Air lock

Abstract

The invention relates to an air lock (1) for transferring technical rubber products into an enclosure (11) of vulcanization systems, the air lock comprising a first lock gate (2) and a second lock gate (8) as well as a hermetically sealable lock chamber (4) having a housing (7) with a first opening (3) that can be closed by the first lock gate (2) and a second opening (9) that can be closed by the second lock gate (8).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] airlock

[0003] The invention relates to an airlock comprising an airlock chamber that can be sealed hermetically, with an enclosure having a first opening that can be closed by a first lock door and a second opening that can be closed by a second lock door. Furthermore, the invention relates to an enclosure and a method for locking.

[0004] Airlocks and methods for operating airlocks are known in many embodiments. Furthermore, systems for vulcanizing tires with a curing press are known from DE 10 2019 2066 288 A1. The systems have a first sub-area in which the curing press and units are arranged. A second sub-area, which can be separated from the first sub-area by a partition, has ambient conditions that can be adjusted independently of the first sub-area. This creates an environment in the second sub-area that is less stressful for people. When the partition is opened to feed and remove tires to and from the curing press, the adverse ambient conditions from the first sub-area pass into the second sub-area. This increases the need to ventilate the second sub-area, thereby increasing energy consumption and worsening the ambient conditions in the second sub-area.

[0005] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide an airlock as well as a housing and a method for locking technical rubber products in such a way that a particularly efficient operation of the vulcanization plant and particularly good environmental conditions for persons are enabled.

[0006] This object is achieved with an airlock according to the features of patent claim 1, as well as with a housing and a method for locking technical rubber products according to the independent claims. The subclaims relate to particularly expedient developments of the invention. According to the invention, an airlock is provided for locking technical rubber products, in particular pneumatic tires, into a housing of vulcanization systems. The airlock has a first lock door and a second lock door, as well as an airtight lock chamber with an enclosure having a first opening that can be closed by the first lock door and a second opening that can be closed by the second lock door.The airlock comprises a first valve and a second valve, wherein the first valve and the second valve are arranged to convey air along a pressure gradient through the first valve from an outer region and through the lock chamber and through the second valve into an inner region.

[0007] An airtight lock chamber has a leakage rate that is so low that it has no or only an insignificant impact on the efficiency of the vulcanization plant and the environmental conditions for people.

[0008] A valve is a component used to shut off or at least reduce the flow of fluids in at least one direction and can, for example, be a check valve. A valve prevents a volume flow.

[0009] The airlock allows technical rubber products to be transported from an external area to an internal area without, or only minimally, deteriorating the ambient conditions in the external area. Furthermore, by avoiding contaminated vapors in the external area, the need for gas exchange in the external area is reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the process. Likewise, the conditions, especially the temperature, in the internal area are kept particularly constant, and heat loss is avoided because gas exchange to the external area is minimized.

[0010] A preferred embodiment provides that the first lock door and / or the second lock door has an automated control, wherein the control is designed to output a signal for opening and / or closing the first lock door and / or the second lock door, triggered by a transport system and / or transport means.

[0011] Automated control of the airlock doors, which can receive a signal triggered by a transport system and / or transport means, enables particularly reliable and cost-effective operation of the airlock. The signal can be triggered, for example, by reaching a specific position, with the signal being detected by a sensor, for example, electromagnetic or radiation-based, that detects the position of the transport means or transport system. Alternatively, the signal can also be issued computer-based, for example, based on known travel times of the transport means or transport system.

[0012] A further preferred embodiment provides that the first valve and / or the second valve is a check valve or can be formed by a geometry of the first airlock door and / or the second airlock door. It has been shown that a valve in the form of a check valve prevents air flow in undesired directions in a simple and reliable manner. Alternatively, it has been shown that the airlock doors can have a geometry that forms a suitable gap seal when the airlock doors are partially opened, so that only gas exchange takes place in the required direction. An additional component for forming a valve can be omitted. The air exchange through the airlock can be minimized regardless of the prevailing pressure conditions without additional actuators by completely closing the airlock doors.

[0013] A further preferred embodiment provides that the airlock has a receiving means for receiving pneumatic tires, in particular unvulcanized pneumatic tires. A receiving means in the airlock makes it possible to provide a defined transfer point for the transport means and the transport system, thus enabling a reliable transfer in a simple manner.

