CA1090907A - Micro-computer and programmer for application of tire tread material - Google Patents
Micro-computer and programmer for application of tire tread materialInfo
- Publication number
- CA1090907A CA1090907A CA289,278A CA289278A CA1090907A CA 1090907 A CA1090907 A CA 1090907A CA 289278 A CA289278 A CA 289278A CA 1090907 A CA1090907 A CA 1090907A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tire
- micro
- tread
- tire carcass
- profile
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D30/00—Producing pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof
- B29D30/06—Pneumatic tyres or parts thereof (e.g. produced by casting, moulding, compression moulding, injection moulding, centrifugal casting)
- B29D30/08—Building tyres
- B29D30/20—Building tyres by the flat-tyre method, i.e. building on cylindrical drums
- B29D30/30—Applying the layers; Guiding or stretching the layers during application
- B29D30/3028—Applying the layers; Guiding or stretching the layers during application by feeding a continuous band and winding it helically, i.e. the band is fed while being advanced along the drum axis, to form an annular element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D30/00—Producing pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof
- B29D30/06—Pneumatic tyres or parts thereof (e.g. produced by casting, moulding, compression moulding, injection moulding, centrifugal casting)
- B29D30/52—Unvulcanised treads, e.g. on used tyres; Retreading
- B29D30/58—Applying bands of rubber treads, i.e. applying camel backs
- B29D30/60—Applying bands of rubber treads, i.e. applying camel backs by winding narrow strips
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2030/00—Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof
- B29L2030/002—Treads
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
- G05B2219/30—Nc systems
- G05B2219/34—Director, elements to supervisory
- G05B2219/34215—Microprocessor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
- G05B2219/30—Nc systems
- G05B2219/36—Nc in input of data, input key till input tape
- G05B2219/36112—Floppy disk, diskette
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
- G05B2219/30—Nc systems
- G05B2219/41—Servomotor, servo controller till figures
- G05B2219/41326—Step motor
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
- G05B2219/30—Nc systems
- G05B2219/42—Servomotor, servo controller kind till VSS
- G05B2219/42186—Master slave, motion proportional to axis
Abstract
MICRO-COMPUTER AND PROGRAMMER FOR
APPLICATION OF TIRE TREAD MATERIAL
ABSTRACT
The invention relates to the formation of a tire tread profile by the application of rubber tread material upon a tire casing by employing a micro-computer programmer in conjunction with a tread material applicator apparatus. The control system employed during tread formation uses a programmer having a micro-computer unit, a floppy disc and a keyboard, interfaced with a tread material application apparatus.
In operation, the programmer is connected to a drive motor of the tire tread application assembly and operates under the control of a tire profile program stored in the floppy disk. Proper tread profile shape is arrived at as a function of the digital ratio between the actual position of the tire rotation and the transverse position of the tire tread applicator assembly. The latter is di-gitally controlled within the parameters of a pre-programmed set of commands, as a direct and sole function of the position of the tire casing about its spin axis.
APPLICATION OF TIRE TREAD MATERIAL
ABSTRACT
The invention relates to the formation of a tire tread profile by the application of rubber tread material upon a tire casing by employing a micro-computer programmer in conjunction with a tread material applicator apparatus. The control system employed during tread formation uses a programmer having a micro-computer unit, a floppy disc and a keyboard, interfaced with a tread material application apparatus.
In operation, the programmer is connected to a drive motor of the tire tread application assembly and operates under the control of a tire profile program stored in the floppy disk. Proper tread profile shape is arrived at as a function of the digital ratio between the actual position of the tire rotation and the transverse position of the tire tread applicator assembly. The latter is di-gitally controlled within the parameters of a pre-programmed set of commands, as a direct and sole function of the position of the tire casing about its spin axis.
Description
~V~f~
BACKGROUND OF TH INVENTION
The present invention is directed to method and apparatus for use in application of rubber ribbon material for the formation of tire tread on a substrate such as a tire carcass. More particu-larly, the present inventlon is directed to method and apparatus employed in con~unction with a tire building machine such as shown and described in U.S. patent-3~177,19~ enabling the deposition of elastomeric material upon a substrate in a controlled fashion in accordance with a predefined tread profile. In carrying out the invention, a programmed is employed having principally; a micro-computer, a floppy disk and a keyboard.
By means of the present invention, it becomes possible to utllize current micro-processor technology enabling readily attainable changes to a finished tread profile by associated software modifications rather then hardware changes.
In the past, other systems known to the appli-cant, for example, U.S. patent 3,308,000 have been employed for controlling the applicat~on of the elastomeric material to a substrate. In this ar-rangement a tire tread winding apparatus employs a mechanically controlled arrang2ment for applying elastomeric ribbon to a tire casing. However, the
BACKGROUND OF TH INVENTION
The present invention is directed to method and apparatus for use in application of rubber ribbon material for the formation of tire tread on a substrate such as a tire carcass. More particu-larly, the present inventlon is directed to method and apparatus employed in con~unction with a tire building machine such as shown and described in U.S. patent-3~177,19~ enabling the deposition of elastomeric material upon a substrate in a controlled fashion in accordance with a predefined tread profile. In carrying out the invention, a programmed is employed having principally; a micro-computer, a floppy disk and a keyboard.
