Peeler, let-off station and method for peeling off a liner and a stock material from each other

Abstract

The invention relates to a let-off station for supplying stock material to a tire building machine, wherein the let-off station (100) comprises a scraper (115) positioned along a liner path to scrape of any stock material (90) that is stuck to a lower side of a liner, wherein the scraper is positioned in a scraping position along the liner path where the liner is free to move away from the scraper at a side of the liner opposite to the scraper (115). The invention further relates to a peeler (2), a let-off station and a method for peeling off a liner (92) and a stock material (90) from each other, wherein the peeler comprises a an output roller (44) for receiving the stock material after it has been permanently separated from the liner, wherein the output roller is driven.

Description

[0001] Peeler, let-off station and method for peeling of f a liner and a stock material from each other

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] The invention relates to a peeler for peeling of f a liner and a stock material from each other prior to said stock material being supplied to a tire building machine . The invention further relates to a let-of f station and to a method for peeling of f the liner and the stock material from each other and placing said stock material on a tire component .

[0004] Let-of f stations are used to supply the stock material to a tire building machine . A known let-off station is configured to receive an exchangeable cassette that holds a stock reel , a liner reel and a peeler . The stock material is stored in several windings on the stock reel , ready to be unwound and supplied to the tire building machine by the let- off station . The windings are separated by one or more layers of liner to prevent that subsequent windings adhere or stick to each other . The liner reel is used to collect the liner when the stock material is being unwound . The peeler comprises a plurality of guide members that define a liner path through the peeler up to a peeling edge along which the liner is ultimately separated from the stock material . The stock material is subsequently supplied to the tire building machine . The guide members are supported from one side only so that an operator can manually guide a new length of liner through the liner path from the opposite side .

[0005] A known stock material that is supplied in this manner are RFID-tags which are supported in spaced apart positions along the liner . Each RFID-tag is intended to be embedded in a green or unvulcanized tire for identification purposes .

[0006] WO 2022 / 90889 Al discloses a method for applying rubberized electronic tags to a tire , in which the tags are gradually peeled from a continuous band which continues without the tags along a recirculation section before being reattached with a reduced adhesion force , and ultimately separating the tags from the continuous band at a peeling edge .

[0007] JP 2009-107668 A and JPS 61127429 A disclose similar apparatuses for gradually peeling off labels from a liner in two steps . EP 3 383 155 Al further discloses a feeder for feeding out storage tape with electronic components , having a tape curving apparatus for similarly reducing adhering of components to the top tape, further having covers that can open to reveal a side surface of rollers such that the storage tape can be easily set on the rollers from the revealed side .

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A disadvantage of the known peeler is that stock material may be stuck to the liner at the wrong side of the liner enters the peeler and clogs the peeler slot or other parts of the peeler .

[0010] A further disadvantage of the known peeler is the stock material is being pulled in together with the liner downstream of the peeling edge and / or is not reliably separated from the liner .

[0011] It is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a peeler, a let-of f station and a method for peeling off a liner and a stock material from each other, wherein the stock material can be separated more reliably from the liner .

[0012] According to a first aspect , the invention provides a let-of f station for supplying stock material to a tire building machine, wherein the stock material comprises individual parts which are supplied on a liner in spaced apart positions , wherein the let-of f station is provided with a stock reel holder for holding a stock reel that supplies the stock material on the liner and a liner reel holder for holding a liner reel that collects the liner when the stock material is being unwound, wherein the liner is guided along a liner path from the stock reel up to the liner reel , wherein the let-of f station comprises a scraper positioned along the liner path to scrape of any stock material that is stuck to a lower side of the liner, wherein the scraper is positioned in a scraping position along the liner path where the liner is free to move away from the scraper at a side of the liner opposite to the scraper . The scraper can prevent that stock material at the wrong side of the liner enters the peeler and clogs the peeler slot or other parts of the peeler . At the scraper position there are no guide means opposite the scraper to form a counter surface that could potentially create a bottle-neck for the liner and the stock material supported thereon . Hence , in the absence of a counter surface , it can be prevent that the liner gets stuck between the scraper and said counter surface . Instead, the liner can be passed along the scraper even i f the combined thickness of the liner and the stock material supported thereon varies . In particular, the scraper only scrapes of stock material stuck to the lower side of the liner, while any stock material stuck to the upper side of the liner can be passed through the scraping position unhindered by said scraper .

[0013] In a preferred embodiment the let-of f station comprises one or more guide members for guiding the liner along the liner path, wherein the scraping position is located away from the one or more guide members . In another embodiment the let-off station does not provide a counter-surface directly opposite to the scraper at the scraping position . Hence, the stock material stuck to the upper side of the liner can pass unhindered through the scraping position .

[0014] In a further embodiment , the scraper has a resiliently flexible scraping body . The scraper can be arranged in a position in which said resiliently flexible scraping body intersects with the liner path with no liner present and is pressed against and / or deflected by said liner when a liner is present at the liner path . Bending stress in the scraping body ensures that the alternative scraper remains tightly pressed against the liner . In particular, the scraping body is chosen to have a flexibility suf ficient such that the tip portion becomes aligned or fully aligned with the direction of the liner at the liner path . Moreover, in combination with the previously discussed embodiment , the scraper can be pressed with a constant tension without being influenced by any counter surface , thereby improving the reliability of the separation .

[0015] Preferably, the flexible scraping body is provided with one or more cut-outs . The one or more cut-outs may be provided to strategically weaken the scraping body or to promote bending of the scraping body where it is supposed to bend .

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, the scraping body has a pointy tip portion . The pointy tip portion can ef fectively separating any stock material that is accidentally stuck on the lower side of the liner .

