Tire hot press and method for manufacturing tire

Abstract

The invention relates to a tyre hot press and to a method for producing tyres, the tyre hot press being designed as a column press having two cavities arranged next to one another, the tyre hot press having a press lower part and a press upper part, the press upper part can move in the vertical direction relative to the press lower part by means of at least one drive unit so as to open and close the cavity. According to the invention, the tyre hot press has at least two stationary columns. A method for manufacturing a tire allows common control of cavities alongside each other.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a tire heat press having two cavities arranged next to each other, wherein the tire heat press is configured as a column press having at least two columns.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for producing a tire by means of a tire heat press. BACKGROUND

[0003] A tire heat press has at least one cavity in which a supplied green tire is vulcanized by means of heat and pressure. Here, the cavity is opened for charging and discharging, while it is closed for tire vulcanization.

[0004] A tire heat press having two cavities arranged next to each other is known and can reduce costs and space requirements compared to two tire heat presses each having only one cavity.

[0005] The space requirement for installing a tire heat press at the production site is an important feature of a tire heat press. The smaller the space requirement, the more tire heat presses can be installed in a given area. SUMMARY

[0006] It is therefore the task of the invention to realize a tire heat press having two cavities arranged next to each other and at least two columns, which has a reduced space requirement compared to known structures.

[0007] According to the invention, this task is solved by a tire heat press according to claim 1.

[0008] Furthermore, it is the task of the invention to provide a method for producing a tire by means of which the two cavities of a tire heat press can be operated in a common movement.

[0009] According to the invention, this task is solved by a method for producing a tire according to claim 13.

[0010] Advantageous configurations of the invention are claimed in the dependent patent claims.

[0011] The features of the tire heat press and the method for producing a tire disclosed below are part of the invention in all realizable combinations.

[0012] The tire heat press according to the invention is configured as a column press and has two cavities arranged next to each other and at least two columns.

[0013] In embodiments of the application, the column is configured as a fixed column. In comparison to a pivotable column or a sinkable column, a fixed column enables a reduced space requirement of the tire heat press, so that no space has to be reserved in front of or behind the tire heat press for pivoting the press upper part for opening, or below the tire heat press for sinking of the column, when the tire heat press is in operation.

[0014] In embodiments of the application, the fixed column is neither pivotable nor sinkable, but is positionally fixed and immovable in all functional states of the assembled tire heat press.

[0015] In embodiments of the application, the tire heat press has exactly two columns.

[0016] The tire heat press is divided into a press lower part and a press upper part, wherein the press upper part is movable relative to the press lower part in vertical direction for opening and closing the cavity.

[0017] In embodiments of the application, the at least two columns are configured for guiding the press upper part.

[0018] The at least two columns are arranged vertically along their longitudinal direction.

[0019] In embodiments of the application, the columns are configured as circular guide means.

[0020] In embodiments of the application, the columns are fixedly connected with the press lower part and the press upper part is guided in its movement along the columns. Preferably, in these embodiments of the application, the columns are configured as fixed columns.

[0021] In other embodiments of the application, the columns are fixedly connected with the press upper part and are guided in the area of the press lower part. In this embodiment of the application, the columns are preferably sinkable into the floor on which the tire heat press is installed.

[0022] For moving the press upper part relative to the press lower part, the tire heat press according to the application has at least one drive unit.

[0023] In embodiments of the application, the at least one drive unit is electrically and / or hydraulically operable.

[0024] In embodiments of the application, the at least one drive unit is realized as a cylinder, in particular a hydraulic cylinder.

[0025] However, embodiments with other drive units are conceivable. It is important that these drive units are suitable for lifting or lowering the weight of the press upper part in vertical direction in a controllable manner.

[0026] In an embodiment of the application with a drive unit, the drive unit is preferably arranged centrally between the two uprights.

[0027] In an embodiment of the application, each of the at least two uprights is assigned a separate drive unit and the drive unit is arranged in the area of the respective upright.

[0028] In an embodiment of the application, the assigned drive unit is arranged close to the respective upright.

[0029] In other embodiments of the application, the drive unit is integrated in at least one upright.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment of the application with at least one cylinder as drive unit, the drive unit is arranged such that the force is conducted directly onto the ground on which the tire heat press is mounted.

[0031] The arrangement of the cavities next to each other is mechanically connected to each other in the part of the press upper part, so that these parts can be moved together.

[0032] In an embodiment of the application, by the mechanical connection of the cavities to each other, the same movement behavior is achieved for both cavities. This means that the cavities can be controlled synchronously for the vulcanization process, in particular the opening and closing of the cavities.

