Cutting device and cutting station comprising such cutting device

Abstract

The utility model relates to a cutting device which is used for a cutting station of a tire building machine, the cutting device comprises a supporting component used for supporting a rubber material strip in a supporting plane and a cutting element used for cutting the rubber material strip along a cutting line extending parallel to the supporting plane, the cutting device includes a sensor configured to detect whether the strip of rubber material at or near the cutting line protrudes from the support plane. The utility model further relates to a cutting station comprising the cutting device.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the patent application with the application date of May 17, 2023, application number 202321198524.7, and invention name "Feeding device, cutting device and cutting station". Technical Field

[0002] The utility model relates to a cutting device used for a cutting station of a tire building machine. In addition, the utility model also relates to a cutting station used for the tire building machine. Background Art

[0003] For example, WO 2016 / 159759 A1 discloses a cutting station for a tire building machine. The cutting station includes a cutting device for cutting a continuous strip of rubber material into a plurality of tire components for manufacturing a tire. The cutting station also includes a feeding device arranged directly upstream of the cutting device for feeding the strip from, for example, a supply reel arranged further upstream, into the cutting device.

[0004] As shown in WO 2016 / 159759 A1, a feeding device includes a plurality of rollers to accumulate, collect, or buffer the rubber material strip before it is delivered to the cutting station. The last of the plurality of rollers in the feeding device, generally referred to as a feed roller, is arranged directly upstream of the cutting device and is used to feed a continuous rubber material strip of a predetermined length to the cutting device.

[0005] Because the cutting of the rubber strip is an intermittent process, the feed roller is stopped during the cutting of the rubber strip. After a portion of the rubber strip is cut, the feed roller must feed the rubber strip of a precise length to the cutting device so that the next portion can be cut from the rubber strip. This feeding of the rubber strip by the feed roller is preferably fast and accurate. Utility Model Content

[0006] A disadvantage of the known feeding device is that the rubber material strip may not accurately follow the contact surface of the feed roller, which causes the strip to slip relative to the contact surface of the feed roller. As a result, the length of the strip provided by the feed roller to the cutting station may be inaccurate.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device, in particular a cutting device for a cutting station of a tire building machine, and a cutting station comprising such a cutting device, wherein at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages can be at least partially resolved.

[0008] The utility model provides a cutting device for a cutting station, wherein the cutting device includes a support member for supporting a rubber material strip in a support plane and a cutting element for cutting the rubber material strip along a cutting line extending substantially parallel to the support plane, wherein the cutting device includes a sensor configured to detect whether the rubber material strip protrudes from the support plane at or near the cutting line. When the rubber material strip on the support member protrudes from the support member, this may become an obstacle to the cutting element. For example, when cutting a protruding strip, a bow wave may be generated, which may cause the edge of the rubber material strip to deform. The sensor allows detection of when the rubber material strip protrudes from the support plane, and using this detection, the cutting device can be stopped.

[0009] In one embodiment, the sensor includes an emitter and a receiver, wherein the emitter is configured to project a light beam to the receiver, wherein the light beam is configured to be blocked from reaching the receiver by a protruding portion of the rubber material strip. The emitter and receiver may be arranged at opposite ends of the cutting line. Alternatively, the emitter and receiver may be arranged on the same side of the cutting line, wherein the sensor further includes a reflector arranged at an end of the cutting line opposite the end including the emitter and receiver, wherein, at least when there is no protruding strip material, the light beam from the emitter is reflected by the reflector back to the receiver.

[0010] In one embodiment, the light beam is arranged to extend substantially parallel to the cutting line at a side of the cutting line facing away from the input side of the cutting device. Thus, the sensor does not interfere with the cutting member and can also be combined with a guide plate, as described in more detail below.

[0011] It is noted that the cutting device or embodiments thereof as described above can also be used independently of a feeding device, in particular independently of a feeding device having a pressing unit.