[0017] According to a second aspect , the invention provides a peeler for peeling off a liner and a stock material from each other, wherein the stock material comprises individual parts which are supplied on a liner in spaced apart positions , wherein the peeler comprises a peeler plate and plurality of guide rollers that define a liner path for feeding the liner over the peeler plate along a peeling edge of the peeler plate to peel off and permanently separate said liner from the stock material , wherein the peeler further comprises an output roller for receiving the stock material after it has been permanently separated from the liner, wherein the output roller is driven .

[0018] By driving the output roller, it can be prevented that the stock material is being pulled in together with the liner downstream of the peeling edge . In particular, the driven output roller can ef fectively pull the stock material away from the liner once it has been separated from said liner . Moreover, by driving the output roller, the stock material can be separated completely from liner prior to picking said stock material up with a pick-and-place unit, in particular when said stock material is formed by distinct parts , more in particular RFID-tags .

[0019] In one embodiment the output roller is configured for supporting the stock material in a pick-up plane that is parallel to, substantially parallel to or coinciding with a horizontal plane . Hence , the stock material can be pulled onto the output roller in the same or substantially the same orientation as it was on the peeler plate . More in particular, the pick-up plane can be arranged in line with, coinciding with and / or parallel to the plane defined by the peeler plate .

[0020] Alternatively, the output roller is configured for supporting the stock material in a pick-up plane that extends at a pull angle to a hori zontal plane of less than forty-five degrees , preferably less than thirty degrees and most preferably less than fifteen degrees . Hence, the output roller may be positioned slightly higher or slightly lower than the peeler plate . At such pull angle, the output roller pulls the stock material onto the output roller at said pull angle . The output roller may stop when the stock material is fully separated from the liner, thereby leaving the stock material in the obliquely angled pick-up plane, or it may be rotated further until the stock material is again position in or parallel to the horizontal plane .

[0021] In another embodiment, the peeler further comprises a transmission between the output roller and one guide roller of the plurality of guide rollers for driving rotation of the output roller with rotation of said one guide roller . By driving the output roller via the transmission, no separate drive means are required to drive said output roller .

[0022] More preferably, the transmission is configured for driving the rotation of the output roller in a transmission ratio to the rotation of said one guide roller that results in the circumferential surfaces of said output roller and said one guide roller having the same or substantially the same circumferential speed . Hence, the stock material can be pulled away from the liner at the same or substantially the same speed at which the liner is being pulled in towards the liner reel .

[0023] In one embodiment the transmission comprises one or a combination of : meshing gear wheels , chains or belts . These mechanical transmissions can establish a direction transmission relationship between said one guide roller and the output roller .

[0024] Alternatively, the peeler comprises a servo drive for driving the output roller directly . The servo drive can be controlled indirectly, for example based on sensor input about the speed of the liner .

[0025] In another embodiment, that can be applied both in combination with and independently of the driven output roller, the output roller is provided with a circumferential groove . The circumferential groove can be used for inspection or detection purposes , as specified in more detail hereafter .

[0026] In particular, the peeler further comprises an emitter, a reflector and / or a receiver that are positioned such that an optical beam, in particular a laser beam, is emitted, reflected and / or received along a line of sight that passes through the circumferential groove . The stock material may be hard to detect visually because of its characteristics . Using the interruption of a line of sight can be an accurate and reliable way to tell if the stock material has arrived on the output roller . I f it is determined that the stock material has indeed arrived on the output roller, the driven rotation of the output roller can be stopped to keep the stock material in place on the output roller for subsequent pickup by a pick-and-place gripper .

[0027] In a further embodiment , that may also be applied independently of the driven output roller, the liner path extends in a guide plane , wherein the peeler comprises a base member for supporting the plurality of guide rollers from a first side of the guide plane, wherein the peeler further comprises a securing member at a second side of the guide plane, opposite to the first side , that is movable between a secured state for securing at least two guide rollers of the plurality of guide rollers relative to each other in one or more securing directions parallel to the guide plane at the second side and an open state spaced apart from the at least two guide rollers such that the liner path is accessible from the second side .

[0028] Many of the guide rollers define sharp turns in the liner path which can cause excessive forces being exerted by the liner onto said guide rollers . In the closed state, the securing member can form a rigid interconnection between the at least two guide rollers at the second side , thereby reducing the tendency of said at least two guide rollers to move relative to each other when exposed to excessive forces in the liner . Meanwhile, the ability of the securing member to move from the secured state into the open state allows for easy manual insertion or placement of a new length of the liner in the liner path from the second side, for example when feeding a new liner from the stock reel into the peeler . Therefore, the presence of the securing member in the peeler, when in the open state, does not interfere with the initial placement of the liner prior to the peeling operation .

[0029] Preferably, the securing member, in the secured state, secures the output roller relative to the at least two guide rollers in the one or more securing directions at the second side . Consequently, the position of the output roller can also be maintained more accurately, relative to the other guide rollers and / or the peeler plate .

[0030] In a further embodiment thereof the peeler comprises a pre-peeler plate and a peeler slot extending perpendicular to the guide plane between the pre-peeler plate and the peeler plate for temporarily peeling of f the liner and the stock material from each other prior to permanently separating the liner and the stock material at the peeling edge, wherein the at least two guide rollers comprises a return roller positioned below said peeler slot for receiving the liner from the peeler slot and for returning the liner to the peeler slot . The liner can thus follow a so-called 'Omega' -shaped liner path, temporarily separating from the stock material in a pre-peeling position, looping around the return roller and returning to the liner at a rej oining position close to the preliminary peeling position where it was initially separated from said liner . The preliminary peeling of the liner from the stock material already reduces the tackiness or adherence between the stock material and the liner and makes it easier to permanently separate the liner from the stock material at the final peeler guide . The securing member can secure the position of the return roller not only relative to the other of the at least two guide rollers , but also with respect to the pre-peeler guide , the peeler guide , and / or the peeler slot . In other words , the so- called 'Omega' part of the liner path is defined by parts of the peeler that can be rigidly positioned relative to each other at the second side .