[0033] In an embodiment of the application, the part of the cover-like construction of the cavities is arranged on the press upper part.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the application, the cavities next to each other are arranged very close to each other. Thereby, a particularly small width of the tire heat press can be achieved. Preferably, the parts of the cavities in the press upper part next to each other are arranged so close to each other that they do not touch.

[0035] In an embodiment of the application, all uprights are arranged between the side ends of the cavities facing away from each other, so that the width of the tire heat press is defined by the cavities next to each other.

[0036] In an embodiment of the application, the uprights are arranged completely within the area defined by the smallest rectangle enclosing the cavities in a top view. Thereby, the width and the depth of the tire heat press are defined by the width and the depth of the cavities, without being increased by uprights located outside the cavities.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the application, at least two uprights are arranged in the space between two cavities. Thereby, a particularly small width of the tire heat press can be achieved.

[0038] If all the pillars are arranged in the space between the two cavities, then from the outside it is possible to approach the cavities freely without the pillars blocking the path, for example the path for loading and / or unloading the device.

[0039] In an embodiment of the application, the cavities have a circular or similar circular contour in a top view.

[0040] In an embodiment of the application, the space between the cavities is produced by the free space between the cavities in a top view and between two tangents, which respectively touch the points of the outer sides of the two cavities on one side.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment of the application, at least one pillar is arranged in the front intermediate space between the cavities and at least one pillar is arranged in the rear intermediate space between the cavities.

[0042] In an embodiment of the application, at least two pillars are arranged on a straight line extending through the centre of gravity of the press upper part.

[0043] In an embodiment of the application, it is also possible to consider pillar positions, which are offset outwards from the intermediate space of the cavities in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the line of the centre points of the cavities.

[0044] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the application, at least one pillar in the front intermediate space is arranged symmetrically with at least one pillar in the rear intermediate space in a top view, wherein the line of the centre points of the cavities is used as the axis of symmetry.

[0045] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the application, the pillars are arranged on a horizontally extending straight line, which perpendicularly intersects the line of the centre points of the cavities in the middle. In the case of a symmetrical design of the press upper part, this straight line corresponds to the straight line extending through the centre of gravity of the press upper part.

[0046] Preferably, not only at least two pillars, but also at least one drive unit are arranged on this straight line. Thereby, uniform movement of the press upper part relative to the two cavities can be achieved.

[0047] In other embodiments of the application, at least one fixed pillar is arranged on the side of the cavities. For example, one fixed pillar each is arranged on the straight line connecting the centre points of the cavities outside the cavities.

[0048] In other embodiments of the application, at least one fixed pillar is arranged on the side of the cavities and at least one fixed pillar is arranged in the intermediate space between the cavities.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the application with at least one cylinder as drive unit, the drive unit has at least one extension in the upper part of the tire heat press, which is connected to the cavity and protrudes upwards beyond the cavity, which enables the tire heat press to be installed on a flat surface with the stroke required for completely opening the cavity. Here, the point of action of the at least one cylinder on the upper part of the press is set so far upwards by means of the extension that the required stroke can be achieved.

[0050] In an embodiment of the tire heat press according to the application, the tire heat press has at least one loading and / or unloading device.

[0051] The method for manufacturing tires according to the application comprises at least the following steps: - opening two cavities of the tire heat press arranged next to each other together, - loading the cavities with green tires by means of at least one loading device, - closing the two cavities together, - vulcanizing the tires in the two cavities, - opening the two cavities together, - unloading the two cavities by means of at least one unloading device.

[0052] In an advantageous embodiment of the application, the cavities are loaded and / or unloaded simultaneously, so that the loading and / or unloading process can be carried out more quickly.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment of the method for manufacturing tires according to the application, a tire heat press according to the application is used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0054] The preferred embodiments of the application are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These drawings show: Figure 1 : side view of the tire heat press according to the application from the front, Figure 2 : side view of the tire heat press according to the application rotated 90° compared to Figure 1 , and Figure 3 : top view of the tire heat press according to the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] A side view of one embodiment of the tire heat press 1 according to the application is shown in Figure 1 .

[0056] The tire heat press 1 comprises a press upper part 2, a press lower part 3 and at least two columns 4, 5. The press upper part 2 is movable relative to the press lower part 3 and is guided here along the vertically oriented columns 4, 5. In the shown illustration only the first column 4 is visible, while the second column 5 is obscured by it.

[0057] The tire heat press 1 has two cavities 6, 7 arranged next to each other, which are shown in the open state.

[0058] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of the tire heat press 1 shown in Figure 1 Fig. 1, which is rotated by 90° relative to the embodiment of Figure 1 Fig. 1.

[0059] Arranged next to the first column 4 and the second column 5 respectively are drive devices 8, 9 configured as cylinders, which serve to move the press upper part 2 relative to the press lower part 3 in order to open and close the cavities 6, 7. The columns 4, 5 are located within the width range defined by the cavities 6, 7 and are thus arranged in the intermediate space between the cavities 6, 7.