[0012] The various aspects and features described and illustrated in this specification can be applied independently wherever possible. These independent aspects can become the subject of utility model divisional applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will be described based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a cutting station for a tire building machine;

[0015] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a cutting station;

[0016] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing an example of a pressing unit;

[0017] Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a cutting device having a guide plate and a first sensor and a second sensor;

[0018] Figure 5 Shown with Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of a cutting station of a cutting device;

[0019] Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional view is shown to illustrate the operation of the sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figure 1 An example of a cutting station 1 according to the present invention is shown. The cutting station 1 of this example is particularly configured to cut a strip of rubber material into strip portions having a characteristic parallelogram or rhombus shape, which strip portions are used to manufacture belts or belt cushions, in particular carcass plies or breaker layers for tires.

[0021] The cutting station 1 comprises a cutting device 2 for cutting a strip of rubber material 3 into strip portions having a characteristic parallelogram or rhombus shape alternately along a cutting line 4. The cutting station 1 further comprises a feeding device 5 for feeding a continuous strip of rubber material 3 into the cutting device 2 from a source such as a storage reel or an extruder (not shown). Figure 2 The active parts of the cutting station 1 are also schematically shown in the cross-sectional view.

[0022] The feeding device 5 comprises a first supply roller 6, a second supply roller 7, a dancer roller 8 and a feed roller 9 rotatable about a first rotation axis 10. The feed roller 9 is connected to a first drive unit, preferably a servo motor 30, for intermittently driving the feed roller 9 so as to quickly and accurately move a predetermined length of the rubber material strip 3 to the cutting device 2. The second supply roller 7 is connected to a second drive unit, preferably a drive unit 51, for substantially continuously driving the second supply roller 7 to remove the rubber material strip 3 from a reel or an extruder (not shown) and continuously provide the rubber material strip 3 to the loop 33 of the rubber material strip 3 between the second supply roller 7 and the feed roller 9 via the dancer roller 8. In use, as shown Figure 2 As shown, the rubber material strip 3 from the regulating roller 8 is provided to the feed roller 9 along the input direction ID. Then, the rubber material strip 3 is arranged above the feed roller 9 and leaves the feed roller 9 along the output direction OD. Figure 2 As shown, the angle α between the input direction ID and the output direction OD is greater than zero, specifically greater than 90 degrees. Figure 2 In the example of , in which the angle α comprises an obtuse angle, the strip of rubber material 3 is arranged around the circumferential contact surface 12 of the feed roller 9 over a first arcuate length 11 .

[0023] The feeding device 5 further includes a pressing unit 13 configured to press the rubber material strip 3 against the circumferential contact surface 12 of the feed roller 9 in the region of the first arcuate length 11. Specifically, the pressing surface of the pressing unit 13 extends around the feed roller 9 over a second arcuate length 14 that is equal to or less than the first arcuate length 11.

[0024] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in more detail in FIG, the pressing unit 13 includes a belt 15, a first pulley 16, and a second pulley 17. The first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17 are spaced apart and arranged on opposite sides of the feed roller 9. The belt 15 is looped around the first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17 and on the circumferential contact surface 12 of the feed roller 9 to contact the circumferential contact surface 12 over the second arc length 14. Figure 2 As shown schematically, a connecting line L between the first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17 intersects the feed roller 9 , wherein in this example, the connecting line L is tangential to the circumference of the bottom side of the first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17 .

[0025] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown schematically, the pressing unit 13 further comprises a third pulley 18, which is arranged to be spaced apart from the connecting line L and the feed roller 9. The third pulley 18 is arranged at one side of the region of the first arc length 11 of the circumferential contact surface 12 of the feed roller 9, away from the connecting line L between the first pulley 16 and the second pulley 17. The third pulley 18 guides the belt 15 so that the belt 15 does not abut against itself in the loop. Furthermore, the third pulley 18 serves to tension the belt 15. The third pulley 18 is connected to an actuator, specifically a spring 20, which is configured to tension the belt 15 by pulling the third pulley 18 with a force F in a direction away from the feed roller 9. One end 21 of the spring 20 is connected to a movable part 22 of the frame 19, to which the third pulley 18 is connected, while the opposite end 23 of the spring is connected via an arm 24 (schematically at Figure 3 ) is connected to the frame 13. By tensioning the belt 13, the portion of the belt 13 which abuts the circumferential contact surface 12 of the feed roller 9 is pressed against the circumferential contact surface 12.

