METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A VEHICLE TIRE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a vehicle tire.

[0002] It is known that in the manufacture of vehicle tires with tire-building drums, conveying devices are used to place tire components onto a tire-building drum. These conveying devices are typically operated with so-called endless conveyor belts. An example of such a conveying device is disclosed in patent application EP 3552811 A1.

[0003] The use of split conveyor belts with a joint has disadvantages because it can cause problems when placing the tire component onto the conveyor belt. Furthermore, replacing continuous conveyor belts is very time-consuming and labor-intensive.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing a method that improves the use of conveying devices in the manufacture of vehicle tires.

[0005] The problem according to claim 1 is solved by using a method comprising the following steps: a) Providing a pre-assembled tire component, b) Providing a conveying device with a conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt forms a closed belt with a connecting element at a joint, c) Detecting the joint on the conveyor belt, d) Rotating the conveyor belt into a conveying position in which the tire component can be placed onto the conveyor belt in such a way that the tire component does not come into contact with the joint on the conveyor belt, e) Feeding the tire component onto the conveying device, wherein the tire component is placed on a section of the conveyor belt that does not contact the joint on the conveyor belt, f) Feeding the tire component with the conveying device onto a tire assembly drum, g) Completing the vehicle tire with further steps.

[0006] A particular advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the method significantly improves and simplifies the use of conveyor systems in the production of vehicle tires. The new method now also allows the use of conveyor systems with a split conveyor belt. Replacing split conveyor belts with a connecting point is considerably easier than with an endless conveyor belt. This results, among other things, in reduced maintenance costs and a substantial increase in the availability of the tire manufacturing plant.

[0007] The new process is particularly distinguished by the fact that the tire component cannot come into contact with the joint on the conveyor belt when placed on the conveyor device. The sensor and control system of the conveyor device always position the conveyor belt so that the tire component can be placed without contact with the joint. This joint is typically a bulge in the conveyor belt, which can affect the accuracy of placing the tire component onto the conveyor device. Furthermore, the new process enables fully automated alignment of the conveyor belt.

[0008] In an advantageous further development of the invention, it is provided that the sensor includes a metal detector for determining the connection point.

[0009] The metal detector makes it easy and quick to detect the connection point on the conveyor belt.

[0010] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the connecting element on the conveyor belt comprises a metal.

[0011] For example, the connection point could be fitted with a metal plate that can be detected by a metal detector.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the connecting element on the conveyor belt is designed in the form of metal clamps.

[0013] The metal clamps allow for a high-strength connection for the split conveyor belt.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor comprises an optical sensor for determining the connection point. An optical sensor allows the connection point to be identified easily and with high accuracy. The optical sensor could, for example, be designed in the form of a light barrier, with a light-transmitting opening at the connection point.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one roller of the conveyor device is driven by a servo motor, wherein the relative position of the connection point of the conveyor belt is controlled and / or regulated by the servo motor.

[0016] This allows the conveyor belt of the conveying device to be moved into the correct position fully automatically.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the connecting element on the conveyor belt is designed in the form of a releasable connection.

[0018] This allows the conveyor belt to be easily reopened at the connection point. Opening the conveyor belt can be helpful, for example, during maintenance work.

[0019] The invention will be explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. These show: Fig. 1 : The conveyor device in a side view.

[0020] The Figure 1Figure 1 shows a side view of the conveyor device with the tire drum 6. The conveyor device includes, in particular, the split conveyor belt 2 with the joint 4. The conveyor belt 2 is driven by two rollers 3 in the material flow direction 7. After the conveyor device has been equipped with the split conveyor belt 2, the joint 4 on the conveyor belt 2 can be detected by a sensor 5. The sensor 5 includes, for example, a metal detector with which metal is detected at the joint. The metal could, for example, be a metal plate arranged at the joint 4. It is also conceivable that the joint 4 has metal clamps that connect the ends of the split conveyor belt 2. In this embodiment, it would no longer be necessary to provide the joint with an additional metal plate.The conveyor belt 2 is positioned via servomotors that drive the rollers 3 so that the tire component 1 to be placed does not come into contact with the connection point 4.

[0021] The figure shows that the tire component 1 lies on the top of the conveyor belt 2 and is then conveyed to the schematically depicted tire building drum 6. The connection point 4 on the conveyor belt 2 is located on the opposite, lower side of the conveying device. The tire component is placed onto the schematically depicted tire building drum 6 by the conveying device and the rotating conveyor belt 2. The tire component could be, for example, a carcass insert, a tire inner liner, or bead reinforcements, which are used to manufacture a vehicle tire in conjunction with a tire building drum. Reference symbol list (is part of the description)

[0022] 1 Tire component (e.g., carcass insert) 2 Split conveyor belt 3 Roller of the conveyor device 4 Connection point of the conveyor belt 5 Sensor 6 Tire assembly drum 7 Material flow direction of the tire component

Claims

1. Method for producing a vehicle tyre by the following steps: a) providing a prefabricated tyre component (1), b) providing a conveying device comprising a conveying belt (2), the conveying belt (2) forming a closed loop with a connecting means at a connecting point (4), c) detecting the connecting point (4) on the conveying belt (2), d) turning the conveying belt (2) into a conveying position at which the tyre component (1) can be applied to the conveying belt (2) in such a way that the tyre component (1) does not come into contact with the connecting point (4) on the conveying belt (2), e) feeding the tyre component (1) onto the conveying device, the tyre component (2) being placed onto a subregion of the conveying belt (2) that is not in contact with the connecting point (4) on the conveying belt (2), f) feeding the tyre component (1) by the conveying device onto a tyre building drum (6), g) completing the vehicle tyre by further steps.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connection point (4) on the conveyor belt (2) is detected by a sensor, the sensor (5) comprising a metal detector for determining the connecting point (4).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting means (4) on the conveying belt comprises a metal.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting means (4) on the conveying belt takes the form of metal clips.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (5) comprises an optical sensor for determining the connecting point (4).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one roller (3) of the conveying device is driven by a servo motor, the relative position of the connecting point (4) of the conveying belt (2) being controlled and / or regulated by the servo motor.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting means (4) on the conveying belt (2) takes the form of a releasable connection.