bandage components, and therefore improves the adhesion of said bandage components to the core 4, which allows better control of the placement and winding of said bandage components on said core 4, and therefore ultimately the quality and performance of the annular bandage 2 obtained.

[0234] The installation 1 will preferably also comprise a finishing and control station 92 which is arranged to receive the cured annular bandage 2B, after vulcanization and cooling of the latter, to enable the annular bandage to be controlled, if necessary to be rectified, then to be removed from the installation 1.

[0235] For this purpose, said finishing and control station 92 may in particular include, as is visible on the figures 1 And 2, a weighing substation 93, making it possible to check, preferably automatically, the weight of the annular bandage 2.

[0236] The finishing and control station 92 may also include an airlock 94 which will allow an operator 95 to recover the annular bandage 2 and remove it from the installation 1, outside the closed perimeter delimited by the safety partitions 96 which surround the installation, and more particularly which surround all the stations of said installation 1.

[0237] Advantageously, the airlock 94 will also make it possible to check the appearance of the annular bandage 2, and may be provided with deburring equipment making it possible to rectify the surface of the annular bandage 2 if necessary.

[0238] Preferably, the installation 1 comprises a transfer device 100 provided with a robotic arm 101 which makes it possible to transport the core 4 successively from one station to another.

[0239] Said robotic arm 101 is preferably a six-axis anthropomorphic robot, which, in a manner known per se, comprises, as can be seen in the figures 20 et 22 , a base 102, carrying a first articulation 103 called “shoulder” forming a connection to at least two orthogonal pivot axes, followed by a first segment 104 called “arm” which carries a second articulation 105 called “elbow” preferably comprising at least one pivot axis to ensure the angular movement of a second segment 106 called “forearm” whose terminal end carries a third articulation 107 called “wrist” which is movable along three orthogonal pivot axes two by two, one of which is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the forearm 106. Said wrist 107 is also provided with a fixing base intended to receive a tool 108, such as a gripping tool 108.

[0240] Preferably, said robotic arm 101 serves at least the assembly station 3, the cooking station 20 and the extraction station 21, and more preferably all the stations of the installation 1, so as to be able to successively bring the core 4 to each of said stations.

[0241] Thus, in this case, a single robotic arm 101 can reach and serve the steaming station 91, the assembly station 3, the cooking station 20, the extraction station 21, the buffer station 85 and the finishing and control station 92, and therefore deposit or recover a core 4 and / or, as the case may be, an annular bandage 2 in each of said stations.

[0242] For this purpose, the robotic arm 101 will advantageously be installed in a central position in the installation 1, the different stations being distributed in azimuth, substantially in a circle, around the base of said robotic arm 101, as is clearly visible in the figure 1 .

[0243] The installation 1 will thus be particularly compact, and will allow rapid transfers of the cores 4 and the annular bandages 2 between the different stations, which will reduce the time of a manufacturing cycle. Similarly, it will thus be possible to initiate and manage several simultaneous manufacturing cycles within the same installation 1 by simultaneously implementing several cores 4 distributed over the different stations of the installation which are served by the same robotic arm 101.

[0244] According to a preferred characteristic which may constitute an invention in its own right, and as illustrated in the figures 20 à 24 , the robotic arm 101 carries a gripping tool 108 provided with a clamp 109 which comprises a plurality of jaws 110 which are mounted to move radially in distinct radial directions from one jaw 110 to the other, and which are arranged so as to be able to alternately either grip the core 4 from the inside, by exerting centrifugal clamping against a radially internal face of said core 4, as illustrated in the figures 20 et 21 , or grasp from the outside the baked annular bandage 2B, separated from its core 4, by carrying out a centripetal tightening on a radially external face of said baked annular bandage 2B, as illustrated in the figures 22 et 23 .

[0245] Thus, advantageously, a single gripping tool 108 can be used to handle and transport sometimes a core 4, sometimes a baked annular bandage 2B, which will in particular make it possible to successively recover the core 4 then the annular bandage 2, as separated and made available in the extraction station 21, or even to simultaneously manage in the same installation 1 several cores 4 - empty or carrying raw annular bandage 2A - and baked annular bandages 2B, without having to change the gripping tool 108.

[0246] The jaws 110 may be guided in radial translation by means of slides 111, preferably slides 111 equally distributed in a star shape around the central axis X2, X4, and driven in movement by a belt 112.

[0247] To synchronize the radial movements of the different jaws 110, and to be able to drive the jaws in radial displacement by means of a single and same gripper motor 116, said jaws 110 may all be driven by a single and same belt 112, here a toothed belt to avoid any desynchronization by slipping, belt 112 which will travel successively along the different slides 111 following a star-shaped path defined by a set of pulleys 113, here in particular toothed pulleys 113, as is clearly visible on the figure 24 .

[0248] The jaws 110 may for example be formed by L-shaped brackets, one branch of which, substantially parallel to the central axis X2, X4, will bear against the object to be gripped, core 4 or annular bandage 2, and the other branch, radial, will form the sliding carriage of the slide 111 or at the very least will be integral with the sliding carriage of the slide 111.