[0026] By adjusting the force F of the spring 20 on the third pulley 18, the pressing force of the belt 13 on the circumferential contact surface 12 can be adjusted. Preferably, the pressing force of the belt 13 is large enough to provide sufficient friction between the rubber material strip 3 and the circumferential contact surface 12 of the feed roller 9 so that the rubber material strip 3 accurately follows the rotation of the feed roller 9. Preferably, the pressing force of the belt 13 is not so large that the belt 13 damages the rubber material strip 3 or leaves marks on the rubber material strip 3.

[0027] The width of the belt 15 in a direction parallel to the center axis or rotational axis 10 of the feed roller 9 is relatively small compared to the length of the feed roller 9 in a direction parallel to the center axis or rotational axis 10 of the feed roller 9. Preferably, the width of the belt 15 is in the range of 2% to 10% of the length of the feed roller 9. For example, to process a rubber material strip 3 having a width of 400 mm, the length of the feed roller 9 is equal to or greater than 400 mm, and the width of the belt 15 can be as small as 25 mm. The width of the belt 15 is 6.25% of the width of the rubber material strip 3. When a feed roller 9 having a length of 420 mm and a belt 15 having a width of 25 mm is used, the width of the belt 15 is approximately 5.95% of the length of the feed roller 9. This relatively narrow belt 15 relative to the length of the feed roller 9 and / or relative to the width of the rubber material strip 3 allows for adjustment of the position of the rubber material strip 3 on the feed roller 9, providing small corrections (if necessary) to the position of the rubber material strip 3 in the axial direction relative to the feed roller 9 during use.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown schematically, the pressing unit 13 is arranged above the feed roller 9 so that the belt 15 is arranged in a center plane of the feed roller 9. The center plane is perpendicular to the center axis of the feed roller 9 and is arranged at or near the middle length of the feed roller 9.

[0029] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the pressing unit 13 comprises a frame 19, wherein the first pulley 16, the second pulley 17 and the third pulley 18 are freely rotatably connected to the frame 19. Thus, the belt 15 follows the movement of the circumferential contact surface 12 of the feed roller 9 and, in use, follows the movement of the rubber material strip 3 without substantially exerting a tangential force on the rubber material strip 3. Figure 1 As shown, the frame 19 comprises two substantially symmetrical plates, between which the pulleys 16, 17, 18 and the belt 15 are placed. Figure 3 , one of the plates is removed to show the components of the pressing unit 13 in the space between the plates of the frame 19.

[0030] Upstream of the feed roller 9 , the feeding device 5 further comprises a first supply roller 6 and a second supply roller 7 configured to supply the rubber material strip 3 via a regulating roller 8 to a loop 33 of the rubber material strip 3 between the second supply roller 7 and the feed roller 9 .

[0031] Figure 4 There is schematically shown a view of a cutting device 2 . The cutting device 2 comprises a support member 40 for supporting the strip 3 of rubber material in a support plane and a cutting element 41 for cutting the strip 3 of rubber material along a cutting line 4 .

