Method of depositing a profiled product onto a support, for example a cylindrical one.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for depositing a profiled product onto a substrate, the profiled product being made of an elastomeric compound and cut to a predefined length before being deposited onto said substrate, the two ends of the profiled product joining together when the profiled product is deposited onto said substrate, the depositing method comprising a step of applying marks to the two ends of the profiled product, this marking step being carried out before the profiled product is deposited onto the substrate, and the depositing method comprising a step of acquiring at least one image of the junction of the two ends of the profiled product and the marks affixed to these two ends, this acquisition step being carried out after the profiled product is deposited onto the substrate.The deposition process is characterized in that the markings affixed to the ends of the profiled product are applied by ablation or modification of material with a laser beam. Figure in the abstract: none.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for depositing a profiled product onto a support, for example a cylindrical one.

[0001] The present invention relates to the application of marks to a profiled product made in an elastomer mixture for the purpose of using the profiled product thus marked for the manufacture of a semi-finished product such as a tire blank.

[0002] During the manufacture of a tire prototype, various profiled products made from different elastomer compounds are used. In order to obtain a high-quality, uniform tire, it is necessary that the profiled products be positioned as precisely as possible relative to each other, as well as relative to various reference axes or planes. Furthermore, it may also be necessary that the ends of the profiled products meet as precisely as possible.

[0003] Document EP3390031 describes a method for winding a rubber strip onto a form of revolution, in which a strip of predetermined length is cut, front edge and back edge marks are applied to it, it is drawn towards the form of revolution, the front edge is placed on the form, and the form is rotated to wind the strip onto the form.

[0004] In the process described in this document EP3390031, the front and rear front marks are used to control the movement of the strip and the rotation of the shape of revolution so as to compensate for variations in the length of the strip and to obtain a good quality joint of its ends.

[0005] In this document EP3390031, the front and rear front markings are mechanically applied by marking rollers. These marking rollers locally deform the rubber strip and leave visible recessed markings on its surface.

[0006] First, these mechanically applied marks do not offer high measurement accuracy. Indeed, since the marks must be deep enough to be visible, these marks are also wider and therefore less precise.

[0007] Furthermore, since the rubber band is made of a substantially elastic material, these mechanically applied marks do not offer great repeatability, as the marks can fade locally and lead to measurement errors and false alarms.

[0008] Finally, the marks disclosed in this document EP3390031 allow measurements to be made only in the longitudinal direction of the rubber strip.

[0009] Document JP4537624 proposes a method for verifying the quality of the joint between the two ends of a strip of rubber deposited on a drum of manufacturing and constituting the future tread of a tire. In this verification method, marks are applied upstream and downstream of a cut in the rubber strip and during the cutting of this rubber strip.

[0010] This document JP4537624 provides that the marks are applied mechanically, using punching devices, or that these marks are made with ink.

[0011] As previously stated, mechanically applied marks do not offer high measurement accuracy or high repeatability.

[0012] Furthermore, the marks made with ink can cause traces to appear randomly on the tire after baking, and these traces are not compatible with the desired appearance of the tire for its marketing.

[0013] Finally, the marks disclosed in this document JP4537624 allow measurements to be taken only in the longitudinal direction of the rubber strip.

[0014] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of prior art methods and processes.

[0015] To this end, the invention relates to a method for depositing a profiled product onto a support, the profiled product being made of an elastomeric mixture and cut to a predefined length before being deposited on said support, the two ends of the profiled product joining together when the profiled product is deposited on said support, the depositing method comprising a step of applying marks on the two ends of the profiled product, this marking step being carried out before the depositing of the profiled product on the support, and the depositing method comprising a step of acquiring at least one image of the junction of the two ends of the profiled product and of the marks affixed to these two ends, this acquisition step being carried out after the depositing of the profiled product on the support.

[0016] According to the invention, the deposition process provides that the marks affixed to the ends of the profiled product are affixed by ablation or modification of material with a laser beam, the interaction of the laser beam with the upper surface of the profiled product causing a change in color or structure, an engraving or a removal of material in the upper surface of the profiled product.

[0017] By being applied by ablation or modification of material with a laser beam, the markings offer better measurement accuracy and repeatability than mechanically applied markings. Furthermore, markings made by ablation or modification of material have the advantage of not leaving traces visible to the human eye on the product, such as a tire, manufactured with the profiled product that has been marked according to the invention. Indeed, since the elastomer compound of the profiled product is intended to be vulcanized in a curing mold, these markings applied by ablation or modification of material with a laser beam disappear during cooking, particularly due to the pressure present in the baking mold.

