Assembly and method for processing bead-apexes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11400671-B2
Application number	US-201816616807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2018
Priority date	May 24, 2017
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

An assembly for processing bead-apexes includes a weighing device for measuring the weight of one of the bead-apexes and at least one station for supplying or receiving the bead-apexes to or from the weighing device in a supply direction or a discharge direction, respectively. The assembly further includes a frame for supporting the at least one station, wherein the weighing device has a weighing member for receiving and supporting one of the bead-apexes and a base member connected to and forming a base for the weighing member. The weighing device is arranged for measuring the weight of the one bead-apex on the weighing member, while the weighing member is arranged for keeping the one bead-apex stationary during the weighing, while the frame of the assembly and the base member of the weighing device are supported independently.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly for processing bead-apexes, wherein the assembly comprises a weighing device for measuring the weight of one of the bead-apexes, a supply station at a supply position for supplying the bead-apexes to the weighing device in a supply direction, and two or more follow-up stations at two or more follow-up positions for receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device wherein the assembly further comprises a frame for supporting the supply station, wherein the weighing device comprises a weighing member with a weighing surface for receiving and supporting one of the bead-apexes in a horizontal weighing plane and a base member connected to and forming a base for the weighing member, wherein the weighing device is arranged for measuring the weight of the one bead-apex in a weighing position on the weighing member, wherein the supply station defines a supply plane parallel to the weighing plane, wherein the weighing plane is arranged to be in line with the supply plane when supplying the one bead-apex to the weighing device, wherein the weighing member is arranged for keeping the one bead-apex stationary during the weighing, wherein the assembly further comprises a control unit which is operationally connected to the weighing member for receiving a signal indicative of the measured weight of the one bead-apex, wherein the control unit is arranged for selectively controlling the movement of the one bead-apex to one of the two or more follow-up stations based on the weight of the one bead-apex, and wherein the weighing member is movable relative to the base member in an alignment direction from a first transfer position in alignment with the supply position into a second or further transfer positions in alignment with any one of the two or more follow-up positions.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises a first transport device for transporting the one bead-apex from the supply station to the weighing device, wherein the control unit is arranged to control the transport device to transfer the one bead-apex from the weighing device to the one follow-up station.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the first transport device is arranged for picking and placing, dragging, pulling or pushing the one bead-apex from the supply position to the weighing position.

4. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the first transport device is arranged for releasing the one bead-apex in the weighing position.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the two or more follow-up positions comprise a first follow-up position and wherein the two or more follow-up stations comprise a pile-up station at said first follow-up position, wherein the pile-up station comprises a pile-up member for receiving and stacking a plurality of the bead-apexes in a pile-up direction.

6. The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the pile-up station is arranged for receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device in a pile-up plane, wherein the pile-up plane is parallel to the weighing plane.

7. The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the pile-up plane is arranged to be in line with the weighing plane when receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the two or more follow-up positions comprise a second follow-up position and wherein the two or more follow-up stations comprise a conveyance station at said second follow-up position, wherein the conveyance station comprises a transport conveyor for conveying the one bead-apex in a conveyance direction.

9. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the conveyance station is arranged for receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device in a conveyance plane, wherein the weighing plane is parallel to the conveyance plane.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the weighing plane is arranged to be in line with the conveyance plane when receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device.

11. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each bead-apex comprises a circular bead and a filler apex extending radially outward from said bead, wherein the bead has an inner rim extending in a bead-apex plane and forming a circular opening, wherein the two or more follow-up positions comprise a third follow-up position and wherein the two or more follow-up stations comprise a storage station at said third follow-up position, wherein the storage station comprises one or more storage members for storing one or more of the bead-apexes in a vertical orientation in which the one or more bead-apexes are supported with their respective rims on the one or more storage members and the bead-apex planes are vertical.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the storage station is arranged for receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device in a storage plane, wherein the weighing plane is parallel to the storage plane.

13. The assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the weighing plane is arranged to be in line with the storage plane when receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device.

14. The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the storage station is a storage carousel comprising a central member which is rotatable about a central axis, wherein the one or more storage members comprise two or more storage arms extending radially from said central axis for storing the one or more of the bead-apexes in the vertical orientation.

15. The assembly according to claim 14 , wherein each storage arm comprises a storage conveyor for conveying the bead-apexes stored thereon radially inward and radially outward along the respective storage member with respect to the central axis.

16. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the weighing device comprises a weighing drive for driving the movement of the weighing member in the alignment direction.

17. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment direction is transverse, perpendicular to the weighing plane.

18. The assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the one bead-apex comprises a circular bead and a filler apex extending radially outward from said bead, wherein the bead has an inner rim extending in a bead-apex plane and forming a circular opening, wherein the assembly comprises two or more follow-up stations at one or more follow-up positions for receiving the one bead-apex from the weighing device, wherein the weighing member has a circumferential edge facing one of the two or more follow-up stations, wherein the weighing surface is arranged for receiving and supporting the one bead-apex in the weighing position such that a part of the one bead-apex protrudes from the weighing surface towards the one follow-up station and a part of the circular opening of the one bead-apex is extending beyond the edge of the weighing member, wherein the rim of the bead at the part of the circular opening that extends beyond the edge and the edge of the weighing member are facing each other at a gap distance, wherein the one follow-up station is arranged for engaging the protruding part of the one bead-apex from its respective position, and wherein the weighing member and the one follow-up station are arranged for causing the one bead-apex to pivot around the rim of the bead when the weighing member and the one follow-up station are moved relative to each other in the alignment direction and the rim of the bead is supported on the one follow-up station.

19. The assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the weighing member is arranged for dropping awa

Assignees

• Vmi Holland Bv

Inventors

• Teunissen Theodorus Gijsbertus Gerardus
• Beekman Peter

Classifications

• B29D2030/0044

  Handling tyre beads, e.g., storing, transporting, transferring and supplying to the toroidal support or to the drum · CPC title

• B29D2030/0066

  Tyre quality control during manufacturing · CPC title

• B29D2030/481

  Fillers or apexes · CPC title

• B29D30/0016 Primary

  Handling tyres or parts thereof, e.g. supplying, storing, conveying (B29D30/2607 takes precedence; loading and unloading vulcanizing presses B29D30/0603) · CPC title

• G01G17/00

  Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property (determining weight by measuring volume G01F) · CPC title