Filament guide retention machine and method of use

Abstract

The invention discloses a filament guide retention machine and a method of use, and specifically relates to a guide retention machine (100) comprising a guide roller (102) and an application roller (104), each having a plurality of respective grooves (102a, 104a) defined on a respective circumferential surface (102b, 104b). The guide holding machine includes at least one preparation comb (200) having a support (202), the support (202) having an upper surface (202d) from which a plurality of teeth (204) extend. The teeth having a predetermined uniform height are aligned in parallel along the length of the support and positioned at intervals therebetween corresponding to the respective grooves (102a) of the guide roller (102) such that the comb (200) feeds the filaments (50) from a supply creel (304) storing the filaments to the guide roller (102) at a predetermined interval outside the guide roller.

Description

[0001] The present invention is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application with application number 202080057074.2, application date July 7, 2020, and invention name “Filament guiding and retaining machine and use method”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a process for aligning filaments in a calendering line, wherein a plurality of filaments extending in a warp direction and aligned in a ply form are covered with rubber to produce a reinforced rubber ply for producing a tire, and also to a guide and holding machine using such a process. Background Art

[0003] In the field of tires, tires are required to exhibit various properties (e.g., reduced rolling resistance, better wear resistance, comparable grip in dry and wet conditions, sufficient mileage, etc.). Therefore, tires are composed of reinforced rubber plies with different types of rubber compounds, in which reinforcements of filaments or strips are embedded in the rubber material. The properties of the filaments and the properties of the rubber are selected according to the desired final properties. As used herein, the term "filament" includes, without limitation, metal-type (e.g., steel wire, film or cable), synthetic-type or fabric-type reinforcement elements (or "reinforcements").

[0004] In order to produce a reinforced rubber ply, it is known to calender a metal reinforcement between two unvulcanized rubber layers to produce a reinforced rubber ply. Figure 1 As shown, the reinforced rubber sheet 10 has a plurality of continuous metal wires 12 having a common geometric shape. The wires 12 are laid parallel to each other and extend longitudinally between opposite ends of the rubber layer 14. After calendering, the wires 12 are evenly spaced from each other and also evenly positioned so that the center C of each wire is 12 The longitudinal axis X defined by the thickness of the rubber layer 14 is maintained in the same straight line. Preferably, the longitudinal and vertical alignment of the threads 12 is ensured in such a way that at each thread center C 12 The displacement D measured from the longitudinal axis X of the rubber layer 14 12 The maximum tolerance of the tire is not more than the predetermined tolerance of the specific rubber layers being assembled (they are "aligned" and in an "aligned" state). The resulting plies are cut to size and assembled to form the tire blank.

[0005] In order to supply tire stock manufacturing machines (such as calenders forming a calendering line), known creel systems support a plurality of spools held in uniform rows, wherein each spool supports a filament winding material (or "filament"). In order to obtain a good quality ply, the plurality of filaments must be guided and held as they are fed to the rubber product. Therefore, each filament is moved to known guide rollers and application rollers in order to be positioned in the ply in a state where all filaments are aligned at predetermined intervals (such as Figure 1 As shown). Such a guide roller comprises circumferential grooves formed at predetermined intervals in the axial direction. The guide roller contacts an application roller under a certain pressure, and the application roller has a circumferential groove corresponding to the groove of the guide roller. The filaments are installed in a state where the rubber material covers the already aligned filaments. There are several solutions for achieving such alignment, including the solutions disclosed in the publication WO2007 / 010599 (relating to a method for aligning reinforcements in a calendering line), the publication WO2017 / 072948 (relating to a device for replacing filaments in a cord layer production system (which has at least two creel systems)) and the publication EP3124196 (relating to a metal reinforcement covering device with a movable reinforcement application device).

[0006] In addition, there is a calender for applying an elastomer to a known substrate (for example, a metal and / or textile substrate). This machine proposed by Rodolfo Comerio Srl includes a set of rollers having a first working roller ("first roller") and a second working roller ("second roller") located on both sides of the substrate and defining a gap for the substrate. In order to adjust the gap, a first adjustment device acts on the first roller to move it away from or toward the second roller along an adjustment direction. The set of rollers also includes at least a first relative roller, which is used to calender and spread the elastomer on the surface of the first working roller. The first relative roller arranged adjacent to the first working roller rotates in a direction opposite to the first working roller. In order to adjust the gap between the first relative roller and the first working roller, the second adjustment device acts on the first relative roller to apply the thrust of the first relative roller toward the first working roller in a predetermined direction. The first and second working rollers apply a thrust on the substrate to apply the elastomer to the substrate and connect the elastomer to the substrate. This machine also comprises a hydrostatic support for sliding the first working cylinder in the adjustment direction and for hydrostatically supporting the thrust exerted by the first counter cylinder (see publication EP 3 345 736 B1).