By means of the present invention, it becomes possible to utllize current micro-processor technology enabling readily attainable changes to a finished tread profile by associated software modifications rather then hardware changes.
In the past, other systems known to the appli-cant, for example, U.S. patent 3,308,000 have been employed for controlling the applicat~on of the elastomeric material to a substrate. In this ar-rangement a tire tread winding apparatus employs a mechanically controlled arrang2ment for applying elastomeric ribbon to a tire casing. However, the
- 2 -10 ~ 0 7 appr~ach disclosed in this prior art is purely mechanical and employs a mechanical programmer and associated spin revolution counter.
Also familiar to the applicant is U.S. Patent
Also familiar to the applicant is U.S. Patent
3,843,~82 which is directed to a tire tread winding machine employing a tape for controlling the amount of spin of the rubber ribbon applicator assembly and also the amount of azimuth displacement for ribbon thickness control.
Other patents known to applicant further il-lustrate well known approaches for controlling the movement of a tire tread programmer. ~owever, in no instance has the prior ar~ defined a com-bination in which the use of an interface with a tresd application apparatus is such, that the in-stantaneous tire sp~n rotational position forms the basis of a series of digital commands enabling extremely precise digitally controlled simultaneous transverse motion of the tire.
The prior systems have employed apparatus for tread application which have utilized additional variables of time, tire rotation velocity, or template sensing. By eliminating these variabl~s 7 errors as~ociated in their measurement and control hava been eliminated. The present invent~on provides tire transverse position control directly as a programmed function of tire rotational position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by which a predefined program forms a specific tread profile upon a tire carcass and governs the transverse movement of the tread material a8 it is applied.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by which the tire rotation position is monitored during tread material application, ~o that the displacement between rotational pos~tion and transverse position of the tire carcass forms a discrete relationship for governing the tread material profile.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying specificat~on, claims and drawings.
It follows that the use of an interface emDloying a micro-computer programmer for a tread application ~O~ ~O 7 apparatus represents a new and novel approach for controlling the profile of tread materisl as is applied upon a substrate.
Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the micro-computer programmer is lnter-faced with the tire building machine and provides a basis by which the tread ribbon applicator and tire carcass mounting assembly are governed in order to enable ~he application of extruded ribbon in synchron-ization with the position of the tire about its spin axis. This i3 accomplished by interfacing a micro-computer programmer with the applicator assembly of the tire building machine through a D.C. stepper motor employed to drive the applicator assembly and control its posltion with respect to the tire carcass as it rotates during tread material application.
The principal features of the present invention are directed to an apparatus employed in the formation of a tire tread profile upon a tire surface by supplying elastomeric tread material upon a rotating tire carcass mounted upon a tire rotation assembly.
The tire is rotated by a conventional motor and a stepper motor is employed to incrementally advance the rotating tire in a transverse direction during tread formation. The tire rotation assembly motor ln turn is connected to a tire rotation monitor for monitoring the .nc.emental angular displacement of `' 10 90 ~ 0~7 the tire during rotation. A control assembly defined by a micro-computer is disposed intermediate the rotation monitor and the stepper motor, whereby the micro-computer computes respective output signals for governing the stepper motor to control tire tread profile build-up in accordance with a pre-defined program stored in the micro-c~mputer.
Also within the scope of the present invention is a method of controlling the formation o~ a tread profile upon a rotating tire surface, by the appli-cation of elastomeric tread mat~r~al as the tire surface is urged to traverse a def m ed course of travel. A tire profile program in the form o~ a series of tire profile segments is introduced into a micro-computer that is responsive to t~re move-ment duri~g tread profile formation. Thereaft~r, increments o~ the rotating tire are measured and incremental motiun imparted in the transverse direction to the rotating tire. Electrical input signals measuring the circumferential angular dis-placement increments o~ the rotating tire are trans-mitted into the micro-compu~er and in turn a series - of output signals are transmitted by ~he mlcro-computer for imparting incremental motion to the tire, as a function o~ the ~ire profile segments.
Lastly, the angular displacemen~ input signals are counted and compared to the programmed segment length with a next program segment being then introduced nto the micro-computsr when the coun~s ar~ equal.
lu~ n~
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus having an application assembly providing elastomeric tread material, a rotation assembly driven by motor means mounting and rotating a tire carcass and incremental drive means disposed in working relation to said application and rotation assemblies for moving one of said assemblies in a transverse direction relative to the other for the formation of a tire tread profile in accord-ance with a predefined program by selectively winding the tread material on the rotating tire carcass, control means comprising:
tire rotation monitoring means connected to said motor means for monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the tire carcass and providing signals representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation; and micro-computer means iwith stored programs having means for selecting a predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to said monitoring means for receiving said representative signals therefrom, said micro-computer means producing control signals in response to said representative signals in accordance with said predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to provide the control signals to said incremental drive means;
and said control signals resulting from computed ratios defined by the relative positions of said application assembly to the tire carcass and the rotational positions of the tire carcass.
