Heat press

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating press (1) for vulcanizing a vehicle tire (9) with a heating press upper part (2) and a heating press lower part (3), wherein a container (6) having a heated upper side wall shell (4) and heated profile segments (5) is arranged on the heating press upper part (2), wherein the heating press lower part (3) has a heated lower side wall shell (7), wherein the heating press upper part (2) is movably mounted relative to the heating press lower part (3), wherein the heating press upper part (2), the container (6) and the heating press lower part (3) are connected in such a way that the profile segments (5) come into contact with each other when the heating press upper part (2) approaches the heating press lower part (3), wherein the heating press (1) has a central mechanism (8) with gas outlet openings for filling a vehicle tire (9) with a heating medium.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a heating press for vulcanizing a vehicle tire, comprising a heating press upper part and a heating press lower part, wherein a container having a heated upper side wall shell and heated profile segments is arranged on the heating press upper part, wherein the heating press lower part has a heated lower side wall shell, wherein the heating press upper part is movably mounted relative to the heating press lower part, wherein the heating press upper part, the container and the heating press lower part are connected in such a way that the profile segments come into contact with each other when the heating press upper part approaches the heating press lower part, and wherein the heating press has a central mechanism with gas outlet openings for filling a vehicle tire with a heating medium.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a heating press.

[0003] A heating press of the type mentioned above is known from JP 2003 220 612 A. The heating press comprises a so-called container, which includes the actual vulcanizing mold with the parts that shape the tire, an upper and lower container plate, and, in the case of a segmented vulcanizing mold, the tread segments, the segment holders, and a conical ring. Heating chambers for temperature control of the shaping parts are also provided. During vulcanization, this container is surrounded by a mostly two-part, closed hood. The hood primarily serves as a temperature insulator during vulcanization. In JP 2003 220 612 A, the hood also maintains the vacuum created before the tire molding process is completed.

[0004] This vacuum serves to remove air from the vulcanizing mold, particularly from the space between the outer surface of the tire and the forming surfaces of the mold's components, in order to produce a high-quality, defect-free tire. However, when a vacuum is applied, such hot presses often leave little or no space between the tire and the tread segments, making evacuation unreliable, incomplete, or extremely time-consuming.

[0005] Against this background, the invention is based on the objective of designing a heating press and a method of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the volume between the tire and the tread segments as well as the side shells and the bead rings can be evacuated completely, in a time-efficient and process-reliable manner.

[0006] This problem is solved by a heating press according to the features of claim 1 and a method according to the dependent claim. The subclaims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0007] According to the invention, a heating press for vulcanizing a vehicle tire is provided, comprising a heating press upper part and a heating press lower part, wherein a container having a heated upper side wall shell and heated profile segments is arranged on the heating press upper part. The heating press lower part has a heated lower side wall shell, wherein the heating press upper part is movably mounted relative to the heating press lower part. The heating press upper part, the container, and the heating press lower part are connected in such a way that the profile segments come into contact with each other when the heating press upper part approaches the heating press lower part.

[0008] The heating press has a central mechanism with gas outlet openings for filling a vehicle tire with a heating medium, wherein the upper and / or lower part of the heating press has an opening for creating a vacuum in the enclosed area. A sealing surface for sealing the enclosed area from the environment is arranged on a sealing element mounted on a locking hood of the upper part of the heating press, wherein the sealing element is movably mounted relative to the locking hood, and wherein the sealing element is configured to seal the enclosed area from the environment while profile segments of the upper part of the heating press are spaced apart from the lower part of the heating press.

[0009] The locking element, which is mounted to move towards the locking hood, enables the enclosed area to be sealed gas-tight from the environment, while the vehicle tire is sufficiently spaced from the profile segments for effective ventilation.

[0010] A time-efficient, process-safe and complete evacuation of the enclosed area is made possible.

[0011] A preferred embodiment provides that the locking element is mounted on a cylinder, in particular a hydraulic cylinder.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment provides that the heating press is configured to generate a pressure of 200 mbar, preferably 150 mbar, more preferably 100 mbar, more preferably 80 mbar, more preferably 60 mbar, more preferably 40 mbar, and most preferably 20 mbar within the enclosed area. It has been shown that a pressure of 200 mbar already leads to improved results. However, a further reduction in pressure leads to a further improvement and more reliably prevents defects.

[0013] Another preferred embodiment provides that the heating press is designed to accommodate different container heights. This allows the heating press to continue to be used for different containers.

[0014] Another preferred embodiment provides that the locking hood preferably has a bayonet closure, wherein the heating press has a mechanism which, when the locking hood is locked, moves the profile segments together in the axial direction of the vehicle tire.

[0015] According to the invention, a method for operating a heating press, in particular a heating press according to one of the preceding claims, is known comprising the following steps: a) Loading the open heating press by inserting the vehicle tire to be vulcanized, b) Method of moving a container in an axial direction towards a heating press lower part, to create an area enclosed by a heating press upper part and the heating press lower part, towards the environment, wherein a sealing element seals the enclosed area from the environment, wherein profile segments of the heating press upper part are spaced apart from the heating press lower part, c) Creating a negative pressure in the enclosed area, d) crowning the vehicle tire with a heating medium, e) Method of moving an upper heating press plate and a lower heating press plate towards each other in the axial direction of the vehicle tire, whereby profile segments of the vulcanizing mold are brought together in the radial direction, f) Heating the vehicle tire, g) Opening the heating press and unloading the vulcanized vehicle tire.

