Stripper, stripping station and method for stripping liner and raw material from each other

Abstract

The invention relates to a stripper, a stripping station and a method for stripping a liner and a raw material from each other, the stripper comprising a stripper plate and a plurality of guide rollers, the guide roller defines a liner path for feeding a liner on the stripper plate along a stripping edge of the stripper plate to strip the liner from the raw material and permanently separate the liner from the raw material, where the stripper further comprises an output roller for receiving the raw material after the raw material has been permanently separated from the liner, where the output roller is driven.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stripper for stripping a liner and a raw material from each other before the raw material is supplied to a tire building machine. The present invention also relates to a stripping station and a method for stripping a liner and a raw material from each other and preventing the raw material from being on a tire component. Background Art

[0002] The stripping station is used to supply raw material to the tire building machine. The known stripping station is configured to receive a replaceable box that contains a storage reel, a liner reel and a stripper. The raw material is stored in a number of coils on the storage reel, ready to be unwound and supplied to the tire building machine by the stripping station. The coils are separated by one or more layers of liner to prevent subsequent coils from adhering to or adhering to each other. The liner reel is used to collect the liner as the raw material is unwound. The stripper includes a plurality of guide members that define a liner path through the stripper until a stripping edge, along which the liner is finally separated from the raw material. The raw material is then supplied to the tire building machine. The guide members are supported only from one side so that an operator can manually guide a new length of liner through the liner path from the opposite side.

[0003] A known raw material supplied in this manner is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag supported at spaced locations along the pad. Each RFID tag is intended to be embedded in a raw or uncured tire for identification purposes.

[0004] WO 2022 / 90889A1 discloses a method for applying a rubberized electronic tag to a tire, in which the tag is gradually peeled off from a continuous tape, which continues along a loop section without the tag, is then reattached with reduced adhesion, and finally the tag is separated from the continuous tape at the peeling edge.

[0005] JP 2009-107668 A and JPS 61127429 A disclose similar devices for gradually peeling a label from a liner in two steps. EP 3 383 155 A1 also discloses a feeder for feeding out a storage strip with electronic components, having a strip bending device for similarly reducing the adhesion of the components to the upper strip, and having a cover that can be opened to expose the side surface of the roller so that the storage strip can be conveniently set on the roller from the exposed side. Summary of the invention

[0006] A disadvantage of the known strippers is that the raw material is pulled along with the liner downstream of the stripping edge and / or the raw material cannot be reliably separated from the liner.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a stripper, a stripping station and a method for stripping a liner and a raw material from one another, wherein the raw material can be separated from the liner more reliably.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a stripper for stripping a liner and a raw material from each other, wherein the raw material comprises portions supplied at spaced-apart positions on the liner, wherein the stripper comprises a stripper plate and a plurality of guide rollers defining a liner path for feeding the liner on the stripper plate along a stripping edge of the stripper plate to strip and permanently separate the liner from the raw material, wherein the stripper further comprises an output roller for receiving the raw material after the raw material has been permanently separated from the liner, wherein the output roller is driven.

[0009] By driving the output roller, the raw material can be prevented from being pulled along with the liner downstream of the peeling edge. In particular, the driven output roller can effectively pull the raw material away from the liner once the raw material is separated from the liner. Furthermore, by driving the output roller, the raw material can be completely separated from the liner before picking up the raw material with the pick and place unit, in particular when the raw material is formed of different parts, more particularly a radio frequency identification tag.

[0010] Preferably, the stripper further comprises a transmission between the output roller and one of the plurality of guide rollers, the transmission being used to drive the rotation of the output roller by the rotation of the one guide roller. By driving the output roller via the transmission, no independent drive device is required to drive the output roller.

[0011] More preferably, the transmission is configured to drive the rotation of the output roller at a transmission ratio with respect to the rotation of the one guide roller, resulting in the output roller and the one guide roller having the same or substantially the same circumferential speed of the circumferential surface. Thus, the raw material is pulled away from the liner at the same or substantially the same speed as the liner is pulled toward the liner reel.

[0012] In one embodiment, the transmission device comprises one or a combination of meshing gears, chains or belts. These mechanical transmission devices can establish a direction transmission relationship between the one guide roller and the output roller.

[0013] Alternatively, the stripper comprises a servo drive for directly driving the output roller.The servo drive may be controlled indirectly, for example based on sensor inputs regarding the pad speed.

[0014] In another embodiment, which can be used in combination with or independently of a driven output roller, the output roller is provided with a circumferential groove. The circumferential groove can be used for inspection or detection purposes, which will be described in more detail later.

[0015] In particular, the stripper further comprises an emitter, a reflector and / or a receiver, which are positioned so that a light beam, in particular a laser beam, is emitted, reflected and / or received along a line of sight passing through the circumferential groove. Due to its characteristics, the raw material may be difficult to detect visually. The interruption of the line of sight can be used to accurately and reliably determine whether the raw material has reached the output roller. If it is determined that the raw material has indeed reached the output roller, the driven rotation of the output roller can be stopped, so that the raw material is kept in place on the output roller so that it can be subsequently picked up by the pick and place fixture.

[0016] In another embodiment, which may also be applied independently of a driven output roller, a pad path extends in a guide plane, wherein the stripper includes a base member for supporting a plurality of guide rollers from a first side of the guide plane, wherein the stripper also includes a fixing member at a second side of the guide plane opposite to the first side, the fixing member being movable between a fixed state and an open state, the fixed state being used to fix at least two of the plurality of guide rollers relative to each other at the second side in one or more fixed directions parallel to the guide plane, the open state spacing the at least two guide rollers apart so that the pad path is accessible from the second side.

[0017] Many of the guide rollers define sharp turns in the pad path, which can cause the pad to apply excessive forces to the guide rollers. In the closed state, the fixed member can form a rigid interconnection between the at least two guide rollers at the second side, thereby reducing the tendency of the at least two guide rollers to move relative to each other when subjected to excessive forces in the pad. At the same time, since the fixed member can be moved from the fixed state to the open state, it allows for convenient manual insertion or placement of a new length of pad in the pad path from the second side, such as when feeding a new pad from a storage reel into the stripper. Therefore, when in the open state, the presence of the fixed member in the stripper does not interfere with the initial placement of the pad prior to the stripping operation.

[0018] Preferably, in the fixed state, the fixing member fixes the output roller relative to at least two guide rollers in one or more fixed directions at the second side.Thereby, the positioning of the output roller can also be maintained more accurately relative to other guide rollers and / or the stripper plate.

[0019] In another embodiment thereof, the stripper comprises a pre-stripper plate and a stripper slot extending perpendicularly to the guide plane between the pre-stripper plate and the stripper plate, the stripper slot being used to temporarily strip the liner and the raw material from each other before permanently separating the liner and the raw material at the stripping edge, wherein at least two guide rollers include a return roller positioned below the stripper slot, the return roller being used to receive the liner from the stripper slot and to return the liner to the stripper slot. The liner can thus follow a so-called "omega (Ω)"-shaped liner path, being temporarily separated from the raw material in the pre-stripping position, looping around the return roller, and returning to the liner at a re-engagement position close to the preliminary stripping position, in which the raw material is initially separated from the liner. The preliminary stripping of the liner from the raw material has reduced the adhesion or adhesion between the raw material and the liner, and makes it easier to permanently separate the liner from the raw material at the final stripper guide. The fixing member can fix the position of the return roller not only relative to the other of the at least two guide rollers, but also relative to the pre-stripper guide, the stripper guide and / or the stripper groove. In other words, the so-called "omega" portion of the pad path is defined by the portions of the stripper at the second side that can be rigidly positioned relative to each other.

[0020] In another embodiment, which can also be applied independently of the fixed member and / or the driven output roller, the stripper further comprises a width adjustment member positionable in the stripper slot to adjust the width of said stripper slot. Thus, the width can be adjusted when using thicker or thinner liners. In particular, the width is selected to be at least 1.5 times the thickness of the liners, and preferably at least 2 times said thickness.

[0021] Preferably, the fixing member comprises a fixing arm, which in the fixed state connects the at least two guide rollers to each other.The fixing arm can effectively reach from one guide roller to another of the guide rollers.

[0022] More preferably, the fixing arm can be hinged between the fixing state and the open state about a hinge axis perpendicular to the guide plane.Therefore, the fixing arm can be rotated into the fixing state or out of the rotation state, thereby allowing the pad of a new length to be inserted from the second side.

[0023] More preferably, the hinge axis is spaced apart from the rotation axis of the plurality of guide rollers, wherein the stripper comprises a hinge member at the hinge axis, wherein the fixing arm is hingeably connected to the hinge member and is rotatable about the hinge axis to engage the at least two guide rollers in the fixed state. Thus, the fixing arm can be rotated about a part of the stripper that is not formed by the guide rollers. The part, in this case the hinge member, can be particularly adapted or modified for the purpose of facilitating the rotation of the fixing arm and / or other functions related to fixing, as will be described in detail later.

[0024] In another embodiment, in the fixed state, the fixing arm is slotted on at least two guide rollers in a locking direction parallel to the hinge axis to a locked position, wherein the fixing arm can be moved from the locked position to an unlocked position spaced apart from the at least two guide rollers in a pulling direction opposite to the locking direction. Thus, the fixing arm can be moved away from the guide rollers to allow the fixing arm to rotate freely and / or not collide with the guide rollers.

[0025] Preferably, the fixing member further comprises a biasing member for biasing the fixing arm towards the locked position. Thus, the fixing member can be returned to the locked position only by releasing the fixing member from the unlocked position. In particular, the fixing arm can be manually moved between the locked position and the unlocked position by pulling and releasing. For example, the biasing member can be arranged at or in the hinge member.

[0026] In another embodiment, the stripper further comprises an alignment member supported by the base member from a first side of the guide plane for aligning the fixing member in the fixed state, wherein the fixing member is configured to engage the alignment member when moved into the fixed state. The alignment member can make it more convenient for an operator to manually position the fixing member into the fixed state.

[0027] Preferably, the alignment member protrudes from the base member further than the at least two guide rollers in the axial direction.The alignment member may align the fixing member before said fixing member engages the guide rollers.

[0028] Additionally or alternatively, the alignment member is at least partially conical.The conical portion of the alignment member may align and / or center the fixing member relative to the alignment member, even when the fixing member is slightly misaligned.

[0029] According to a second aspect, the invention provides a stripping station comprising a stripper according to any embodiment of the first aspect of the invention.

[0030] In an embodiment that can also be applied independently of the driven output roller, the stripping station includes a scraper positioned along the liner path to scrape off any raw material that adheres to the underside of the liner. Thus, such raw material at the wrong side of the liner can be prevented from entering the stripper and blocking the stripper slot or other portion of the stripper.

[0031] Preferably, the scraper is positioned in a scraping position along the pad path, in which the pad is freely removable from the scraper from the side of the pad opposite to the scraper. In other words, there is no guide relative to the scraper to form an opposing surface, which could potentially create a bottleneck for the pad and the raw material supported thereon. Therefore, in the absence of an opposing surface, the pad can be prevented from getting stuck between the scraper and the opposing surface. Instead, the pad can pass along the scraper even if the total thickness of the pad and the raw material supported thereon changes. In particular, the scraper only scrapes the raw material bonded to the lower side of the pad, while any raw material bonded to the upper side of the pad can pass through the scraping position without being hindered by the scraper.

[0032] In other embodiments, the scraper has an elastically flexible scraping body. The scraper can be arranged in a position in which, when there is no liner, the elastically flexible scraping body intersects with the liner path, and when the liner is present at the liner path, the elastically flexible scraping body is pressed against the liner and / or deflected by the liner. The bending stress in the scraping body ensures that the scraper remains tightly pressed against the liner. In particular, the scraping body is selected to have enough flexibility so that the tip portion becomes aligned or fully aligned with the direction of the liner at the liner path. In addition, in conjunction with the embodiments discussed previously, the scraper can be pressed by a constant tension force without being disturbed by the opposing surface, thereby improving the reliability of separation.

[0033] Preferably, the scraper body has a sharp tip portion, which can effectively separate any raw material accidentally adhered to the underside of the pad.

[0034] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for peeling a liner and a raw material from each other using a peeler according to any embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0035] - Peel the liner and raw material apart from each other;

[0036] - driving the output roller to pull the raw material away from the liner and onto the output roller;

[0037] - Pick up raw materials from the output roller;

[0038] - Placing the raw material on a tire component. The raw material can then be embedded in a raw or uncured tire, which is made using the aforementioned tire components.

[0039] The driven output roller prevents the raw material from being pulled along with the liner as it is wound onto the liner reel.

[0040] In another embodiment, the stock material and the liner are completely separated before the stock material is picked up from the output roll. Complete separation prevents the stock material from being pulled along with the liner when the liner is wound onto the liner reel. When the stock material is formed of individual stock material portions supplied at spaced-apart locations on the liner, such as a plurality of tags, particularly radio frequency identification tags, the individual tire components can be effectively separated from the liner and picked up individually.

[0041] In another embodiment of the method, the raw material comprises individual parts of the raw material, in particular tags or radio frequency identification tags, which are supplied at spaced locations on the liner. The radio frequency identification tags can be arranged at spaced locations along the liner to be separated, picked up and placed one by one on subsequent tire components.

[0042] According to a fourth aspect which is not claimed for protection, the present invention provides a box or stripping station comprising a storage reel and a storage reel holder for holding the storage reel, wherein the box or stripping station is also provided with a first reel sensor and a reflector, wherein the first reel sensor is configured to emit a first beam toward a hub of the storage reel, and the reflector is configured to reflect the beam back to the first reel sensor, wherein the first reel sensor is positioned at a first inclined beam angle to a vertical plane.

[0043] In principle, the first reel sensor only receives its wave beam from the reflector under the characteristic state of the storage reel, for example almost vacant state or the state that the storage reel is removed from the storage reel retainer.In practice, the liner may have irregularities, and these irregularities may at least partially scatter the wave beam back to the first reel sensor.Such irregularities may be formed by the circumferential protuberance, indentation or variation of the liner, mainly due to the different positions of the circumference of the liner on the liner and the different windings of the liner around the hub of the storage reel intermittently existing caused by raw material.This scattering is unpredictable, and may cause false positive detection signal at the corresponding reel sensor, for example, when the storage reel is not vacant, the display storage reel is in the false positive detection result of vacant state, or the false positive detection result when the storage reel has been removed.

[0044] In order to prevent or reduce such false positive detection results as much as possible, it has been found to be advantageous to place the first reel sensor at a first tilted beam angle to the vertical plane. At such a first tilted angle, the pad is less likely to return a false positive.

[0045] In an embodiment, the box or stripping station is further provided with a second reel sensor configured to transmit a second beam to the stock reel, wherein the second reel sensor is placed at a second tilted beam angle to the vertical plane. In order to prevent or reduce such false positive detection results as much as possible, it has been found to be advantageous to place the second reel sensor at a second tilted beam angle to the vertical plane. At such a second tilted angle, the pad is less likely to return a false positive.

[0046] In other embodiments, the stock reel can rotate about the stock reel axis, wherein one or more reel sensors are positioned at an angle relative to a first vertical plane parallel to the stock reel axis, at an angle relative to a second vertical plane perpendicular to the stock reel axis, or at an angle relative to both of the vertical planes. When one or more reel sensors are positioned at an angle relative to two vertical planes, the pad is even less likely to return a false positive.

[0047] In further embodiments, the tilt beam angle is at least three degrees, and preferably at least five degrees. The greater the tilt beam angle, the less likely the pad will return a false positive.

[0048] In other embodiments, the first wave beam extends along the hub of the storage reel, but does not intersect it. In principle, the first reel sensor receives its wave beam returned from the reflector only when the storage reel is empty or almost empty. In other words, the raw material and the liner no longer block the wave beam of the first reel sensor.

[0049] In particular, the first reel sensor is arranged for detecting an empty state of the storage reel.

[0050] In other embodiments, the second wave beam intersects with the hub of the storage reel. In principle, the second reel sensor only receives its wave beam returned from the reflector when the storage reel is removed from the box or the stripping station. In other words, the hub no longer blocks the wave beam of the second reel sensor.

[0051] In particular, the second reel sensor is arranged for detecting the presence of a supply reel in the magazine or in the stripping station.

[0052] In further embodiments, the first beam and / or the second beam is a laser beam.

[0053] The various aspects and features described and shown in this specification can be applied separately wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached claims, can become the subject of divisional patent applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The invention will be described based on exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0055] Figure 1 shows a side view of a box with a stripper for stripping a liner and a raw material from each other, wherein the stripper has a securing member in an open position;

[0056] Figure 2 Shown according to Figure 1 A side view of the box, wherein the fixing member is in a fixed state;

[0057] Figure 3 and Figure 4 They are shown according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Axonometric view of the stripper;

[0058] Figure 5A Shows Figure 1 A side view of a box with a scraper;

[0059] Figure 5B A front view of the scraper is shown;

[0060] Figure 6 Shown is the Figure 1 A front view of one or more reel sensors and a storage reel in a cassette; and

[0061] Figure 7 Shown according to Figure 1 Side view of a box with the output roller in an alternative position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] Figure 1 and 2 A stripping station 100 is shown for applying raw material 90 to a tire building machine (not shown) such as a tire building drum. The stripping station 100 is configured to receive a replaceable cartridge or cassette 1 with a stock reel holder 11 for holding a stock reel 81 and a liner reel holder 12 for holding a liner reel 82. The stripping station 100 and / or cassette 1 include a stripper 2, which is arranged to be positioned between the stock reel 81 and the liner reel 82 when the cassette 1 is received in the stripping station 100.

[0063] In this exemplary embodiment, the raw material 90 is formed of different parts, in particular, a radio frequency identification tag 91, which is stored in a plurality of windings on a storage reel 81, ready to be unwound and supplied to a tire building machine through a stripping station 100. The radio frequency identification tag 91 can be embedded in a sticky elastomeric material, preferably rubber, so that the radio frequency identification tag can be easily attached to the tire component. The windings are separated by one or more layers of liner 92 to prevent the raw material 90 in subsequent windings from adhering or sticking to each other. The liner reel 82 is used to collect the liner 92 when the raw material 90 is unwound. The liner 92 is guided along a liner path L from the storage reel 81 to the liner reel 82.

[0064] The stripping station 100 and / or the box 1 may optionally be provided with a scraper 115 along the liner path L between the storage reel 81 and the stripper 2 in a scraping position C to scrape off any raw material 90 accidentally adhering to the underside of the liner 92. It should be noted that the scraping position C is positioned away from any other guide means of the stripping station 100 and / or the box 1. In particular, at the scraping position C, there is no guide means forming an opposing surface directly opposite to the scraper 115. Therefore, the raw material 90 adhering to the upper side of the liner 92 can pass through the scraping position C unhindered.

[0065] like Figure 5A and 5B Shown in more detail, the scraper 115 has an elastically flexible scraper body 116, which is mounted to the stripping station 100 or the box 1 in a position where the elastically flexible scraper body 116 intersects the pad path L without the pad 92, as shown in dashed lines, and when the pad 92 is present at the pad path L, the elastically flexible scraper body 116 is pressed against the pad 92 and / or deflected by the pad 92, as shown in solid lines. The scraper body 116 also has an acute or pointed tip portion 117, i.e., a tip portion 117 with an acute angle or V-shaped profile, for effectively separating any raw material 90 accidentally adhered to the underside of the pad 92. The bending stress in the scraper body 116 ensures that the scraper 115 remains tightly pressed against the pad 92. In particular, the scraper body 116 is selected to have sufficient flexibility so that the tip portion 117 becomes aligned or fully aligned with the direction of the pad 92 at the pad path L. One or more cutouts 118, 119 can be provided to subtly weaken the scraper body 116 or to facilitate bending of the scraper body 116 where it is intended to bend.

[0066] like Figure 3 and 4As best shown in FIG. 1 , the stripper 2 comprises a pre-stripper plate 31, a stripper plate 32 and a plurality of guide rollers 41, 42, 43 defining a liner path L extending through the stripper 2 in a guide plane P. The stripper 2 further comprises an output roller 44 for outputting the raw material 90 after it has been separated from the liner 92. The guide rollers 41, 42, 43 and the output roller 44 are rotatable about respective mutually parallel rotation axes R1, R2, R3, R4 extending in an axial direction X perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the guide plane P.

[0067] The stripper 2 is provided with a frame or base member 20 for supporting, from a first side A of said guide plane P, a pre-stripper plate 31 , a stripper plate 32 and a plurality of guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 .

[0068] The pre-stripper plate 31 and the stripper plate 32 extend on opposite sides of the stripper slot S, which extends perpendicular to the guide plane P, for initially stripping the liner 92 and the raw material 90 from each other as the raw material 90 traverses the stripper slot S. In other words, the liner 92 is stripped from the raw material 90, or the raw material 90 is stripped from the liner 92. The pre-stripper plate 31 defines a pre-stripping position in which the liner 92 is temporarily stripped from the raw materials 90, 91 or vice versa. The stripper plate 32 defines a re-engagement position in which the liner 92 is re-engaged with the raw material 90. The pre-stripping position and the re-engagement position are very close together so that the raw material 90 loses support only for a very brief time as the raw material 90 traverses the stripper slot S.

[0069] The guide rollers 41, 42, 43 include a return roller 41, which is positioned along the liner path L in a position below the stripper slot S for receiving the liner 92 from the pre-stripping position and for returning the liner 92 to the re-engagement position. The return roller 41 and the pre-stripper plate 31 and the stripper plate 32 together define a so-called "omega (Ω)" shaped portion of the liner path L.

[0070] The stripper slot 2 is often located at a second side B of the guide plane P opposite the first side A for manual insertion or placement of the liner L between stripping operations.

[0071] like Figure 3As best shown, the stripper 2 further comprises a width adjustment member 7 which is positionable in the stripper slot S to adjust the width of said stripper slot S. In particular, the width adjustment member 7 has an adjustment body 70 which defines a pre-stripping edge V1 at the side of the stripper slot facing the pre-stripper plate 31. The adjustment body 70 is adjustably fastened to said pre-stripper plate 31, for example by using elongated adjustment slots 71, 72. The width of the stripper slot S is preferably adjusted to at least 1.5 times or at least 2 times the thickness of the pad P2.

[0072] The stripper plate 32 has a wedge-shaped body that defines a stripping edge V2. The stripping edge V2 is relatively sharp, or acutely angled, to effectively strip the liner 92 from the stock material 90.

[0073] The guide rollers 41, 42, 43 also include one or more rear separator rollers 42, 43 positioned downstream of a final peeling position along the liner path L where the liner 92 is permanently separated from the stock material 90, 91. The one or more rear separator rollers 42, 43 guide the liner 92 toward the liner reel 82.

[0074] The output roller 44 is driven, actively driven, actively rotated and / or driven in a rotational manner about its rotation axis R4 to ensure that the raw material 90 is pulled onto the output roller 44 and does not follow the liner 92 along the liner path L downstream of the final peeling position. In this example, the stripper 2 includes a transmission 21 between the output roller 44 and one of the plurality of guide rollers 41-43, which is used to drive the rotation of the output roller 44 by the rotation of the one guide roller 42. In this case, the transmission 21 includes two meshing gears. Thus, the output roller 44 is driven in a rotational direction opposite to the one guide roller 42 to which the output roller 44 is coupled. Different types of mechanical transmissions can be used, such as chains, belts or the like, taking into account that the output roller 44 is coupled to one of the guide rollers 41, 42, 43, so that the correct rotational direction of the output roller 44 is ensured. For example, a belt that drives the two rollers 43, 44 in the same rotational direction can be used to couple the output roller 44 to the last guide roller 43 on the liner path L.

[0075] In another alternative embodiment, the output tube 44 may be driven directly, such as by a servo drive (not shown).

[0076] The transmission 21 is configured to drive the output roller 44 to rotate in a certain transmission ratio with respect to the rotation of the one guide roller 42 , resulting in the output roller 44 and the one guide roller 42 having the same or substantially the same circumferential speed on their circumferential surfaces.

[0077] In this example, if Figure 1As shown, the output roller 44 is configured to support the raw material 90 on a pick-up plane E1 that is parallel to, or substantially parallel to, the horizontal plane E2. More specifically, the pick-up plane E1 is colinear, coincident, and / or parallel to the plane defined by the stripper plate 32. Alternatively, as Figure 7 As shown, the output roller 44 can be slightly above (as shown) or slightly below (not shown) the stripper plate 32, so that the pick-up plane E1 can be arranged at a pull angle of less than 45 degrees, preferably less than 30 degrees, and most preferably less than 15 degrees relative to the horizontal plane E2. At such a pull angle E3, the output roller 44 pulls the raw material 90 onto the output roller 44 at the pull angle E3. The output roller 44 can stop when the raw material 90 is completely separated from the liner 92, thereby leaving the raw material 90 in the angled pick-up plane E1, or can be further rotated until the raw material 90 is again positioned in or parallel to the horizontal plane E2.

[0078] It should be noted that there is a height difference H4 between the highest point of the output roller 44 and the upper surface defined by the stripper plate 32. The height difference H4 is preferably equal to or less than the radius of the output roller 44.

[0079] like Figure 3 and 4 As further shown, the output roller 44 includes a roller body 48. Figure 3 and 4 In the example shown, the roller body 48 is provided with a circumferential groove 45. The stripper 2 also includes a transmitter 22, a reflector 23 and a receiver 24, which are positioned so that a light beam, in particular a laser beam, is emitted, reflected and received along a line of sight M passing through the circumferential groove 45. It should be noted that the reflector 23 can be alternatively positioned to reflect the light beam in another direction different from the direction in which it is received, in which case at least one of the incident beam or the outgoing beam extends along the aforementioned line of sight M. The transmitter 22 and the receiver 24 can be integral as shown in the figure, or separate components. In another alternative embodiment, only a transmitter such as a backlight and a receiver can be used on the opposite side of the output roller 44, or the reflector 23 can be replaced by a reflective portion of the raw material 90, and the raw material 90 is set to have sufficient reflectivity.

[0080] Additionally or alternatively, the roller body 48 may be textured, contoured or provided with a coating to prevent the raw material 90 from adhering to the surface. In particular, the roller body 48 may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs (not shown). When combined with the previously mentioned circumferential grooves 45, the height of the circumferentially extending ribs is significantly less than the depth of the circumferential grooves 45, i.e., less than 20% or less than 10% of the depth.