[0031] In a further embodiment , that can also be applied independently of the securing member and / or the driven output roller, the peeler further comprises a width adj ustment member that is positionable in the peeler slot to adj ust the width of said peeler slot . Hence, the width can be adj usted when thicker or thinner liners are used . In particular, the width is chosen to be at least one-and-a-half times the thickness of the liner, and preferably at least two times said thickness .

[0032] Preferably, the securing member comprises a securing arm that interconnects the at least two guide rollers in the secured state . The securing arm can ef fectively reach from one guide roller to another one of the guide rollers .

[0033] More preferably, the securing arm is hingable between the secured state and the open state about a hinge axis perpendicular to the guide plane . The securing arm can thus be rotated in and out of the secured state, thereby allowing for insertion of a new length of the liner from the second side .

[0034] More preferably, the hinge axis is spaced apart from the rotation axes of the plurality of guide rollers , wherein the peeler comprises a hinge member at the hinge axis , wherein the securing arm is hingably connected to the hinge member and rotatable about said hinge axis for engaging the at least two guide rollers in the secured state . Hence, the securing arm can be rotated about a part of the peeler that is not formed by the guide rollers . Said part , in this case the hinge member, can be specially adapted or modified for the purpose of facilitating the rotation of the securing arm and / or other functionalities related to the securing, as described in more detail hereafter .

[0035] In a further embodiment the securing arm, in the secured state, slots over the at least two guide rollers in a locking direction parallel to the hinge axis into a locked position, wherein the securing arm is movable in a pulling direction opposite to the locking direction from the locked position into an unlocked position spaced apart from the at least two guide rollers . The securing arm can thus be moved away from the guide rollers to allow for rotation of said securing arm free of and / or without colliding with the guide rollers .

[0036] Preferably, the securing member further comprises a biasing member for biasing the securing arm towards the locked position . The securing member can thus be returned to the locked position simply by releasing the securing member from the unlocked position . In particular, the securing arm can be moved manually between the locked position and the unlocked position by pulling and releasing . The biasing member may for example be provided at or in the hinge member .

[0037] In a further embodiment the peeler further comprises an alignment member that is supported by the base member from the first side of the guide plane for aligning the securing member in the secured state , wherein the securing member is configured for engaging the alignment member when moving into the secured state . The alignment member can make it easier for an operator to manually locate the securing member into the secured state .

[0038] Preferably, the alignment member proj ects further from the base member in the axial direction than the at least two guide rollers . The alignment member can align the securing member prior to said securing member engaging the guide rollers .

[0039] Additionally or alternatively, the alignment member is at least partially conical . The conical part of the alignment member can align and / or center the securing member relative to said alignment member, even when said securing member is slightly misaligned .

[0040] According to a third aspect , the invention provides a let-off station comprising the peeler according to any one of the embodiments of the second aspect of the invention .

[0041] According to a fourth aspect , the invention provides a method for peeling off a liner and a stock material from each other with the use of the peeler according to any one of the embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, wherein the method comprises the steps of : peeling of f the liner and the stock material from each other; driving the output roller to pull the stock material away from the liner onto the output roller ; picking up the stock material from the output roller ; placing the stock material on a tire component . The stock material can subsequently be embedded in a green or unvulcani zed tire that is constructed using the aforementioned tire component .

[0042] The driven output roller can prevent that the stock material is pulled in with the liner when the liner is wound onto the liner reel .

[0043] In another embodiment, the stock material and the liner are completely separated prior to picking up the stock material from the output roller . The complete separation prevents that the stock material is pulled in with the liner when the liner is wound onto the liner reel . When the stock material is formed by individual stock material parts , for example a plurality of tags , in particular RFID tags , supplied in spaced apart position on the liner, each individual tire component can be ef fectively separated from the liner and picked up individually .

[0044] In another embodiment of the method, the stock material comprises individual parts of the stock material , in particular tags or RFID tags , which are supplied on the liner in spaced apart positions . The RFID-tags can be arranged in spaced apart positions along the liner to be separated, picked-up and placed one-by-one on subsequent tire components .

[0045] According to a fi fth, unclaimed aspect the invention provides a cassette or a let-of f station that comprises a stock reel and a stock reel holder for holding said stock reel , wherein the cassette or the let-off station is further provided with a first reel sensor that is configured for emitting a first beam towards a hub of the stock reel and a reflector for reflecting the beam back to the first reel sensor, wherein the first reel sensor is placed at a first oblique beam angle to a vertical plane .

[0046] In principle, the first reel sensor only receives its beam back from the reflector when a certain state of the stock reel , i . e . an almost empty state or a state in which the stock reel is removed from the stock reel holder . In practice , the liner may have irregularities that may at least partially scatter the beams back to the first reel sensor . Such irregularities may be formed by bumps , dents or variations in the circumference of the liner, primarily caused by the stock material being intermittently present on said liner at di fferent positions along the circumference of said liner and in the dif ferent windings of said liner around the hub of the stock reel . The scattering is unpredictable and may cause false positive detection signals at the respective reel sensors , for example a false positive detection that the stock reel is empty when it is not , or a false positive detection that the stock reel has been removed .

[0047] To prevent or reduce such false positive detections as much as possible, it has been found advantageous to place the first reel sensor at oblique beam angles to a vertical plane . At such a first oblique angle , the liner is less likely to return false positives .

[0048] In an embodiment, the cassette or the let-of f station is further provided with a second reel sensor that is configured for emitting a second beam towards the hub of the stock reel , wherein the second reel sensor is placed at a second oblique beam angle to the vertical plane . To prevent or reduce such false positive detections as much as possible, it has been found advantageous to place the second reel sensor at the second oblique beam angles to a vertical plane . At such a second oblique angle , the liner is less likely to return false positives .