- 6a -A
10~0~
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling the formation of a tread profile upon a rotating carcass by the selective application of elastomeric tread material while the rotating tire carcass is caused to traverse a controlled transverse course of travel in response to programming means, including the steps of:
introducing a tire profile program having a series of profile segments into a micro-computer means responsive 0 to signals resulting from tire carcass rotation, monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the rotating tire carcass and providing input signals to said micro-computer means representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation' summing the input signals for selection of the appropriate profile program segment and providing output signals in response to the input signal in accordance with the selected profile segment, and incrementally moving the rotating ~tire carcass 0 along the transverse course in response to the output signals.
- 6b -A
9~ 9 ~
IN THE DRAI~JINGS
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the present invention employing a rubber tread material applicator assembly and a tire carcass rotational assembly ~or the placement of tread material upon a tire carcass.
Fig. 2 is a block-diagram o~ the micro-computer o~ the in~ention together with ma~or ~nput - output devices.
DESCRIPTION_OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In accordance with the opexation of the invention, the basic tire building machine eonsisting of the tread applicator assembly 11, machine frame 12 and the carcass manufacturing assembly 7 are of the type described and disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,177, 918.
The re~erence numerals in this application do not necessarily correspond to those of the aforementioned patent.
As shown in Fig. 1, a micro-computer 1 is em-ployed and fo~s part o~ the total apparatus 2. In op~ration, the micro-computer 1 accepts rotation position si~nals Erom a digital encoder 3 which is directl~- coupled to the tire carcass spin drive motor 8. The signals have the form of a series of electrical pulses which are a direct ~uncti~n of the circumferential position o~ tire carcass 4 about its spin axis.
The micro-computer 1 employs previou~ly stored tread profile data and relates that to the input pulses in order to control the transverse position of the tîre carca~s 4. These outp~t signals take the form of fl series of electrical pulses transmitted to a D.C. stepper motor 5 through a stepper drive assembly 6. The D.C. stepper motor 5 and associated drive assembly 6 form a system which txanslates electrical pulses into discrete angular position increments of the ste~per motor S to ultlmately govern and provide motive power for the transverse motion of the tire carcass assembly 7.
The block diagram in Fig. 2 illustrates the micro-computer 1 and associated hardware. An operator display and control panel 9 contains an array of push button switch actuators 10 (Fig. 1) and LED displays 13 (Fig. 1) for controlling and monitoring: the tread applicator assembly 11, (Fig. 1) the carcass mounting assembly 7, and the operation of placing tread material 14 upon a tire carcass 4 under program control.
The operator display and control panel 9 is connected to the central processing unit 15 provided with a commercially available micro-processor unit such as Motorola MC6800 as shown in the "Motorola ~68G0 Micro-computer System Design Data Manual" published in 197~ by Motorola Inc.; Phoenix, Arizona. An on-line memory sub system 16 is connected to the central processing unit 15. In operation the on-line memory sub-system 16 contains all necessary program data to _ ~ _ ~0 ~O ~ ~'7 operate the inventive apparatus 2 and control the relative positions of the tire carcass 4 and the tread application assembly 11. The central processing unit 15 provides the necessary program steps to execute the instructions contained in the on-line memory sub-system 16. The on-line memory sub-system 16 employed herein can be o the type composed of such commercially available components as - Motorols MCM 6810A X 8 Bit Static Random Access Memory shown and described on page 111 of the "M6800 Micro-computer System Design Data Manual", published in 1976, by Motorola Inc.;
Phoenix, Arizonia.
An off-line memory sub-system 17 contains all of the active and non-active machine logic coding as well as, all tire profile programs as stored by the operator and entered through a keyboard 18 of.the type such as~ commercially available Grayhill kcyboard shown and described in Bulletin 2~2, Published in 197 by Grayhill Inc.; La Grange, Illinois. The off-line memory sub-system 17 employs a floppy disk drive, such as commercially available CalCcmp 140 Floppy Disk Drive Shown and in "140 Floppy Disk Drive OEM Reference Manual", published in 1974 by California Computer Products Inc.; Anaheim, California.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MICRO-COMPUTER
A specifically developed program is employed after the neces~ary tread profile data and its relationship to the apparatus are obtained from calculated data. This informa~ion, in turn, is entered directly into the micro-computer l through use of a keyboard 18. It follows that each program can be permanently stored and, in turn retrieved by operator action as will be explained hereinafter. Likewise9 corrections or subsequent modifications can be easily and simply keyed in and stored; and a modified program can replace or supplement the original program.
The actual structure defining the micro-computer l includes a series of sub--systems ~see Fig.2) which are electrical in nature and are connected to an operator display and control panel 9 provided with a series of push button switch actuators 10 (see Fig. l) for controlling the inventive apparatus 2. For an example, the tread applicator assembly 11 can be controlled to travel manually towards the left or right direction respectively or to a designated "home" position through appropriate push button switch actuators 10. The initial position of the tread applicator assembly 11 prior to starting the tire program is arrived at through a program reset function which has been previously calculated to define the start locat~on.
