Method and apparatus for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire (102), the tire having a tread (104), such as a tire tread, the tread having an outer side (106) and an inner side (108) opposite the outer side wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a substantially annular shape tread (104) inside a forming tool (110), in particular inside a tire forming tool; pressing the tread (104), in particular the outer side (106) of the tread, against a forming surface (112), such as a shaping surface, of a forming tool (110); and introducing a temporarily exothermic substance (120, 204) into a cavity (118) delimited by the tread (104), the vulcanization or at least initiation of the vulcanization of at least one section of the tread (104) being carried out by the heat released by the substance (120, 204) introduced into the cavity (118), the exothermic substance (120, 204) being composed of at least two active components (122, 124), such as polyols and isocyanates, such as polyols and isocyanates. The composition active mixture (120), in particular a polyurethane active mixture, or wherein the exothermic substance (120, 204) is a melt (204), in particular a plastic melt. The invention also relates to a device (100, 200) which is configured and determined to carry out such a method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire. Background Art

[0002] As is known to all, the concept of airless tires (also known as non-pneumatic tires) is sometimes used for commercial vehicles (such as small excavators) and consumer products (such as lawn mowers, strollers, etc.). Airless can be understood as the tire is not filled with compressed air. At present, airless tires are also considered to be applied to motor vehicles, such as passenger cars.

[0003] In a non-pneumatic tire, the air chamber is usually replaced by specially shaped plastic spokes with open spaces between them. An advantage of a tire without an air chamber (NPT) can be that such a tire does not experience pressure loss because there is no air chamber that can be damaged and / or filled with compressed air. In addition, airless tires have relatively few parts and can therefore be easily retreaded and easily disposed of or reused (recycled) after use.

[0004] For example, from document EP 3 071 424 B1 a non-pneumatic tire is known having a supporting structure comprising a reinforced outer annular band, a hub and stress-transmitting elements extending radially inwards between the hub and the outer reinforced annular band.

[0005] Furthermore, from document US2009 / 0211689 A1, a device for vulcanizing tires is known, which comprises a chamber 10 for accommodating a tire device 50, a heat exchanger 20 connected to the chamber 10, a heating unit 30 for heating water for the heat exchanger 20, and a pump 40 for circulating a water flow between the heating unit 30 and the heat exchanger 20. The chamber 10 is designed as a tire vulcanizer, and the heat exchanger 20 has a heating box, which can be arranged inside the tire cavity. In addition, a circuit for guiding a water flow through a vulcanizer section is provided, which is surrounded outside the tire.

[0006] Conventional non-pneumatic tires may not perform well in the presence of contaminants in the openings between the spokes, such as stones or ice in winter. The materials used may also undergo material changes, partly under the influence of UV rays or many other environmental influences that occur in road use over a period of years, such as heat or cold, or even solvents or cleaning agents. Such material changes may have a negative effect on the performance of the tire. Furthermore, the known manufacturing methods do not allow for a cost profile that is suitable for marketability, since the components must be largely completed in stages and ultimately must be joined together. This is complex, requires space-intensive logistics processes and is very costly. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention is based on the object of functionally improving the method for producing a non-pneumatic tire described at the outset. In addition, the invention is based on the object of structurally and / or functionally improving the device for producing a non-pneumatic tire described at the outset. Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a method and a device which reduce or overcome the problems explained in conjunction with the prior art. In particular, the object of the invention is to reduce the complexity and to achieve a high degree of production refinement. In addition, time- and space-intensive logistics and process flows should be reduced or completely avoided.

[0008] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, this object is achieved by an apparatus having the features of claim 19. Advantageous embodiments and / or improvements are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and / or the drawings. In particular, independent claims of one claim category can also be developed and / or combined like dependent claims of another claim category. Likewise, the device features and method features described below can be combined and / or developed with one another.