[0007] None of the proposed solutions discloses guiding and holding the filaments by means of preparation combs mounted on the guide rollers, ensuring that the filaments are quickly placed in the grooves of the guide rollers (i.e. the filament "anti-jump" holding function). Furthermore, none of the proposed solutions discloses one or more mobile guide rollers that, by moving towards the corresponding application rollers, allow the formation of an anti-jump box for the filaments by capturing (or "confining") them and keeping them positioned at the desired spacing regardless of the traction forces. Thus, the disclosed invention combines the benefits of both functions with the aim of facilitating the preparation of the filaments and controlling their placement before and during the calendering process. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention relates to a guide-holding machine for positioning filaments at a predetermined pitch during a calendering cycle for manufacturing a ply using filaments. The guide-holding machine comprises a roller group, the roller group comprising a guide roller having a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal axis about which the guide roller rotates, the guide roller having a plurality of circumferential grooves defined on the circumferential surface of the guide roller corresponding to the number of filaments to be aligned during the guide-holding process. The roller group also comprises an application roller having a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal axis about which the application roller rotates, the application roller having a plurality of circumferential grooves defined on its circumferential surface corresponding to the number of grooves of the guide roller. The guide-holding machine comprises at least one preparation comb having a support having a predetermined length between two opposite ends and a predetermined width between a front surface and a top surface, a plurality of teeth extending from the top surface, the teeth having a predetermined uniform height and being aligned and parallel along the length of the support. The teeth are positioned at a pitch corresponding to the grooves of the guide roller, so that the preparation comb feeds the filaments from a supply creel to the guide roller, the filaments being positioned at a predetermined pitch outside the guide roller. The guide roller is movable relative to the application roller between an open position in which the filament is fed to the guide roller and a closed position in which the guide roller is proximate to the application roller to capture the filament between corresponding grooves of the guide roller and the application roller.

[0009] In certain embodiments of the machine, the guide and holding machine includes a pair of preparation combs having at least one mobile comb and at least one fixed comb aligned and mounted in the preparation area so that the teeth of the mobile comb and the teeth of the fixed comb are aligned to allow the filament to pass from the supply creel through the pair of preparation combs to the guide and holding machine.

[0010] In certain embodiments of the machine, a moving comb is positioned between the preparation area and the guide roller such that the spacing between the teeth of the moving comb aligns with corresponding grooves in the guide roller.

[0011] In some embodiments, the moving comb is mounted tangentially or perpendicularly to the circumferential surface of the guide roller.

[0012] In some embodiments of the machine, the spacing of the teeth is at least 0.7 mm and at most 1.4 mm.

[0013] The present invention also relates to a calendering system for manufacturing a reinforced rubber cord layer, the calendering system comprising:

[0014] -Open guide holding machine;

[0015] a supply creel supporting a plurality of bobbins positioned in uniform rows, each bobbin supporting a filament, each filament being fed to the guide-holding machine from a bobbin leading to an outlet of the supply creel; and

[0016] A calender comprising a calendering drum on which at least one rubber layer is arranged to form a ply in which aligned and mutually parallel filaments have a predetermined density.

[0017] In certain embodiments of the system, the calendering system further includes a preparation area having a pair of preparation combs, the pair of preparation combs having at least one mobile comb and at least one fixed comb installed in alignment, so that the teeth of the mobile comb and the teeth of the fixed comb are aligned to allow the filament to pass from the outlet of the supply creel through the pair of preparation combs to reach the guide holding machine.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a guide holding process flow performed by the disclosed system during a calendering cycle, the process flow comprising the following steps:

[0019] - a step of feeding the filaments from an outlet to a supply creel of the guide and holding machine towards one or more combs;

[0020] - a step of conveying the filaments between the supply creel and the guide rollers of the machine;

[0021] - a step of inserting the filaments into corresponding grooves of the guide rollers of the guide-holding machine; and

[0022] - The step of moving the guide roller between an open position and a closed position to capture the filaments between the guide roller and the application roller so that each filament enters a corresponding groove of the application roller while maintaining the alignment of the filaments.

