Cooling strip for use in cooling system for cooling, in particular water-cooling, articles

Abstract

A cooling belt (1) for use in a cooling apparatus (2) for cooling is disclosed. The invention relates to a cooling belt (1) for use in a cooling device (2) for cooling, in particular water-cooling, articles (3), having a plurality of transport section units (12, 13) arranged in a direction of movement (A), the transport section units (12, 13) each having, perpendicular to the direction of movement (A): at least one first transport section (12), which extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement (A), and at least one second transport section (13), which extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement (A); and at least one respective second conveying section (13) which extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement (A) and which closes the first conveying section (13) on the edge side in each case perpendicular to the direction of movement (A), the first conveying sections (12) of the conveying section units (12, 13) each having at least one through-hole (12a), the through hole extends substantially perpendicular to the movement direction (A) and occupies at least 50% of the area of the first conveying section (12) receiving the articles (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling belt for use in a cooling device for cooling products, in particular for water cooling, and a corresponding cooling device having such a cooling belt. Background Art

[0002] In the production of articles made of plastics, such as elastomeric materials, profiles are usually produced by extrusion. Such extruded profiles, such as the tread and sidewalls of pneumatic tires, are usually cooled with cooling water after extrusion by means of spraying. The profiles are transported through a cooling section by means of a conveyor belt. Cooling of the profiles is achieved by distributing water using spray nozzles arranged above and below the conveyor belt.

[0003] CN 201296001 Y describes a shaping device for cleaning soft objects, which is suitable for cleaning, cooling and curing soft objects formed at high temperatures. The shaping device includes a first shell cover unit surrounding a first tunnel space, a plurality of spray washing units arranged in the first tunnel space, at least one conveying unit for transporting soft objects, and a main shaping unit arranged behind the spray washing unit. The conveying unit is composed of a conveyor belt and a wiper blade in contact with the conveyor belt. A plurality of circular holes are evenly arranged on the conveyor belt, and the water sprayed under the conveyor belt can cool the bottom of the soft object through these holes to achieve uniform cooling. During this period, the wiper blade scrapes off the water on the surface of the conveyor belt to prevent the water at a lower temperature from flowing to the spray washing device at a higher temperature. Finally, the main regulating unit outputs cold air to cool the porous internal structure of the soft object.

[0004] US 6 698 582 B2 describes a conveyor belt for the continuously operated transport heat treatment of a material bed, which comprises metal conveyor belt elements connected to one another. Each conveyor belt element is provided with perforations to enable a gas flow through the conveyor belt. The perforations are distributed unevenly over the conveyor belt elements and are located in at least two perforated zones. The perforated zones are separated from one another by non-perforated zones.

[0005] The cooling belt can be implemented as a segmented plastic belt. The individual plastic segments are connected to each other via rods and can be adjusted to the required width and function.

[0006] The pattern of the known conveyor sections of the cooling belt provides a maximum opening ratio of 48% over the entire width. The opening ratio of the belt is disadvantageously limited by the required physical force of the conveyor belt to be installed. The main disadvantage so far is that the effect of the cooling nozzles from below is limited by this fact. As a result, the length of the cooling belt may be longer (with attached additional costs and a larger installation area of ​​the extruder line) to achieve the desired result of product cooling. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a cooling belt of the type mentioned in the introduction, which can improve the cooling effect of the medium used, in particular water. This should be done in particular as simply, inexpensively, with low maintenance costs, in a material-saving, compact and / or durable manner as possible. At least an alternative to the known possibilities should be provided.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a cooling belt and a cooling device having the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention relates to a cooling belt for use in a cooling device for cooling products, in particular water cooling, as described in the opening paragraph. The cooling belt has a plurality of conveying section units arranged along the direction of movement, wherein the conveying section units each have perpendicular to the direction of movement:

[0010] at least one first conveying section extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement; and

[0011] at least one second conveying section, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement and respectively closes the first conveying section perpendicularly to the direction of movement at the edge,

[0012] Therein, the first conveying sections of the conveying section unit each have at least one through-hole, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement and occupies at least 50% of the area of ​​the first conveying section for receiving articles.

[0013] The direction perpendicular to the direction of movement can also be referred to as the transverse direction. The direction of movement and the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement form a planar and preferably horizontal extension of the cooling belt or of the conveyor section unit of the cooling belt, on which the products can be placed from above in order to be moved, transported or conveyed for cooling purposes.