[0014] A further preferred embodiment provides that the pressure gradient can be generated by a blower arranged at the airlock and / or by applying different pressures between the first valve and the second valve. Generating a pressure difference by means of a blower arranged at the airlock allows the pressure difference to be adjusted as needed. Applying different pressures to the valves allows several airlocks operating in parallel to be subjected to negative pressure in the inner area by a common blower, thereby reducing the number of blowers.

[0015] According to the invention, a housing for vulcanization plants comprises an upper housing element and lateral housing elements, as well as an airlock according to the invention, which is arranged on the upper housing element or on a lateral housing element. Such an enclosure with an airlock enables the transport of technical rubber products from an outer area to an inner area within the enclosure, whereby the ambient conditions of the outer area are not deteriorated by this transport.

[0016] According to the invention, a method for locking technical rubber products, in particular pneumatic tires, in particular with an airlock according to the invention is provided, comprising the steps: a) outputting a signal for opening the first lock door triggered by a transport system to a control unit, b) checking a status of the lock chamber by the control unit and controlling a first actuator if the status of the lock chamber is opening of the first lock door, c) opening the first lock door by the first actuator, d) outputting a signal for closing the first lock door triggered by the transport system to the control unit, e) controlling the first actuator to close the first lock door by the control unit and closing the first lock door by the first actuator, g) controlling the second actuator to open the second lock door by the control unit and opening the second lock door by the second actuator,h) Outputting a signal to close the second lock door triggered by a means of transport to the control unit, i) Controlling the second actuator to close the second lock door by the control unit and closing the second lock door by the second actuator, j) Ventilating the lock chamber with ambient air into an interior area.

[0017] Triggering a signal by a transport system or a means of transport to a control is understood to mean, for example, triggering by the physical presence of the transport system or the means of transport at a certain position or triggering by a computer based on assumptions about, for example, a position or readiness for transport of the transport system or the means of transport.

[0018] The status of the lock chamber refers to the detection of a suitable condition in the lock chamber for opening the first lock door. This status can be set, for example, after a suitable ventilation period of the lock chamber has elapsed after the second lock door has closed, or when sensors detect sufficiently low levels of air pollution in the lock chamber.

[0019] The method makes it possible to transport technical rubber products from an outer area to an inner area without the ambient conditions in the outer area being impaired by this transport. Furthermore, by avoiding contaminated vapors in the outer area, the need for gas exchange in the outer area is reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the method. Likewise, the conditions, in particular the temperature, in the inner area are kept particularly constant, and heat losses are avoided because gas exchange to the outer area is minimized. A preferred embodiment provides that the signal for opening the first lock door and / or the second lock door by the transport system and / or a transport means to the control is a computer signal and / or a sensor signal.It has been found that computer signals and sensor signals can be reliably generated in a simple form.

[0020] A further preferred embodiment provides for the ventilation of the lock chamber to be driven by a pressure difference between the ambient and the interior and / or by a fan. Both ventilation by creating a pressure difference between the ambient and the interior and ventilation by a fan have proven to be cost-effective and reliable methods of ventilation.

[0021] A further preferred embodiment provides that the status of the lock chamber is set by opening the first lock door after a defined ventilation period of the lock chamber, closing the second lock door, or measuring air pollution. This provides a simple and reliable way to prevent contaminated air from entering the outside area. The measurement can be performed, for example, by light scattering.

[0022] The invention is susceptible of numerous embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of these is illustrated in the drawings and will be described below.

[0023] Fig. 1 an airlock with the first lock door open;

[0024] Fig. 2 the airlock with the second lock door open;

[0025] Fig. 3 the airlock with closed doors.

[0026] Figure 1 shows an airlock 1 with the first lock door 2 open, with the lock door 2 closing the first opening 3 of the lock chamber 4 from the environment or the outside area. A receiving means 5 for receiving pneumatic tires is arranged in the lock chamber 4. A transport system 6 transports a pneumatic tire from the environment through the opening 3 to the receiving means 5. The ambient conditions prevail in the lock chamber 4.

