Foil removal device and a method for removing a foil from a tire tread

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9902584-B2
Application number	US-201515129780-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2015
Priority date	Apr 23, 2014
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a foil removal device and a method for removing a foil from a tire tread in a removal direction, wherein the foil removal device includes a foil collection unit with a winding element, a winding drive for receiving the foil at or near one of the ends of the foil, a gripper for engaging the foil prior to the removal of the foil and a gripper drive for moving the gripper from the gripping position towards the foil collection unit to partially remove the foil from the tire tread. The gripper is arranged for releasing the foil when the foil collection unit has received the foil. The winding drive is arranged for driving the winding element to engage and subsequently remove the foil. The removal device includes a displacement drive for moving the foil collection unit simultaneously with the winding drive driving the winding element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A foil removal device for removing a foil from a tire tread in a removal direction, wherein the foil removal device comprises a foil collection unit with a winding element for collecting the foil and a winding drive for driving the winding element in a winding rotation about a winding axis, wherein the winding element is arranged for receiving the foil at or near one of the ends of the foil, wherein the foil removal device further comprises a gripper that is arranged for engaging the foil in a gripping position at or near the one end of the foil prior to the removal of the foil and a gripper drive that is arranged for moving the gripper from the gripping position towards the foil collection unit to partially remove the foil from the tire tread, wherein the gripper is arranged for releasing the removed part of the foil when the foil collection unit has received the removed part of the foil at or near the one end of the foil, wherein, after receiving the removed part of the foil, the winding drive is arranged for driving the winding element over several revolutions to engage and subsequently remove the foil by winding the foil around the winding element over several revolutions about the winding axis, wherein the removal device comprises a displacement drive that is arranged for moving the foil collection unit relative to the tire tread in the removal direction simultaneously with the winding drive driving the winding element.

2. The foil removal device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper drive, during the movement of the gripper from the gripping position towards the foil collection unit, is arranged for rotating the gripper in a flipping rotation about a flipping axis transverse to the removal direction or parallel to the surface of the foil over an angle in the range of one-hundred to one-hundred-and-sixty degrees.

3. The foil removal device according to claim 1 , wherein the gripper drive is arranged for moving the gripper in the removal direction beyond the foil collection unit and wherein the foil collection unit is arranged for engaging the removed part of the foil in the removal direction behind the gripper.

4. The foil removal device according to claim 1 , wherein the removal device further comprises a tape applicator and a tape applicator drive for driving the tape applicator in an application direction, wherein the tape applicator is arranged for applying a tape in the application direction with a first part thereof in adhesive contact with the one end of the foil and a second part thereof projecting freely from the foil, wherein the gripper is arranged for indirectly engaging the foil through gripping of the freely extending, second part of the tape.

5. The foil removal device according to claim 4 , wherein the application direction is transverse or perpendicular to the removal direction.

6. The foil removal device according to claim 4 , wherein the tape applicator is arranged for holding a supply of tape that is substantially longer the length of the tape that is applied to the foil, wherein the foil removal device is provided with a cutter for cutting off the tape from the supply of tape.

7. The foil removal device according to claim 6 , wherein the cutter is arranged for cutting off the tape from the supply of tape when the tape, in the application direction, is applied to at least a part of the foil.

8. The foil removal device according to claim 6 , wherein the gripper is provided with two opposing jaws which are arranged for gripping, in the application direction, at least a part of the tape.

9. The foil removal device according to claim 4 , wherein the foil collection unit is arranged for receiving the foil at or near the one end thereof that is adjacent to the tape.

10. The foil removal device according to claim 4 , wherein the tape applicator comprises a sensor for detecting the position of the one end of the foil and for sending signals indicative of the detected position to the tape applicator drive to control the tape applicator to move into an application position for the application along the application direction.

11. The foil removal device according to claim 4 , wherein the tape is arranged to be applied to the foil by adhesive bonding.

12. The foil removal device according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement drive is arranged for moving the foil collection unit relative to the tire tread in the removal direction at least at the same velocity at which the foil is wound on the winding element.

13. The foil removal device according to claim 1 , wherein the winding element comprises two mutually parallel pins, wherein the pins are spaced apart for receiving the foil in between the pins at or near the one end of the foil.

14. The foil removal device according to claim 13 , wherein the foil collection unit is movable in an entry direction transverse to the removal direction into a winding position in which the pins are slid over the foil on both sides of the main surface of the foil.

15. The foil removal device according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement drive is arranged to move the foil collection unit.

16. The foil removal device according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement drive is a conveyor that is arranged for supporting and displacing the tire tread relative to the foil collection unit in a direction opposite to the removal direction.

17. A method for removing a foil from a tire tread in a removal direction with the use of a foil removal device, wherein the foil removal device comprises a foil collection unit with a winding element for collecting the foil and a winding drive for driving the winding element in a winding rotation about a winding axis, wherein the foil removal device further comprises a gripper and a gripper drive, wherein the method comprises the steps of engaging the foil with the gripper in a gripping position at or near the one end of the foil prior to the removal of the foil, moving the gripper with the gripper drive from the gripping position towards the foil collection unit to partially remove the foil from the tire tread, receiving the foil at the winding element at or near one of the ends of the foil, releasing the removed part of the foil from the gripper when the foil collection unit has received the removed part of the foil at or near the one end of the foil, subsequently engaging and removing the foil by having the winding drive driving the winding element over several revolutions to engage and subsequently remove the foil by winding the foil around the winding element over several revolutions about the winding axis, wherein the removal device comprises a displacement drive, wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the foil collection unit relative to the tire tread in the removal direction simultaneously with the winding drive driving the winding element.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the gripper drive, during the movement of the gripper from the gripping position towards the foil collection unit, rotates the gripper in a flipping rotation about a flipping axis transverse to the removal direction or parallel to the surface of the foil over an angle in the range of one-hundred to one-hundred-and-sixty degrees.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the gripper drive moves the gripper in the removal direction beyond the foil collection unit, wherein the foil collection unit engages the removed part of the foil in the removal direction behind the gripper.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the wi

Assignees

• Vmi Holland Bv

Inventors

• Kramer Roel

Classifications

• B65H18/10 Primary

  Mechanisms in which power is applied to web-roll spindle · CPC title

• B65H2801/93

  Tyres · CPC title

• B60C19/00 Primary

  Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• Y10T156/1978

  Delaminating bending means · CPC title

• B65H2301/41306

  Slot arrangement, e.g. saddle shaft bearing · CPC title