[0060] In the shown embodiment the drive devices 8, 9 are arranged outside the columns 4, 5 respectively. However, embodiments are also conceivable in which at least one drive device 8, 9 is arranged between the columns 4, 5.

[0061] The drive devices 8, 9 are fixed on the press upper part 2 by means of fixing elements 10 respectively.

[0062] The drive devices 8, 9, the columns 4, 5 and the press lower part 3 are firmly connected to each other by a frame structure.

[0063] Figure 3 An embodiment of the tire heat press 1 according to the invention is shown in a top view.

[0064] The portions of the cavities 6, 7 on the press upper part 2 are mechanically and firmly connected to each other by connection elements 11. Furthermore, in the shown embodiment the connection elements 11 form sleeves running on the columns 4, 5, so that the press upper part 2 is guided along the columns 4, 5.

[0065] The cavities 6, 7 are arranged directly next to each other.

[0066] The drive devices 8, 9 are arranged outside the columns 4, 5 respectively, which are connected to the press upper part 2 by connection elements 11 respectively.

[0067] The columns 4, 5 are arranged in the intermediate space and centrally between the cavities 6, 7, wherein the first column 4 is arranged in the front intermediate space 12 and the second column 5 is arranged in the rear intermediate space 13.

[0068] In a top view, the intermediate space is delimited by the mutually facing adjacent sides of the cavities 6, 7 and the tangents C1 and C2.

[0069] Here, in the preferred embodiment shown, the columns 4, 5 are spaced apart from each other only to such an extent that the diameter of the sleeve running on the respective column 4, 5 is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the distance of the cavities 6, 7 at the respective point. Thereby, the depth of the tire heat press 1 can be reduced compared to a construction with more outwardly arranged columns.

[0070] In other embodiments of the application, the press upper part 2 is guided along the columns 4, 5 by other types of elements. It can be considered for example to use pins moving in slots of the columns 4, 5 or elements only partially surrounding the columns 4, 5.

[0071] In the embodiment of the application shown, the center points of the columns 4, 5 and of the drive devices 8, 9 lie in a cross section of a top view on a straight line B perpendicular to the line A connecting the center points of the cavities 6, 7.

Claims

1. A tire hot press (1), comprising a column press having two cavities (6, 7) arranged side by side, wherein, The tire heat press (1) has a lower part (3) and an upper part (2), the upper part (2) being able to move vertically relative to the lower part (3) by means of at least one drive unit (8, 9) to open and close the cavity (6, 7), characterized in that the tire heat press has at least two fixed columns (4, 5).

2. The tire hot press (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least two columns (4, 5) are configured to guide the upper part (2) of the press.

3. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each of the at least two columns (4, 5) is equipped with a separate drive unit (8, 9), and the drive unit is arranged in the area of ​​the respective column (4, 5).

4. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The cavities (6, 7) arranged side by side on the upper part (2) of the press are mechanically connected to each other so that these parts can move together.

5. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, All the columns (4, 5) are arranged between the opposite side ends of the cavities (6, 7) such that the width of the tire heat press (1) is defined by the cavities (6, 7) side by side.

6. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The columns (4, 5) are arranged entirely within a plane defined by the smallest rectangle that surrounds the cavity (6, 7) in the top view.

7. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least two columns (4, 5) are arranged in the space between the two cavities (6, 7).

8. The tire hot press (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, At least one column (4) is arranged in the intermediate space (12) in front of the cavities (6, 7), and at least one column (5) is arranged in the intermediate space (13) behind the cavities (6, 7).

9. The tire hot press (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, At least one column (4) in the front intermediate space (12) is arranged symmetrically with at least one column (5) in the rear intermediate space (13) in the top view, wherein the line (A) connecting the center points of the cavities (6, 7) serves as the axis of symmetry.

10. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, In the top view, the columns (4, 5) are arranged on a horizontally extending straight line (B), which intersects perpendicularly in the middle with the line (A) connecting the center point of the cavities (6, 7).

11. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, At least two columns (4, 5) are arranged on a straight line passing through the center of gravity of the upper part (2) of the press.

12. The tire hot press (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, The at least one drive unit (8, 9) is arranged on a straight line extending through the position of the column (4, 5).

13. A method for manufacturing a tire, comprising at least the following method steps: a. Open the two side-by-side chambers (6, 7) of the tire heat press (1) together. b. Using at least one loading device, load the cavities (6, 7) respectively to produce a fetus. c. Close both cavities (6 and 7) together. d. Vulcanize the tire in the two cavities (6, 7). e. Open the two cavities (6, 7) together. f. Unload the two cavities (6, 7) using at least one unloading device.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, Use the tire hot press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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