[0018] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the invention may also provide that: - the markings affixed to the two ends of a profiled product consist of at least one motif comprising at least one line extending in the longitudinal direction of the profiled product and at least one line extending in the transverse direction of the profiled product, - a marking affixed to one end of a profiled product consists of a plurality of motifs comprising at least one line extending in the longitudinal direction of the profiled product and at least one line extending in the transverse direction of the profiled product, these different motifs being aligned with each other in the transverse direction of the profiled product, - the affixing of a marking to the rear end of a first profiled product is carried out when this rear end is cut and separated from the front end of a second profiled product.- An alert is generated when the markings on the two front and rear ends of a profiled product placed on the support are not at the desired distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the profiled product or are not aligned in the transverse direction of the profiled product; - the support is cylindrical and takes, for example, the form of a drum for manufacturing a tire or a tire blank during manufacturing; - the profiled product constitutes the tread of a future tire or another component of a tire blank, such as a reinforced ply.

[0019] The invention also relates to an installation for depositing a profiled product onto a support, the depositing installation comprising a feeding station supplying the continuous profile from which the profiled product to be deposited is cut, the depositing installation comprising a cutting station allowing a predefined length to be taken from the continuous profile which will constitute the profiled product to be deposited on the support, the depositing installation comprising a first conveying device allowing the continuous profile coming out of the feeding station to be received and the continuous profile to be transported to the cutting station and a second conveying device allowing the profiled product to be transported from the cutting station to the support on which the profiled product is to be deposited, the depositing installation comprising a laser beam marking device located near or above the cutting station.

[0020] In this removal installation, the laser beam marking device is for example mounted above the cutting blade of the cutting station.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. This description, given by way of example and not limitation, refers to the accompanying drawings in which: - [Fig. 1] represents a schematic side view of an installation for depositing a profiled product according to the invention, - [Fig.2] represents a schematic top view of a junction between two ends of a profiled product, - [Fig.3] represents a schematic side view of a good quality joint between two ends of a profiled product, - [Fig.4] represents a schematic side view of a poor quality joint between two ends of a profiled product due to the profiled product being too short in length, - [Fig.5] represents a schematic side view of a poor quality joint between two ends of a profiled product due to an excessive length of said profiled product.

[0022] The invention relates to a method for depositing a profiled product made of an elastomeric compound onto a substrate. The profiled product is, for example, made of an elastomeric compound intended to be subsequently vulcanized. For example, this elastomeric compound is an unvulcanized compound whose composition includes at least one elastomer (natural or synthetic rubber), one or more reinforcing fillers (carbon black, silica), and one or more additional agents, for example, intended to initiate and control the vulcanization reaction.

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a dispensing installation 10 for a profiled product P onto a support 12, such as a tire blank. This dispensing installation 10 allows, for example, the dispensing process according to the invention to be implemented. This dispensing installation 10 includes a feeding station 14 supplying the continuous profile PC from which the profiled product P to be dispensed is cut. This feeding station 14 can be an extruder or another machine continuously generating the continuous profile PC to be cut, or an automated device unwinding the continuous profile PC from a suitable storage device. At the outlet of the feeding station 14, the dispensing installation includes a cutting station 16 for taking a predefined length from the continuous profile PC, which will constitute the profiled product P to be dispensed onto the support 12.The dispensing installation 10 includes, for example, a first conveying device 18 for receiving the continuous profile PC exiting the feeding station and transporting the continuous profile PC to the cutting station. The cutting station 16 includes, for example, a blade 20 driven in translation by an actuator 22 in a cutting plane P16 passing through the continuous profile PC. For example, the dispensing installation 10 includes an anvil 24 for supporting. The continuous PC profile during cutting. This anvil 24 includes a central recess to receive the blade 20 at the end of its travel. The placement installation 10 includes, for example, a second conveying device 26 for transporting the profile product P from the cutting station 16 to the support 12 on which the profile product P is to be placed.

[0024] In the present invention, the support 12 is preferably cylindrical. For example, and as illustrated in [Fig. 1], the profiled product P constitutes the tread of a future tire, and the support 12 is a tire blank under construction. Alternatively, the profiled product P may be another component of a tire blank, such as a ply, for example, a reinforced one, and the support 12 may be a tire-making drum. When the profiled product P is deposited, the support 12 is rotated R, for example, by an electric motor (not shown).

