Device and method for improving the processing properties of web-shaped rubber profiles
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102023210840
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-01
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-08
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
The invention relates to a device for machining a web-shaped rubber profile with predetermined dimensions and to a method for machining a web-shaped rubber profile with a corresponding device. A method for producing a vehicle tire is likewise disclosed, comprising the method steps of the corresponding method.There is continuing interest in tire manufacturing to continually improve the manufacture of vehicle tires to achieve more efficient manufacturing processes, for example. The manufacturing process for vehicle tires also includes, in particular, the manufacture of the vehicle tire blank which is formed in most cases by connecting a plurality of vehicle tire plies and other green tire components, for example on a tire building drum. These are usually tire components made of vulcanizable rubber mixtures which are guided, cut, deformed and joined together with further plies or profiles at temperatures close to room temperature, for example as rubber profiles. Corresponding methods and apparatus for tire production are known to the person skilled in the art.Processing difficulties arise in many cases when handling the different vehicle tire plies and profiles in the production process, in particular in the context of processing sidewall profiles, apex elements or similar tire components. Corresponding tire components are often made of relatively stiff materials. The processing of rigid materials is often considered disadvantageous in the practice of vehicle tire production, since process difficulties can arise as a result, in particular when applying the individual plies for obtaining a vehicle tire blank or when knocking up side wall elements. The material defects in the vehicle tire blank that potentially result from this require corrections or complicated reworking in order to remedy them. In addition, in some cases, the poor processability of such rubber profiles can even lead to irreparable damage to the blank and thus to the disposal of the relevant vehicle tire component and thus cause greatly increased process costs and bring about a poor environmental balance of the production process.In addition to the inherent rigidity, in particular in the case of multicomponent rubber profiles, further undesirable side effects such as, for example, distortion of the web-shaped rubber profiles can also occur. This effect, which is sometimes also referred to by the skilled person as banana effect, is promoted or brought about, for example, by winding the rubber profiles onto conical surfaces. The banana effect occurs particularly in the case of multicomponent and / or highly asymmetric rubber profiles, since the corresponding extrudates frequently have strong stresses in the material as a result of the different material properties, which promote a corresponding deformation. Rough profiles bent in this way are difficult to guide and process, so that, for example, splices from the profiles wound around the tire building drum can be opened again. For this reason, the existing manufacturing processes can frequently also not be automated or cannot be automated efficiently.To solve the problem, the prior art has previously sometimes set the heating of the rubber profiles in order to reduce the stiffness or the stiffness gradients and thus the tendency to deform. However, this procedure often achieves the desired effects only in the case of rubber mixtures having a high resin content and is in many cases not regarded as sufficiently reliable in terms of process.The primary object of the present invention was to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art.In particular, it was the object of the present invention to specify an advantageous device for processing a web-shaped rubber profile, with which, in particular at room temperature, reduced rigidity and improved guiding or processing properties can be achieved for the rubber profile.In this case, it was an object of the present invention that bending of web-shaped rubber profiles, in particular deformation caused by tension differences within the guided rubber profile, should be able to be avoided in a desirable manner by the device to be specified.It was also an object of the present invention that the device to be specified should be able to be operated particularly cost- and energy-efficiently. In this case, it was a desirable requirement that the apparatus to be specified should be able to be inserted particularly easily into existing production lines and in this respect should also be usable for a wide range of rubber profiles.It was also an object of the present invention to provide a corresponding method for processing a web-shaped rubber profile using the apparatus to be specified. In this case, it was a desirable requirement that extensive automation of the method to be specified should be particularly simple to implement.It was a secondary object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a vehicle tire comprising the steps of the method to be specified.The inventors of the present invention have now found that the above objects can be achieved surprisingly if a deflecting device is provided in a device for processing a web-shaped rubber profile placed on a base, which deflecting device can raise the web-shaped rubber profile from the base in a specific manner and deflect it in a deflecting direction in order thereby to knead the rubber profile relatively gently, as defined in the claims. The deflection is advantageously realized by a combination of pressing elements and at least one deflection element, so that the web-shaped rubber profile is bent back and forth at predefined locations and the stiffness is reduced with the cross section of the profile remaining the same. This advantageously achieves reliable and reliable guiding and processability of the web-shaped rubber profile in the further production process, in particular during subsequent guiding or deformation processes.Without wishing to be bound by this