[0049] In a further embodiment the stock reel is rotatable about a stock reel axis , wherein the one or more reel sensors are obliquely oriented with respect to a first vertical plane parallel to the stock reel axis , to a second vertical plane perpendicular to the stock reel axis , or obliquely oriented to both said vertical planes . When orienting the one or more reel sensors obliquely relative to both vertical planes , the liner is even less likely to return false positives .

[0050] In a further embodiment the oblique beam angle is at least three degrees and preferably at least five degrees . The greater the oblique beam angle, the less likely the liner is to return false positives .

[0051] In a further embodiment the first beam extends along, but does not intersect with, the hub of the stock reel . In principle, the first reel sensor only receives its beam back from the reflector when the stock reel is empty or almost empty . In other words , the stock material and the liner are no longer blocking the beam of the first reel sensor .

[0052] In particular, the first reel sensor is arranged for detecting an empty state of the stock reel .

[0053] In a further embodiment the second beam intersects with the hub of the stock reel . In principle, the second reel sensor only receives its beam back from the reflector when the stock reel is removed from the cassette or the let-of f station . In other words , the hub is no longer blocking the beam of the second reel sensor .

[0054] In particular, the second reel sensor is arranged for detecting a presence or absence of the stock reel in the cassette or the let-of f station .

[0055] In a further embodiment the first beam and / or the second beam is a laser beam .

[0056] The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible . These individual aspects , in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims , can be made subj ect of divisional patent applications .

[0057] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached schematic drawings , in which : figure 1 shows a side view of a cassette with a peeler for peeling off a liner and a stock material from each other, wherein the peeler has a securing member which is in an open state ; figure 2 shows a side view of the cassette according to figure 1 with the securing member in a secured state ; figures 3 and 4 show isometric views of the peeler according to figures 1 and 2 , respectively; figure 5A shows a side view of the cassette of figure 1 with a scraper; figure 5B shows a front view of the scraper ; figure 6 shows a front view of a stock reel and one or more reel sensors for use in the cassette according to figure 1 ; and figure 7 shows a side view of the cassette according to figure 1 with an output roller in an alternative position .

[0059] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] Figures 1 and 2 show a let-off station 100 that is used to supply stock material 90 to a tire building machine (not shown) , such as a tire building drum . The let-of f station 100 is configured to receive an exchangeable cartridge or cassette 1 with a stock reel holder 11 for holding a stock reel 81 and a liner reel holder 12 for holding a liner reel 82 . The let-of f station 100 and / or the cassette 1 comprises a peeler 2 that is arranged to be positioned between the stock reel 81 and the liner reel 82 when the cassette 1 is received in the let-off station 100 .

[0061] In this exemplary embodiment , the stock material 90 is formed by distinct parts , in particular RFID-tags 91 , which are stored in several windings on the stock reel 81 , ready to be unwound and supplied to the tire building machine by the let-off station 100 . The RFID-tags 91 may be embedded in a tacky elastomeric material , preferably rubber, such that the RFID-tags can be adhered easily to a tire component . The windings are separated by one or more layers of liner 92 to prevent that the stock material 90 in subsequent windings adhere or stick to each other . The liner reel 82 is used to collect the liner 92 when the stock material 90 is being unwound . The liner 92 is guided along a liner path L from the stock reel 81 up to the liner reel 82 .

[0062] The let-of f station 100 and / or the cassette 1 is optionally provided with a scraper 115 in a scraping position C along the liner path L between the stock reel 81 and the peeler 2 to scrape of any stock material 90 that is accidentally stuck to the lower side of the liner 92 . Note that the scraping position C is located away from any other guide means of the let-off station 100 and / or the cassette 1 . In particular, there are no guide means forming a countersurface directly opposite to the scraper 115 at the scraping position C . Hence, the stock material 90 stuck to the upper side of the liner 92 can pass unhindered through the scraping position C .

[0063] As shown in more detail in figures 5A and 5B, the scraper 115 has a resiliently flexible scraping body 116 that is mounted to the let-of f station 100 or the cassette 1 in a position in which said resiliently flexible scraping body 16 intersects with the liner path L with no liner 92 present, as shown in dashed lines , and is pressed against and / or deflected by said liner 92 when a liner 92 is present at the liner path L, as shown in solid lines . The scraping body 116 further has a sharp or pointed tip portion 117 , i . e . a tip portion 117 having a sharp angle or V-shaped contour, for effectively separating any stock material 90 that is accidentally stuck on the lower side of the liner 92 . Bending stress in the scraping body 116 ensures that the scraper 115 remains tightly pressed against the liner 92 . In particular, the scraping body 116 is chosen to have a flexibility suf ficient such that the tip portion 117 becomes aligned or fully aligned with the direction of the liner 92 at the liner path L . One or more cut-outs 118 , 119 may be provided to strategically weaken the scraping body 116 or to promote bending of the scraping body 116 where it is supposed to bend .

[0064] As best seen in figures 3 and 4 , the peeler 2 comprises a pre-peeler plate 31 , a peeler plate 32 and a plurality of guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 that define the liner path L extending in a guide plane P through the peeler 2 . The peeler 2 further comprises an output roller 44 for outputting the stock material 90 once it has been separated from the liner 92 . The guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 and the output roller 44 are rotatable about respective , mutually parallel rotation axes Rl , R2 , R3 , R4 extending in an axial direction X perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the guide plane P .

[0065] The peeler 2 is provided with a frame or a base member 20 for supporting the pre-peeler plate 31 , the peeler plate 32 and the plurality of guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 from a first side A of said guide plane P .