[0249] The jaws 110 will preferably have, on their radially external face, a radially projecting tenon 114 arranged to engage in the annular groove 38, 38' of the coupling section 35, 35' of the core 4, in order to ensure a solid grip and to prevent the core 4 from sliding axially out of the clamp 109, as is clearly visible in the figure 21 The tenon 114 may advantageously have a shape combined with that of the annular groove 38, 38', and in particular a counter-slope combined with the slope 38A of said groove.

[0250] Advantageously, the jaws 110 will engage on the coupling section 35, 35' forming the axial end of the core 4 by which the robotic arm 101, and more particularly the tool 108, approaches, approaches and penetrates axially into the core 4, so that even when the jaws 110 are engaged on the inside of the core 4, said jaws 110 will remain axially outside the zone covered axially by the tubular wall 30 of the core, and more particularly outside the zone of the bore 33 covered by the exchange face 32, so as in particular to keep said bore 33 sufficiently clear so as not to interfere with the positioning of the core 4 opposite the heating sectors 40 in the cooking station 20, during the execution of the axial introduction movement MX+.

[0251] Likewise, the jaws 110 engaged inside the core 4, on the coupling section 35, 35', will not interfere with the receiving face 31 of the core 4, so as not to damage the annular bandage 2 carried by said core 4, when the transfer device 100 transports said core 4 carrying an annular bandage 2, for example between the assembly station 3 and the cooking station 20, between the cooking station 20 and the extraction station 21, between the assembly station 3 and the buffer station 85, or between the buffer station 85 and the cooking station 20.

[0252] Furthermore, on their opposite face, that is to say on their radially internal face, the jaws 110 will preferably be provided with a flexible lining 115, for example made of elastomer materials of the EPDM type, so as to be able to exert a gentle centripetal support against the radially external face of the cured annular bandage 2B freed from its core 4, as can be seen on thefigure 23 , so as not to alter the radially external surface, and more particularly the tread, of said baked annular bandage 2B.

[0253] Of course, the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a bandage 2, and more particularly a method of manufacturing a bandage using the installation 1 described above.

[0254] Said method for manufacturing a tire comprises an assembly step (S2), during which a core 4 is placed in an assembly station 3 and one or more tire components are placed, preferably wound, on said core 4 in order to form a raw annular tire 2A, a first transfer step (S3) during which the core 4, carrying its raw annular tire 2A, is transported from the assembly station 3 to a baking station 20 remote from the assembly station 3, a baking step (S4) during which the assembly formed by said core 4 and the raw annular tire 2A placed in the baking station 20 is heated to obtain a baked annular tire 2B, a second transfer step (S5) during which the core 4 carrying the baked annular tire 2B is transported from the baking station 20 to an extraction station 21, remote from the baking station 20, then an extraction step (S6) during which,within the extraction station 21, the baked annular bandage 2B is separated from the core 4.,

[0255] It will be noted that the first transfer step (S3) from the assembly station 3 to the baking station 20 may possibly be executed in two phases, by first transferring the core 4 carrying the raw annular bandage 2A from the assembly station 3 to the buffer station 85, then, upon call from the baking station 20, from the buffer station 85 to the baking station 20. This may in particular be the case if the core 4 carrying the raw annular bandage 2A is made available by the assembly station 3 while the baking station 20 is not yet ready, for example if said baking station 20 is still occupied by another core (or here, two other cores).

[0256] According to the invention, and as already indicated above, the core 4 has a tubular wall 30 which extends along and around a central axis X30, and which extends in thickness E30, radially to said central axis, from a first radially external annular face, called the “receiving face” 31, which is intended to receive the tire component(s), to a second radially internal annular face, called the “exchange face” 32, which surrounds the central axis X30 and which is intended to allow heat exchanges between the tubular wall of the core 30 and heat sources 23, 24 external to said core.

[0257] According to the method, during the cooking step (S4), a first heating thermal source 23 is applied against the exchange face 32 in order to carry out the cooking operation, then said first thermal source 23 is dissociated from the core 4 so that the exchange face 32 is again free when the second transfer step (S5) towards the extraction station 21 is carried out.

[0258] Still according to the method, during the extraction step (S6), a second heat source 24, refrigerant, is placed in contact with the exchange face 32 thus released, in order to cool said core 4, so as to create a radial clearance between the receiving face of the core 31 and the baked annular bandage 2B, by differential radial contraction of the tubular wall of the core 30 relative to the baked annular bandage 2B, and the baked annular bandage 2B is axially released from the core 4, here preferably by axially pushing the core 4 by means of an ejector member 25 while the baked annular bandage 2B is axially retained by means of a retaining rim 77A provided for this purpose.

[0259] Following the extraction step (S6), a third transfer step (S7) is carried out during which the baked annular bandage 2B, separated from the core 4, then the core 4, freed from the baked annular bandage 2B, or conversely, the core 4 then the baked annular bandage 2B, each from the extraction station 21 to another station of the installation, is successively transported.