theory, it is assumed by the inventor that an advantage of the corresponding device is that undesired excessive stretching, i.e. stretching of the web-shaped rubber profile, along the working direction can be avoided. Such an elongation is just not desired in the device according to the invention in order to avoid cross-sectional changes of the web-shaped rubber profile. Instead, the inventor has considered it preferable to merely bend the sheet-shaped rubber material back and forth and, by the appropriate kneading action, to achieve the desired effect of a reduction in the stiffness of a sheet-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device according to the invention.The above objects are thus achieved by the subject matter of the invention as defined in the claims. Preferred embodiments according to the invention are evident from the dependent claims and the following explanations.Such embodiments, which are referred to below as preferred, are combined in particularly preferred embodiments with features of other embodiments referred to as preferred. Combinations of two or more of the embodiments referred to below as particularly preferred are thus very particularly preferred. Also preferred are embodiments in which a feature of one embodiment designated as preferred to any extent is combined with one or more further features of other embodiments designated as preferred to any extent. Features of preferred methods result from the features of preferred devices.The invention relates in particular to a device for machining a web-shaped rubber profile having predetermined dimensions, comprising:a base for positioning a web-shaped rubber profile in the device in a predetermined processing position, i),wherein the longitudinal direction of the web-shaped rubber profile in the predetermined processing position is defined as the working direction of the device, wherein the surface normal of the base is defined as the deflection direction, and wherein the direction orthogonal to the working direction and the deflection direction is defined as the transverse direction, andii) at least one deflecting device comprising:two or more pressing elements spaced apart from one another along the working direction, wherein the deflection device is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base against the base with the pressing elements at two or more pressing points spaced apart from one another counter to the deflection direction, with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, andat least one deflection element, wherein the deflection device is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile pressed by the pressing elements between the pressing points with the deflection element from the base in a deflection region and to deflect it along the deflection direction,wherein the device is configured to move the deflecting device and the web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base relative to one another at least partially along the working direction and to process the web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base at different points with the deflecting device with respect to its longitudinal axis.The device according to the invention is suitable and intended for machining a web-shaped rubber profile with predetermined dimensions. The skilled person understands that the web-shaped rubber profile itself is not a component of the device according to the invention, but rather serves in the above description merely to describe the mode of operation of the individual included elements of the device according to the invention.The term "web-shaped rubber profile" denotes in this case extruded or web-shaped components made of vulcanizable rubber mixtures. The vulcanizable rubber profiles are present in unvulcanized form and will in most cases have a predefined thickness and width which are predefined by the desired function in the vehicle tire. Advantageously, the device according to the invention is not restricted with regard to the web-shaped rubber profile to be machined, so that both wide and / or thick rubber profiles and rather narrow and / or thin rubber profiles can be machined in the device according to the invention. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the web-shaped rubber profile is a sidewall profile, an apex profile, a shoulder profile or a tread profile for vehicle tires, preferably a sidewall profile.The advantages of the present invention are particularly pronounced for rubber profiles which comprise two or more different vulcanizable rubber compositions, since these multicomponent profiles frequently have a particular tendency towards deformation caused by stress because of the gradients in the material properties. Preference is given to an apparatus according to the invention, wherein the web-shaped rubber profile comprises two or more, preferably three or more, different vulcanizable rubber mixtures. In addition or alternatively, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the web-shaped rubber profile consists of vulcanizable rubber mixtures to a mass fraction of 90% or more, preferably 95% or more, particularly preferably 98% or more, in particular preferably substantially completely.The web-shaped rubber profiles can already be deflected to the length matched for application to the vehicle tyre blank, or can still extend in the longitudinal direction in the web-shaped manner substantially continuously during processing in the device, such that they can be provided on rollers, for example, in the course of the production process of vehicle tyres.The device according to the invention comprises a base for positioning the web-shaped rubber profile in a predetermined processing position and a deflection device. The predetermined processing position will in most cases be selected such that the base guides the web-shaped rubber profile through or into the deflection device, so that the web-shaped rubber profile can be processed with the deflection device or its components. In most cases, the base is limited only by the dimensions of the web-shaped rubber material to be received, in particular by its predetermined width and / or thickness.The deflecting device is used in the method according to the invention to process the web-shaped rubber profile along the longitudinal direction by lifting, in order thereby to achieve a kneading effect. The deflection should preferably be sufficiently pronounced that a noticeable kneading effect is achieved, but also not too pronounced in order to avoid irreversible plastic deformation of the rubber profile. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection device is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile pressed by the pressing elements between the pressing points with the deflection element at a deflection point from the base at least in sections by 2*D or more, preferably 2.5*D or more, particularly preferably 3*D or more, wherein D is the average thickness of the web-shaped rubber profile at the deflection point. In addition or alternatively, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection device is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile pressed by the pressing elements between the pressing points with the deflection element at a deflection point from the base by at most 6*D or less, preferably 5*D or less, particularly preferably 4*D or less, wherein D is the average thickness of the web-shaped rubber profile at the deflection point.Even if it is at least theoretically conceivable to design the device such that the deflection device is moved relative to a, for example, static web-shaped rubber profile, the inventors find it expedient, in particular with regard to the complexity of the control and an automation as far as possible, if the base is configured to convey the web-shaped rubber profile through the deflection device comprised by the device according to the invention, so that the deflection device itself advantageously does not have to be designed to be driven. In this way, the deflection device can also be designed to be particularly cost-effective. A device according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the base is formed by the support of a conveying device, preferably a conveyor belt. Alternatively or additionally, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the device is configured to move the web-shaped rubber profile with the conveying device relative to the deflecting device, preferably along the working direction.The skilled person understands that in order to achieve the greatest possible effect, it is advantageous to process the rubber profile over as large a surface as possible, wherein, in particular in the case of prefabricated, cut-to-length rubber profiles, it will in some cases not be possible from a manufacturing standpoint to fully knead the edge regions as well. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the device is configured to process the web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base with the deflection device over 70% or more of the length, preferably over 80% or more of the length, particularly preferably over 90% or more, very particularly preferably 95% or more of the length, based on its longitudinal axis.The reference system used here to describe the device according to the invention is formed from the working direction, the deflection direction and the transverse direction. The working direction is defined as the longitudinal direction of the sheet-shaped rubber profile in the predetermined processing position in the apparatus according to the invention. In other words, this refers to the direction in which the web-shaped rubber profile extends and / or moves during passage through or into the deflection device of the device according to the invention. The deflection direction is defined as the surface normal of the base and will thus in most cases be perpendicular to the working direction. Therefore, a deflection of the web-shaped rubber profile in the device according to the invention will take place perpendicular to the base. The transverse direction is orthogonal to the other two directions, in accordance with the skilled understanding.The deflection device comprises at least two pressing elements for pressing the rubber profile arranged in the device according to the invention onto the base, which are spaced apart from one another along the working direction. With a view to processing such a web-shaped rubber profile as gently as possible and to low component wear and a cost-effective implementation of the deflection device, the inventor deemed preferable to design the pressing elements as rotatably mounted pressing rollers, so that they can be rolled over the rubber profile, for example, while it passes through the device. A device according to the invention is accordingly preferred, wherein the pressing elements are rotatably mounted pressing elements, preferably pressing rollers or pressing rollers, particularly preferably pressing rollers.The deflection device also comprises, arranged between the pressing elements in the working direction, at least one deflection element for lifting a rubber profile arranged in the device according to the invention from the base in the deflection direction. The rubber profile is thus pressed with respect to the longitudinal direction laterally of the deflection element by the pressing elements and deflected therebetween in order to achieve the desired kneading effect.In this case, the inventor has recognized that the geometric shape of the deflection element can preferably be selected depending on the specific section of the web-shaped rubber material which is to be raised. In this respect, for example, cylindrical deflection rollers are suitable for deflecting central or transversely centrally located sections of the web-shaped rubber profile, wherein these advantageously are simple to maintain and can be produced cost-effectively. For deflecting the lateral regions of the web-shaped rubber profile that are respectively located on the outside in the transverse direction, the inventor, on the other hand, deems deflection cones to be preferred, via which the lateral edge regions of the rubber profile can be guided. Advantageously, the resulting deflection can be controlled exactly by the diameter of the deflection cone. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection element is a rotatably mounted deflection element, preferably a deflection roller, a deflection roller or a deflection cone.A web-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device according to the invention can be processed with the deflecting device by moving the web-shaped rubber profile relative to the deflecting device along the working direction. Although it would be possible in principle to convey or bring about the movement at least partially by the deflection device, the inventor, as discussed above, is considered to be preferred if the relative movement is brought about substantially completely by the base.With regard to a device that is as efficient as possible and with regard to the fact that multiple deflection of a web-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device according to the invention reduces the rigidity of the latter to a greater extent than a one-time deflection, the inventor is considered to be preferred with regard to the achievable effect to provide a plurality of deflection elements, in particular along the working direction. A device according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the deflection device comprises two or more, preferably three or more, particularly preferably four or more deflection elements spaced apart from one another. In other words, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection device is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base with the deflection elements from the base with respect to its longitudinal axis at two or more deflection regions spaced apart from one another, which are each located between two pressing points, and to deflect it along the deflection direction.In particular for deflecting different sections of web-shaped rubber profiles along the transverse direction and thus for a kneading effect on both sides as possible in the side regions, it is advantageous to provide a plurality of deflecting elements, for example two, along the transverse direction, which can raise the rubber profile on both sides of the strand and thereby deflect it. This is preferred, for example, in the case of a desired deflection of the side regions of a web-shaped rubber profile. Accordingly, in addition or as an alternative, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection device is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base with the deflection elements from the base with respect to its transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at two or more, preferably exactly two, deflection regions spaced apart from one another and to deflect it along the deflection direction.The inventor proposes to adapt the absolute number and the position of the pressing elements to the deflection element or elements, such that a deflection element is flanked in each case by at least one pressing element along the working direction, wherein the position of the deflection elements in the transverse direction should substantially correspond to the position of the pressing elements in the transverse direction. In this regard, it is also considered advantageous if the geometric dimensions of deflection elements and pressing elements lying one behind the other along the working direction and at the same position in the transverse direction are substantially the same. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the width of the deflection element differs from the width of the pressing elements by 30% or less, preferably 20% or less, particularly preferably by 10% or less, based on the transverse direction, and / or wherein the width of the deflection element is in the range of 2 to 10 cm, preferably in the range of 3 to 8 cm, based on the transverse direction. Alternatively or additionally, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the width of the pressing elements differs from one another by 30% or less, preferably 20% or less, particularly preferably by 10% or less, based on the transverse direction, and / or wherein the width of the pressing elements is in the range of 2 to 10 cm, preferably in the range of 3 to 8 cm, based on the transverse direction.In addition or alternatively, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection element and at least two adjacent pressing elements are arranged in alignment with respect to the working direction. In terms of the arrangement, a device according to the invention is also preferred additionally or alternatively, wherein the axis of rotation of the deflection element and the axis of rotation of at least two adjacent pressing elements lie at a height, with respect to the deflection direction, which differ by 30% or less, preferably 20% or less, particularly preferably by 10% or less.In the preferred use of a plurality of deflection elements or deflection regions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, it is expedient to provide sufficient pressing elements. The device according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the deflection device comprises three or more, preferably four or more, particularly preferably five or more, pressing elements spaced apart from one another along the working direction and is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base against the deflection direction onto the base at three or more, preferably four or more, particularly preferably five or more, pressing points spaced apart from one another, with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof.Even if it would theoretically be conceivable to press the rubber profile in front of and behind the deflection element over the entire width, the inventor proposes that, when deflecting elements are used in the lateral regions, it is expedient also to place the pressing elements laterally. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection device comprises two or more sets of pressing elements spaced apart from one another along the transverse direction, each of which comprises two or more pressing elements spaced apart from one another along the working direction, wherein the deflection device is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base on the base on the base with respect to its transverse axis, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, on two pressing regions spaced apart from one another counter to the deflection direction with the pressing elements.Particularly when using a movable base, it is advantageous with regard to the introduction of the web-shaped rubber profile into the deflecting device, so to speak the initial threading, if the pressing elements are designed to be height-adjustable, so that they can be lowered, for example, onto the web-shaped rubber profile. It is also advantageous here that, as a result, web-shaped rubber profiles having different thicknesses can be processed with the same device without the rubber profile being excessively compressed. A device according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the pressing elements are designed to be displaceable at least partially, preferably predominantly, particularly preferably all, reversibly and non-destructively along the deflection direction.An advantageous flexibility of the device according to the invention with regard to the processable rubber profiles and the setting of the desired kneading effect if the deflection elements are displaceable along the transverse direction, wherein in particular laterally arranged deflection elements can be extended and retracted as required in order to process the lateral regions of the rubber profiles to a greater or lesser extent, in particular if the laterally arranged deflection elements are designed as cones. A device according to the invention is thus preferred, wherein the deflection elements are designed to be displaceable at least partially, preferably predominantly, particularly preferably all, reversibly and non-destructively along the transverse direction, so that the deflection device is configured to change the position of the deflection elements relative to the position of a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base in order to control the extent of the deflection.It can be seen as an advantage of the devices according to the invention that they can be specifically matched to the properties of the rubber profiles to be machined, for example by deflecting a specific multi-component side wall profile only in the side regions in order to reduce an undesired banana effect. A device according to the invention is preferred accordingly, wherein the deflection device is configured to deflect a web-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device in each case only in sections in one or more deflection regions with respect to its transverse axis which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.In this case, not only is an expansion effected in an advantageous manner along the longitudinal direction but additionally also in the transverse direction, namely relative to the non-deflected regions which remain on the support. This effect can be advantageously enhanced according to the inventors' judgment if the region adjoining the deflection element in the transverse direction is also pressed by additional elements. A device according to the invention is preferred for this purpose, wherein the deflection device additionally comprises:one or more additional pressing elements arranged offset in the working direction at the height of the deflection elements and in the transverse direction thereto, wherein the deflection device is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base against the deflection direction with the additional pressing elements at the height of the deflection region with respect to its longitudinal axis and against the deflection direction outside the one or more deflection regions with the additional pressing elements with respect to the transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.For the design of the deflection regions, a central deflection is particularly suitable, in which the rubber profile is guided, for example, via a central deflection roller, but rests laterally on the base with respect to the transverse direction. In addition, a lateral deflection can be provided, in which one or both of the edge regions are lifted off the base. In the first case, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection device is configured to deflect a web-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device with respect to its transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in a central deflection region, wherein the central deflection region along the transverse axis has a width in the range from 0.3*B to 0.7*B, preferably in the range from 0.4*B to 0.6*B, wherein B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile along the transverse axis. In the second case, a device according to the invention is additionally or alternatively preferred, wherein the deflection device is configured to deflect the web-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device with respect to its transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in one or two lateral deflection regions, wherein the lateral deflection regions each have a width along the transverse axis in the range from 0.05*B to 0.3*B, preferably in the range from 0.1*B to 0.25*B, wherein B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile along the transverse axis.In principle, it is possible to design the device such that it enables only a central deflection or only a lateral deflection, wherein as a result, specific stiffness gradients in specific rubber profiles can be counteracted particularly efficiently. In addition, the device can be implemented in a particularly simple and energy-efficient manner as a result and is usually particularly easy to control.A device according to the invention is preferred first, wherein the deflection device is a central deflection device, wherein the central deflection device comprises two pressing elements, in particular pressing rollers, and a deflection element, in particular a deflection roller, arranged therebetween, wherein the central deflection device is configured to deflect the web-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device in the central deflection region, wherein the central deflection region preferably has a width along the transverse axis in the range from 0.3*B to 0.7*B, preferably in the range from 0.4*B to 0.6*B, wherein B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile along the transverse axis.Alternatively, a device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the deflection device is a side deflection