[0066] The pre-peeler plate 31 and the peeler plate 32 extend on opposite sides of a peeler slot S extending perpendicular to the guide plane P for preliminary peeling off the liner 92 and the stock material 90 from each other as the stock material 90 traverses the peeling slot S . Alternatively formulated, the liner 92 is peeled of f from the stock material 90 or the stock material 90 is peeled of f from the liner 92 . The pre-peeler plate 31 defines a pre-peeling position where the liner 92 is temporarily peeled of f from the stock material 90 , 91 or vi ce versa . The peeler plate 32 defines a rej oining position where the liner 92 is rej oined with the stock material 90 . The pre-peeling position and the rej oining position are very close together such that the stock material 90 is unsupported only very briefly when traversing the peeling slot S .

[0067] The guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 comprise a return roller 41 that positioned along the liner path L in a position below the peeler slot S for receiving the liner 92 from the pre-peeling position and for returning the liner 92 to the rej oining position . The return roller 41 , together with the pre-peeler plate 31 and the peeler plate 32 , define a so- called 'Omega' -shaped part of the liner path L .

[0068] The peeler slot 2 is open at a second side B of the guide plane P opposite to the first side A for manual insertion or placement of the liner L prior to the peeling operation .

[0069] As best seen in figure 3 , the peeler 2 further comprises a width adj ustment member 7 that is positionable in the peeler slot S to adj ust the width of said peeler slot S . In particular, the width adj ustment member 7 has an adj ustment body 70 that defines a pre-peeling edge VI at the side of the peeler slot S facing the pre-peeler plate 31 . The adj ustment body 70 is fastened to said pre-peeler plate 31 in an adj ustable manner, e . g . with the use of elongated adj ustment slots 71 , 72 . The width of the peeler slot S is preferably adj usted to at least one-and-half or at least two times the thickness of the liner 92 .

[0070] The peeler plate 32 has a wedge shaped body that defines a peeling edge V2 . The peeling edge V2 is relatively sharp or at a sharp angle to ef fectively peel the liner 92 from the stock material 90 .

[0071] The guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 further comprise one or more post-separation rollers 42 , 43 that are positioned along the liner path L downstream of a final peeling position where the liner 92 is permanently separated from the stock material 90 , 91 . The one or more post-separation rollers 42 , 43 guide the liner 92 towards the liner reel 82 .

[0072] The output roller 44 is driven, actively driven, actively rotated and / or driven in rotation about its rotation axis R4 to ensure that the stock material 90 is pulled onto the output roller 44 and does not follow the liner 92 along the liner path L downstream of the final peeling position . In this example, the peeler 2 comprises a transmission 21 between the output roller 44 and one guide roller 42 of the plurality of guide rollers 41-43 for driving the rotation of the output roller 44 with the rotation of said one guide roller 42 . In this case, the transmission 21 comprises two meshing gear wheels . Hence, the output roller 44 is driven in a rotation direction opposite to the one guide roller 42 to which it is coupled . Dif ferent types of mechanical transmissions may be used, such as chains , belts or the like , taking into account that the output roller 44 is coupled to one of the guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 in a way that ensures the correct rotation direction of said output roller 44 . The output roller 44 may for example be coupled to the last guide roller 43 in the liner path L with the use of a belt which drives both rollers 43 , 44 in the same rotation direction .

[0073] In a further alternative embodiment , the output roller 44 may be directly driven, e . g . by a servo drive (not shown) .

[0074] The transmission 21 is configured for driving the rotation of the output roller 44 in a transmission ratio to the rotation of said one guide roller 42 that results in the circumferential surfaces of said output roller 44 and said one guide roller 42 having the same or substantially the same circumferential speed .

[0075] In this example , as shown in figure 1 , the output roller 44 is configured for supporting the stock material 90 in a pick-up plane El that is parallel to , substantially parallel to a hori zontal plane E2 . More in particular, the pick-up plane El is in line with, coinciding with and / or parallel to the plane defined by the peeler plate 32 . Alternatively, as shown in figure 7 , the output roller 44 may be slightly higher ( as shown) or slightly lower (not shown) than the peeler plate 32 , such that pick-up plane El may arranged at a pull angle E3 to said horizontal plane E2 of less than forty-five degrees , preferably less than thirty degrees and most preferably less than fifteen degrees . At such pull angle E3 , the output roller 44 pulls the stock material 90 onto the output roller 44 at said pull angle E3 . The output roller 44 may stop when the stock material 90 is fully separated from the liner 92 , thereby leaving the stock material 90 in the obliquely angled pick-up plane El , or it may be rotated further until the stock material 90 is again position in or parallel to the hori zontal plane E2 .

[0076] Note that there is a height di fference H4 between the highest point of output roller 44 and the upper surface defined by the peeler plate 32 . Said height di fference H4 is preferably is equal to or less than the radius of the output roller 44 .

[0077] As further shown in figures 3 and 4 , the output roller 44 comprises a roller body 48 . In the example as shown in figures 3 and 4 , the roller body 48 is provided with a circumferential groove 45. The peeler 2 further comprises an emitter 22 , a reflector 23 and a receiver 24 that are positioned such that an optical beam, in particular a laser beam, is emitted, reflected and received along a line of sight M that passes through the circumferential groove 45 . Note that the reflector 23 may alternatively be positioned to reflect the optical beam in another direction than the direction in which it was received, in which case at least one of the incoming beam or the outgoing beam travels along the aforementioned line of sight M . The emitter 22 and receiver 24 may be integrated, as shown, or separate components . In a further alternative embodiment, only an emitter, e . g . a back-light, and a receiver on opposite sides of the output roller 44 may be used, or the reflection of the stock material 90 may be used instead of the reflector 23 , provided that the stock material 90 is sufficiently reflective .