[0025] When the profiled product P is placed on said support 12, and as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P join together. Particularly in the context of tire blank production and tire manufacturing, it is desirable that the junction J of the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P be of the highest possible quality.

[0026] Figure 3 illustrates a high-quality joint J between the two ends E1 and E2 of the profile product P in the longitudinal direction LO of the profile product P, with the rear face AR of the second end E2 of the profile product P fitting perfectly against the front face AV of the first end E1 of the profile product P. In the example shown in Figure 3, the rear face AR and the front face AV of the profile product P are beveled to improve the subsequent welding of these ends. The welding of these two ends is, for example, carried out by pressure welding with a suitable tool such as a roller and performed manually or automatically.

[0027] Figure 4 illustrates a less-than-ideal junction J of the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P in the longitudinal direction LO of the profiled product P. Since the length of the profiled product P is insufficient, the rear face AR of the second end E2 of the profiled product P only partially overlaps the front face AV of the first end E1 of the profiled product P. This partial overlap results in a lack of material that is detrimental to the uniformity of the future product, such as a tire, manufactured with the profiled product P.

[0028] Figure 5 illustrates another type of lower-quality junction J of the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P in the longitudinal direction LO of the profiled product P. In this other case, the length of the profiled product P being too great, the rear face AR of the second end E2 of the profiled product P overlaps the front face AV of the first end E1 of the profiled product P and extends beyond this front before AV and over the first end El of the profiled product P. This excessive overlap implies an excess of material which is detrimental to the uniformity of the future product, such as a tire, made with the profiled product P.

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates a less than ideal junction J of the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P in the transverse direction TA of the profiled product P. In this case, the first end E1 of the profiled product P is not aligned with the second end E2 of the profiled product P. This transverse offset impairs the quality of the future product, such as a tire, manufactured with the profiled product P.

[0030] The deposition method according to the invention aims to detect and signal a poor quality junction J between the two ends E1,E2 of a profiled product P deposited on a support 12.

[0031] To this end, the deposition process includes a step of applying MA marks to the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P, and a step of acquiring at least one image of the junction J of the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P and of the MA marks affixed to these two ends. The marking step is carried out before the profiled product P is deposited onto the support 12, and the acquisition step is carried out after the profiled product P has been deposited onto the support 12. The MA marks are affixed to the upper surface of a profiled product P.

[0032] According to the invention, the deposition process involves applying the MA markings affixed to the ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P by ablation or modification of material with a laser beam F, in particular by melting and / or combustion. More specifically, the interaction of the laser beam F with the upper surface of the profiled product P causes a change in color or structure, an engraving, or a removal of material from the upper surface of the profiled product P.

[0033] To implement this marking, the removal system 10 includes, for example, a laser beam marking device DM F located near or above the cutting station 16. Thus, the marking and cutting of two consecutive profile product ends P can be carried out simultaneously. Alternatively, the marking of two consecutive profile product ends P can be performed just before cutting these two ends. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the laser beam marking device DM F is, for example, mounted above the blade 20 of the cutting station. Advantageously, the laser beam marking device DM F includes a laser beam emission source F and means for directing and focusing the laser beam F within a marking volume, for example, conical in shape, extending below the marking device DM.For example, the emission source of the F laser beam is hybrid and combines fiber and pulsed technologies.

[0034] For the step of acquiring at least one image of the junction J of the two ends of the profiled product P and of the markings MA affixed to these two ends, the placement installation 10 includes at least one acquisition device 30 such as a camera or a 2D and / or 3D profilometer. Optionally, the placement installation 10 may include a lighting device 32 in addition to the acquisition device 30. Since the acquisition step is carried out after the profiled product P has been placed on the support 12, the acquisition device 30 and the lighting device 32, if present, are mounted above the support 12.

[0035] As shown in [Fig. 2], the MA markings affixed to the two ends E1, E2 of a profiled product consist of at least one motif M which includes at least one line T1 extending in the longitudinal direction LO of the profiled product P and at least one line T2 extending in the transverse direction TA of the profiled product P. For example, a motif M takes the form of a cross or an L. By extending in these two directions, a motif M makes it possible both to measure any partial or excessive overlap in the longitudinal direction LO of the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P at a junction J, and to measure any transverse offset in the transverse direction of the two ends E1, E2 of the profiled product P at a junction J.