device, wherein the side deflection device comprises two sets spaced apart from one another along the transverse direction, each of three pressing elements spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction, in particular pressing rollers, and two sets spaced apart from one another along the transverse direction, each of two deflection elements spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction, in particular deflection cones, which are arranged between two pressing elements in each case with respect to the longitudinal direction, wherein the side deflection device is configured to deflect the web-shaped rubber profile arranged in the device only in sections into two lateral deflection regions with respect to its transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the lateral deflection regions each preferably have a width along the transverse axis in the range from 0.05*B to 0.3*B, preferably in the range from 0.1*B to 0.25*B, where B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile along the transverse axis. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the side deflection device additionally comprises two additional pressing elements, in particular additional pressing rollers, wherein the side deflection device is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base on the base with respect to its longitudinal axis at the height of the deflection cones and with respect to the transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis outside the deflection regions deflected by the deflection cones against the deflection direction with the additional pressing elements.For a kneading action which is as comprehensive as possible, it is preferred, in particular for complex rubber profiles, to arrange a plurality of deflecting devices in series, in particular if these exert different load profiles. A device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the device comprises two or more deflection devices, preferably deflection devices that are structurally different from one another. In other words, it is a device according to the invention, wherein the two or more deflection devices of the device are arranged one behind the other with respect to the working direction, and / or wherein the device is configured to process the web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base with the two or more deflection devices.Particularly preferred is a device according to the invention, wherein the device comprises at least one central deflection device and at least one side deflection device.The invention likewise relates to a method for processing a web-shaped rubber profile with a device according to the invention, comprising the method steps: a) producing or providing a web-shaped rubber profile comprising a vulcanizable rubber mixture, and positioning the web-shaped rubber profile on the base, and b) processing the web-shaped rubber profile with the deflecting device to obtain a processed rubber profile,wherein the web-shaped rubber profile is pressed against the base by the pressing elements at two mutually spaced pressing points with respect to its longitudinal axis counter to the deflection direction,wherein the web-shaped rubber profile is lifted from the base in at least one deflection region by the deflection element between the pressing points and deflected along the deflection direction,wherein the deflecting device and the web-shaped rubber profile are moved relative to one another, so that the web-shaped rubber profile is processed at different points with respect to its longitudinal axis with the deflecting device.Also disclosed is a method for producing a vehicle tire, comprising the method steps of the method according to the invention and the method steps:c) connecting the processed rubber profile to other components to obtain a vehicle tire blank, andd) vulcanizing the green vehicle tire to vulcanize the vulcanizable rubber mixture of the processed rubber profile to obtain the vehicle tire.The invention and preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the attached figures. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in different views in a first preferred embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in different views in a second preferred embodiment, FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the device according to the invention in a third preferred embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows a graphical representation of an applied force in N (Y) in relation to the extent in % (X) of two different web-shaped rubber profiles before (1 and 2) and after (1' and 2') their processing in a method according to the invention.FIGS. 1 to 3 each show an apparatus 10 according to the invention for machining a web-shaped rubber profile 12 with predetermined dimensions. The web-shaped rubber profile 12 is, in the examples shown, a sidewall profile of a vehicle green tire comprising a plurality of different vulcanizable rubber mixtures. The devices 10 in the examples shown all have a base 14 designed as a conveyor belt for positioning and conveying the web-shaped rubber profile 12 in the working direction A r. The devices 10 shown also each have a deflection device 16.In each of FIGS. 1 to 3, at least two of the three directions relevant within the scope of the device shown are drawn in, namely the working direction A r, the deflection direction A u and the transverse direction Q u. The working direction A r is in each case the direction in which the web-shaped rubber profile 12 extends and in which it moves with the base 14 within the scope of the method according to the invention. The deflection direction A u is perpendicular to the working direction A r and perpendicular to the base 14 and is the direction in which the web-shaped rubber profile 12 is deflected in the deflection region. The transverse direction Q u is perpendicular to the working direction A r and the deflection direction A u.In the example shown in FIG. 1, the deflecting device 16 is a central deflecting device and comprises two pressing elements 18 and a deflecting element 22, which is arranged r between the pressing elements 18 in the working direction A. All elements of the deflection device 16 are designed in the