[0078] Additionally or alternatively, the roller body 48 may be textured, profiled or provided with a coating to prevent tacking of the stock material 90 to said surface . In particular, the roller body 48 may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs (not shown) . When combined with the previously mentioned circumferential groove 45 , the circumferentially extending ribs are significantly smaller in height than the depth of the circumferential groove 45, i . e . less than twenty percent or less then ten percent of said depth .

[0079] As shown in figures 1 and 2 , the let-off station 100 further comprises a pick-and-place gripper 200 for picking-up the stock material 90 from the output roller 44 and for placing the stock material 90 on a tire component 109 . The pick-and-place gripper 200 may be rotatable about a reorientation axis K to change the orientation of the stock material 90 relative to the tire component 9 prior to placement . Alternatively, the output roller 44 may be rotatable about the vertical reorientation axis K for the same purpose .

[0080] As shown in figures 1-4 , the peeler 2 comprises a securing member 6 that is movable between an open state, as shown in figures 1 and 3 , and a secured state , as shown in figures 2 and 4 . In the open state , the securing member 6 facilitates easy, free or unhindered access to the liner path L and / or insertion or placement of a length of the liner 92 in the liner path L from the second side B . In the secured state, the securing member 6 is arranged, configured or adapted for fixating, fastening, coupling, interconnecting and / or securing at least two guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 of the plurality of guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 relative to each other in one or more securing directions D parallel to the guide plane P at the second side B . The securing directions D can be dif ferent for each pair of guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 . In particular, the securing direction D is parallel to a line interconnecting the pair of secured guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 . In this example, the securing member 6 secures the return roller 41 , one of the post-separation rollers 42 and the output roller 44 .

[0081] The securing member 6 comprises a securing bracket, finger or arm 60 that interconnects the aforementioned rollers 41 , 42 , 44 . The securing arm 60 is hingable between the open state, as shown in figures 1 and 3 , and the secured state, as shown in figures 2 and 4 , about a hinge axis H perpendicular to the guide plane P . The hinge axis H is spaced apart from the rotation axes Rl , R2 , R3 of the plurality of guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 . The peeler 2 comprises a shaft or a hinge member 40 at the hinge axis H, spaced apart from and / or not being one of the guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 or the output roller 44 . The securing arm 60 is hingably connected to the hinge member 4 and rotatable about said hinge axis H for engaging the at least two guide rollers 41 , 42 in the secured state . Alternatively, the securing arm 60 may be connected to one of the guide rollers 41 , 42 43 or the output roller 44 .

[0082] The peeler 2 further comprises an alignment member 46 that is supported by the base member 20 from the first side A of the guide plane P for locating, centering or aligning the securing member 6 in or with respect to the secured state . The alignment member 46 proj ects further from the base member 20 in the axial direction X than the guide rollers 41 , 42 , 43 and the output roller 44 . In particular, the alignment member 46 is provided with a conical part 47 that proj ects or faces towards the securing member 6 at the second side B . The securing member 6 is configured for engaging the alignment member 46 when moving into the secured state .

[0083] Alternatively, the securing member 6 may be movable in a linear manner, i . e . by sliding it into and out of the secured state, or it may be detachably mounted in the secured state, to be separated from the peeler 2 in the open state .

[0084] As shown in figures 3 and 4 , the securing arm 60 has an arm body that is provided with a plurality of recesses , apertures or locators 61- 64 for locating and / or slotting over the guide rollers 41 , 42 , the output roller 44 and / or the alignment member 46 in a locking direction F parallel to the hinge axis H from the second side B of the peeler 2 . The locators 61- 64 may slot at least partially over the distal ends of the respective rollers 41 , 42 , 44 and / or the alignment member 46, more in particular over bearings provided at the respective distal ends , or - in case of the alignment member 46 - over the conical part 47 thereof .

[0085] To enable the slotting-over movement, the securing arm 60 has been given another freedom of movement in addition to the rotation about the hinge axis H . In particular, the securing arm 60 is movable in a pulling direction G opposite to the locking direction F from the locked position, as shown in figure 4 , into an unlocked position, as shown in figure 3 , spaced apart from the at least two guide rollers 41 , 42 .

[0086] In this example, the securing member 6 further comprises a biasing member 65 for biasing the securing arm 60 towards the locked position . More in particular, the biasing member 65 is a spring arranged in or at the hinge member 40 . The securing arm 60 can thus be moved manually between the locked position, as shown in figure 4 , and the unlocked position, as shown in figure 3 , by pulling and releasing . As shown in figures 1 and 6 , the cassette 1 or the let-of f station 100 is provided with a first reel sensor 301 and a second reel sensor 302 for detecting states of the stock reel 81 . In particular, the first reel sensor 301 is arranged for detecting an empty state of the stock reel 81 and the second reel sensor 302 is arranged for detecting a presence or absence of the stock reel 81 in the cassette 1 or the let- off station 100 . For this purpose , the first reel sensor 301 is configured for emitting a beam, such as a laser beam, closely along, but not intersecting with, a hub 80 of the stock reel 81 . The second reel sensor 302 is configured for emitting a beam, such as a laser beam, intersecting with the hub 80 of the stock reel 81 . The cassette 1 or let-of f station 100 is further provided with a reflector 303 for reflecting the beams back to the respective reel sensors 301 , 302 .

[0087] In principle, the first reel sensor 301 only receives its beam back from the reflector 303 when the stock reel 81 is empty or almost empty . In other words , the stock material 90 , 91 and the liner 92 are no longer blocking the beam of the first reel sensor 301 . Similarly, the second reel sensor 302 only receives its beam back from the reflector when the stock reel 81 is removed from the cassette 1 or the let-of f station 100 . In other words , the hub 80 is no longer blocking the beam of the second reel sensor 302 .