[0260] More preferably, during this third transfer step (S7), the baked annular bandage 2B is transferred to a free storage location 97 of the buffer station 85, while waiting to be sent to the finishing and control station 92, while the core 4 is preferably either returned directly to production in the assembly station 3, or placed in the baking station 91 in order to be reheated and brought to an adequate preheating temperature before being returned to the assembly station 3, or finally, in the case where it is desired to pass the core 4 through the baking station 91 but the latter is not ready, placed in the buffer station 85 while waiting for a call from the baking station 91. Alternatively, and in particular when a production series is completed, the core 4 may also, like the baked annular bandage 2B, be transferred to a free storage location 87 of the buffer station 85. buffer station 85 to be stored there.

[0261] Advantageously, this third transfer step (S7), and more preferably all the transfer steps (S3), (S5), (S7), are carried out by means of the same transfer device 100 which is equipped for this purpose with a gripping tool 108 arranged to be able to alternately grip the baked annular bandage 2B from the outside of said baked annular bandage 2B and the core 4 from the inside of said core 4.

[0262] Preferably, the assembly step (S2) is preceded by a preheating step (S1), during which the core 4 intended for assembly, empty of annular bandage 2, is brought to a temperature called the “preheating temperature” which is between 50°C and 100°C, for example equal to 80°C + / - 5°C, then said core 4, thus brought to the preheating temperature, is transferred into the assembly station 3 for the assembly step (S2).

[0263] According to a particularly preferred characteristic which may constitute an invention in its own right, said preheating step (S1) is carried out either by recycling a core 4 which is transferred directly from the extraction station 21, if the residual temperature of the core from the extraction step (S6), at the end of the previous manufacturing cycle, corresponds to a preheating temperature deemed acceptable, or by taking another core 4, empty of annular bandage, previously placed on standby and brought to an adequate preheating temperature in a baking station 91 (the baking station 91 described above), another core 4 which is thus immediately available at the desired preheating temperature.

[0264] In other words, at the end of a first manufacturing cycle of an annular bandage 2, it will be possible to advantageously provide: a step (S7') of hot recycling of the core 4, during which the core 4 is directly transferred from the extraction station 21, in which the core 4 is still at a temperature strictly higher than the ambient temperature and more particularly at a temperature falling within the desired preheating temperature range mentioned above, to the assembly station 3 to immediately restart a manufacturing cycle with the same core 4; such recycling will make it possible to take full advantage of the residual heat accumulated by the core during the previous manufacturing cycle, and therefore to achieve energy savings; or a step (S7") of core substitution, during which the core 4 from the extraction station 21, deemed too cold, is exchanged for a reserve core which is at an adequate preheating temperature because it was previously prepared and made available in the drying station 91.

[0265] The decision process for selecting the hot recycling step (S7') or the core substitution step (S7") may include a sub-step for verifying the temperature of the core 4, during which the temperature of the core 4 is evaluated, preferably measured, within the extraction station 21, after the expulsion of said core 4 from the baked annular bandage 2B, then said measured temperature is compared to a temperature threshold corresponding to a minimum required preheating temperature.

[0266] It will be noted in this respect that it may be preferable to transfer the core 4 first, and only then the baked annular bandage 2B, in this order, so as to take maximum advantage of the residual heat of the core at the end of the extraction operation, without unnecessarily leaving the core 4 to cool for too long within the extraction station 21. This being the case, if desired or if the configuration of the extraction station 21 requires it, the baked annular bandage 2B may be removed from the extraction station 21 first, then the corresponding core 4.

[0267] Preferably, here within the same installation 1, at least two cores 4 are used in the same manufacturing cycle, by applying the cooking step (S4) to a first core 4 carrying an annular bandage 2 and placed in the cooking station 20 while, in masked time, the extraction step (S6) and / or the assembly step (S2) are applied to a second core 4.

[0268] This will allow us to maximize the productivity of installation 1.

[0269] It will also be noted that the use of two baking molds 50 within the same baking station 20 will further increase productivity.

[0270] Of course, each of said cores 4 can advantageously be managed and transferred by the same single transfer device 100.

[0271] An example of a complete cycle for manufacturing a bandage 2 according to the invention will now be detailed, with preferential reference to the installation 1 and the method described above.

[0272] Initially, when cold, at the start of the installation 1, the transfer device 100 takes from a storage location 87 of the buffer station 85 a cold core 4, that is to say typically a core whose temperature is equal to the ambient temperature, and places said core 4 in the steaming station 91.

[0273] Preferably, it proceeds in the same way with at least one second core 4, in order to have a reserve of cores 4 in said steaming station 91.

[0274] Once the cores 4 have reached a sufficient preheating temperature, the transfer device picks up the first core 4 from the baking station 91 and places it in the assembly station 3, more precisely in the first assembly substation 3_1, on the first spindle 18 of the permutation device 17.

[0275] A first laying head 5 then applies a layer of raw rubber to the receiving face 31 of the core, preferably over the entire axial height H31 of the receiving face 31. To do this, said first laying head 5 applies a continuous strip of raw rubber from the associated pump 6 against the core, and moves parallel to the central axis X4 of the core 4, while the core 4 is rotated by the spindle 18 around its central axis X4.