example shown as identically dimensioned, rotatably mounted rollers. The pressing elements 18 are embodied so as to be reversibly and non-destructively displaceable along the deflection direction A u. A web-shaped rubber profile 12 arranged in this deflection device 16, when it is moved over the conveyor belt in the working direction A r as shown in FIG. 1 a), is pressed by the pressing elements 18 onto the base 14 in each case at a pressing point 20 and deflected between the pressing points 20 in a central deflection region 24 in the deflection direction A u in such a way that the central portion of the web-shaped rubber profile 12 in the transverse direction Q u is bent and residual stresses in this portion are reduced or reduced in this respect.The deflection from the base 14 is more than 2*D at the maximum deflection point in the deflection region, wherein D is the average thickness of the web-shaped rubber profile 12 at the deflection point. The central section has a width in the transverse direction Q u of approximately 0.5*B, wherein B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile 12 in the transverse direction Q u. FIG. 1 b) shows the web-shaped rubber profile 12 in cross section along the dashed line depicted in FIG. 1 a).In the example shown in FIG. 2, the deflection device 16 designed as a lateral deflection device comprises a total of six pressing elements 18, four deflection elements 22 and two additional pressing elements 28.As visualized in FIG. 2 a), the pressing elements 18 alternate with the deflection elements 22 in the working direction A r so that a web-shaped rubber profile 12 arranged in the device 10 shown is deflected along the deflection direction A u at two deflection regions spaced apart from one another r in the working direction A. The additional deflection elements 28 are located at the same height as the deflection elements 22 in the working direction A r.FIG. 2 b) shows the cross section of the device 10 of FIG. 1 a) along the dotted line. In the example shown, the deflection elements 22 are arranged in such a way that the side regions of the web-shaped rubber profile 12 are deflected in the deflection direction A u in a lateral deflection region 26, while the central portion of the web-shaped rubber profile 12 is held on the base 14 with the additional pressing element 28. The lateral deflection region 26 has a width of approximately 0.25*B in the transverse direction Q u wherein B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile 12 in the transverse direction Q u.FIG. 2 c ) shows the cross section of the device 10 of FIG. 1 a ) along the dashed line. Here, the pressing elements 18 likewise press down the side regions of the web-shaped rubber profile 12 in each case, with the result that a web-shaped rubber profile 12 passing through the deflection device 16 in the working direction A r is bent or kneaded at the side regions and therefore experiences a reduction in the rigidity in particular in these regions.In the example of FIG. 3, a further preferred embodiment of the device 10 is shown, the deflecting device 16 of which comprises a central deflecting device (not shown) and a side deflecting device arranged one behind the other. The latter has essentially the same elements as the deflection device 16 shown in FIG. 2. In contrast to the deflection elements 22 of FIG. 2, however, the deflection elements 22 of FIG. 3 are embodied to be displaceable in a reversible and non-destructive manner along the transverse direction Q in a u manner, such that the extent of the deflection can be controlled.FIG. 4 shows the results of a tensile test by the inventor on two samples of a side wall of a vehicle tire before (1 and 2) and after (1' and 2') passing through a method according to the invention, wherein the tensile force in N (Y) is plotted against the elongation in % (X).As can be seen from the graph, reductions in the range from 20 to 45% in the tensile force required for a predetermined elongation are recognizable (cf. especially elongations in the range from 1 to 10%). The reduced rigidity of the web-shaped rubber profiles 12 treated with the method 10 according to the invention thereby enables in particular the reliable and reliable guiding and processing in the further manufacturing process of vehicle tires and thus an increased process safety and easier processing of the web-shaped rubber profiles 12.List of reference characters10 Device 12 Web-shaped rubber profile 14 Base 16 Deflection device 18 Pressing element 20 Pressing point 22 Deflection element 24 Central deflection region 26 Lateral deflection region 28 Additional pressing element A r Working direction A u Deflection direction Q u Transverse direction
Claims
Device (10) for processing a web-shaped rubber profile (12) having predetermined dimensions, comprising: i) a base (14) for positioning a web-shaped rubber profile (12) in the device (10) in a predetermined processing position, wherein the longitudinal direction of the web-shaped rubber profile (12) in the predetermined processing position is defined as the working direction (A r) of the device (10), wherein the surface normal of the base (14) is defined as the deflection direction (A u) and wherein the direction orthogonal to the working direction (A r) and the deflection direction (A u) is defined as the transverse direction (Q u) and ii) at least one deflection device (16), comprising: - two or more pressing elements (18) spaced apart from one another along the working direction (A r) wherein the deflection device (16) is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged on the base (14), with respect to its longitudinal axis, against the deflection direction (A u) against two or more pressing points (20) spaced apart from one another, against the deflection direction (A with the pressing elements (18) onto the base (14), and - at least one deflection element (22), wherein the deflection device (16) is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile (12) pressed against by the pressing elements (18) between the pressing points (20) with the deflection element (22) in a deflection region from the base (14) and to deflect it along the deflection direction (A u), wherein the device (10) is configured to move the deflecting