A given tire profile program is retreived from the off line memory 17 by appropriately selecting a predefined designation number on thumb wheel switch 20 and energizing a program load switch 21.
l~g~3~0;~
More specifically, the micro-computer 1 i9 provided with a series of displays, i.e., L.E.D. displays 13, for monitoring the tire profile program parameters.
A program display 19 indicateS the current tire program number in on-line memory 16. Additional L.E.D.
displsys show parameters as: program segment or location, the number of tire revolutions in a particular segment of caslng build-up, and the surface length of tread applicator travel for a given segment.
During opera~ion, programs which are internally stored by the micro-computer lon its off line memory 17 are "read" by dialing-in a designated program identification number on thumb wheel switch 20.
The stored program is then recalled from memory by actuating program load switch 21 and placed in readiness to run. Programs can be visually verified since all values are nwmerically displayed on a series of light emitting diode (LED) displays 13, 19.
MICRO-COMPU~ER ~JNCTION FO~ TREAD PROFILE FOR~TION
In operation, as the tire carcass spin drive motor 8 i8 actuated, a commercially available digital encoder 3 transmits a ~eries of electrical pulses to the micro-computer 1. These pulses are a direc~ and continuous function of tire carcass rotational position about its spin axis, namely, the axis about which the tire rotates circumferentally during tread material application. More particularly pulses have the characteristics of discrete electrical signals describing extremely small increments of aforesaid tire rotation.
OtiJ
In accordance with a predefined pro~ram, the micro-computer 1 calculates a ratio which reflects the required t_ead profile for a given tread profile segment. As used herein, a tire profile segment is intended to mean a geometrical portion of a tire tread profile definable by a fixed and constant relationship between the relative displacements of tire spin and tire transverse motions over a defined length along the transverse line of motion. The output signal of the micro-computer 1 takeq the form of an electrical pulse txansmitted by the micro-computer 1 to the stepper motor 5 through the stepper drive assembly 6 whereby the tire carcass mounting assembly 7 is urged to move transversely relative to the tire spin a~is. The magnitude of the relative motion between tire spin and tire traverse is defined by the ratio calculated by micro-computer 1. The tire profile undergoes variations in geometry according to the prescribed program whereby, the micro-computer 1 changes the ratlo be~ween tire spin and transverse motions. This is accomplished by micro-computer 1 counting electrical pulses received from the digital encoder 3 and compares this count to pre-programmed value~. Upon matching the pre-programmed value of counted digitsl encoder 3 pulses, the next programmed ratio ls introduced into micro-co~puter 1. At this time the relative motion between the tire rotation and tire traverse is altered in accordance with the newly introduced ratio.
For each tire tread profile se~ment the micro-computer 1 using a pro~rammed ratio value, converts pulses received from digital encoder 3 into electrical 109~ 7 signals which are transmitted to the stepper motor drive assembly 6. Duri~g this time, the micro-computer 1 controls the transverse position relat~ve to the circumferential position of tire carcass 4.
This relationship is maintained thr~ughout the entire tire tread profile application operation, even though the tire circumferential spin rate may be undergoing velocity changes. This position ri~lationship ix solely based upon tire carcass displacement as represented by discrete electrical pulsas trans-mitted by digital encoder 3. The relative mo~ion between tire spin and ~raverse are not dep2nd~nt upon tire velocity or time. In this manner, a significantly more accurate and repeatable tire -tread profile build-up may be effected, since with the present invention it becomes possible to directly control the tread profile build-up through the ratio of tire spin and traverse displacements.
It will ~e understood that the speciic embodi-ments of the invention described herein are given by way of illustration only and that various departures may be made therefrom, all within ~he scope of the in~ention. The specific relationships of ribb~n wrap to speed of application are cited merely to il-lustrate the efficiency of the apparatus and method and the results to be expected from the use thereof in practice.
Other patents known to applicant further il-lustrate well known approaches for controlling the movement of a tire tread programmer. ~owever, in no instance has the prior ar~ defined a com-bination in which the use of an interface with a tresd application apparatus is such, that the in-stantaneous tire sp~n rotational position forms the basis of a series of digital commands enabling extremely precise digitally controlled simultaneous transverse motion of the tire.
The prior systems have employed apparatus for tread application which have utilized additional variables of time, tire rotation velocity, or template sensing. By eliminating these variabl~s 7 errors as~ociated in their measurement and control hava been eliminated. The present invent~on provides tire transverse position control directly as a programmed function of tire rotational position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by which a predefined program forms a specific tread profile upon a tire carcass and governs the transverse movement of the tread material a8 it is applied.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus by which the tire rotation position is monitored during tread material application, ~o that the displacement between rotational pos~tion and transverse position of the tire carcass forms a discrete relationship for governing the tread material profile.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying specificat~on, claims and drawings.
It follows that the use of an interface emDloying a micro-computer programmer for a tread application ~O~ ~O 7 apparatus represents a new and novel approach for controlling the profile of tread materisl as is applied upon a substrate.
Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the micro-computer programmer is lnter-faced with the tire building machine and provides a basis by which the tread ribbon applicator and tire carcass mounting assembly are governed in order to enable ~he application of extruded ribbon in synchron-ization with the position of the tire about its spin axis. This i3 accomplished by interfacing a micro-computer programmer with the applicator assembly of the tire building machine through a D.C. stepper motor employed to drive the applicator assembly and control its posltion with respect to the tire carcass as it rotates during tread material application.
The principal features of the present invention are directed to an apparatus employed in the formation of a tire tread profile upon a tire surface by supplying elastomeric tread material upon a rotating tire carcass mounted upon a tire rotation assembly.
The tire is rotated by a conventional motor and a stepper motor is employed to incrementally advance the rotating tire in a transverse direction during tread formation. The tire rotation assembly motor ln turn is connected to a tire rotation monitor for monitoring the .nc.emental angular displacement of `' 10 90 ~ 0~7 the tire during rotation. A control assembly defined by a micro-computer is disposed intermediate the rotation monitor and the stepper motor, whereby the micro-computer computes respective output signals for governing the stepper motor to control tire tread profile build-up in accordance with a pre-defined program stored in the micro-c~mputer.
Also within the scope of the present invention is a method of controlling the formation o~ a tread profile upon a rotating tire surface, by the appli-cation of elastomeric tread mat~r~al as the tire surface is urged to traverse a def m ed course of travel. A tire profile program in the form o~ a series of tire profile segments is introduced into a micro-computer that is responsive to t~re move-ment duri~g tread profile formation. Thereaft~r, increments o~ the rotating tire are measured and incremental motiun imparted in the transverse direction to the rotating tire. Electrical input signals measuring the circumferential angular dis-placement increments o~ the rotating tire are trans-mitted into the micro-compu~er and in turn a series - of output signals are transmitted by ~he mlcro-computer for imparting incremental motion to the tire, as a function o~ the ~ire profile segments.
Lastly, the angular displacemen~ input signals are counted and compared to the programmed segment length with a next program segment being then introduced nto the micro-computsr when the coun~s ar~ equal.
lu~ n~
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus having an application assembly providing elastomeric tread material, a rotation assembly driven by motor means mounting and rotating a tire carcass and incremental drive means disposed in working relation to said application and rotation assemblies for moving one of said assemblies in a transverse direction relative to the other for the formation of a tire tread profile in accord-ance with a predefined program by selectively winding the tread material on the rotating tire carcass, control means comprising:
tire rotation monitoring means connected to said motor means for monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the tire carcass and providing signals representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation; and micro-computer means iwith stored programs having means for selecting a predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to said monitoring means for receiving said representative signals therefrom, said micro-computer means producing control signals in response to said representative signals in accordance with said predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to provide the control signals to said incremental drive means;
and said control signals resulting from computed ratios defined by the relative positions of said application assembly to the tire carcass and the rotational positions of the tire carcass.
- 6a -A
10~0~
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling the formation of a tread profile upon a rotating carcass by the selective application of elastomeric tread material while the rotating tire carcass is caused to traverse a controlled transverse course of travel in response to programming means, including the steps of:
introducing a tire profile program having a series of profile segments into a micro-computer means responsive 0 to signals resulting from tire carcass rotation, monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the rotating tire carcass and providing input signals to said micro-computer means representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation' summing the input signals for selection of the appropriate profile program segment and providing output signals in response to the input signal in accordance with the selected profile segment, and incrementally moving the rotating ~tire carcass 0 along the transverse course in response to the output signals.
- 6b -A
9~ 9 ~
IN THE DRAI~JINGS
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the present invention employing a rubber tread material applicator assembly and a tire carcass rotational assembly ~or the placement of tread material upon a tire carcass.
Fig. 2 is a block-diagram o~ the micro-computer o~ the in~ention together with ma~or ~nput - output devices.
DESCRIPTION_OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In accordance with the opexation of the invention, the basic tire building machine eonsisting of the tread applicator assembly 11, machine frame 12 and the carcass manufacturing assembly 7 are of the type described and disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,177, 918.
The re~erence numerals in this application do not necessarily correspond to those of the aforementioned patent.
As shown in Fig. 1, a micro-computer 1 is em-ployed and fo~s part o~ the total apparatus 2. In op~ration, the micro-computer 1 accepts rotation position si~nals Erom a digital encoder 3 which is directl~- coupled to the tire carcass spin drive motor 8. The signals have the form of a series of electrical pulses which are a direct ~uncti~n of the circumferential position o~ tire carcass 4 about its spin axis.
The micro-computer 1 employs previou~ly stored tread profile data and relates that to the input pulses in order to control the transverse position of the tîre carca~s 4. These outp~t signals take the form of fl series of electrical pulses transmitted to a D.C. stepper motor 5 through a stepper drive assembly 6. The D.C. stepper motor 5 and associated drive assembly 6 form a system which txanslates electrical pulses into discrete angular position increments of the ste~per motor S to ultlmately govern and provide motive power for the transverse motion of the tire carcass assembly 7.