[0023] In certain embodiments of carrying out the process flow, the step of delivering the filaments includes the step of simultaneously pulling the moving comb and the filaments to guide rollers of a guide holding machine.

[0024] In some embodiments of the process flow, the pulling of the moving comb is performed so that the spacing between the teeth of the moving comb is aligned with the corresponding grooves of the guide roller.

[0025] In some embodiments of the process flow, the pulling of the moving comb is performed such that the moving comb is mounted tangentially or perpendicularly to the circumferential surface of the guide roller.

[0026] In some embodiments of the process flow, the process flow further comprises the step of transferring the filaments in alignment and positioned in the grooves of the guide roller to the grooves of the application roller.

[0027] In certain embodiments of the process flow, the process flow further comprises the step of maintaining the movable comb in the installed position.

[0028] In some embodiments of the process flow, the process flow further comprises the step of returning the mobile comb to the preparation area after the calendering cycle is completed.

[0029] The present invention also relates to a calendering cycle comprising the disclosed method, the calendering cycle further comprising the step of feeding the calendering cylinders of the calender with filaments maintained in alignment of the machine by guides.

[0030] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The nature and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, wherein:

[0032] Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view of a known reinforced rubber ply is shown.

[0033] Figure 2 A side view of an embodiment of a preparation comb provided with the guide holding machine of the present invention is shown.

[0034] Figure 3 shows the process flow during the guide hold Figure 2 A top view of the preparation comb achieved by aligning the filaments with the grooves of the guide rollers of the guide holding machine of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Schematic top views of guide rollers of the guide and holding machine of the present invention are shown in an open position and a closed position, respectively.

[0036] Figure 6 A schematic perspective view of a calendaring system including a guide-holding machine of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 Prepare the comb.

[0037] Figures 7 to 11The steps of an embodiment of the present invention that comprises a cycle for directing a maintenance process flow are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Referring now to the drawings (in which like numerals identify like elements), a mode of implementation of a guide holding machine (or "machine") 100 of the present invention is shown with one or more preparation combs 200 provided with the machine (an embodiment of the preparation comb 200 is shown in FIG. Figure 2 1 and described in the following description). The machine 100 may be part of a calendaring system (or "system") 300 that performs a calendaring cycle to form a reinforced rubber ply (e.g., Figure 1 An example of such a system is provided by Figure 6 To indicate and describe in relation to.

[0039] The ply exiting the machine 100 comprises different types of rubber compounds, wherein reinforcing filaments are embedded in the rubber material. Examples of suitable filaments include, but are not limited to, micro-10 alloyed carbon steel wires of the UHT type (0.9% carbon and 0.2% chromium) having a tensile strength (Rm) of about 3650 MPa (breaking force of 258 N) and a total elongation at break (A t ) is 2.3% (R m and A t Measured under tension according to ISO 15 6892, 1984). Each filament may be any independent steel reinforcement having a cross-sectional dimension (diameter or thickness) greater than 100 μm. The filaments may have any suitable cross-sectional geometry.

[0040] The rubber ply used in the calendering cycle performed by the system 300 comprises a conventional rubber-based composition for calendering plies and can have a thickness suitable for the product in which it is to be placed (e.g., in a belt layer). The rubber layer can be made of a diene elastomer (i.e., any elastomer derived at least in part from a diene monomer). The diene elastomer can be selected from polybutadiene (BR), natural rubber (NR), synthetic polyisoprene (IR), butadiene copolymers, isoprene copolymers, and mixtures of these elastomers, these copolymers being selected from butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBR), isoprene-butadiene copolymers (BIR), isoprene-styrene copolymers (SIR), and isoprene-butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBIR). The rubber composition selected for the rubber ply can include one or more diene elastomers and one or more additives commonly used in the rubber matrix of the tire. Such fillers include, but are not limited to, carbon black, silica, coupling agents, anti-aging agents, antioxidants, plasticizers, extender oils, plasticizing resins with high glass transition temperatures (above 30° C.), agents to improve the processability of the stock composition, tackifying resins, anti-reversion agents, methylene acceptors and donors, reinforcing resins, known metal salt-type adhesion promoter systems, and crosslinking or vulcanization systems. Those skilled in the art understand how to adjust the formulation of the rubber composition to obtain the desired properties for a particular tire.