device (16) and the web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged on the base (14) at least partially relative to one another along the working direction (A r) and to process the web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged on the base (14) at different points with respect to its longitudinal axis with the deflecting device (16).The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the deflection device (16) comprises three or more pressing elements (18) spaced apart from one another along the working direction and is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged on the base (14), with respect to its longitudinal axis, against the deflection direction (A u) onto the base (14) at three or more pressing points (20) spaced apart from one another.Device (10) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the deflecting device (16) comprises two or more sets, spaced apart from one another along the transverse direction, of in each case two or more pressing elements (18) spaced apart from one another along the working direction (A r) wherein the deflecting device (16) is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile (12), arranged on the base (14), on the base (14), with respect to its transverse axis, against the deflection direction (A u) at two pressing regions spaced apart from one another, against the deflecting direction (A, onto the base (14).The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deflection device (16) is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged on the base (14) from the base (14) with the deflection elements (22) at two or more deflection regions spaced apart from one another, which are each located between two pressing points (20), and to deflect it along the deflection direction (A u) and / or wherein the deflection device is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile arranged on the base with the deflection elements from the base and to deflect it along the deflection direction with the deflection elements at two or more deflection regions spaced apart from one another, with the transverse axis thereof, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the deflection elements (22) are designed to be displaceable at least partially reversibly and non-destructively along the transverse direction, such that the deflection device (16) is configured to change the position of the deflection elements (22) relative to the position of a web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged on the base (14) in order to control the extent of the deflection.The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the deflection device (16) is configured to deflect a web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged in the device (10) with respect to its transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in a central deflection region (24), wherein the central deflection region (24) has a width along the transverse axis in the range of 0.3*B to 0.7*B, wherein B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile (12) along the transverse axis.The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deflection device (16) is configured to deflect the web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged in the device (10) in one or two lateral deflection regions (26) with respect to its transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the lateral deflection regions (26) each have a width along the transverse axis in the range from 0.05*B to 0.3*B, wherein B is the width of the web-shaped rubber profile (12) along the transverse axis.Device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the deflecting device (16) additionally comprises: - one or more additional pressing elements (28) arranged offset in the working direction (A r) at the height of the deflecting elements (22) and in the transverse direction (Q u) thereto, wherein the deflecting device (16) is configured to press a web-shaped rubber profile (12) arranged on the base (14), with respect to its longitudinal axis, at the height of the deflecting region and, with respect to the transverse direction (Q u) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, outside the deflecting region or regions, against the deflecting direction (A u) with the additional pressing elements (28) onto the base (14).Device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the deflecting device (16) is configured to lift a web-shaped rubber profile (12) pressed by the pressing elements (18) between the pressing points (20) with the deflecting element (22) at a deflecting point from the base (14) at least in sections by 2*D or more, wherein D is the average thickness of the web-shaped rubber profile (12) at the deflecting point.Method for processing a web-shaped rubber profile (12) with a device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, comprising the method steps: a) producing or providing a web-shaped rubber profile (12) comprising a vulcanizable rubber mixture, and positioning the web-shaped rubber profile (12) on the base (14), and b) processing the web-shaped rubber profile (12) with the deflecting device (16) in order to obtain a processed rubber profile, wherein the web-shaped rubber profile (12) is pressed against the base (14) by the pressing elements (18) at two mutually spaced-apart pressing points (20) counter to the deflecting direction (A u) with respect to its longitudinal axis, wherein the web-shaped rubber profile (12) is lifted from the base (14) in at least one deflection region by the deflection element (22) between the pressing points (20) and deflected along the deflection direction (A u) wherein the deflection device (16) and the web-shaped rubber profile (12) are moved relative to each other so that the web-shaped rubber profile (12) is processed at different points with respect to its longitudinal axis with the deflection device (16).A method of manufacturing a vehicle tire comprising the method steps of the method of claim 10, and the method steps of: c) bonding the machined rubber tread (12) to other components to form a vehicle green tire, and d) vulcanizing the vehicle green tire to vulcanize the vulcanizable rubber mixture of the machined rubber tread (12) to form the vehicle tire.