[0016] A preferred embodiment provides that the locking hood is locked before step c).

[0017] Another preferred embodiment provides that the lower heating press plate is moved by means of a mechanism in step e).

[0018] The invention allows for numerous embodiments. To further illustrate its basic principle, one of these is shown in the drawings and described below. This shows in Fig. 1 a heating press with open profile segments and closed locking element; Fig. 2 a heating press with closed profile segments and closed locking element.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows a heating press 1 according to the invention with a container 6 during the closing phase.

[0020] The heating press 1 for vulcanizing a vehicle tire comprises a heating press upper part 2 and a heating press lower part 3, wherein a container 6 having a heated upper side wall shell 4 and heated profile segments 5 is arranged on the heating press upper part 2.

[0021] The lower part of the heating press 3 has a heated lower side wall shell 7, with the upper part of the heating press 2 being movably mounted relative to the lower part of the heating press 3. The upper part of the heating press 2, the container 6, and the lower part of the heating press 3 are connected in such a way that the profile segments 5 come into contact with each other when the upper part of the heating press 2 approaches the lower part of the heating press 3.

[0022] The heating press 1 has a central mechanism 8 with gas outlet openings for filling a vehicle tire 9 with a heating medium. The upper part of the heating press 2 has an opening 10 for creating a vacuum in the enclosed area, i.e., the area to be evacuated.

[0023] A sealing surface 13 is arranged on a locking hood 11 on a closure element 12 of the upper part of the heating press 2 for sealing the enclosed area from the environment. The sealing surface 13 seals the closure element 12 against the lower part of the heating press 3 and also seals the closure element 12 against the upper part of the heating press 2. The closure element 12 is mounted so as to be movable relative to the locking hood 11 by means of a cylinder 14, and is configured to seal the enclosed area against the environment while profile segments 5 of the upper part of the heating press 2 are spaced apart from the lower part of the heating press 3.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the same heating press 1 with closed heating press upper part 2 and heating press lower part 3 and retracted profile segments 5 and closed locking element 12. Reference symbol list 1 heating press 2 Heating press top 3 Heating press lower part 4 upper side wall shell 5 profile segment 6 containers 7 lower side wall shell 8 Center mechanism 9 vehicle tires 10 Opening 11 Locking hood 12 Locking element 13 Sealing surface 14 cylinders QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2003 220 612 A

[0003]

Claims

[1] Heating press (1) for vulcanizing a vehicle tire (9) with a heating press upper part (2) and a heating press lower part (3), wherein a container (6) having a heated upper side wall shell (4) and heated profile segments (5) is arranged on the heating press upper part (2), wherein the heating press lower part (3) has a heated lower side wall shell (7), wherein the heating press upper part (2) is movably mounted relative to the heating press lower part (3), wherein the heating press upper part (2), the container (6) and the heating press lower part (3) are connected in such a way that the profile segments (5) come into contact with each other when the heating press upper part (2) approaches the heating press lower part (3), wherein the heating press (1) has a central mechanism (8) with gas outlet openings for filling a vehicle tire (9) with a heating medium, characterized by , that the heating press upper part (2) and / or the heating press lower part (3) has an opening (10) for applying a vacuum in the enclosed area, wherein a sealing surface (13) for sealing the enclosed area to the environment is arranged on a locking element (12) on a locking hood (11) of the heating press upper part (2), wherein the locking element (12) is movably mounted relative to the locking hood (11), wherein the locking element (12) is configured to seal the enclosed area to the environment while profile segments (5) of the heating press upper part (2) are spaced apart from the heating press lower part (3). [2] Heating press (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the locking element (12) is mounted on a cylinder (14), in particular a hydraulic cylinder (14). [3] Heating press (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized by, that the heating press (1) is configured to generate a pressure of 200 mbar, preferably 150 mbar, more preferably 100 mbar, more preferably 80 mbar, more preferably 60 mbar, more preferably 40 mbar and most preferably 20 mbar in the enclosed area. [4] Heating press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the heating press (1) is designed to accommodate different container heights. [5] Heating press (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the locking hood (11) preferably has a bayonet closure, wherein the heating press (1) has a mechanism which, when the locking hood (11) is locked, moves the profile segments (5) together in the axial direction of the vehicle tire (9). [6] Method for operating a heating press (1), in particular a heating press (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: a) Loading the open heating press (1) by inserting a vehicle tire (9) to be vulcanized, b) Method of a container (6) in the axial direction towards a heating press lower part (3) to create a region enclosed by a heating press upper part (2) and the heating press lower part (3) to the environment, wherein a closing element (12) seals the enclosed region to the environment, wherein profile segments (5) of the heating press upper part (2) are spaced apart from the heating press lower part (3), c) Creating a negative pressure in the enclosed area, d) crowning the vehicle tire (9) with a heating medium, e) Method of moving an upper heating press plate and a lower heating press plate towards each other in the axial direction of the vehicle tire (9), whereby profile segments (5) of the vulcanizing mold are brought together in the radial direction, f) Heating the vehicle tire (9), g) Opening the heating press (1) and unloading the vulcanized vehicle tire (9). [7] Method according to claim 6, characterized by , that before step c) the locking hood (11) is locked. [8] Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by , that the lower heating press plate is moved by means of a mechanism in step e).

Images