[0041] refer to Figures 2 to 6 The machine 100 includes a grooved roller group that applies a plurality of filaments 50 to a calendering roller 302 ( Figures 7 to 11 The calender is selected from commercially available calenders, including the type disclosed by patent EP3345736 and proposed by Rodolfo Comerio Srl. The filaments 50 are applied to the rubber ply so that they are aligned parallel to each other at a predetermined density (see Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 ).

[0042] The roller set of the machine 100 includes a guide roller 102 having a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal axis about which the guide roller rotates. A plurality of circumferential grooves 102a are defined on a circumferential surface 102b of the guide roller corresponding to the number of filaments 50 that must be aligned during the guiding and holding process (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 ). In such a process flow, the filaments 50 reach the guide roller 102 before they are applied to the rubber ply waiting on the calendering roller 302.

[0043] The roller group of the machine 100 also includes an application roller 104 having a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal axis about which the guide roller rotates. A plurality of circumferential grooves 104a are defined on a circumferential surface 104b of the application roller, corresponding to the number of grooves of the guide roller 102 (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 ).

[0044] It should be understood that the number of grooves 102a, 104a shown in the figure is given as an example and is not limited to the number of grooves shown. The number, density and / or geometry of the grooves 102a, 104a can be adjusted according to the characteristics of the filaments and / or the properties of the rubber cord layer.

[0045] Reference again Figures 2 to 6 , the guide roller 102 is movable relative to the application roller 104 between an open position and a closed position, in which the filament 50 is fed to the guide roller (see Figure 4 ), in the closed position the supplied filament is guided and kept aligned between the corresponding grooves 102a, 104a of the rollers 102, 104 (see Figure 5 ). In the open position, the two rollers 102, 104 are positioned so that the filament 50 fed to the machine 100 is easily placed in the groove 102a of the guide roller 102. In the closed position, the two rollers 102, 104 are positioned face to face on both sides of the filament 50 to transfer the filament between the groove 102a of the guide roller 102 and the groove 104a of the application roller 104, and this transfer is completed without losing the alignment of the filament. The opening and closing of the guide roller 102 can be achieved by known means (for example, by rotating the closing device or its known equivalent device). The opening and / or closing of the guide roller can be performed automatically or manually to ensure the positioning of the filament 50 during the guide holding process flow of the calendaring cycle.

[0046] In order to ensure that the filaments 50 are introduced into the guide rollers 102 in an aligned manner, at least one preparation comb (or "comb") 200 is provided with the machine 100. Figure 2 , each comb 200 includes a support 202 with a predetermined length between two opposite ends 202a, 202b. The support 202 has a predetermined width between a front surface 202c and a top surface 202d, and a plurality of teeth 204 extend from the top surface 202d. These teeth 204 have a predetermined uniform height and are aligned and parallel along the length of the support 202. The teeth 204 are positioned at a suitable spacing according to the guide holding process flow and corresponding to the relevant grooves 102a of the guide roller 102. In some embodiments of the comb, the teeth 204 are positioned at a spacing of at least 0.7mm and at most 1.4mm (also corresponding to the relevant grooves 102a of the guide roller 102).

[0047] The filament 50 is introduced into the comb 200 from a supply creel 304 of a system 300 including a machine 100 and at least one comb 200. The supply creel 304 supports a plurality of bobbins 305 held in uniform rows, and each bobbin 305 supports the filament 50. Each filament 50 is conveyed from the bobbin 305 to an outlet 304a of the supply creel in a known manner by a guide. The supply creel 304 is selected from commercially available supply creels.

[0048] exist Figure 6 In an embodiment of the system 300, the filament 50 is transferred from the outlet 304a of the supply creel 304 to a preparation area 308 including at least one comb 200. It should be understood that the preparation area 308 can be arranged at any position along the path between the outlet 304a of the supply creel 304 and the machine 100, and one or more combs 200 can be mounted relative to the machine 100 to guide the filament 50 directly to the corresponding groove 102a of the guide roller 102. For example, one or more combs can be mounted to tangentially abut the circumferential surface 102b of the guide roller 102.