The block diagram in Fig. 2 illustrates the micro-computer 1 and associated hardware. An operator display and control panel 9 contains an array of push button switch actuators 10 (Fig. 1) and LED displays 13 (Fig. 1) for controlling and monitoring: the tread applicator assembly 11, (Fig. 1) the carcass mounting assembly 7, and the operation of placing tread material 14 upon a tire carcass 4 under program control.
The operator display and control panel 9 is connected to the central processing unit 15 provided with a commercially available micro-processor unit such as Motorola MC6800 as shown in the "Motorola ~68G0 Micro-computer System Design Data Manual" published in 197~ by Motorola Inc.; Phoenix, Arizona. An on-line memory sub system 16 is connected to the central processing unit 15. In operation the on-line memory sub-system 16 contains all necessary program data to _ ~ _ ~0 ~O ~ ~'7 operate the inventive apparatus 2 and control the relative positions of the tire carcass 4 and the tread application assembly 11. The central processing unit 15 provides the necessary program steps to execute the instructions contained in the on-line memory sub-system 16. The on-line memory sub-system 16 employed herein can be o the type composed of such commercially available components as - Motorols MCM 6810A X 8 Bit Static Random Access Memory shown and described on page 111 of the "M6800 Micro-computer System Design Data Manual", published in 1976, by Motorola Inc.;
Phoenix, Arizonia.
An off-line memory sub-system 17 contains all of the active and non-active machine logic coding as well as, all tire profile programs as stored by the operator and entered through a keyboard 18 of.the type such as~ commercially available Grayhill kcyboard shown and described in Bulletin 2~2, Published in 197 by Grayhill Inc.; La Grange, Illinois. The off-line memory sub-system 17 employs a floppy disk drive, such as commercially available CalCcmp 140 Floppy Disk Drive Shown and in "140 Floppy Disk Drive OEM Reference Manual", published in 1974 by California Computer Products Inc.; Anaheim, California.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MICRO-COMPUTER
A specifically developed program is employed after the neces~ary tread profile data and its relationship to the apparatus are obtained from calculated data. This informa~ion, in turn, is entered directly into the micro-computer l through use of a keyboard 18. It follows that each program can be permanently stored and, in turn retrieved by operator action as will be explained hereinafter. Likewise9 corrections or subsequent modifications can be easily and simply keyed in and stored; and a modified program can replace or supplement the original program.
The actual structure defining the micro-computer l includes a series of sub--systems ~see Fig.2) which are electrical in nature and are connected to an operator display and control panel 9 provided with a series of push button switch actuators 10 (see Fig. l) for controlling the inventive apparatus 2. For an example, the tread applicator assembly 11 can be controlled to travel manually towards the left or right direction respectively or to a designated "home" position through appropriate push button switch actuators 10. The initial position of the tread applicator assembly 11 prior to starting the tire program is arrived at through a program reset function which has been previously calculated to define the start locat~on.
A given tire profile program is retreived from the off line memory 17 by appropriately selecting a predefined designation number on thumb wheel switch 20 and energizing a program load switch 21.
l~g~3~0;~
More specifically, the micro-computer 1 i9 provided with a series of displays, i.e., L.E.D. displays 13, for monitoring the tire profile program parameters.
A program display 19 indicateS the current tire program number in on-line memory 16. Additional L.E.D.
displsys show parameters as: program segment or location, the number of tire revolutions in a particular segment of caslng build-up, and the surface length of tread applicator travel for a given segment.
During opera~ion, programs which are internally stored by the micro-computer lon its off line memory 17 are "read" by dialing-in a designated program identification number on thumb wheel switch 20.
The stored program is then recalled from memory by actuating program load switch 21 and placed in readiness to run. Programs can be visually verified since all values are nwmerically displayed on a series of light emitting diode (LED) displays 13, 19.
MICRO-COMPU~ER ~JNCTION FO~ TREAD PROFILE FOR~TION
In operation, as the tire carcass spin drive motor 8 i8 actuated, a commercially available digital encoder 3 transmits a ~eries of electrical pulses to the micro-computer 1. These pulses are a direc~ and continuous function of tire carcass rotational position about its spin axis, namely, the axis about which the tire rotates circumferentally during tread material application. More particularly pulses have the characteristics of discrete electrical signals describing extremely small increments of aforesaid tire rotation.
OtiJ
In accordance with a predefined pro~ram, the micro-computer 1 calculates a ratio which reflects the required t_ead profile for a given tread profile segment. As used herein, a tire profile segment is intended to mean a geometrical portion of a tire tread profile definable by a fixed and constant relationship between the relative displacements of tire spin and tire transverse motions over a defined length along the transverse line of motion. The output signal of the micro-computer 1 takeq the form of an electrical pulse txansmitted by the micro-computer 1 to the stepper motor 5 through the stepper drive assembly 6 whereby the tire carcass mounting assembly 7 is urged to move transversely relative to the tire spin a~is. The magnitude of the relative motion between tire spin and tire traverse is defined by the ratio calculated by micro-computer 1. The tire profile undergoes variations in geometry according to the prescribed program whereby, the micro-computer 1 changes the ratlo be~ween tire spin and transverse motions. This is accomplished by micro-computer 1 counting electrical pulses received from the digital encoder 3 and compares this count to pre-programmed value~. Upon matching the pre-programmed value of counted digitsl encoder 3 pulses, the next programmed ratio ls introduced into micro-co~puter 1. At this time the relative motion between the tire rotation and tire traverse is altered in accordance with the newly introduced ratio.