[0009] One aspect relates to a method for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire. The tire may be an airless tire or a tire without compressed air. The tire may be a vehicle tire, such as a motor vehicle tire. The tire may have a tread, such as a tire tread. The tread may have an outer side and an inner side opposite the outer side. A radially outer surface, such as an outer surface, may be provided on the outer side. An outer tread segment may be provided on the outer side. The tread segment may be radially outer. The outer side and / or the tread segment may form a contact surface of the tire, such as a tire contact surface, on which the tire rolls during operation. The outer side and / or the tread segment and / or the contact surface may have and / or form a complete or incomplete pattern or even no pattern, such as a tire pattern. The pattern may have grooves, such as longitudinal grooves and / or transverse grooves. A radially inner surface, such as an inner surface, may be provided on the inner side. An inner roller segment may be provided on the inner side. The tread has been or may be made of a plurality of different layers and / or materials. The material may be a raw rubber material or a rubber material, or a raw rubber mixture or a rubber mixture. The tread may be a semi-finished product. The tread may be a multi-layer tread. The tread may be or have a multi-layer tire pattern. Terms such as "inner", "outer", "radial" and "circumferential" may refer to the axis of rotation of the tire.

[0010] The method may comprise the step of providing a tread which is essentially annular in shape inside a molding tool. The molding tool may be a tire molding tool. Here, the tread may be formed into a ring or bent into a ring and subsequently introduced (e.g. inserted) into a molding tool (e.g. a cavity of a molding tool). The tread may be inserted into the molding tool, more specifically the cavity of the molding tool, in a ring shape. The tread may be or may be at least partially made of a raw rubber material or a rubber material. For example, the tread may be manufactured (e.g. extruded) or may be manufactured using an extrusion device. The manufacturing of the tread may be carried out before providing the tread, in particular before the tread is introduced into the molding tool.

[0011] A reinforcing layer is or can be attached to the inner side of the tread. The reinforcing layer is or can be attached to the inner roller section. The reinforcing layer can be a metal-reinforced layer, such as a raw rubber layer or an elastomer layer. The reinforcing layer can have metal fibers or a metal mesh. The metal fibers or the metal mesh have been or can be impregnated with raw rubber or an elastomer. The metal can be steel. An adhesion promoter has or can be applied to the inner side of the tread or roller section or to the inner side of the reinforcing layer. Additionally or alternatively, a polar or non-polar material / raw material has been used and / or has been applied or can be used and / or can be applied. Thereby, sufficient adhesion between the materials can be adjusted or achieved. Thus, the use of an adhesion promoter can be omitted.

[0012] The method may comprise the step of pressing the tread, in particular the outer side of the tread, against a forming surface of a forming tool, such as a molding surface. In this case, the outer side of the tread and / or the tread segment and / or the contact patch may be pressed against the forming surface of the forming tool. The forming surface and / or the cavity may be substantially annular in shape. By pressing the tread, in particular the outer side of the tread, against the forming surface of the forming tool, a patterned surface, in particular a tire pattern, may be produced. The forming surface may be a surface with contour features and / or a pattern designed to be complementary to the tire pattern, so that a tire pattern is formed in the tread when the tread is pressed against the forming surface. Pressing may also be understood as compacting. Pressing or compacting may be achieved by means of a hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool. The hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool may be or include a pressing tool and / or a bellows that can be hydraulically and / or pneumatically operated, such as a folding bellows. In particular, before the pressing process or the compacting process, the hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool is at least partially introduced (e.g., retracted or turned into) into the forming tool or into the cavity of the forming tool. In particular, the hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool can be at least partially introduced (e.g., retracted or turned) into the cavity bounded by the tread before the pressing or pressing process. The cavity bounded by the tread can be a region extending radially inwards from the inner side of the tread. By operating the hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool, the tread, in particular the outer side of the tread, can be pressed against, in particular pressed against, the molding surface of the molding tool.

[0013] The forming tool and / or the forming surface of the forming tool is heated or can be heated. The heating of the forming tool can be realized by means of a heating device. In this case, a predefined temperature level is maintained or can be maintained, or the temperature is variably adjusted or can be variably adjusted.

[0014] The method may comprise the step of introducing a temporarily exothermic substance into a cavity limited by the tread. The introduction may be filling, injecting or pouring. The cavity limited by the tread may be filled completely or only partially with the substance. The cavity limited by the tread may be a cavity of a tire. The cavity of the tire may be filled completely or only partially with the substance. The substance may be designed to temporarily release heat. Here, the substance may cool. By the heat released by the substance introduced into the cavity, vulcanization of at least one section of the tread (such as a raw rubber section) may be carried out or at least initiated. The vulcanization may be the vulcanization of the raw rubber of the tread, in particular the vulcanization into rubber.

[0015] The exothermic substance can be an active mixture composed of at least two active components. The active mixture can be a polyurethane active mixture. At least two active components can be polyols and isocyanates. The active mixture can be a foam mixture, such as a plastic foam mixture. The active mixture can be based on polyurethane (PUR). The active mixture can form a foam, especially a solid foam, such as a plastic foam or a polyurethane foam. The exothermic substance, especially the active mixture, can be introduced by means of a composite joint, for example, injected or poured into a cavity limited by the tread. The composite joint can be a low-pressure composite joint or a high-pressure composite joint. The molding tool has been or can be coupled to the composite joint. The composite joint can be moved or inserted and / or swung to the cavity of the molding tool by means of a motion device (such as a robot or a mechanical arm), and / or at least partially moved or inserted and / or swung into the cavity of the molding tool. The composite joint can have a nozzle unit for outputting the active mixture. At least two active components can be introduced (for example, quantitatively added) into the composite joint. At least two active components can be mixed with each other in the composite joint, especially mixed into an active mixture. The active mixture has been made and / or produced with the aid of or can be made with the aid of a composite joint. The composite joint can be part of a reaction casting device. The active mixture can cause an exothermic reaction. The active mixture can temporarily release heat, such as reaction heat. The active mixture can harden, especially harden into a foam. The hardening can be caused by reaction and / or carried out in an exothermic state. With the aid of the temperature of the molding tool and / or with the aid of the exothermic or released heat of the reaction and / or polymerization reaction of the active mixture, vulcanization of at least one section (e.g., a raw rubber section) of the tread can be carried out or at least initiated. The reaction process and / or polymerization process of the active mixture can be carried out or initiated simultaneously or overlappingly. The temperature level can be maintained or variably adjusted, especially until the reaction process and / or polymerization process of the active mixture is completed and / or vulcanization is completed. The exothermic level or specific heat release of the reaction and / or polymerization reaction of the active mixture can be maintained, and / or the reaction process and / or polymerization process of the active mixture can be carried out until vulcanization is completed.

[0016] The exothermic substance may be a melt. The melt may be a plastic melt. The melt has been or may be manufactured and / or produced by means of an injection molding machine. The exothermic substance, in particular the melt, may be introduced by means of an injection unit of an injection molding machine, for example injected into a mold cavity limited by the tread. The injection unit may be an injection and closing unit. The molding tool has been or may be coupled to an injection unit or an injection and closing unit of an injection molding machine. By means of the injection molding machine, the melt may be brought to a specific temperature, such as the melt temperature. By means of the melt temperature and / or by the heat release of the melt, vulcanization of at least one section of the tread (e.g., a raw rubber section) may be carried out or at least initiated or may at least start vulcanization. The melt temperature may be maintained (e.g., above the temperature of the molding tool) until the vulcanization is complete. Melt cooling and vulcanization may be carried out simultaneously or overlappingly. The melt may solidify, especially in the case of heat release.

[0017] In particular, at least one supporting structure (such as an insert) can be introduced into the cavity defined by the tread. The supporting structure can be introduced before the exothermic substance is introduced. The supporting structure already consists of or can consist of a plurality of tie rods. The supporting structure already consists of or can consist of plastic and / or metal.

[0018] After the polymerization process, the curing process or the vulcanization process is completed, at least one post-processing step may be performed. The at least one post-processing step may include: removing the tire from the molding tool, deburring, tempering, etc.

[0019] Another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire. The tire may have a tread, such as a tire tread. The tread may have an outer side and an inner side opposite the outer side. The tire and / or the tread has been or may be designed as described above and / or below. The apparatus may be configured and / or determined to perform the method for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire described above and / or below.

[0020] The device may have a molding tool. The molding tool may be a tire molding tool. The molding tool may be a press, such as a tire press, for example a heated tire press. The molding tool may be a vulcanizing device. The molding tool may have a molding surface, such as a molding surface, for molding the tread, in particular the outside of the tread. The molding tool may have a cavity. The molding surface may be arranged in the cavity and / or limit the cavity. The molding surface and / or the cavity may be substantially annular and / or circular and / or cylindrical. The molding surface may be a surface with contour features. The molding surface may have a pattern designed to complement the tire pattern.

[0021] The device can have a heating device for heating the forming tool and / or the forming surface. The heating device can be designed to maintain a predefined temperature level or to variably adjust the temperature.

[0022] The device can have a hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool. The hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool can be designed to be at least partially introduced into the shaping tool. The hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool can be designed to press the tread, in particular the outer side of the tread, against, in particular press against, the shaping surface of the shaping tool. The hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool can be or include a pressing tool and / or a bellows that can be hydraulically and / or pneumatically operated, such as a folding bellows.

[0023] The device may have a composite joint or a reaction casting machine with a composite joint for introducing an exothermic substance, in particular an active mixture, into a cavity limited by the tread. The composite joint may be a low-pressure composite joint or a high-pressure composite joint. The molding tool may be coupled to the composite joint. The device may have a motion device, such as a robot or a mechanical arm. The motion device may be coupled to the composite joint. The motion device may be designed to move or insert and / or swing the composite joint into the cavity of the molding tool, and / or at least partially move or insert and / or swing into the cavity of the molding tool. The composite joint may have a nozzle unit for outputting the active mixture.

[0024] The device has an injection unit or an injection and closing unit for introducing an exothermic substance, in particular a melt, into a cavity delimited by the tread. The device can have an injection molding machine with an injection unit or an injection molding machine with an injection and closing unit for introducing an exothermic substance, in particular a melt, into a cavity delimited by the tread. The molding tool can be coupled to the injection unit or the injection and closing unit of the injection molding machine.

[0025] In other words, the invention thus provides a method and a device for manufacturing airless vehicle tires. The invention can provide a highly integrated processing method, in which there is in particular only one pre-step for processing and, if necessary, conditioning of a semi-finished product, such as a tread. Subsequently, the semi-finished product can be used for subsequent processes. From this point on, all other process steps can in principle be carried out in a variable cavity. An active "RPM" process route or a thermoplastic "IMM" process route can be provided. Both process routes can start with the manufacture of a tread (e.g., a tire tread). Subsequently, a steel wire / wire mesh reinforced rubber or elastomer can be added or attached to the underside of the tread. During this period, the pattern surface may not yet have a complete pattern. Only longitudinal grooves can be introduced. Now, for the subsequent steps, the multi-layer tire pattern (e.g., tread) can be conditioned on the inside as a semi-finished product, applied with an adhesion promoter if necessary, and then placed in a ring shape in the cavity of a molding tool. Depending on the design of the equipment, process and tool, an RPM process route or an IMM process route can be provided later. In the first sub-step, a tool upper part can be introduced, which presses the tread against the outer side of the corresponding tool with contour features in the lower part through a liquid or gas-operated (e.g., pneumatic) bellows, and thereby embeds the subsequent tire pattern. After this process step, the tool upper part can be pulled back and another workpiece upper part can be introduced, and then the other tool upper part can enable the RPM process route or the IMM process route according to the design scheme. In the RPM process variant, the corresponding reaction technology equipment according to the low-pressure principle or the high-pressure principle can be connected to the tool (e.g., molding) tool. The components involved can be mixed in the composite joint and introduced into the cavity. The process parameters can be selected so that the tool temperature and the exothermic heat of the polymerization reaction are used to simultaneously or overlappingly initiate the reaction process / polymerization process of the active mixture and the vulcanization of the raw rubber to rubber. Subsequently, the temperature level can be maintained or changed until the polymerization and vulcanization are completed.

[0026] Therefore, in the case of the RPM process variant, for example, a styling pattern can be manufactured by means of a pneumatic bellows, followed by the injection of a polyurethane mixture (PUR), and the temperature and heat release of the molding tool are used for the hardening of the polyurethane mixture and for triggering or starting the vulcanization process. The heat release level can be maintained until the vulcanization is completed. In the case of the IMM process variant, the tool can be coupled with the corresponding injection and closing unit, and the melt is introduced into the cavity. Here, the use of the melt temperature can be that the melt can be introduced first, and then the vulcanization of the biogel to rubber can be triggered. Subsequently, the temperature change process can be selected so that the melt can be cooled and vulcanized simultaneously or overlappingly. Therefore, in the case of the IMM process variant, for example, a styling pattern can be manufactured by means of a pneumatic bellows, followed by the injection of the melt, and the melt temperature is used to trigger the vulcanization. The melt temperature can be kept above the temperature level of the molding tool until the vulcanization is completed. If necessary, a support structure such as an insert or a similar structure can be introduced in two process routes through corresponding automation. After the polymerization step, the curing step and / or the vulcanization step are completed, a post-treatment step may be performed, such as deburring, tempering, etc. Additional effects may be produced chemically. For example, polar or non-polar materials may be used. Thus, if necessary, adhesion promoters, which are usually used to adjust the adhesion between materials, may be omitted.

[0027] The invention can simplify process technology and process flows, in particular by using the properties of one process step to trigger or promote the next process step. A high degree of integration can be achieved. Time and / or space-intensive logistics processes or compensation steps can be eliminated. A large degree of production refinement can be achieved at the same production site. Compared with production refinement, the complete production unit occupies a small area. Intermediate process steps can be integrated, such as balancing or compensation of shrinkage (for example, by additional injection in the RPM method, or re-pressurization in the IMM method). Costs can be reduced. The material properties of the airless tire can be optimally set or adjusted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which schematically and exemplarily:

[0029] Figure 1 An apparatus and method according to a variation of the RPM process are shown; and

[0030] Figure 2 Apparatus and methods according to IMM process variants are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Figure 1The apparatus 100 and the method according to the RPM process variant are schematically shown. The apparatus 100 is designed for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire 102. The tire 102 includes a tread 104 or is made of a tread. The tread 104 may be a tread formed by extrusion equipment (in Figure 1 The tread 104 is a semi-finished product made of rubber (not shown) or made by extrusion equipment. The tread 104 is completely or at least partially made of or can be made of raw rubber material. The tread 104 has an outer side / outer surface 106 and an inner side / inner surface 108 opposite to the outer side 106.

[0032] The device 100 has a shaping tool 110 designed as a tire shaping tool, which has a shaping surface 112 arranged in a mold cavity of the shaping tool 110. The shaping surface 112 is designed to shape the tread 104, in particular the outer surface 106 of the tread 104, and for this purpose has a surface with contour features and / or a pattern designed to complement the tire pattern. In addition, the device 100 has a heating device (in Figure 1 ) is used to heat the forming tool 110 or the forming surface 112.

[0033] Furthermore, the device 100 comprises a hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool 114, which can be at least partially introduced into the molding tool 110 or into the mold cavity of the molding tool 110 and is designed to press or compress the tread 104, in particular the outer side / outer side 106 of the tread, against the molding surface 112 of the molding tool 110. The hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool 114 can be a hydraulically and / or pneumatically operable bellows, which is initially inserted into the mold cavity of the molding tool 110 in an unloaded manner and subsequently presses the tread 104 radially outward against the molding surface 112 by pressure loading, so as to embed the tire pattern into the tread 104.

[0034] In this embodiment, the apparatus 100 has a composite joint 116, which is designed to introduce or inject or pour an exothermic substance into a cavity 118 defined by the tread 104. The composite joint 116 can be a low-pressure composite joint or a high-pressure composite joint. The exothermic substance is a reactive mixture 120 composed of at least two reactive components 122, 124 (such as a polyol and an isocyanate), in particular a polyurethane reactive mixture.

[0035] Before the actual RPM process begins, a reinforcement layer, in particular a metal-reinforced rubber layer or an elastomer layer, may be attached to the inner side / face 108 of the tread 104. In addition, an adhesion promoter may be applied to the inner side / face 108 of the tread 104 or to the inner side of the reinforcement layer.

[0036] Subsequently, the tread 104, which is substantially in the form of an annular ring, is provided or placed into a shaping tool 110. Next, a hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool 114 is at least partially introduced into a cavity 118 bounded by the tread 104. Subsequently, by manipulating the tool 114, the tread, in particular the outer side / outer side 106 of the tread, is pressed radially outward against or pressed against a shaping surface 112 of the shaping tool 110, thereby producing a tire pattern in the tread 104. The shaping tool 110 has been or can be heated by means of a heating device.

[0037] Subsequently, an exothermic substance, specifically an active mixture 120 produced in the composite joint 116, is introduced or injected or poured into the cavity 118 bounded by the tread 104. The heat released by the active mixture 120 introduced into the cavity 118 is used to vulcanize at least one raw rubber section of the tread 104, or the vulcanization of at least one raw rubber section of the tread 104 is at least initiated or started by the released heat. For example, the vulcanization of at least one section of the tread 104 can be carried out or at least initiated or started by means of the temperature of the molding tool 110 adjusted by the heating device and by means of the exothermic or heat release of the activity or polymerization reaction of the active mixture 120. The reaction process and / or polymerization process of the active mixture 120 can be carried out or at least initiated simultaneously or overlappingly. Here, the temperature level can be maintained or adjusted variably until the reaction process and / or polymerization process of the active mixture 120 is completed and / or the vulcanization is completed. For example, the exothermic level of the reaction and / or polymerization of the reactive mixture 120 may be maintained, or the reaction and / or polymerization of the reactive mixture 120 may be continued until the vulcanization is completed.