[0049] refer to Figure 3 ,Should Figure 3 A top view showing the alignment of the filament 50 with the groove 102a of the guide roller 102 of the machine 100 achieved by the comb 200 during the guide-holding process. The function of the comb 200 is to prepare the filament 50 positioned ("positioned") at the desired spacing outside the guide roller 102. The function of the comb 200 is also to accompany the filament 50 in this position from the supply creel 304 to the guide roller 102. In this working position, one or more combs 200 fixedly mounted relative to the groove 102a of the guide roller 102 allow the filament 50 to be guided to the groove of the guide roller and to maintain this positioning during the use of the filament. The guidance and holding of the filament 50 by the comb (or multiple combs) 200 mounted relative to the guide roller 102 ensures a fast and accurate positioning of the filament in the corresponding groove 102a of the guide roller 102.

[0050] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , these figures show the guide roller 102 of the machine 100 in an open position ( Figure 4 ) and closed position ( Figure 5). In the open position, during the guide and hold process, the filaments 50 are fed to the grooves 102a of the guide rollers 102, respectively. In the closed position, the guide rollers 102 move closer to the application rollers 104 to capture (or "catch") the filaments 50 between the corresponding grooves 102a, 104a of the guide rollers 102 and the application rollers 104. In this operating position, the guide rollers 102 move close enough to the application rollers 104 to form an anti-jump cage (or "box") that prevents the filaments 50 from leaving the grooves 104a of the application rollers. The guide rollers 102 are therefore used to guide and hold the filaments 50 on the application rollers 104 with the necessary constraints. Therefore, regardless of the pulling force, the filaments 50 are kept positioned at the desired spacing.

[0051] Reference again Figures 2 to 6 And also refer to Figures 7 to 11 , a detailed description of an exemplary guide-hold process flow is given. This guide-hold process flow is performed during a calendaring cycle implemented by the system 300. It should be understood that the process flow can be easily adapted to all embodiments of the system 300 including one or more combs 200.

[0052] At the beginning of the guide and hold process of the present invention, the guide and hold process includes the step of feeding the filament 50 to one or more combs 200. Figures 7 to 11 In the embodiment of the process flow shown, the supply of the filament 50 is carried out in a known manner from the outlet 304a of the supply creel 304 to the preparation area 308 of the system 300 (see Figure 7 The movable comb 200' and the fixed comb 200" (each having a Figure 2 The two combs 204 are aligned and installed in the preparation area 308 (i.e., the teeth 204 of the two combs are aligned to allow the filaments 50 to pass through the two combs). During this step, the fixed comb 200" first prepares the filaments 50 positioned at the desired spacing so that the mobile comb 200' can accompany the filaments in this position to the guide roller 102.

[0053] The guide and hold process also includes the step of delivering the filament 50 from the supply creel 304 to the guide roller 102 of the machine 100 (see Figure 8 This step includes the step of simultaneously pulling the mobile comb 200' and the filament 50 towards the machine 100 (see Figure 8During this pulling, the filament 50 is guided to the machine 100 with its position maintained. At the same time, the fixed comb 200" continues to prepare the filament upstream in order to maintain the filament position during the entire guide-holding process. The pulling of the mobile comb 200' is carried out until it reaches the guide roller 102 on which it is mounted. In this embodiment of the process, the mobile comb 200' is mounted tangentially to the circumferential surface 102b of the guide roller (see Fig. 9 In the embodiment of the process flow, the mobile comb 200' is installed perpendicular to the circumferential surface 102b of the guide roller (see Fig.11 In both embodiments, the spacing between the teeth 204 of the moving comb 200 ′ is aligned with the corresponding grooves 102 a of the guide roller 102 .

[0054] The guide and hold process flow also includes the following steps as part of the alignment: inserting the filament 50 into the corresponding groove 102a of the guide roller 102 of the machine 100 (see Fig. 9 This step is carried out while the filament 50 is held in position by means of the mobile comb 200' (see Figure 3 , which shows the positioning performed during this step). During this step, the filament 50 is first inserted into the groove 102a located on the side of the upper surface 202d of the moving comb 200'. In the embodiment where the moving comb 200' is installed tangentially to the circumferential surface 102b of the guide roller 102, the guide roller is kept in the open position during this step (see Figure 4 During this step, the application roller 104 must be opposite to the upper surface 102d of the moving comb 200' (see Fig.10 ).

[0055] The guide holding process further includes moving the guide roller 102 from an open position (eg Figure 4 ) to the closed position (as shown) Figure 5 ) steps (see Fig.11 ). During this step, the filaments 50 are captured (or "caught") between the guide roller 102 and the application roller 104 to prevent the filaments from jumping off. The filaments 50 are then transferred, aligned, and positioned in the grooves 102a of the guide roller 102 and the grooves 104a of the application roller 104 so that each filament enters a corresponding groove 104a of the application roller 104 while maintaining alignment (see Fig.11 ). It is desirable to keep the mobile comb 200' in the mounted position (tangential or vertical).

[0056] In some embodiments, the guided holding process flow of the present invention may include a step of returning the mobile comb 200' to the preparation area 308. This step is performed after the calendering cycle ends. During this step, the mobile comb 200' returns to its initial position next to the fixed comb 200" while waiting for the start of the calendering cycle.

[0057] The guide and hold process flow may be part of a calendering cycle that further includes the step of introducing the aligned filaments 50 from the machine 100 to the calendering rollers 302 of the calendering machine (see Fig.11 ). During this step, the rubber ply has been placed on the working surface of the calendering drum 302, which awaits the production of a ply reinforced by filaments 50. The machine 100 ensures the accurate positioning of the filaments 50 to form such a ply at the end of the calendering cycle. At the end of the calendering cycle, one or more plies can be produced, which can be used, for example, as carcass plies or as buffer plies below the tread intended to reinforce the crown of the tire.

[0058] At the end of the calendering cycle, the finished product can be used for downstream processes (e.g., a traying process, a molding process, and / or other processes). The machine 100 including the combs 200 (including one or more mobile combs 200' and one or more fixed combs 200") ensures the planarity of the continuous reinforcing rubber cord layer before the final assembly of the tire blank.

[0059] The guided holding process of the present invention (and the cycle of the calendering process of which it is a part) can be controlled by a PLC and can include pre-programming of management information. For example, the properties of the filaments fed to the comb 200 and the machine 100 can be used to define the process settings. The properties of the rubber cord waiting at the calendering cylinder 302 can also be used to define the process settings.

[0060] The monitoring system can be established for all production modes. At least a portion of the monitoring system can be set up in a portable device such as a mobile network device (e.g., a mobile phone, a laptop, a networked portable device (including "augmented reality" and / or "virtual reality" devices, networked portable clothing, and / or any combination and / or equivalent device)).

[0061] In some modes of forming the invention, the machine 100 (and / or a system including the machine 10, including the system 300) may receive such voice commands or other audio data, which, for example, indicate that the guidance being conducted maintains the current state of the process flow relative to the expected state. The response may be generated in an auditory, visual, tactile (e.g., using a tactile interface), and / or virtual and / or augmented form.

[0062] In an embodiment, the process flow may include the steps of training the machine 100 (or training a system including the machine 100 (including the system 300)) to recognize representative features (e.g., diameter and tensile strength values) of the filaments 50 leaving the supply creel 304 and comparing them to target values. This step may include the step of training the machine 100 to recognize non-equivalence between the compared values. Each training step includes a classification generated by machine learning. Such classifications may include, without limitation, parameters of the filament material, parameters of the ply produced, duration of the calendering cycle, and values ​​expected at the end of the ongoing cycle (e.g., values ​​of the spaces between aligned filaments in the ply, etc.).

[0063] The machine 100 including the comb 200 is suitable for processing a variety of filaments for a variety of rubber compounds without sacrificing industrial productivity.

[0064] The invention aims to reduce the time and labor during the following operations: inserting a plurality of filaments into the grooves of the guide rollers and the application rollers in order to align them in the calendering system. The invention enables a fast and ergonomic positioning of any type of filaments with a controlled spacing for use in the calendering cycle for performing the manufacture of the ply. The machine 100 and the comb 200 together form a device that prevents any variation in the spacing and any jumps between the filaments that are easily and ergonomically prepared in time, with the aim of forming a reinforcing ply with a desired width and at a desired density.

[0065] The terms "at least one" and "one or more" are used interchangeably. A range expressed as "between a and b" includes the values ​​"a" and "b".