[0014] The invention is based on the knowledge that more cooling medium, in particular cooling fluid, in particular water, can pass through the cooling belt from below to the products to be cooled, which is achieved in that at least one first conveying section of the conveying section unit has at least one through hole, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement or in the transverse direction and forms or occupies at least 50% of the area of ​​the first conveying section. Thus, a continuous and relatively large opening can be provided through the first conveying section of the conveying section unit, through which the cooling medium can pass over the largest possible area and unhindered to the products to be cooled or their surfaces located on the cooling belt, which can be beneficial to the cooling effect.

[0015] Here, this through hole of the respective first conveying section of the conveying section unit can form at least 50% or more of the total area occupied by the first conveying section. The size of the through hole can preferably be selected to be as large as possible in order to increase the cooling effect as described above. At the same time, the size of the through hole can be limited in order to maintain the stability of the first conveying section of the conveying section unit for force transmission, in particular the stability perpendicular to the direction of movement. Here, the force can be transmitted in the direction of movement substantially via the two second conveying sections of the conveying section unit, so that the first conveying section in the conveying section unit can be optimized with regard to the cooling effect of the medium.

[0016] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the through holes of the first conveying section of the conveying section unit are respectively designed to be elongated and continuous. That is, this can provide slot-shaped through holes of the first conveying section of the conveying section unit, and these slot-shaped through holes can allow the cooling medium to reach a relatively large or wide area of ​​the product when the area of ​​the through holes is relatively small, which can be beneficial to the cooling of the product. At the same time, the stability of the first conveying section of the conveying section unit perpendicular to the movement direction can be affected or damaged as little as possible.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the conveying section unit has at least two first conveying sections perpendicular to the direction of movement, which are closed together at the edge by the second conveying section. This can represent a specific implementation possibility and can also increase the design applicability.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the second conveying sections of the conveying section unit each have at least one through hole. Thus, the second conveying section of the conveying section unit can provide the following possibility, that is, the cooling fluid accumulated there can flow out downward through the second conveying section of the conveying section unit, otherwise the upper side of the second conveying section of the conveying section unit will heat up and possibly affect the cooling of the products on the first conveying section of the conveying section unit.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, the through-holes of the second conveying section of the conveying section unit are each designed to be point-shaped. This can be sufficient for the fluid to be discharged therefrom and at the same time minimize the material weakening of the second conveying section of the conveying section unit so as to minimize the influence on the force transmission in the direction of movement.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, two conveying section units directly adjacent to each other in the moving direction have a first conveying section and a second conveying section with different extensions perpendicular to the moving direction. This may represent a specific implementation possibility and may also increase the design applicability.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, two directly adjacent different conveying section units are alternated along the moving direction. This may represent a specific implementation possibility and may also increase the design adaptability.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, all conveying section units terminate flush with each other at the edge side. This may represent a concrete implementation possibility and may also increase the design flexibility.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, the cooling belt is constructed without end closure. This can represent a specific implementation possibility. This can also increase the design adaptability. This can especially realize a continuous cooling process.

[0024] The invention also relates to a cooling device having at least one cooling belt as described above. Thus, a cooling device can be realized which applies at least one cooling belt according to the invention and utilizes its characteristics and advantages.

[0025] In other words, the present invention relates to an improved or optimized design for a segmented belt, in particular a plastic belt, in a spray cooling conveyor, in particular for an extrusion plant for rubber components.

[0026] Extruded profiles (tread and sidewalls) are usually cooled with cooling water after extrusion by means of a spraying method. The profiles are transported through the cooling section by means of a conveyor belt. The cooling of the profiles is achieved by distributing water using spray nozzles arranged above and below the conveyor belt. The cooling belt is implemented as a segmented plastic belt. The individual plastic segments are connected to each other by rods and can be adjusted according to the required width and function.

[0027] In spray cooling lines, plastic segments with a specific degree of opening must be selected in order to achieve maximum water permeability.

[0028] Patterns or grids of conveying sections are known which provide a maximum opening ratio of 48% across the width of the cooling belt.

[0029] The opening ratio of the cooling belt is limited by the physical force required to install the cooling belt as a conveyor belt. Disadvantageously, the effect of the cooling nozzles, mainly from below, is limited by this fact. As a result, the length of the cooling belt may be longer (with attendant additional costs and a larger installation area for the extruder line).