[0088] In practice , the liner 92 may have irregularities that may at least partially scatter the beams back to the respective reel sensors 301 , 302 . Such irregularities may be formed by bumps , dents or variations in the circumference of the liner 92 , primarily caused by the stock material 90 , 91 being intermittently present on said liner 92 at di fferent positions along the circumference of said liner 92 and in the dif ferent windings of said liner 92 around the hub 80 of the stock reel 81 . The scattering is unpredictable and may cause false positive detection signals at the respective reel sensors 301 , 302 , for example a false positive detection that the stock reel 81 is empty when it is not , or a false positive detection that the stock reel 81 has been removed . To prevent or reduce such false positive detections as much as possible, it has been found advantageous to place the reel sensors 301 , 302 at oblique beam angles Tl , T2 , T3 to a vertical plane Wl , W2 . In particular, the reel sensors 301 , 302 may be obliquely oriented with respect to a vertical plane Wl parallel to the stock reel axis N, as shown in figure 1 , or a vertical plane W2 perpendicular to the stock reel axis N, as shown in figure 6, or both . The oblique beam angles Tl , T2 , T3 are preferably at least three degrees , more preferably at least five degrees , even more preferably at least eight degrees and most preferably at least ten degrees . At such oblique angles , the liner 92 is less likely to return false positives .

[0089] A method for peeling off the liner 92 from the stock material 90 , in particular from RFID-tags 91 , with the use of the aforementioned peeler 2 will now be elucidated with reference to figures 1-4 .

[0090] Figures 1 and 3 show the securing member 6 after it has been moved from its respective secured state , as shown in figures 2 and 4 , into its respective open state . The liner path L can be accessed from the second side B . In particular, the part of the liner path L extending through the peeler 2 is freely accessible along the entire length, at least within the peeler 2 . Consequently, a new length of the liner 92 can be manually inserted or placed in said liner path L and / or guided or threaded through said liner path L, for example when preparing a new cassette 1 or when inserting a new cassette 1 into the let-off station 100 prior to the peeling operation .

[0091] Figures 2 and 4 show how the securing member 6 has subsequently been moved back from its respective open state, as shown in figures 1 and 3 , into its respective secured state . The securing member 6 rigidly interconnects the at least two guide rollers 41 , 42 , thereby providing a more accurate guiding of the liner 92 despite the forces being exerted by said liner 92 onto the respective parts of the peeler 2 . As mentioned earlier, the output roller 44 is driven . Hence , when a stock material 90 , in particular the RFID-tag 91 , is separated from the liner 92 at the final peeling position, the output roller 44 can pull the stock material 90 completely onto the output roller 44 . As a consequence , the stock material 90 is no longer supported by and / or completely separated from the liner 92 .

[0092] The stock material 90 is held stationary on the output roller 44 for subsequent pick-up by the pick-and-place gripper 200 .

[0093] It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention . From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention .

[0094] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0095] 1 cassette

[0096] 11 stock reel holder

[0097] 12 liner reel holder

[0098] 2 peeler

[0099] 20 base member

[0100] 21 transmission

[0101] 22 emitter

[0102] 23 reflector

[0103] 24 receiver

[0104] 31 pre-peeler plate

[0105] 32 peeler plate

[0106] 34 snap-fit member

[0107] 40 hinge member

[0108] 41 first guide roller / return roller

[0109] 42 second guide roller / post-separation roller

[0110] 43 third guide roller / post-separation roller

[0111] 44 output roller 45 circumferential groove

[0112] 46 alignment member

[0113] 47 conical end

[0114] 6 securing member

[0115] 60 securing arm

[0116] 61 first locator

[0117] 62 second locator

[0118] 63 third locator

[0119] 64 fourth locator

[0120] 65 biasing member

[0121] 7 width adj ustment member

[0122] 70 adj ustment body

[0123] 71 adj ustment slot

[0124] 72 adj ustment slot

[0125] 80 hub

[0126] 81 stock reel

[0127] 82 liner reel

[0128] 90 stock material

[0129] 91 RFID tag

[0130] 92 liner

[0131] 100 let-of f station

[0132] 115 scraper

[0133] 116 scraper body

[0134] 117 tip portion

[0135] 118 cut-out

[0136] 119 cut-out

[0137] 109 tire component

[0138] 200 pick-and-place gripper

[0139] 301 first reel sensor

[0140] 302 second reel sensor

[0141] 303 reflector

[0142] A first side

[0143] B second side

[0144] C scraping position

[0145] D securing directions

[0146] El pick-up plane E2 horizontal plane

[0147] E3 pull angle

[0148] E4 height difference

[0149] F locking direction

[0150] G pulling direction

[0151] H hinge axis

[0152] K reorientation axis

[0153] L liner path

[0154] M line of sight

[0155] N stock reel axis

[0156] P guide plane

[0157] R1 first rotation axis

[0158] R2 second rotation axis

[0159] R3 third rotation axis

[0160] R4 fourth rotation axis

[0161] S peeler slot

[0162] T1 first beam angle

[0163] T2 second beam angle

[0164] T3 third beam angle

[0165] VI pre-peeling edge

[0166] V2 peeling edge

[0167] W1 first vertical plane

[0168] W2 second vertical plane

[0169] X axial direction

Claims

C L A I M S1 . Let-off station for supplying stock material to a tire building machine, wherein the stock material comprises individual parts which are supplied on a liner in spaced apart positions , wherein the let-of f station is provided with a stock reel holder for holding a stock reel that supplies the stock material on the liner and a liner reel holder for holding a liner reel that collects the liner when the stock material is being unwound, wherein the liner is guided along a liner path from the stock reel up to the liner reel , wherein the let-of f station comprises a scraper positioned along the liner path to scrape of any stock material that is stuck to a lower side of the liner, wherein the scraper is positioned in a scraping position along the liner path where the liner is free to move away from the scraper at a side of the liner opposite to the scraper .2 . Let-off station according to claim 1 , wherein the let-off station comprises one or more guide members for guiding the liner along the liner path, wherein the scraping position is located away from the one or more guide members .3 . Let-off station according to claim 1 , wherein the let-off station does not provide a counter-surface directly opposite to the scraper at the scraping position .4 . Let-off station according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the scraper has a resiliently flexible scraping body .