[0066] Although particular embodiments of the disclosed device have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes, additions and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, no limitation should be imposed on the scope of the described invention, except as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of guiding and holding during a calendering cycle by a calendering system (300) for manufacturing a reinforced rubber cord layer, the calendering system comprising: A guide-holding machine (100) for positioning filaments (50) at a predetermined spacing during a calendering cycle for manufacturing a ply using the filaments, the guide-holding machine comprising a roller group, the roller group comprising a guide roller (102), the guide roller (102) having a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal axis about which the guide roller rotates, the guide roller having a plurality of circumferential grooves (102a) defined on a circumferential surface (102b) of the guide roller corresponding to the number of filaments (50) to be aligned during the guide-holding process, the roller group further comprising an application roller (104), the application roller (104) having a predetermined diameter and a longitudinal axis about which the application roller rotates, the application roller having a plurality of circumferential grooves (104a) defined on a circumferential surface (104b) of the application roller corresponding to the number of grooves (102a) of the guide roller (102), characterized in that the guide-holding machine (100) comprises at least one preparation comb (200), the preparation comb (200) ) comprises a support member (202) having a predetermined length between two opposite ends (202a, 202b) and a predetermined width between a front surface (202c) and a top surface (202d), teeth (204) extending from the top surface (202d), the teeth (204) having a predetermined uniform height and aligned and parallel along the length of the support member (202), the teeth being spaced at intervals corresponding to the grooves (102a) of the guide roller (102) position; so that the preparation comb (200) feeds the filament (50) from the supply creel (304) to the guide roller (102), and the filament is positioned at a predetermined interval outside the guide roller (102); the guide roller is movable relative to the application roller between an open position and a closed position, in which the filament is fed to the guide roller, and in which the guide roller is close to the application roller to capture the filament between the corresponding grooves (102a, 104a) of the guide roller (102) and the application roller (104); a supply creel (304) supporting a plurality of bobbins (305) positioned in uniform rows, each bobbin supporting a filament (50), each filament being fed to a guide and holding machine (100) from a bobbin leading to an outlet (304a) of the supply creel; A calender including a calender roll (302) on which at least one rubber ply is arranged to form a ply in which filaments (50) aligned and parallel to each other have a predetermined density; and a preparation area (308) having a pair of preparation combs, the pair of preparation combs comprising at least one mobile comb (200') and at least one fixed comb (200") mounted in alignment so that the teeth (204) of the mobile comb and the teeth of the fixed comb are aligned to allow the filament (50) to pass from the outlet (304a) of the supply creel (304) through the pair of preparation combs to the guide holding machine (100), The method comprises the following steps: The step of feeding the filament (50) from an outlet (304a) of a supply creel (304) leading to a guide and holding machine (100) towards one or more combs (200); The step of conveying the filament (50) between the supply creel (304) and the guide roller (102) of the machine (100); a step of inserting the filament (50) into a corresponding groove (102a) of a guide roller (102) of a guide holding machine (100); and the step of moving the guide roller (102) between an open position and a closed position to capture the filaments (50) between the guide roller (102) and the application roller (104) such that each filament enters a corresponding groove (104a) of the application roller (10') while maintaining alignment of the filaments, The step of conveying the filament (50) includes the step of simultaneously pulling the mobile comb (200') and the filament (50) toward the guide roller (102) of the guide holding machine (100), The pulling movement of the mobile comb (200') is realized so that the spacing between the teeth (204) of the mobile comb (200') is aligned with the corresponding grooves (102a) of the guide roller (102).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The pulling of the moving comb (200') is achieved such that the moving comb (200') is installed tangentially or perpendicularly to the circumferential surface (102b) of the guide roller (102).

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising the step of transferring the filament (50) in an aligned state and positioned in the groove (102a) of the guide roller (102) to the groove (104a) of the application roller (104).

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the step of keeping the mobile comb (200') in the installed position.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of returning the mobile comb (200') to the preparation area (308) after completing the calendering cycle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The mobile comb is positioned between the preparation area (308) and the guide roller (102) such that the spacing between the teeth (204) of the mobile comb (200') is aligned with the corresponding grooves (102a) of the guide roller (102).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The spacing of the teeth (204) is at least 0.7 mm and at most 1.4 mm.

8. A calendering cycle comprising the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising the step of feeding the calendering rollers (302) of the calendering machine with the filaments (50) aligned by means of guides keeping the machine (100).

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