[0032] The cutting device 2 includes a guide plate 42, wherein the guide plate 42 is spaced apart from the support member 40 to provide a guide gap G. Figure 4 As shown schematically, the guide plate 42 is configured to substantially cover at least a portion of the support member 40 at the side of the cutting line 4 facing the input side of the cutting device 2, in particular, the side facing the feed roller 9 and the pressing unit 13. The guide plate 42 substantially prevents the rubber material strip 3 from buckling or bending 3' when moving towards the cutting line 4, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 Schematically shown. Specifically, when a high acceleration force is applied to the rubber material strip 3 to quickly move the rubber material strip 3 to the cutting line 4, the rubber material strip 3 may buckle or bend, which is substantially prevented by the guide plate 42. Therefore, in the cutting device 2 having the guide plate 42, the rubber material strip 3 can be moved to the cutting line 4 at a higher acceleration, which shortens the cutting cycle of the cutting device 2.

[0033] like Figure 5 As schematically shown, the minimum guide gap G is substantially constant across the width and length of the guide plate 42. Specifically, for a rubber material strip 3 having a thickness of approximately 1 mm, the minimum guide gap G has a height in the range of 2-4 mm in a direction perpendicular to the support member 40, preferably 3 mm. This narrow guide gap G is particularly suitable for preventing buckling or bending 3' of the rubber material strip 3.

[0034] like Figure 4 As further schematically shown in FIG. 1 , the width of the guide plate 42 on the side facing the feed roller 9 is substantially equal to or greater than the length of the feed roller 9 in a direction parallel to the central axis of the feed roller 9. Because the cutting station 2 can process a rubber material strip 3 having a width equal to or less than the length of the feed roller 9, the guide plate 42 provides a guide gap G having a width equal to or less than the width of the rubber material strip 3. The guide plate 42 substantially covers the path of the rubber material strip 3 on the upper portion of the support member 40 above the cutting line 4. The guide plate 42 extends in the conveying direction T of the rubber material strip 3 to a position adjacent to or close to the cutting line 4. Thus, in use, the rubber material strip 3 on the support member 40 is substantially completely covered by the guide plate 42 from the input side of the cutting device to a position adjacent to or close to the cutting line 4.

[0035] As mentioned above, to minimize the chance of buckling or bending 3' of the rubber material strip 3, the guide gap G is preferably relatively narrow. However, the rubber material strip 3 sometimes also includes a splice, such as when a portion has been cut from the strip or when the leading end of a new strip is attached to the trailing end of a previous strip. The rubber material strip 3 is typically thicker at such a splice, and this can cause difficulties in moving such a splice through the guide gap. To avoid such difficulties, the guide plate 42 can be temporarily moved away from the support member 40 to increase the guide gap G, allowing the splice to easily pass through the increased guide gap between the guide plate 42 and the support member 40.

[0036] exist Figure 4 In the schematically illustrated example, the guide plate 42 is connected to the support member 40 via a hinge connection 43, wherein the hinge connection 43 is configured to temporarily increase at least a portion of the guide gap G. The cutting device 2 further includes an actuator, specifically a pneumatic cylinder 44, for at least temporarily moving the guide plate 42 away from the support member 40. The pneumatic cylinder 44 is connected to the support member 40 or the frame of the cutting device 2 and is configured to push against a portion of the guide plate 42 facing the support member. The presence of an actuator, such as the pneumatic cylinder 44, allows for automatic movement of the guide plate 42 so that the splice can pass through the guide gap G without obstruction.

[0037] like Figure 4 As shown schematically, the cutting device 2 further comprises a sensor comprising an emitter 61 and a receiver 62, the sensor being configured to detect whether the strip of rubber material 3 at or near the cutting line 4 protrudes from the support plane 40. The emitter 61 is configured to project a light beam 63 to the receiver 62. The light beam 63 is arranged to extend substantially parallel to the cutting line 4 at a side of the cutting line 4 facing away from the input side of the cutting device 2. Therefore, the sensor does not interfere with the cutting member 41 and the guide plate 42. The light beam 63 is also arranged to extend substantially parallel to the support member 40 at a certain height to allow the flat strip of rubber material 3 to pass between the support member 40 and the light beam 63. However, when the strip of rubber material 3 protrudes 3" from the support plane 40, the light beam 63 is blocked by the protruding portion 3" of the rubber material strip 3 and cannot reach the receiver 62, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 It is shown schematically and the cutting device 2 can be stopped.

[0038] Note that, in Figure 4 and 6In the example of , the emitter 61 and the receiver 62 are arranged at opposite ends of the cutting line 4. Alternatively, the emitter and the receiver may be arranged at the same end of the cutting line, wherein the sensor further comprises a reflector arranged at the end of the cutting line opposite to the end comprising the emitter and the receiver, wherein, at least when there is no protruding strip material, the light beam from the emitter is reflected by the reflector back to the receiver.

[0039] In summary, the present invention relates to a feeding device, a cutting device, and a cutting station of a tire building machine, wherein the cutting station includes such a feeding device and a cutting device. The feeding device is configured to feed a rubber material strip to the cutting station. The feeding device includes a feed roller rotatable about a first rotation axis. The feeding device also includes a pressing unit, wherein the pressing unit includes a pressing surface configured to press the rubber material strip against a circumferential contact surface of the feed roller, wherein the pressing surface extends around the feed roller over an arcuate length.

[0040] It should be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Based on the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and these variations will still be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] Reference Signs List

[0042] 1 Cutting station

[0043] 2 Cutting device

[0044] 3 rubber material strips

[0045] 3' strip of buckled or curved rubber material

[0046] 3" protrusion of the rubber material strip

[0047] 4 Cutting Line

[0048] 5 Feeding device

[0049] 6 First supply roller

[0050] 7 Second supply roller

[0051] 8 Adjusting roller

[0052] 9 Feed roller

[0053] 10 First axis of rotation

[0054] 11 Length of the first arc

[0055] 12 Circumferential contact surface

[0056] 13 Pressing unit

[0057] 14 Length of the second arc

[0058] 15 belts

[0059] 16 First pulley

[0060] 17 Second pulley

[0061] 18 Third pulley

[0062] 19 Framework

[0063] 20 Spring

[0064] 21 One end of the spring

[0065] 22 Moving parts of the frame

[0066] 23 Opposite ends of spring

[0067] 24 arms

[0068] 30 servo motors

[0069] 33 rings

[0070] 40 Supporting member

[0071] 41 cutting elements

[0072] 42 guide plate

[0073] 43 hinge connection

[0074] 44 pneumatic cylinder

[0075] 61 Transmitter

[0076] 62 Receiver

[0077] 63 Beam

[0078] 80 orifice

[0079] F-force

[0080] G Gap

[0081] L connecting cable

[0082] ID input direction

[0083] OD Output direction

[0084] The angle between αID and OD

Claims

1. A cutting device for use in a cutting station of a tire building machine, wherein: The cutting device comprises a support member for supporting the strip of rubber material in a support plane and a cutting element for cutting the strip of rubber material along a cutting line extending parallel to the support plane, wherein the cutting device comprises a sensor configured to detect whether the strip of rubber material protrudes from the support plane at or near the cutting line.

2. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that The sensor includes a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter is configured to project a light beam to the receiver, wherein the light beam is configured to be blocked from reaching the receiver by the protruding portion of the strip of rubber material.

3. The cutting device according to claim 2, characterized in that The light beam is arranged to extend substantially parallel to the cutting line at a side of the cutting line facing away from an input side of the cutting device.

4. The cutting device according to claim 2, characterized in that The transmitter and the receiver are arranged at opposite ends of the cutting line.

5. The cutting device according to claim 2, characterized in that The transmitter and the receiver are arranged at the same end of the cutting line, wherein the sensor further comprises a reflector arranged at an end of the cutting line opposite to the end comprising the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect a light beam from the transmitter back to the receiver.

6. A cutting station for a tire building machine, characterized in that: The cutting station comprises a cutting device according to claim 1 and a feeding device for feeding a strip of rubber material to an input side of the cutting device.

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