For each tire tread profile se~ment the micro-computer 1 using a pro~rammed ratio value, converts pulses received from digital encoder 3 into electrical 109~ 7 signals which are transmitted to the stepper motor drive assembly 6. Duri~g this time, the micro-computer 1 controls the transverse position relat~ve to the circumferential position of tire carcass 4.
This relationship is maintained thr~ughout the entire tire tread profile application operation, even though the tire circumferential spin rate may be undergoing velocity changes. This position ri~lationship ix solely based upon tire carcass displacement as represented by discrete electrical pulsas trans-mitted by digital encoder 3. The relative mo~ion between tire spin and ~raverse are not dep2nd~nt upon tire velocity or time. In this manner, a significantly more accurate and repeatable tire -tread profile build-up may be effected, since with the present invention it becomes possible to directly control the tread profile build-up through the ratio of tire spin and traverse displacements.
It will ~e understood that the speciic embodi-ments of the invention described herein are given by way of illustration only and that various departures may be made therefrom, all within ~he scope of the in~ention. The specific relationships of ribb~n wrap to speed of application are cited merely to il-lustrate the efficiency of the apparatus and method and the results to be expected from the use thereof in practice.
Claims (11)
1. In an apparatus having an application assembly providing elastomeric tread material, a rotation assembly driven by motor means mounting and rotating a tire carcass and incremental drive means disposed in working relation to said application and rotation assemblies for moving one of said assemblies in a transverse direction relative to the other for the formation of a tire tread profile in accordance with a predefined program by selectively winding the tread material on the rotating tire carcass, control means comprising:
tire rotation monitoring means connected to said motor means for monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the tire carcass and providing signals representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation; and micro-computer means with stored programs having means for selecting a predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to said monitoring means for receiving said representative signals therefrom;
said micro-computer means producing control signals in response to said representative signals in accordance with said predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to provide the control signals to said incremental drive means; and said control signals resulting from computed ratios defined by the relative positions of said application assembly to the tire carcass and the rotational positions of the tire carcass.
tire rotation monitoring means connected to said motor means for monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the tire carcass and providing signals representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation; and micro-computer means with stored programs having means for selecting a predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to said monitoring means for receiving said representative signals therefrom;
said micro-computer means producing control signals in response to said representative signals in accordance with said predefined one of said stored programs and being connected to provide the control signals to said incremental drive means; and said control signals resulting from computed ratios defined by the relative positions of said application assembly to the tire carcass and the rotational positions of the tire carcass.
2. In the apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and said micro-computer being provided with means for writing profile programs each having a designation number;
non-destructive memory means for storing profile programs; and means for dialing in a designation number for retrieving a profile program for use.
non-destructive memory means for storing profile programs; and means for dialing in a designation number for retrieving a profile program for use.
3. In the apparatus in accordance with claim 2, and said monitoring means comprising a digital encoder providing spin pulses forming the signals representing discrete increments of rotation;
said incremental drive means being a stepping motor and said micro-computer providing a digital output as the control signal energizing the stepping motor.
said incremental drive means being a stepping motor and said micro-computer providing a digital output as the control signal energizing the stepping motor.
4. A method of controlling the formation of a tread profile upon a rotating carcass by the selective application of elastomeric tread material while the rotating tire carcass is caused to traverse a controlled transverse course of travel in response to programming means, including the steps of:
introducing a tire profile program having a series of profile segments into a micro-computer means responsive to signals resulting from tire carcass rotation;
monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the rotating tire carcass and providing input signals to said micro-computer means representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation;
summing the input signals for selection of the appropriate profile program segment and providing output signals in response to the input signal in accordance with the selected profile segment; and incrementally moving the rotating tire carcass along the transverse course in response to the output signals.
introducing a tire profile program having a series of profile segments into a micro-computer means responsive to signals resulting from tire carcass rotation;
monitoring the incremental angular displacement of the rotating tire carcass and providing input signals to said micro-computer means representing discrete increments of each revolution of tire carcass rotation;
summing the input signals for selection of the appropriate profile program segment and providing output signals in response to the input signal in accordance with the selected profile segment; and incrementally moving the rotating tire carcass along the transverse course in response to the output signals.
5. The method in accordance with claim 4, including the step of:
controlling the transverse motion of the tire carcass during application of the tread material as a function of an input signal to the micro-computer means which is representa-tive of the instantaneous carcass spin rotational position.
controlling the transverse motion of the tire carcass during application of the tread material as a function of an input signal to the micro-computer means which is representa-tive of the instantaneous carcass spin rotational position.