[0030] The present invention defines another conveying segment pattern to increase the belt opening ratio while maintaining the physical strength of the entire belt assembly.

[0031] The belt pattern according to the invention preferably consists of a belt segment with a completely open slot in the middle of the belt, where the rubber parts to be cooled are placed, and preferably perforated belt segments in the side areas, where the force transmission in the direction of movement takes place. The combination of belt segment patterns can be applied to the basic modular plastic belt designs of known suppliers.

[0032] The open structure of the belt section in the middle improves the efficiency of the spray cooling in the area where the rubber components are located. The required physical strength of the entire conveyor is achieved by the solid belt sections in the side areas. The perforations of the solid sections ensure constant drainage.

[0033] The invention can be applied to all extrusion equipment that is cooled by spraying water from above and below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The following is a description of several embodiments and other advantages of the present invention in conjunction with the following drawings. In the drawings:

[0035] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a known cooling device with a known cooling belt without the product to be cooled;

[0036] Figure 2 Shows no product to be cooled Figure 1 A top view of a portion of a known cooling belt;

[0037] Figure 3 A top view showing a portion of a cooling belt according to the invention according to a first embodiment without products to be cooled;

[0038] Figure 4 Shown is a Figure 3 pictorial diagram;

[0039] Figure 5 A top view showing a portion of a cooling belt according to the invention according to a second embodiment without the product to be cooled;

[0040] Figure 6 Shown is a Figure 5 ; and

[0041] Figure 7 Shown is a diagram with two products to be cooled Figure 3 .

[0042] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS (PART OF THE DESCRIPTION)

[0043] A. Direction of movement

[0044] B Spray water

[0045] 1 Cooling belt

[0046] 10 Rib-shaped conveyor section

[0047] 11 Transverse rod

[0048] 12, 13 Transmission segment unit

[0049] 12 The first transmission section in the middle

[0050] 12a The through hole or slot of the first conveying section 12

[0051] 13 Second conveyor section on the edge

[0052] 13a The through hole or perforation of the second conveying section 13

[0053] 2 Cooling equipment

[0054] 20 Sprinkler

[0055] 3 Products to be cooled (elastomer products) DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a known cooling device 2 with a known cooling belt 1 is shown without a product 3 to be cooled. Figure 2 The figure shows that there is no product 3 to be cooled. Figure 1 A top view of a portion of a known cooling belt 1. Figure 4 and Figure 6 The product to be cooled 3 or see Figure 7 The product 3 to be cooled can be, in particular, an elastomeric product 3, for example an extruded tire profile or a tire profile component.

[0057] The known cooling belt 1 is endlessly closed around at least one driving drum (not shown) and a deflection drum (not shown), thereby forming an upstream section (not shown) and a downstream section (not shown). The products to be cooled can be placed on the upper side of the upstream section and conveyed along the movement direction A through the water sprayer 20 assembly of the cooling device 2 so as to be sprayed with water from above and from below and thereby cooled.

[0058] The known cooling belt 1 consists of rib-shaped conveying sections 10 which are connected in an articulated manner to one another in the direction of movement A so as to be able to wrap around a drive drum and a deflection drum. This articulated connection is formed by transverse rods 11 which extend through ribs (not numbered) of the rib-shaped conveying sections 10 which protrude in the direction of movement A, see Figure 2 .

[0059] Here, the spray water B can reach the products to be cooled 3 from below through the gaps (not shown) in the rib-shaped conveying section 10 of the cooling belt 1. These gaps are designed to be substantially quadrilateral, in particular substantially square, see Figure 2 .

[0060] Figure 3 A top view of a portion of a cooling belt 1 according to the invention according to a first embodiment is shown without the product 3 to be cooled. Figure 4 The diagram shows a cooling system with a product 3 to be cooled. Figure 3 . Figure 7A diagram showing a cooling system with two products 3 to be cooled Figure 5 .

[0061] according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The cooling belt 1 according to the present invention of the first embodiment is composed of a plurality of conveyor section units 12, 13, each of which has a first conveyor section 12 in the middle perpendicular to the direction of movement A (i.e., in the transverse direction) and a second conveyor section 13 terminating on both sides or the edge. Here, two conveyor section units 12, 13 directly adjacent to each other in the direction of movement A have a first conveyor section 12 in the middle and a second conveyor section 13 on the edge that extend perpendicular to the direction of movement A to different extents, and these conveyor section units are alternated along the direction of movement A.