[0081] like Figure 1 and2 As shown, the stripping station 100 also includes a pick-and-place fixture 200 for picking up the raw material 90 from the output roller 44 and for placing the raw material 90 on the tire component 109. The pick-and-place fixture 200 can be rotatable about a redirection axis K to change the orientation of the raw material 90 relative to the tire component 9 before placement. Alternatively, the output roller 44 can be rotatable about a vertical redirection axis K for the same purpose.

[0082] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 4 , the stripper 2 includes a fixing member 6, which can be Figure 1 and 3 The open state shown is the same as Figure 2 and 4 In the open state, the fixing member 6 facilitates easy, free or unimpeded access to the pad path L and / or the insertion or placement of a length of the pad 92 in the pad path L from the second side B. In the fixed state, the fixing member 6 is arranged, configured or adapted to fix, fasten, connect, interconnect and / or fix at least two guide rollers 41, 42, 43 of the plurality of guide rollers 41, 42, 43 relative to each other in one or more fixing directions D parallel to the guide plane of the second side B. The fixing direction D may be different for each pair of guide rollers 41, 42, 43. In particular, the fixing direction D is parallel to the line that interconnects the paired fixed guide rollers 41, 42, 43.

[0083] In this example, the fixing member 6 fixes the return roller 41 , one of the rear separation rollers 42 , and the output roller 44 .

[0084] The fixing member 6 comprises a fixing bracket, finger or wall 60, which is connected to the aforementioned rollers 41, 42, 44. The fixing arm 60 can be arranged in a Figure 1 and 3 The open state shown is the same as Figure 2 and 4 The stripper 2 comprises a plurality of guide rollers 41, 42, 43 and a plurality of guide rollers 41, 42, 43. The stripper 2 comprises a shaft or hinge member 40 at the hinge axis H, which is spaced apart from and / or is not one of the guide rollers 41, 42, 43 and the output roller 44. The fixed arm 60 is hingedly connected to the hinge member 40 and is rotatable about the hinge axis H for engaging at least two guide rollers 41, 42 in the fixed state. Alternatively, the fixed arm 60 may be connected to one of the guide rollers 41, 42, 43 and the output roller 44.

[0085] The stripper 2 further comprises an alignment member 46 supported by the base member 20 from a first side A of the guide plane P for positioning, centering or aligning the fixing member 6 in or relative to the fixing state. The alignment member 46 protrudes from the base member 20 in the axial direction X further than the guide rollers 41, 42, 43 and the output roller 44. In particular, the alignment member 46 is provided with a conical portion 47 which protrudes towards or faces the fixing member 6 at the second side B. The fixing member 6 is configured to engage the alignment member 46 when moved into the fixing state.

[0086] Alternatively, the fixing member 6 may be movable in a linear manner, ie by sliding it into or out of the fixing state, or it may be detachably mounted in the fixing state and separated from the stripper 2 in the open state.

[0087] like Figure 3 and 4 As shown, the fixed arm 60 has an arm body provided with a plurality of grooves, apertures or positioning portions 61-64 for positioning and / or slotting over the guide rollers 41, 42, the output roller 44 and / or the alignment member 46 from the second side B of the stripper 2 in a locking direction F parallel to the hinge axis H. The positioning portions 61-64 can be at least partially slotted over the distal ends of the respective rollers 41, 42, 44 and / or the alignment member 46, more particularly slotted over the bearing portions provided at the respective distal ends, or, for the alignment member 46, slotted over its conical portion 47.

[0088] In order to achieve the slotted movement, the fixing arm 60 is also given another degree of freedom of movement in addition to the rotation about the hinge axis H. In particular, the fixing arm 60 can be moved in the pulling direction G opposite to the locking direction F from the following directions: Figure 4 Move the locking position shown to Figure 3 In the unlocked position shown, at least two guide rollers 41 , 42 are spaced apart.

[0089] In this example, the fixing member 6 further includes a biasing member 65 for biasing the fixing arm 60 toward the locking position. More specifically, the biasing member 65 is a spring arranged in or at the hinge member 40. Thus, the fixing arm 60 can be pulled and released in a manner such as Figure 4 The locking position shown is similar to Figure 3 Manually move between the unlocked positions shown.

[0090] like Figure 1 and 6As shown, the box 1 or the stripping station 100 is provided with a first reel sensor 301 and a second reel sensor 302 for detecting the state of the storage reel 81. In particular, the first reel sensor 301 is arranged to detect the vacant state of the storage reel 81, and the second reel sensor 302 is arranged to detect whether the storage reel 81 exists in the box 1 or the stripping station 100. For this purpose, the first reel sensor 301 is configured to emit a beam such as a laser beam, which is closely along the hub 80 of the storage reel 81 but does not intersect with it. The second reel sensor 302 is configured to emit a beam such as a laser beam, which intersects with the hub 80 of the storage reel 81. The box 1 or the stripping station 100 is also provided with a reflector 303 for returning the beam to the corresponding reel sensor 301, 302.

[0091] In particular, the first reel sensor 301 receives its beam returned from the reflector 303 only when the stock reel is empty or nearly empty. In other words, the raw material 90, 91 and the liner 92 no longer block the beam of the first reel sensor 301. Similarly, the second reel sensor 302 receives its beam returned from the reflector only when the stock reel 81 is removed from the box 1 or the stripping station 100. In other words, the hub 80 no longer blocks the beam of the second reel sensor 302.

[0092] In practice, the pad 92 may have irregularities that may at least partially scatter the beam back to the respective reel sensors 301, 302. Such irregularities may be formed by ridges, indentations or variations in the circumference of the pad 92, mainly due to the intermittent presence of raw materials 90, 91 on the pad 92 at different locations along the circumference of the pad 92 and in different turns of the pad around the hub 80 of the stock reel 81. This scattering is unpredictable and may result in false positive detection signals at the respective reel sensors 301, 302, such as a false positive detection result indicating that the stock reel 81 is in an empty state when it is not, or a false positive detection result when the stock reel 81 has been removed.

[0093] In order to prevent or reduce such false positive detection results as much as possible, it has been found to be advantageous to place the reel sensors 301, 302 at oblique beam angles T1, T2, T3 to the vertical planes W1, W2. In particular, the reel sensors 301, 302 may be positioned as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, it is oriented at an oblique angle relative to a vertical plane W1 parallel to the axis N of the storage reel, or as shown Figure 6As shown, the pad 92 is oriented at an oblique angle relative to a vertical plane W2 perpendicular to the stock reel axis N, or is oriented at an oblique angle relative to both the vertical plane W1 and the vertical plane W2. The oblique beam angles T1, T2, T3 are preferably at least 3 degrees, more preferably at least 5 degrees, even more preferably at least 8 degrees, and most preferably at least 10 degrees. With such an oblique angle, the pad 92 is less likely to return a false positive.

[0094] Now refer to Figure 1 -4 describes a method for peeling the liner 92 from the raw material 90 , particularly from the RFID tag 91 , using the peeler 2 described above.

[0095] Figure 1 and 3 The fixing member 6 is shown after it has been removed from its Figure 2 and 4 The liner path L is accessible from the second side B. In particular, the portion of the liner path L extending through the stripper 2 is freely accessible along the entire length, at least within the stripper 2. As a result, a new length of liner 92 can be manually inserted or placed in the liner path L and / or guided or passed through the liner path L, for example when preparing a new cassette 1 or when inserting a new cassette 1 into the stripping station 100 before a stripping operation.

[0096] Figure 2 and 4 It shows how the fixing member 6 has subsequently been removed from its Figure 1 and 3 The respective open state shown is moved back into its respective fixed state. The fixing member 6 rigidly connects the at least two guide rollers 41 , 42 to each other, thereby providing a more accurate guidance of the pad 92 despite the forces exerted by said pad 92 on the respective part of the stripper 2 .

[0097] As mentioned previously, the output roller 44 is driven. Therefore, when the raw material 90, in particular the RFID tag 91, is separated from the liner 92 at the final peeling position, the output roller 44 can pull the raw material 90 completely onto the output roller 44. As a result, the raw material 90 is no longer supported by the liner 92 and / or is completely separated from the liner 92.

[0098] The stock material 90 remains stationary on the output rollers 44 for subsequent picking by the pick and place fixture 200 .

[0099] It is understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which variations are also included within the scope of the invention.

[0100] Reference numerals list

[0101] 1 box

[0102] 11 Storage reel holder

[0103] 12-Gasket reel holder

[0104] 2 Stripper

[0105] 20 base member

[0106] 21 Transmission

[0107] 22 Launcher

[0108] 23 Reflector

[0109] 24 Receivers

[0110] 31 Pre-stripper plate

[0111] 32 Stripper Plate

[0112] 34 snap-fit ​​member

[0113] 40 hinge components

[0114] 41 First guide roller / return roller

[0115] 42 Second guide roller / rear separation roller

[0116] 43 Third guide roller / rear separation roller

[0117] 44 output roller

[0118] 45 Circumferential Grooves

[0119] 46 Alignment components

[0120] 47 conical end

[0121] 6Fixed components

[0122] 60 Fixed arm

[0123] 61 first positioning portion

[0124] 62 second positioning portion

[0125] 63 third positioning part

[0126] 64 fourth positioning part

[0127] 65 offset member

[0128] 7Width adjustment component

[0129] 70 Adjust the subject

[0130] 71 Adjustment slot

[0131] 72 adjustment slots

[0132] 80 hub

[0133] 81 Storage Reel

[0134] 82 gasket reel

[0135] 90 raw materials

[0136] 91 RFID Tags

[0137] 92 pads

[0138] 100 Stripping station

[0139] 115 Scraper

[0140] 116 Scraper body

[0141] 117 End

[0142] 118 Incision

[0143] 119 Incision

[0144] 109 Tire parts

[0145] 200 Pick and Place Fixture

[0146] 301 First reel sensor

[0147] 302 Second reel sensor

[0148] 303 Reflector

[0149] AFirst side

[0150] B Second side

[0151] C Scraping position

[0152] D Fixed position

[0153] E1 Pickup plane

[0154] E2 horizontal plane

[0155] E3 pull angle

[0156] E4 Height Difference

[0157] F Lock direction

[0158] G Pull direction

[0159] H hinge axis

[0160] KRedirect axis

[0161] L Pad Path

[0162] M sight

[0163] N Storage reel axis

[0164] P Guide plane

[0165] R1 first rotation axis

[0166] R2 Second axis of rotation

[0167] R3 The third axis of rotation

[0168] R4 Fourth rotation axis

[0169] S Stripper Slot

[0170] T1 first beam angle

[0171] T2 second beam angle

[0172] T3 third beam angle

[0173] V1 Pre-peeling Angle

[0174] V2 peel angle

[0175] W1 First vertical plane

[0176] W2 Second vertical plane

[0177] X-axis direction

Claims

1. A stripper for stripping a liner and a raw material from each other, wherein: The raw material includes portions supplied at spaced-apart locations on the liner, wherein the stripper includes a stripper plate and a plurality of guide rollers defining a liner path for feeding the liner on the stripper plate along a stripping edge of the stripper plate to strip and permanently separate the liner from the raw material, wherein the stripper also includes an output roller for receiving the raw material after it has been permanently separated from the liner, wherein the output roller is driven.

2. The stripper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The output rollers are configured to support the raw material on a pick-up plane, the pick-up plane being parallel to a horizontal plane.

3. The stripper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The output rollers are configured to support the stock material on a pick-up plane extending at a pull angle relative to a horizontal plane, the pull angle being less than forty-five degrees.

4. The stripper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The peeler further includes a transmission between the output roller and one of the plurality of guide rollers, the transmission being configured to drive the rotation of the output roller through the rotation of the one guide roller.

5. The stripper according to claim 4, characterized in that: The transmission is configured to drive the output roller to rotate at a transmission ratio with respect to the rotation of the one guide roller, resulting in the output roller and the one guide roller having the same circumferential speed on their circumferential surfaces.

6. The stripper according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The transmission includes one or a combination of meshing gears, a chain or a belt.

7. The stripper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stripper includes a servo drive for directly driving the output roller.

8. The stripper according to claim 1, characterized in that: The output roller is provided with a circumferential groove.

9. The stripper according to claim 8, characterized in that: The stripper also includes an emitter, reflector, or receiver positioned such that a light beam is emitted, reflected, or received along a line of sight through the circumferential groove.

10. The stripper according to claim 9, characterized in that The light beam is a laser beam.

11. The stripper according to claim 1, characterized in that The pad path extends in a guide plane, wherein the stripper includes a base member for supporting the plurality of guide rollers from a first side of the guide plane, wherein the stripper also includes a fixing member at a second side of the guide plane opposite to the first side, the fixing member being movable between a fixed state and an open state, the fixed state being used to fix at least two of the plurality of guide rollers relative to each other at the second side in one or more fixed directions parallel to the guide plane, the open state being spaced apart from at least two guide rollers so as to enable access to the pad path from the second side.

12. The stripper according to claim 11, characterized in that In the fixed state, the fixing member fixes the output roller relative to the at least two guide rollers in one or more fixing directions at the second side.

13. The stripper according to claim 11, characterized in that The stripper includes a pre-stripper plate and a stripper groove extending perpendicular to the guide plane between the pre-stripper plate and the stripper plate, the stripper groove being used to temporarily strip the liner and the raw material from each other before permanently separating the liner and the raw material at the stripping edge, wherein the at least two guide rollers include a return roller positioned below the stripper groove, the return roller being used to receive the liner from the stripper groove and to return the liner to the stripper groove.

14. The stripper according to claim 13, characterized in that The stripper also includes a width adjustment member positionable in the stripper slot to adjust a width of the stripper slot.

15. The stripper according to claim 11, characterized in that The fixing member comprises a fixing arm which, in the fixed state, connects the at least two guide rollers to each other.

16. The stripper according to claim 15, characterized in that The fixing arm is hingeable about a hinge axis perpendicular to the guide plane between the fixing state and the open state.

17. The stripper according to claim 16, characterized in that The hinge axis is spaced apart from the rotational axes of the plurality of guide rollers, wherein the stripper comprises a hinge member at the hinge axis, wherein the fixed arm is hingeably connected to the hinge member and is rotatable about the hinge axis to engage the at least two guide rollers in the fixed state.

18. The stripper according to claim 16, characterized in that In the fixed state, the fixing arm is grooved on the at least two guide rollers in a locking direction parallel to the hinge axis to the locking position, wherein the fixing arm can be moved from the locking position to an unlocked position spaced apart from the at least two guide rollers in a pulling direction opposite to the locking direction.

19. The stripper according to claim 18, characterized in that The securing member further includes a biasing member for biasing the securing arm toward the locked position.

20. The stripper according to claim 11, characterized in that The stripper further includes an alignment member supported by the base member from the first side of the guide plane for aligning the securing member in the securing state, wherein the securing member is configured to engage the alignment member when moved into the securing state.

21. The stripper according to claim 20, characterized in that The alignment member protrudes from the base member further than the at least two guide rollers in the axial direction.

22. The stripper according to claim 20, characterized in that The alignment member is at least partially conical.

23. A stripping station comprising the stripper according to claim 1.

24. The stripping station according to claim 23, characterized in that The stripping station includes a scraper positioned along the liner path to scrape away any stock material adhered to the underside of the liner.

25. The stripping station according to claim 24, characterized in that The scraper is positioned along the pad path in a scraping position in which the pad is freely movable away from the scraper from a side of the pad opposite the scraper.

26. The stripping station according to claim 24, characterized in that The scraper has an elastically flexible scraper body.

27. The stripping station according to claim 26, characterized in that The scraping body has a sharp end portion.

28. A method for peeling a liner and a raw material from each other using the peeler according to claim 1, wherein: The method comprises the following steps: - peeling the liner and the raw material apart from each other; - driving the output roller to pull the raw material from the pad onto the output roller; - picking up the raw material from the output roller; and - Placing said raw materials on the tire components.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that Before picking up the raw material from the output roller, the raw material and the liner are completely separated.

30. The method of claim 28, said raw material comprising portions of said raw material supplied at spaced-apart locations on said pad.

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