5. Let-off station according to claim 4 , wherein the flexible scraping body is provided with one or more cutouts .

6. Let-off station according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the scraping body has a pointy tip portion .7 . Peeler for peeling off a liner and a stock material from each other, wherein the stock material comprises individual parts which are supplied on a liner in spaced apart positions , wherein the peeler comprises a peelerplate and plurality of guide rollers that define a liner path for feeding the liner over the peeler plate along a peeling edge of the peeler plate to peel off and permanently separate said liner from the stock material , wherein the peeler further comprises an output roller for receiving the stock material after it has been permanently separated from the liner, wherein the output roller is driven .8 . Peeler according to claim 7 , wherein the output roller is configured for supporting the stock material in a pick-up plane that is parallel to or substantially parallel to a horizontal plane .

9. Peeler according to claim 7 , wherein the output roller is configured for supporting the stock material in a pick-up plane that extends at a pull angle to a hori zontal plane of less than forty-five degrees , preferably less than thirty degrees and most preferably less than fifteen degrees .10 . Peeler according to claim 1 , wherein the peeler further comprises a transmission between the output roller and one guide roller of the plurality of guide rollers for driving rotation of the output roller with rotation of said one guide roller .11 . Peeler according to claim 2 , wherein the transmission is configured for driving the rotation of the output roller in a transmission ratio to the rotation of said one guide roller that results in the circumferential surfaces of said output roller and said one guide roller having the same or substantially the same circumferential speed .12 . Peeler according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the transmission comprises one or a combination of : meshing gear wheels , chains or belts .13 . Peeler according to claim 1 , wherein the peeler comprises a servo drive for driving the output roller directly .14 . Peeler according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the output roller is provided with a circumferential groove .

15. Peeler according to claim 6, wherein the peelerfurther comprises an emitter, a reflector and / or a receiver that are positioned such that an optical beam is emitted, reflected and / or received along a line of sight that passes through the circumferential groove .

16. Peeler according to claim 7 , wherein the optical beam is a laser beam.17 . Peeler according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein the liner path extends in a guide plane , wherein the peeler comprises a base member for supporting the plurality of guide rollers from a first side of the guide plane, wherein the peeler further comprises a securing member at a second side of the guide plane, opposite to the first side, that is movable between a secured state for securing at least two guide rollers of the plurality of guide rollers relative to each other in one or more securing directions parallel to the guide plane at the second side and an open state spaced apart from the at least two guide rollers such that the liner path is accessible from the second side .18 . Peeler according to claim 9, wherein the securing member, in the secured state, secures the output roller relative to the at least two guide rollers in the one or more securing directions at the second side .

19. Peeler according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the peeler comprises a pre-peeler plate and a peeler slot extending perpendicular to the guide plane between the prepeeler plate and the peeler plate for temporarily peeling off the liner and the stock material from each other prior to permanently separating the liner and the stock material at the peeling edge, wherein the at least two guide rollers comprises a return roller positioned below said peeler slot for receiving the liner from the peeler slot and for returning the liner to the peeler slot .20 . Peeler according to claim 11 , wherein the peeler further comprises a width adj ustment member that is positionable in the peeler slot to adj ust the width of said peeler slot .21 . Peeler according to any one of claims 9- 12 ,wherein the securing member comprises a securing arm that interconnects the at least two guide rollers in the secured state .22 . Peeler according to claim 13 , wherein the securing arm is hingable between the secured state and the open state about a hinge axis perpendicular to the guide plane .23 . Peeler according to claim 14 , wherein the hinge axis is spaced apart from the rotation axes of the plurality of guide rollers , wherein the peeler comprises a hinge member at the hinge axis , wherein the securing arm is hingably connected to the hinge member and rotatable about said hinge axis for engaging the at least two guide rollers in the secured state .24 . Peeler according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the securing arm, in the secured state , slots over the at least two guide rollers in a locking direction parallel to the hinge axis into a locked position, wherein the securing arm is movable in a pulling direction opposite to the locking direction from the locked position into an unlocked position spaced apart from the at least two guide rollers .

25. Peeler according to claim 16, wherein the securing member further comprises a biasing member for biasing the securing arm towards the locked position .

26. Peeler according to any one of claims 9- 17 , wherein the peeler further comprises an alignment member that is supported by the base member from the first side of the guide plane for aligning the securing member in the secured state, wherein the securing member is configured for engaging the alignment member when moving into the secured state .27 . Peeler according to claim 18 , wherein the alignment member proj ects further from the base member in the axial direction than the at least two guide rollers .28 . Peeler according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the alignment member is at least partially conical .

29. Let-off station comprising the peeler according to any one of claims 7-28 .30 . Method for peeling off a liner and a stock material from each other with the use of a peeler according to any one of claims 7-28 , wherein the method comprises the steps of : - peeling of f the liner and the stock material from each other; driving the output roller to pull the stock material away from the liner onto the output roller ; picking up the stock material from the output roller ; and placing the stock material on a tire component .31 . Method according to claim 30 , wherein the stock material and the liner are completely separated prior to picking up the stock material from the output roller . 32 . Method according to claim 30 or 31 , wherein the stock material comprises individual parts of the stock material , in particular tags or RFID tags , which are supplied on the liner in spaced apart positions .-o- o-o-o-o- o-o-o-RM / HZ

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