[0036] To improve the quality of measurements performed with MA marks, an MA mark affixed to an end E1,E2 of a profiled product consists of a plurality of motifs M comprising at least one line T1 extending in the longitudinal direction LO of the profiled product and at least one line T2 extending in the transverse direction TA of the profiled product. Preferably, and as illustrated in [Fig. 2], these different motifs M are aligned with each other in the transverse direction TA of the profiled product.

[0037] As previously stated, due to the positioning of the marking devices DM relative to the cutting station 16, the marking and cutting of two consecutive profile product ends P can be carried out simultaneously. The application method according to the invention preferably provides that the application of a mark MA to the rear end E2 of a first profile product P is carried out when this rear end E2 is cut and separated from the front end El of a second profile product P.

[0038] Advantageously, the deposition method according to the invention provides for generating alerts when a poor-quality junction J is detected. For example, alerts are generated when the marks MA affixed to the two front ends El and rear ends E2 of a profiled product P deposited on the support 12 are not at the desired distance from each other in the longitudinal direction LO of the profiled product or are not aligned in the transverse direction TA of the profiled product P. Understood, in both the longitudinal direction LO and the transverse direction TA, minor deviations from the reference value are acceptable. Depending on the deviations observed, alerts may be recorded with a link to the manufactured product, signaled visually or audibly, or used to stop the operation of the deposition system to allow an operator to correct the problem, either by readjusting the profiled product P or by discarding it.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for depositing a profiled product (P) onto a substrate (12), the profiled product being made of an elastomeric compound and cut to a predefined length before being deposited onto said substrate, the two ends (E1, E2) of the profiled product joining together when the profiled product is deposited onto said substrate, the depositing method comprising a step of applying marks (MA) to the two ends of the profiled product, this marking step being carried out before the profiled product is deposited onto the substrate, and the depositing method comprising a step of acquiring at least one image of the junction (J) of the two ends of the profiled product and of the marks (MA) affixed to these two ends, this acquisition step being carried out after the profiled product is deposited onto the substrate,the deposition process being characterized in that the marks (MA) affixed to the ends of the profiled product are applied by ablation or modification of material with a laser beam (F), the interaction of the laser beam (F) with the upper surface of the profiled product (P) causing a change in color or structure, an engraving or a removal of material in the upper surface of the profiled product (P).

2. A method of deposition according to claim 1, wherein the marks (MA) affixed to the two ends of a profiled product are made up of at least one pattern (M) which includes at least one stroke (T1) extending in the longitudinal direction (LO) of the profiled product and at least one stroke (T2) extending in the transverse direction (TA) of the profiled product.

3. A method of application according to claim 2, wherein a mark (MA) affixed to an end of a profiled product is made up of a plurality of motifs (M) comprising at least one stroke (T1) extending in the longitudinal direction (LO) of the profiled product and at least one stroke (T2) extending in the transverse direction (TA) of the profiled product, these different motifs (M) being aligned with each other in the transverse direction (TA) of the profiled product.

4. A removal method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the application of a mark (MA) to the rear end (E2) of a first profiled product is carried out when this end rear is cut out and separated from the front end (El) of a second profiled product.

5. A deposit method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an alert is generated when the marks (MA) affixed to the two front (El) and rear (E2) ends of a profiled product (P) deposited on the support (12) are not at the desired distance from each other in the longitudinal direction (LO) of the profiled product or are not aligned in the transverse direction (TA) of the profiled product (P).

6. A removal method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (12) is cylindrical and takes, for example, the form of a tire manufacturing drum or a tire blank in the process of being manufactured.

7. A deposition method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profiled product (P) constitutes the tread of a future tire or another component of a tire blank such as a ply, for example reinforced.

8. Installation for depositing (10) a profiled product (P) onto a support (12), the depositing installation comprising a feeding station (14) supplying the continuous profile (PC) from which the profiled product (P) to be deposited is cut, the depositing installation comprising a cutting station (16) for taking a predefined length from the continuous profile (PC) which will constitute the profiled product (P) to be deposited onto the support (12), the depositing installation comprising a first conveying device (18) for receiving the continuous profile (PC) exiting the feeding station and transporting the continuous profile (PC) to the cutting station and a second conveying device (26) for transporting the profiled product (P) from the cutting station (16) to the support (12) onto which the profiled product (P) is to be deposited,the removal installation being characterized in that it comprises a laser beam marking device (DM) (F) located near or above the cutting station (16).

9. Removal installation (10) according to claim 8, wherein the laser beam marking device (DM) (F) is mounted above the blade (20) of the cutting station (16).

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