[0276] The switching device 17 then switches the core 4 to the second assembly substation 3_2, opposite which is the second laying head 7 which has approached along the rail 15_R.

[0277] The second laying head 7 then applies to the core 4, in this case to the raw rubber layer, the front of a reinforcing strip of Glass Resin Composite, here for example a reinforcing strip of glass-resin composite in its coated form, that is to say already coated with rubber. The core 4 is rotated by the spindle 18, while the second laying head 7 is moved in translation parallel to the central axis X4 of the core, so as to continuously wind the reinforcing strip onto the core, forming a succession of contiguous helical turns which form, as a whole, a hoop-type reinforcement. The operation can be repeated as needed.

[0278] If it is desired to lay a reinforcing strip of glass-resin composite in its bare form, it will be necessary, after laying said reinforcing strip, to tilt the core 4 again towards the first assembly substation 3_1, in order to cover said reinforcing strip with a layer of raw rubber, and thus repeat these alternating operations of laying the reinforcing strip then laying the raw rubber strip, interspersed with tilting, as many times as necessary to obtain the desired laminated reinforcement.

[0279] After the installation of the reinforcing strip(s), the core 4 remains, or where appropriate returns, to the second assembly substation 3_2.

[0280] The second laying head 7 is released along the rail 15_R, and the third laying head 12 takes its place, opposite the core 4.

[0281] The third laying head 12 then successively winds a first reinforcing ply and then a second reinforcing ply onto the core 4, over the hoop. Said reinforcing plies advantageously have crossed reinforcements, which, superimposed on the substantially circumferential reinforcing wires contained in the hoop, form a frame with triangular reinforcing structures, advantageously axially and circumferentially non-deformable.

[0282] The third laying head 12 then disengages, withdrawing from the core 4, and the permutation device 17 brings the core 4 back into the first assembly substation 3_1 by tilting the rotary head 19.

[0283] Another first laying head 5 then covers the core 4, over the reinforcing plies, with a layer of raw rubber intended to form the tread of the bandage 2, thus completing the production of the raw annular bandage 2A on the core 4.

[0284] The transfer device 100 then removes from the first assembly substation 3_1 the core 4 carrying the raw annular bandage 2A to bring said core 4 either directly to the cooking station 20, if the latter is ready, or to the buffer station 85, if it is necessary to wait for the cooking station 20 to signal that it is ready by a call signal.

[0285] The cooking station 20 opens its first cooking mold 50, so as to clear access to the lower plate 52 and to the heating sectors 40 which project axially relative to said lower plate 52, and are in the retracted configuration.

[0286] The transfer device 100 then executes the axial introduction movement MX+, in order to thread the core 4 around the heating sectors 40. Advantageously, the frustoconical portion 37 of the coupling section 35 which penetrates first around the heating sectors 40 makes it possible to guide and center the core relative to the lower plate 52. The introduction movement MX+ stops when the shoulder 36 of said coupling section 35 comes into abutment against the lower plate 52, in a position in which the exchange face 32 coincides axially with the heating sectors 40.

[0287] The baking mold 50 is then closed, so that the upper plate 54 and the crown 53 cover the lower plate 52, the heating sectors 40, and the raw annular bandage 2A carried by the core 4.

[0288] The heating sectors 40 are then deployed radially by the deployment mechanism 55, to come into contact with the exchange face 32, as illustrated in the figures 11, 12 And 13 . Thus, the first thermal source 23, heating, is temporarily coupled to the exchange face 32, of which it occupies the majority or even the entire surface area.

[0289] By means of the heating sectors 40, the annular bandage is brought to the appropriate cooking temperature, and maintained at this cooking temperature for a predetermined appropriate duration, to transform into a cooked annular bandage 2B.

[0290] It will be noted that, preferably, while the first core 4 and its annular bandage 2 are subjected to the baking operation in the first baking mold 50, or even before, as soon as the first core 4 is engaged in the second assembly substation 3_2 so that the permutation device 17 has a free spindle 18 in the first assembly substation 3_1, the transfer device 100 will, in masked time, take the second core 4 from the baking station 91 and place said second core 4 in the assembly station 3, where a second raw annular bandage 2A will be able to be made on said second core 4.

[0291] If the step of assembling the second raw annular bandage 2A is completed before the first mold of the cooking station 20 has completed the cooking operation of the first annular bandage 2, the transfer device 100 can advantageously, still in masked time, recover the second core 4 and its second raw annular bandage 2A in the assembly station 3 and place said second core 4 in the second cooking mold 50 of the cooking station 20, in order to start the cooking operation of said second annular bandage 2.

[0292] In any event, as soon as the cooking operation of the first annular bandage 2 is completed, the heating sectors 40 (of the first cooking mold 50) are retracted by the deployment mechanism 55, in order to detach from the exchange face 32 and release the core 4, as can be seen in the figures 8 , 9 et 10 .