[0062] The conveyor section units 12, 13 or their first conveyor section 12 and second conveyor section 13 extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement A, i.e. in the transverse direction. All conveyor section units 12, 13 terminate flush with one another at the edge. Exemplary dimensions of the conveyor section units 12, 13 or their first conveyor section 12 and second conveyor section 13 are Figure 3 The units are visible in millimeters.

[0063] The first conveying sections 12 in the middle of the conveying section units 12 and 13 respectively have through holes 12a, which extend substantially perpendicularly to the movement direction A and occupy at least 50% of the area of ​​the first conveying section 12 for receiving the products 3. The through holes 12a of the first conveying sections 12 of the conveying section units 12 and 13 are respectively designed to be elongated and continuous, so the through holes 12a of the first conveying sections 12 of the conveying section units 12 and 13 can also be called slots 12a. In this way and method, cooling water can reach the products 3 to be cooled from below over a large area or lengthwise, see Figure 4 , which can be beneficial to the cooling effect of spray water B.

[0064] The second conveying sections 13 of the conveying section units 12, 13 also each have at least one through hole 13a or each have a plurality of (three in each case in the first embodiment under consideration) through holes 13a, which are however designed in a punctiform manner and can therefore also be referred to as perforations 13a of the second conveying sections 13 of the conveying section units 12, 13. This can be used to allow water to flow out from the upper side of the cooling belt 1. At the same time, the material weakening of the second conveying sections 13 on the edge side of the conveying section units 12, 13 can be smaller here due to the punctiform design of the through holes 13a, so that the traction force of the movement can be transmitted in the movement direction A through the second conveying sections 13 on the edge side of the conveying section units 12, 13.

[0065] Figure 5 A top view of a portion of a cooling belt 1 according to the invention according to a second embodiment is shown without the product 3 to be cooled. Figure 6The diagram shows a cooling system with a product 3 to be cooled. Figure 5 .

[0066] In this case, each second conveying section unit 12, 13 has two first conveying sections 12, which respectively have the slots 12a as described above. Accordingly, the respective second conveying sections 13 of the conveying section units 12, 13 are designed to be shorter in the transverse direction.

Claims

1. A cooling belt (1) for use in a cooling device (2) for cooling a product (3), in particular water cooling, The cooling belt has a plurality of conveying section units (12, 13) arranged along a moving direction (A). in, The conveying section units (12, 13) respectively have: at least one first conveying section (12) extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement (A), and at least one second conveying section (13) which extends substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement (A) and which respectively closes the first conveying section (13) at an edge perpendicularly to the direction of movement (A), Wherein, the first conveying section (12) of the conveying section unit (12, 13) respectively has at least one through hole (12a), which extends substantially perpendicularly to the movement direction (A) and occupies at least 50% of the area of ​​the first conveying section (12) for receiving the product (3).

2. The cooling belt (1) according to claim 1, in, The through holes (12a) of the first conveying section (12) of the conveying section units (12, 13) are respectively designed to be elongated and continuous.

3. The cooling belt (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in, The conveying section units (12, 13) each have at least two first conveying sections (12) perpendicular to the movement direction (A), and the first conveying sections are jointly closed at the edge by the second conveying sections (13).

4. The cooling belt (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in, The second conveying sections (13) of the conveying section units (12, 13) each have at least one through hole (13a).

5. The cooling belt (1) according to claim 4, in, The through holes (13a) of the second conveying section (13) of the conveying section units (12, 13) are respectively designed to be point-shaped.

6. Cooling belt (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in, Two conveying section units (12, 13) directly adjacent to each other along the moving direction (A) have a first conveying section (12) and a second conveying section (13) with different extensions perpendicular to the moving direction (A).

7. The cooling belt (1) according to claim 6, in, Two directly adjacent different conveying section units (12, 13) alternate along the movement direction (A).

8. Cooling belt (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in, All conveying section units (12, 13) terminate flush with one another at the edges.

9. The cooling belt (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in, The cooling belt (1) is designed to be endlessly closed.

10. A cooling device (2) having at least one cooling belt (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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