[0027] The lock chamber 4 further comprises a housing 7 and a second lock door 8, which is shown closed here. The second lock door 8 closes the second opening 9. The housing 7 has a first valve 10 on the ambient side, which allows air flow from the outer area into the lock chamber 4 and prevents air flow in the opposite direction. The housing 7 further comprises a second valve 12 on the side of a housing 11 of a vulcanization system, which allows air flow from the lock chamber 4 into the housing 11 or into the inner area and prevents air flow in the opposite direction. A fan 13 is arranged on the housing 7 and generates an air flow through the valves 10, 12.

[0028] Below the second opening 9, a transport means 14 is positioned for transporting the pneumatic tire from the receiving means 5 into the housing 11.

[0029] Figure 2 shows the airlock of Figure 1 with the second lock door open. The pneumatic tire was placed on the receiving device 5 by the transport system 6, and the first lock door 2 was closed. Subsequently, the second lock door 8 was opened, and the transport device 14 began moving the pneumatic tire. The ambient conditions in the lock chamber 4 are the same as those in the enclosure 11. The transport device 14 removes the pneumatic tire from the receiving device 5 and moves it out of the airlock 1. The second lock door 8 is closed.

[0030] This state of the airlock 1 is shown in Figure 3. After the second lock door 8 closes, the fan 13 starts running and draws air from the outside through the first valve 10 into the lock chamber 4 and through the second valve into the enclosure 11. If the pollutant load is sufficiently low due to sufficient air exchange in the lock chamber 4, this is detected by sensors, and the lock chamber open status is set in the control system. List of reference symbols

[0031] Airlock first lock door first opening lock chamber receiving device

[0032] Transport system enclosure second lock door second opening first valve

[0033] Enclosure second valve blower transport means

Claims

Patent claims 1. Airlock (1) for locking technical rubber products, in particular pneumatic tires, into a housing (11) of vulcanization plants, comprising a first lock door (2) and a second lock door (8) as well as an airtight lock chamber (4) with a housing (7) with a first opening (3) that can be closed by the first lock door (2) and a second opening (9) that can be closed by the second lock door (8), characterized in that the airlock (1) has a first valve (10) and a second valve (12), wherein the first valve (10) and the second valve (12) are arranged to convey air along a pressure gradient through the first valve (10) from an outer region and through the lock chamber (4) and through the second valve (12) into an inner region.

2. Airlock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first lock door (2) and / or the second lock door (8) has an automated control, wherein the control is set up to output a signal for opening and / or closing the first lock door (2) and / or the second lock door (8) triggered by a transport system (6) and / or transport means (14).

3. Airlock (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first valve (10) and / or the second valve (12) is a non-return valve or can be formed by a geometry of the first lock door (2) and / or the second lock door (8).

4. Airlock (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the airlock (1) has a receiving means (5) for receiving pneumatic tires, in particular unvulcanized pneumatic tires.

5. Airlock (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure gradient is determined by a pressure gradient arranged blower (13) and / or by the application of different pressures between the first valve (10) and the second valve (12).

6. Housing (11) of vulcanization plants comprising an upper housing element and lateral housing elements as well as an airlock (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the airlock (1) is arranged on the upper housing element or on a lateral housing element.

7. A method for locking technical rubber products, in particular pneumatic tires, in particular with an airlock (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps: a) outputting a signal to open the first lock door (2) triggered by a transport system (6) to a control, b) checking a status of the lock chamber (4) by the control and controlling a first actuator if the status of the lock chamber is opening of the first lock door (2), c) opening the first lock door (2) by the first actuator, d) outputting a signal to close the first lock door (2) triggered by the transport system (6) to the control, e) controlling the first actuator to close the first lock door (2) by controlling and closing the first lock door (2) by the first actuator, g) controlling the second actuator to open the second lock door (8) by controlling and opening the second Lock door (8) by the second actuator,h) Outputting a signal to close the second lock door (8) triggered by a transport means (14) to the control, i) Controlling the second actuator to close the second lock door (8) by the control and closing the second lock door (8) by the second actuator, j) Ventilating the lock chamber (4) with ambient air into an interior area., 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the signal for opening the first lock door (2) and / or the second lock door (8) by the transport system (6) and / or a transport means (14) to the control is a computer signal and / or a sensor signal.

9. Method according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the ventilation of the lock chamber (4) is driven by a pressure difference between the environment and the interior and / or by a fan (13).

10. Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the status of the lock chamber (4) opening of the first lock door (2) is set after a defined ventilation period of the lock chamber (4) after the closing of the second lock door (8) or measuring air pollution.

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