Dosage control in the manufacture of tires

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904503-B2
Application number	US-201816634373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2018
Priority date	Jul 27, 2017
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

In the field of tire production, the invention relates to methods and systems for creating unvulcanized rubber batches prior to mixing them in a rubber mixer, including selecting at least one batch for mixing in the mixer, wherein each batch corresponds to a selection of rubber bales (AI, BI, CI) each corresponding to a rubber nature (A, B, C) having predefined characteristics, in order to obtain a proportion corresponding to a predetermined proportion, a target weight to attain a difference between (a) the required weight of the batch and (b) the sum of the weight of the bales (AI, BI, CI) and the weight of the pieces (AIJ, BIJ, CIJ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for creating batches of unvulcanized rubber before mixture in a rubber mixer, including selecting at least one batch for mixing in the rubber mixer, wherein each batch corresponds to a selection of uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) that correspond to natures (A, B, C) of rubber composition having predetermined characteristics, comprising the steps of:
providing a supply station where the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) are supplied from the corresponding natures (A, B, C);
selecting uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) from natures (A, B, C) and in a predetermined proportion corresponding to a selected batch at the supply station;
providing a cutting station for cutting at least one uncured rubber bale (A I , B I , C I ) into pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ );
providing a transport system that feeds the cutting station and transfers the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) to the rubber mixer;
weighing the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) to obtain a sum of a weight of the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and a weight of the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ );
comparing the sum obtained with a required weight of the selected batch, which is created by mixing different kinds and different grades of elastomers; and
obtaining, in a proportion corresponding to the predetermined proportion, a target weight to attain a difference between the sum obtained and the required weight of the selected batch,
wherein the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) are transported between the supply station, the cutting station and the rubber mixer according to a sequence determined by the equivalence between the required weight of the selected batch and (a) the weight of the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) or (b) a sum of the weight of the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and a weight of the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ), and
wherein the step of obtaining a target weight further comprises the following steps:
providing a reference rubber bale (R) of a nature (A, B, C) and a predetermined proportion that corresponds to a batch at the bale supply station, the reference rubber bale (R) having a predefined weight and a predefined length (L) between one end (R L ) and an opposite end (R L′ ); and
determining a cutting length (L C ) and a cutting position (P) of a learning cut of the reference rubber bale (R) that are required to obtain the required weight of the selected batch.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the cutting length (L C ) and the cutting position (P) comprises the following steps:
adjusting a position of the reference rubber bale (R) until the opposite end (R L′ ) is brought into contact against a side of a blade (Q) that performs the step of cutting the reference rubber bale (R) at the cutting position (P);
weighing the reference rubber bale (R);
calculating the cutting length (L C ) and the cutting position (P) of the learning cut using a weight of the reference rubber bale (R), which is either the predefined weight or the weight obtained by weighing the reference rubber bale (R);
cutting the reference rubber bale (R) at the cutting position (P) of the learning cut; and
weighing a first piece (R 1 ) that is obtained by cutting the reference rubber bale (R) at the cutting position (P) to obtain a real weight of the first piece (R 1 ).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of adjusting the position of the reference rubber bale (R) is performed by a linear actuator that contacts the end (R L ).

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
calculating a cutting length (L C′ ) and a cutting position (P+1) of a successive cut using the weight and a length (L R1 ) obtained from the first piece (R 1 ) and a target weight of a complementary piece (R 2 );
cutting the reference rubber bale (R) at the cutting position (P+1) of the successive cut; and
weighing the complementary piece (R 2 ) that is obtained by cutting the reference rubber bale (R) at the cutting position (P+1) of the successive cut to obtain a real weight of the complementary piece (R 2 ).

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
calculating a cutting length (L C″ ) and a cutting position (P+2) of a final cut using the weight and a length (L R2 ) obtained from the complementary piece (R 2 ) and a target weight of a final piece (R 3 );
cutting the reference rubber bale (R) at the cutting position (P+2); and
weighing the final piece (R 3 ) that is obtained by cutting the reference rubber bale (R) at the cutting position (P+2) to obtain a real weight of the final piece (R 3 ) remaining after the complementary cut.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the step of determining a cutting length and a cutting position is performed iteratively until a sum obtained of the weight of the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ), the weight of the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) and a weight of the pieces (R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R N ) obtained from the reference rubber bale is equal to the required weight of the selected batch in a proportion corresponding to the predetermined proportion.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a weighing station for weighing the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ); and
providing a storage station for holding the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) between successive cycles of batch creation.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transport system comprises:
a feed belt for feeding the cutting station; and
conveyor belts carrying the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) in order to feed the rubber mixer for batch creation, wherein the conveyor belts comprise at least one scale.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of weighing the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) in order to obtain the sum of the weight of the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the weight of the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ).

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) for the next cycle of batch creation, wherein a cumulative weight of the stored pieces is compared to a required weight of a next batch.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising programming sequences for the transport system such that a predetermined sequence can be selected from a plurality of sequences.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising mixing the selected batch in the rubber mixer.

13. A system for creating unvulcanized rubber batches prior to mixing them in a rubber mixer, including a selection of at least one batch for mixing in the rubber mixer, wherein each batch corresponds to a selection of uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ), that correspond to natures of rubber composition (A, B, C) having predetermined characteristics, the system comprising:
a bale supply station where uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) are provided from the corresponding natures;
a cutting station that cuts at least one bale (A I , B I , C I ) into pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ );
a weighing station for weighing the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) removed therefrom;
a transport system that transfers the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the rubber pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) to the rubber mixer and transports the uncured rubber bales (A I , B I , C I ) and the pieces (A IJ , B IJ , C IJ ) between the supply station, the cutting station and the

Assignees

• Michelin & Cie

Inventors

• Tournebize Aurelien
• Lafond Sebastien
• Sabatier Jean-Claude

Classifications

• B29B7/244 Primary

  of several materials · CPC title

• B29B7/005

  for mixing in batches · CPC title

• B29B7/286

  measuring properties of the mixture, e.g. temperature, density (B29B7/283 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29B7/7495 Primary

  for mixing rubber · CPC title

• B29B15/023

  Breaking up rubber bales · CPC title