[0293] The (first) baking mold 50 is opened, here by lifting the upper plate 54 and the crown 53, to allow the transfer device 100 to access the (first) core 4 and to extract said core 4 from the baking station 20. It will be noted that, preferably, the opening of the baking mold 50 and the radial retraction of the heating sectors 40 are carried out simultaneously.

[0294] The transfer device 100 grips the core 4, here by the second coupling section 35', accessible from above, and then executes an axial removal movement MX- which releases the core from the heating sectors 40, while said heating sectors 40 remain in place in the cooking station 20, in an axially unchanged position relative to the lower plate 52, a position which said heating sectors 40 have advantageously retained throughout the process of placing the core, cooking, and then extracting the core.

[0295] The first heating thermal source 23, thus detached and released from the core 4 to remain in the cooking station 20, in fact completely frees the exchange face 32, thus making said exchange face 32 available for the future cooling and extraction operation.

[0296] The transfer device 100 transfers the (first) core 4 from the cooking station 20 to the extraction station 21, where said transfer device 100 places the core 4 on the receiving table 76, by inserting the bore 33 of the core onto the central barrel 71, while providing an annular flow path 72, and in such a way that the annular bandage 2 rests against the retaining rim 77A of the opening 77, as can be seen in the figure 14 .

[0297] The suction device 73 is then activated to generate a forced air flow 70 which acts as a second cooling thermal source 24, and which advantageously sweeps the entire surface area of ​​the exchange surface 32 in order to cool the core 4, as can be seen in the figures 14, 15 And 17 Advantageously, no forced air movement is created at the radially external surface of the baked annular bandage 2B, in order to cool the core 4 more and more quickly than the annular bandage 2.

[0298] The cap 78 is lowered against the core 4 by the drive system 82, while the forced ventilation, and therefore the cooling of the core, continues, until the core 4 is brought to a suitable temperature called the “extraction temperature”, at which the radial thermal shrinkage of the core 4 relative to the annular band 2 is sufficient to allow the separation of the core 4 and the annular band 2 to be forced by axial shear. Preferably, the suction device 73 is switched off, and therefore the forced air flow 70 is stopped, as soon as the core 4 reaches the desired extraction temperature, and / or, equivalently, the desired degree of radial contraction.

[0299] As an indication, the radial shrinkage of the receiving face 31 of the core obtained by the differentiated cooling operation can be of the order of 0.2 mm to 1 mm.

[0300] The axial shear is generated by the cap 78, forming the ejector member 25, which pushes the core 4 and thus forces the axial displacement of the core 4 through the baked annular bandage 2B which is itself held in abutment against the receiving table 76, as illustrated in the figures 16 And 18 .

[0301] The core 4 is thus dissociated and gradually and completely removed from the baked annular bandage 2B, and collected on the lifting plate 75.

[0302] The transfer device 100 can then recover the cured annular bandage 2B and store it in a bandage storage location 97 of the buffer station 85, where said cured annular bandage 2B passively completes its vulcanization, as it cools.

[0303] The transfer device 100 also recovers, separately from the annular bandage 2 but advantageously with the same multipurpose gripping tool 108, the core 4 freed from the bandage, and conveys said core 4 to another station.

[0304] If one is at the end of a production run, so that the installation 1 must be put to rest or, more commonly, that one must change the type of core 4 to produce a range of bandages 2 of different dimensions, one can transfer the core 4 from the extraction station 21 to a core storage location 87 of the buffer station 85.

[0305] If, more commonly, we continue the current manufacturing series, so that we will have the utility of reusing the same (first) core 4 in a new cycle of making and cooking the same type of annular bandage 2, then we can consider one and / or the other of the two following options.

[0306] According to a first option, it will be possible to transfer the (first) core 4 from the extraction station 21 to the baking station 91, take another reserve core 4 which is present in said baking station 91 (here for example a third core 4), and bring this other core, immediately available at the preheating temperature, to the assembly station 3 to start a new manufacturing cycle. Such a first option, which replaces the core 4 between two successive manufacturing cycles, will be indicated in particular if the first core 4 coming from the extraction station 21 is considered too cold to be able to be reused directly as is in the assembly station 3.According to a possible sub-option, if the steaming station 91 already contains a number of cores 4 corresponding to its maximum reception capacity, the (first) core 4 from the extraction station 21 can first be directed to the buffer station 85, then another core can be taken from the steaming station 91 to bring it to the assembly station 3, and finally a core, namely the first core or another core located in the buffer station 85, can be transferred from the buffer station 85 to the steaming station 91.

[0307] According to a second option, if the core 4 from the extraction station 21 is still sufficiently hot, in that said core 4 has a temperature included in the range of acceptable preheating temperatures, so that said core is directly compatible with a new assembly operation, it will be possible to transfer the core 4 directly from the extraction station 21 to the assembly station 3 to start a new cycle, without going through a new preheating step. This will result in substantial energy savings.

[0308] The evaluation of the temperature of the core 4 at the outlet of the extraction step may be carried out by any appropriate means, either by direct measurement, for example using a pyrometer measuring the temperature of the receiving face 31 of the core, or for example using an abacus making it possible to estimate the temperature of said core as a function of the cooking temperature, the parameters of the forced air flow 70 (temperature, flow rate, etc.) and the duration of stay of the core in the extraction station 21.

[0309] The above operations are advantageously repeated automatically, for the entire production series, the core(s) 4 being advantageously recycled, directly or in pairs with intermediate passage through the steaming station 91, as the annular bandages 2 are manufactured.

[0310] The control and coordination of the various organs and stations of the installation 1, in particular the thermal sources 23, 24, the transfer device 100, and the various motorized organs of the stations, such as the deployment mechanism 55 of the heating sectors, the closing system of the cooking molds 50, the drive system 82 of the cover 78, or the rotating support branches 98, will be advantageously ensured by an appropriate control unit, of the programmable automaton or computer type.

Claims

1. Facility (1) for manufacturing tyres (2), said facility comprising an assembly station (3) configured to place one or more tyre components onto a core so as to form an uncured annular tyre (2A), a curing station (20) configured to receive the assembly formed by said core (4) and the uncured annular tyre (2A) and to heat said assembly during a curing operation so as to obtain a cured annular tyre (2B), and an extraction station (21) configured so as to separate, after the curing operation, the cured annular tyre (2B) from the core (4), said facility (1) being characterized in that the core (4) has a tubular wall (30) extending along and around a central axis (X30) and which extends in thickness (E30) radially with respect to said central axis (X30) from a radially outer first annular face (31), referred to as "receiving face" (31), which is intended to receive the tyre component or components, as far as a radially inner second annular face (32), referred to as "exchange face" (32), which surrounds the central axis (X30) and which is intended to allow exchanges of heat between the tubular wall (30) of the core and thermal sources (23, 24) external to said core (4), in that the curing station (20) comprises a first, heating, thermal source (23) which is designed to press against the exchange face (32) of the core when said core (4) is in said curing station (20) so as to heat said core (4) and the annular tyre (2) during the curing operation, and then dissociate from the core (4) so as to leave the exchange face (32) free again when the core (4) and the cured annular tyre (2B) leave said curing station (20) and are transferred to the extraction station (21) after the curing operation, and in that said extraction station (21) comprises a second, refrigerating, thermal source (24) which is designed so that when the core (4) and the cured annular tyre (2B) are in the extraction station (21), it takes the place of the first thermal source (23) in contact with said exchange face (32) of the core so as to cool said core (4) in such a way as to create a radial clearance between the receiving face (31) of the core and the cured annular tyre ( 2B) through differential radial contraction of the tubular wall (30) of the core (4) relative to the cured annular tyre (2B) thus allowing an ejector member (25) with which the extraction station (21) is equipped to remove the cured annular tyre (2B) axially from the core (4).

2. Facility according to Claim 1, characterized in that the radial distance (R31) from the receiving face (31) to the central axis (X30) is equal to or greater than 175 mm, preferably comprised between 200 mm and 500 mm, and in that the thickness (E30) of the tubular wall (30) of the core, which radially separates the exchange face (32) from the receiving face (31), is less than or equal to 40 mm, preferably less than or equal to 25 mm, preferentially less than or equal to 20 mm, or even less than or equal to 15 mm and for example equal to 12 mm.

3. Facility according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first thermal source (23), used by the curing station (20), comprises a plurality of heating segments (40), preferably each bearing at least one resistive electrical heating element (41), said heating segments (40) being designed in such a way as to be pressed against the exchange face (32) from the inside of the core (4) so as to occupy, during the curing operation, and then free up after the curing operation, a contact area on the exchange face (32), referred to as "useful heating area", which represents axially at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, preferentially at least 90% or even at least 95% of the axial height (H31) of the receiving face (31) that is covered by the annular tyre (2) and angularly, in terms of azimuthal coverage about the central axis (X30), at least 270 degrees, preferably at least 300 degrees, or even at least 330 degrees.

4. Facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curing station (20) comprises a curing mould (50) designed to delimit a curing chamber (51) intended to receive and contain the assembly formed by the core (4) and the uncured annular tyre (2A) in order to perform the curing operation, said curing mould (50) to this end comprising a lower plate (52), on which the core (4) is rested, an outer ring (53) designed to surround the radially outer face of the tyre (2) that is to be cured, and an upper plate (54) which collaborates with the outer ring (53) at the axially opposite end from the lower plate (52) so as to close the curing chamber (51), and in that the first thermal source (23) comprises a plurality of heating segments (40), preferably each of them bearing at least one resistive electrical heating element (41), which heating segments (40) are arranged at the centre of the curing chamber (51) and placed under the dependency of a deployment mechanism (55) which is designed to place said heating segments (40) alternately in a deployed configuration in which said heating segments (40) are compressed in a centrifugal radial direction firmly against the exchange face (32) of the core (4), and a retracted configuration in which said heating segments (40) are positioned radially set back from the exchange face (32) so that, after the curing operation, the core (4) can be removed from said curing chamber (51) by causing said core (4) to move axially relative to said heating segments (40) and said heating segments (40) can be left behind in the curing station (20) waiting inside the curing chamber (51) while the core (4) bearing the cured annular tyre (2B) coming from the curing chamber (51) is conveyed to the extraction station (21).

5. Facility according to Claim 4, characterized in that the deployment mechanism (55) comprises a first pusher (56) mounted with the ability to move axially and having a plurality of first ramps (57) which are inclined in a first direction of inclination with respect to the main axis (X4, X30) and which each collaborate with a heating segment (40), and a second pusher (58) mounted with the ability to move axially and having a plurality of second ramps (59) which are inclined with respect to the main axis (X4, X30) in a second direction of inclination opposite to the first direction of inclination and which each collaborate with one of said heating segments (40) so that the radial movement of the heating segments (40), enabling transition from the retracted configuration to the deployed configuration and vice versa, is brought about by axially moving the first pusher (56) and the second pusher (58) apart and respectively by axially moving the first pusher (56) and the second pusher (58) closer together.

6. Facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second, refrigerating, thermal source (24), used by the extraction station (21), is formed by a forced air flow (70) which flows in contact with the exchange face (32), and in that the extraction station (21) comprises a central barrel (71) over which the core (4) bearing the cured annular tyre (2B) is slipped so as to delimit, between the radially outer face of said central barrel (71_out) and the radially inner exchange face (32) of the tubular wall (30) of the core (4), an annular flow path (72) of which the radial width (E72) is preferably comprised between 5 mm and 20 mm, which flow path (72) is connected to a suction device (73) by means of a manifold (74) so that when the suction device (73) is activated, a forced air flow (70) is created and enters the flow path (72) via an intake zone (72_in) situated at a first axial end of the annular flow path (72), which travels along said flow path (72) along the exchange face (32) and is then discharged via the manifold (74) at a second axial end of said flow path (72), which end is axially the opposite end to the first axial end.

7. Facility according to Claim 6, characterized in that the extraction station (21) comprises a lifting plate (75) which supports the central barrel (71) and which is intended to receive the core (4) when said core (4) is separated from the cured annular tyre (2B), said lifting plate (75) being mounted with the ability to move axially in a vertical direction, said extraction station (21) further comprising a horizontal receiving table (76) which is pierced with an opening (77) arranged in such a way as to, on the one hand, allow the central barrel (71) and the core (4) to pass freely through said receiving table (76) and, on the other hand, exhibit an annular retaining lip (77A) which forms an axial end stop against the cured annular tyre (2B), said extraction station also comprising a hood (78) which is designed to come to bear axially against the core (4), preferably against the outer edge face of said core which is axially on the opposite side from the receiving table (76) and from the lifting plate (75), said hood (78) being provided with vents (79) allowing the air to pass through said hood (78) to enter the flow path (72) delimited between the central barrel (71) and the tubular wall (30) of the core, and said hood (78) forming the ejector member (25) that allows the core (4), accompanied in its movement by the lifting plate (75) that receives and supports said core (4) to be pushed back axially through the opening (77) in the receiving table (76) while the cured annular tyre (2B) is held back bearing against the retaining lip (77A) of said opening (77) in the receiving table (76) so that the core (4) is extracted from the cured annular tyre (2B).

8. Facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving face (31) is formed in a single piece so as to exhibit continuity of material all around the central axis (X30).

9. Facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (4) is made up, for more than 90% of its mass, preferably for more than 95% of its mass, more preferentially for more than 98% of its mass, or even for the entirety of its mass, of a single one-piece shell ring of circular base centred on the central axis (X30, X4) and which comprises at least the tubular wall (30).

10. Facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core (4) has, in the axial continuation of the receiving face (31), projecting axially from said receiving face (31) and preferably formed as one piece with the tubular wall (30), an annular coupling portion (35) which exhibits at least one of the following two arrangements, and preferably each of the following two arrangements: (i) a first arrangement whereby the coupling portion (35) exhibits, on its radially outer face (35_out), on the one hand, a shoulder (36) which is radially re-entrant with respect to the receiving face (31), which shoulder (36) thus forms an axial limit of the receiving face (31) and an axial end stop able to halt a movement of axial introduction (MX+) of the core (4) into at least one of the stations (3, 20, 21) and, on the other hand, a frustoconical portion (37) that axially precedes the shoulder (36) on the opposite side to the receiving face (31), so as to centre the core (4) with respect to the station during said introduction movement (MX+), and (ii) a second arrangement whereby the coupling portion (35) exhibits, on its radially inner face (35_in) which axially prolongs the exchange face (32), away from said exchange face (32), one or more gripping depressions (38), such as an annular groove (38), provided so as to allow said core (4) to be grasped by a gripping tool (108) carried on board a transfer device (100) allowing the core (4) to be transported from one station to the other.

11. Facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a buffer station (85) allowing temporary storage of cores (4), notably of spare cores (4) which have no annular tyre on them and / or of cores (4) bearing an uncured annular tyre (2A), and temporary storage of cured annular tyres (2B) their core (4) extracted, said buffer station (85) for this purpose comprising at least one tower (86) which is provided with a plurality of storage locations (87, 97) including, on the one hand, a first type of storage location (87) referred to as "core spaces" (87) which are each configured to receive at least one empty core (4) or core supporting an uncured annular tyre (2A) and which for that purpose each comprise at least one and preferably at least two suspension branches (88) arranged in such a way that the core (4) that is to be stored can be suspended by engaging the central opening of said core over said at least one suspension branch or said at least two suspension branches (88) and, on the other hand, a second type of storage location (97) referred to as "tyre spaces" (97) which are each configured to accept at least one cured annular tyre (2B) and to be able to rotate the cured annular tyre (2B) so as to prevent said cured annular tyre (2B) from becoming ovalized under the effect of gravity, said tyre spaces (97) being provided for that purpose with rotary support branches (98) designed to support the cured annular tyre (2B) by supporting the radially outer face of said cured annular tyre (2B) and to rotate said cured annular tyre (2B) on itself about its central axis (X2), as well as at least one and preferably at least two guide branches (99) configured to be engaged in the central recess of said annular tyre and collaborate with the radially inner face of the cured annular tyre (2B) in order to hold said cured annular tyre (2B) in place in the tyre space (97) and guide said cured annular tyre (2B) while it is being rotated by the rotary support branches (98).

12. Facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a transfer device (100) provided with a robot arm (101) allowing the core (4) to be transported successively from one station to the other, said robot arm (101) preferably serving all of the stations (3, 20, 21, 85, 91, 92) of the facility (1) so as to be able to bring the core (4) successively to each of said stations, and in that said robot arm (101) bears a gripping tool (108) provided with a gripper (109) which comprises a plurality of jaws (110) which are mounted with the ability to move radially in radial directions which differ from one jaw to another, and which are arranged in such a way as to be able alternately either to grasp of the core (4) from the inside, by performing centrifugal clamping against a radially inner face of said core, or grasp the cured annular tyre (2B), separated from its core (4), from the outside by performing centripetal clamping against a radially outer face of said cured annular tyre (2B).

13. Method for manufacturing a tyre (2) comprising a tyre-building step (S2), during which a core (4) is set down in a tyre-building station (3) and one or more tyre components are placed onto said core in order to form an uncured annular tyre (2A), a first transfer step (S3) during which the core (4) bearing its uncured annular tyre (2A) is transported from the tyre-building station (3) as far as a curing station (20) distant from the tyre-building station, a curing step (S4) during which the assembly formed by said core and the uncured annular tyre placed in the curing station (20) is cured to obtain a cured annular tyre (2B), a second transfer step (S5) during which the core (4) bearing the cured annular tyre (2B) is transported from the curing station (20) to an extraction station (21) distant from the curing station, and then an extraction step (S6) during which, in the extraction station (21), the cured annular tyre (2B) is separated from the core (4), said method being characterized in that the core (4) has a tubular wall (30) which extends along and around a central axis (X30) and which extends in thickness radially with respect to said central axis from a radially outer first annular face, referred to as "receiving face" (31), which is intended to receive the tyre component or components, as far as a radially inner second annular face referred to as "exchange face" (32) which surrounds the central axis (X30) and which is intended to allow exchanges of heat between the tubular wall (30) of the core and thermal sources (23, 24) external to said core, in that during the curing step (S4) a first, heating, thermal source (23) is pressed against the exchange face (32) of the core so as to perform the curing operation, and then said first thermal source (23) is dissociated from the core (4) so as to leave the exchange face (32) free again when the second transfer step (S5) of transferring to the extraction station (21) is performed, and in that, during the extraction step (S6), a second, refrigerating, thermal source (24) is brought into contact with the exchange face (32) thus freed, so as to cool said core (4) in such a way as to create a radial clearance between the receiving face (31) of the core and the cured annular tyre (2B) through differential radial contraction of the tubular wall (30) of the core relative to the cured annular tyre (2B), and the cured annular tyre (2B) is removed axially from the core (4).

14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that the tyre-building step (S2) is preceded by a preheating step (S1) during which the core (4) intended for tyre-building, empty of any annular tyre (2), is raised to a temperature known as the "preheat temperature" which is comprised between 50° C and 100°C for example equal to 80°C + / - 5°C, then said core (4) thus raised to the preheat temperature is transferred into the tyre-building station (3) for the tyre-building step (S2), and in that said preheating step (S1) is performed either by recirculating a core (4) which is transferred directly from the extraction station (21) if the residual temperature of the core after the end of the extraction step (21), at the end of the preceding manufacturing cycle, corresponds to a preheat temperature deemed to be acceptable, or by picking up another core (4), empty of any annular tyre (2), placed on standby beforehand and raised to a suitable preheat temperature in a heating station (91), and thus immediately available at the desired preheat temperature.

15. Method according to one of Claims 13 or 14, characterized in that at least two cores (4) are used in the one same manufacturing cycle, applying the curing step to a first core (4) bearing an annular tyre and placed in the curing station (20) while, in concurrent time, the extraction step and / or the tyre-building step is applied to a second core (4).