[0038] During this time, the reactive mixture 120 introduced into the mold cavity 118 hardens into a foam 126 , such as a polyurethane foam, and bonds with the annular tread 104 , thereby forming the airless tire 102 .

[0039] Figure 2 The apparatus 200 and the method according to a variant of the IMM process are schematically shown. Figure 1 Compared with the device 100, the device 200 has an injection molding machine (in Figure 2 The composite joint 116 is replaced by an injection unit 202 (not shown in FIG. 1 ). The injection unit 202 can be designed as an injection and closing unit. The injection unit 202 is coupled to the molding tool 110 or can be coupled to the molding tool. The injection unit 202 is designed to introduce an exothermic substance, in particular a melt 204, into the mold cavity 118 limited by the tread 104. The melt 204 is a plastic melt 204 plasticized by means of the injection unit 202 or the injection molding machine.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the plastic melt 204, instead of the reactive mixture 102, is introduced or injected into the cavity 118 limited by the tread 104 by means of the injection unit 202. Vulcanization of at least one section of the tread 104, such as a raw rubber section, is carried out by means of the melt temperature, or the vulcanization of at least one section of the tread 104, such as a raw rubber section, is at least initiated or started by means of the heat released by the plastic melt 204. The melt temperature can be maintained, in particular higher than the temperature of the molding tool 110, until the vulcanization is completed. Melt cooling and vulcanization can be carried out simultaneously or overlappingly.

[0041] During this period, the plastic melt 204 introduced into the cavity 118 solidifies into a solid plastic material 206 and is combined with the annular tread 104 , thereby forming the airless tire 102 .

[0042] In addition, refer to the special supplement Figure 1 and related instructions.

[0043] “May” refers in particular to optional features of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments and / or implementations of the present invention may additionally or alternatively have one or more corresponding features.

[0044] It is also possible to select isolated features from the feature combinations disclosed herein as needed and, in combination with other features, to define the subject matter of the claims, eliminating any structural and / or functional relationships that may exist between these features. The order and / or number of method steps may vary. Methods and / or steps may be combined.

[0045] List of Reference Numerals

[0046] 100 Equipment for manufacturing non-pneumatic tires

[0047] 102 Tire

[0048] 104 tread

[0049] 106 Outer side of tread

[0050] 108 Inner side of tread

[0051] 110 molding tools

[0052] 112 molding surface

[0053] 114 Hydraulic and / or pneumatic tools

[0054] 116 composite joint

[0055] 118 cavity

[0056] 120 active mixture

[0057] 122 first active component

[0058] 124 Second active component

[0059] 126 Solid Foam

[0060] 200 Equipment for manufacturing non-pneumatic tires

[0061] 202 Injection unit / Injection and closing unit

[0062] 204 plastic melt

[0063] 206 Solid plastic materials

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire (102) having a tread (104), such as a tire tread, the tread having an outer side (106) and an inner side (108) opposite the outer side, wherein: The method comprises the steps of: - providing a tread (104) of substantially annular shape inside a building tool (110), in particular a tire building tool; - pressing the tread (104), in particular the outer side (106) of the tread, against a shaping surface (112), such as a molding surface, of a shaping tool (110); and - introducing a temporarily exothermic substance (120, 204) into a cavity (118) defined by the tread (104), wherein the heat released by the substance (120, 204) introduced into the cavity (118) causes vulcanization or at least initiates vulcanization of at least one section of the tread (104), The invention is characterized in that the exothermic substance (120, 204) is a reactive mixture (120), in particular a polyurethane reactive mixture, composed of at least two reactive components (122, 124), such as a polyol and an isocyanate. Alternatively, the exothermic substance (120, 204) is a melt (204), in particular a plastic melt.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The tread (104) is at least partially made of green rubber material, or is manufactured before providing the tread (104) in a substantially annular shape inside a shaping tool (110).

3. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A reinforcement layer, in particular a metal-reinforced rubber layer or an elastomer layer, is attached to the inner side (108) of the tread (104).

4. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that An adhesion promoter is applied on the inner side (108) of the tread (104) or on the inner side (108) of the reinforcement layer.

5. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A tread surface, in particular a tire pattern, is produced by pressing the tread (104), in particular the outer side (106) of the tread, against a shaping surface (112) of the shaping tool (110).

6. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool (114), such as a pressing workpiece, is at least partially introduced into the cavity (118) limited by the tread (104), wherein the tread (104), in particular the outer side (106) of the tread, is pressed against, in particular pressed against, the molding surface (112) of the molding tool (110) by manipulating the tool (114).

7. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The forming tool (110) is heated, in particular by means of a heating device.

8. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that By means of a composite joint (116), in particular a low-pressure composite joint or a high-pressure composite joint, the exothermic substance (120, 204), in particular an active mixture (120), is introduced, in particular injected or poured into the cavity (118) limited by the tread (104).

9. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Vulcanization of at least one section of the tread (104) is carried out or at least initiated by means of the temperature of the molding tool (110) and / or by means of the exothermic heat of the reaction and / or polymerization of the reactive mixture (120).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The reaction process and / or polymerization process of the reactive mixture (120) is carried out simultaneously or overlapped or at least initiated.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The temperature level is maintained or variably adjusted until the reaction process and / or polymerization process and / or vulcanization of the reactive mixture (120) is complete.

12. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterized in that The exothermic level of the reaction and / or polymerization of the reactive mixture (120) is maintained, and / or the reaction and / or polymerization of the reactive mixture (120) is continued until the vulcanization is completed.

13. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The exothermic substance (120, 204), in particular a melt (204), is introduced, in particular injected, into the mold cavity (118) bounded by the tread (104) by means of an injection unit (202) of an injection molding machine.

14. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7 or 13, characterized in that The molding tool (110) is coupled to the injection unit (202) or the injection and closing unit (202) of an injection molding machine.

15. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7 or 13 to 14, characterized in that Vulcanization of at least a section of the tread (104) is performed or at least initiated by means of the melt temperature.

16. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7 or 13 to 15, characterized in that The melt temperature is maintained, in particular, higher than the temperature of the molding tool (110), until vulcanization is completed.

17. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7 or 13 to 16, characterized in that Melt cooling and vulcanization are carried out simultaneously or overlappingly.

18. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one supporting structure, such as an insert, is introduced into the cavity (118) defined by the tread (104).

19. An apparatus (100, 200) for manufacturing a non-pneumatic tire (102) having a tread (104), such as a tire tread, the tread having an outer side (106) and an inner side (108) opposite the outer side, wherein: The device (100, 200) is configured and / or designed to carry out a method according to at least one of the preceding claims.

20. The device (100, 200) according to claim 19, characterized in that The device (100, 200) comprises a shaping tool (110), in particular a tire shaping tool, having a shaping surface (112), such as a molding surface, for shaping the tread (104), in particular an outer surface (106) of the tread (104).

21. The device (100, 200) according to claim 20, characterized in that The contoured surface (112) is a surface with contoured features and / or has a pattern designed to complement the tire pattern.

22. The device (100, 200) according to at least one of the preceding claims 19 to 21, characterized in that The device (100, 200) has a heating device for heating the forming tool (110), in particular a heating device for heating the forming surface (112).

23. The device (100, 200) according to at least one of the preceding claims 19 to 22, characterized in that The device (100, 200) has a hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool (114), which can be at least partially introduced into the molding tool (110) and is designed to press the tread (104), in particular the outer side (106) of the tread, against, in particular, press the molding surface (112) of the molding tool (110).

24. The device (100, 200) according to claim 23, characterized in that The hydraulic and / or pneumatic tool (114) is a pressing tool and / or a hydraulically and / or pneumatically actuatable bellows.

25. The device (100, 200) according to at least one of the preceding claims 19 to 24, characterized in that The device (100, 200) has a composite joint (116) or a reaction casting machine with a composite joint (116) for introducing the exothermic substance (120, 204), in particular the reactive mixture (120), into the mold cavity (118) delimited by the tread (104).

26. The device (100, 200) according to at least one of the preceding claims 19 to 24, characterized in that The device (100, 200) has an injection unit (202) or an injection and closing unit (202) or an injection molding machine with an injection unit (202) or an injection molding machine with an injection and closing unit (202) for introducing the exothermic substance (120, 204), in particular the melt (204), into the cavity (118) limited by the tread (104).

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