6. The method in accordance with claim 4, including the step of:
introducing into the micro-computer means a series of profile segments defined by fixed ratios determined by the tire carcass rotational positions and transverse course of travel.
introducing into the micro-computer means a series of profile segments defined by fixed ratios determined by the tire carcass rotational positions and transverse course of travel.
7. The method in accordance with claim 6, including the steps of:
introducing a plurality of tire profile programs;
and means for selecting a predetermined program for use.
introducing a plurality of tire profile programs;
and means for selecting a predetermined program for use.
8. The method in accordance with claim 6, including the step of:
introducing new ratios into the micro-computer means in response to variations in tire profile requirements.
introducing new ratios into the micro-computer means in response to variations in tire profile requirements.
9. A method of forming a predefined tread profile upon a tire carcass mounted upon tread formation assembly having drive means for rotating said carcass, said tread profile being formed in response to the controlled application of advancing elastomeric material upon a surface on said tire carcass in response to pre-programmed tread profile parameters introduced into a micro-computer means governing respective transverse and rotational positions of said tire carcass, during tread material application, including the steps of:
introducing into said micro-computer means a series of input signals responsive to tire carcass rotational position about which said tire carcass rotates circumferen-tially, said input signals being in the form of discrete electrical signals representing discrete increments of each revolution of said tire carcass rotation; and controlling the transverse motion of said tire carcass with respect to said advancing elastomeric material by said micro-computer means, through maintenance of a relationship between said input signals to said pre-programmed tread profile parameters.
introducing into said micro-computer means a series of input signals responsive to tire carcass rotational position about which said tire carcass rotates circumferen-tially, said input signals being in the form of discrete electrical signals representing discrete increments of each revolution of said tire carcass rotation; and controlling the transverse motion of said tire carcass with respect to said advancing elastomeric material by said micro-computer means, through maintenance of a relationship between said input signals to said pre-programmed tread profile parameters.
10. A method in accordance with claim 9, including the step of:
interfacing said micro-computer with monitoring means for transmitting to said micro-computer means tire carcass rotational position input signals as a direct function of the circumferential position of said tire carcass about its spin axis.
interfacing said micro-computer with monitoring means for transmitting to said micro-computer means tire carcass rotational position input signals as a direct function of the circumferential position of said tire carcass about its spin axis.
11. A method in accordance with claim 9, including the steps of:
interfacing said micro-computer means with tire carcass transverse motion drive means; and providing said drive means with motive power in response to micro-computer means output signals translated into discrete angular position increments.
interfacing said micro-computer means with tire carcass transverse motion drive means; and providing said drive means with motive power in response to micro-computer means output signals translated into discrete angular position increments.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US78062077A | 1977-03-23 | 1977-03-23 | |
| US780,620 | 1977-03-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1090907A true CA1090907A (en) | 1980-12-02 |
Family
ID=25120129
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA289,278A Expired CA1090907A (en) | 1977-03-23 | 1977-10-21 | Micro-computer and programmer for application of tire tread material |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6020183B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1090907A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2812942A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2384614A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1572546A (en) |
| SU (1) | SU1019996A3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4240863A (en) * | 1979-04-12 | 1980-12-23 | Caterpillar Tractor Co. | Control system for an elastomer extrusion and applicator apparatus |
| DE2941614A1 (en) * | 1979-10-13 | 1981-04-23 | Index-Werke Kg Hahn & Tessky, 7300 Esslingen | LATHE, IN PARTICULAR REVOLVER LATHE |
| US4276104A (en) * | 1980-01-11 | 1981-06-30 | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Transfer drum application of narrow strip components to a tire being built on a tire building drum |
| JPH05192931A (en) * | 1992-01-17 | 1993-08-03 | Maeda Seikan Kk | Mold for molding resin product and production thereof |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3177918A (en) * | 1959-12-24 | 1965-04-13 | Voit Rubber Corp | Method of building a tread on pneumatic tires |
| US3251722A (en) * | 1962-05-01 | 1966-05-17 | Voit Rubber Corp | Method of automatically applying a variable thickness elastomeric layer on pneumatic tire casings |
| US3264162A (en) * | 1963-04-18 | 1966-08-02 | Voit Rubber Corp | Ribbon winding machine with indexable hubs |
| US3901756A (en) * | 1974-08-26 | 1975-08-26 | Amf Inc | Closed loop line follower |
-
1977
- 1977-10-21 CA CA289,278A patent/CA1090907A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-24 GB GB4412677A patent/GB1572546A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-22 JP JP52140562A patent/JPS6020183B2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-25 FR FR7735520A patent/FR2384614A1/en active Granted
-
1978
- 1978-03-23 DE DE19782812942 patent/DE2812942A1/en active Granted
- 1978-03-23 SU SU782592600A patent/SU1019996A3/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2384614B1 (en) | 1984-10-12 |
| JPS53117076A (en) | 1978-10-13 |
| SU1019996A3 (en) | 1983-05-23 |
| FR2384614A1 (en) | 1978-10-20 |
| JPS6020183B2 (en) | 1985-05-20 |
| DE2812942A1 (en) | 1978-10-05 |
| DE2812942C2 (en) | 1987-08-06 |
| GB1572546A (en) | 1980-07-30 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |