MXPA00012291A - Method and apparatus for storing strip material - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards an improved method for delivering a continuous strip material (12) to a spool (4) upon which it is to be wound. The method includes the step of reducing the effective width of the continuous strip material prior to its being wound on the spool (4) by shaping the strip material (12) into an arcuate cross-section. The shaping means is rotatable about an axis (35) parallel with the axis (14) of the spool. The method includes moving the shaping means (32) axis of rotation (35) while winding the strip material (12) on the spool (4) and maintaining the shaping means axis of rotation parallel with the spool.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING A STRIP MATERIAL Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for storing strip materials. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for placing a continuous strip of material on a reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is specifically directed to the manufacture of strip materials for building pneumatic tires; however, the prior art and the described invention can also be applied to other types of manufacture, where it is necessary to store a strip material. When a strip component is formed, it may be desired to store the component in such a way as to prevent the destruction or alteration of any preformed configuration in cross section. This is often achieved by storing the component in a storage device on a spiral spool. The component is placed on a lining that spirals into the reel. The spacing between adjacent rows of the spirally wound coating prevents adjacent layers of the wound material from contacting, thus preserving the preformed cross-sectional configuration of the fringe component. The patent of US 5,412,132, Japanese patent JP 61-111261 and European patent EP 621,124, illustrate such storage devices. US Pat. No. 5,412,132 discloses a spool with stepped flanges, in which a coating of increased width rests on the stepped flanges to support the component within the spool storage device. JP 61-111261 discloses a reel formed with projections for the edges of a coating for its support thereon. Patent EP 521,124 describes a spiral storage device in which the edges of the coating rest on continuous spiral grooves, formed on the inner face of the spool flanges. Because the space provided by the edges of the coating is of relatively small dimensions, this coating must be precisely fed to the storage reel. JP 61-111261 discloses a first coating feeder through a fixed metal plate. This plate has an arched configuration, with the flange sides causing the plate to have a width less than the width of the coating. This coating is fed through the plate, inside the flanges, reducing the effective width thereof. After the coating passes through the plate, it is fed onto the spool. The coating returns to its original width, after it is once placed on the reel, known in the art as "sudden accommodation" in the place. EP 621,124 also teaches reducing the effective width of the previous coating to feed it in position on the spiral spool. Three different methods of reducing the width of the coating are described. Two methods employ the use of curved bars, through which the coating passes. The curved bars are in a fixed angular relationship with the rod to which the bars are attached. The third described method employs two pairs of deflection bars. The first pair initially deflects the edges of the coating and the second pair slides relative to the spiral spool to ensure proper placement of the coating on the spool. While the above methods achieve the goal of delivering the coating to the spiral spool, these methods require precise placement of the coating to prevent this coating from abruptly jumping out of place, and preventing bending and wrinkling. When these problems occur with the coating, the continuous manufacture of the component must be stopped to solve the problem. The present invention is directed to a method of delivering the coating to the spiral spool in a manner and by an apparatus which overcomes these limitations and emergencies of the known delivery systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved method for delivering a continuous strip material to a reel, on which it is to be wound. The method includes the step of reducing the effective width of the continuous strip material, before being wound on the reel, by forming the strip material into an arcuate cross section. The configuration element can rotate about an axis parallel with the axis of the reel. The method includes moving the axis of rotation of this configuration element, while winding the strip material on the reel and maintaining the axis of rotation of the configurator element parallel with the reel. A further aspect of the invention includes moving the axis of rotation of the configurator element in a vertical direction. In another aspect of the invention, the shaping element includes multiple sets of rollers, which act internally to reduce the effective width of the strip material. This shaping element can also be defined by a completely enclosed slit, which maintains the reduced effective width of the strip material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus for winding a strip component; Figure 2 illustrates the spiral spool, as the strip component and the coating are wound therein; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spiral spool, along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the preformer; Figure 4A is a top view of the pre-former; Figure 4B is a bottom view of the preformer; Figure 5 illustrates the pre-former; Figure 6 illustrates the coating delivery system; and Figure 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the pre-former.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Modes With reference to Figure 1, an apparatus embodying the present invention for winding and storing a strip component is illustrated. The apparatus is comprised of a reel 4, in which the strip component 10 is wound, an exhaust element 6 for the strip component 10 and a delivery system 8 for the covering 12 in which the component is to be placed. 10 of fringe. The spool 4 is mounted on a shaft 14, coincident with the axis of the spool 4, and on which the spool 4 rotates. As this spool 4 rotates, the skin 12 is fed from a cut of the spool 4 from the reel 13 of the skin , while the strip component 10 is then placed on the liner 12 from the other side of the reel 4. The strip component 10 can be unvulcanized elements of a pneumatic rim, such as the side walls, tread, apex other strip materials that may be susceptible to compression in conventional storage mechanisms. The spool 4 has first and second flanges, 16, 18, see Figure 3. Each of the flanges 16, 18 has an axial external surface 20 and an axial surface axially 22. The internal surfaces axially 22 of the first and second flanges, 16, 18, each having a continuous spiral groove 24. The slots 24 are adapted to receive the edges 26 of the liner 12. The slots 24 have a radius that creates a radial distance between the adjacent turns of each slot 24, which is greater than the combined thickness of the liner 12 and the strip component 10, which is to be wound on the reel. The radially internal surface 28 of each slot 24 is bevelled down to the central axis of the spool 4. In a preferred construction, the radially internal surface 28 is bevelled to thereby form an angle of approximately 10 ° with a line parallel to the axis of the spool 4. The purpose of the bevel is to facilitate the insertion and removal of the edges 26 of the coating. The liner 12 has a width sufficient to extend between the flanges 1618 of the spool and allow the edges 26 of the coating to rest within the spirals 24. The liner 12 must be formed of a sufficiently strong material, so that the weight of the strip component 10, when wound on the reel 4, does not cause this liner 12 to deviate and contact or compress the stored component 10. the radial windings internally of the component 10 and the lining 12. Preferred materials for the lining 12 include polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and other similar materials. The spool 4 is also defined by a series of openings 30 in the axially outer surfaces 20 of the flanges 16, 18, see Figure 2. Because the strip component 10 is preferably loaded onto the spool 4, directly from an extruder It is still hot and in several stages of healing. The openings 30 of the spool 4 allow air to flow back and forth through the openings 30 and on the strip component 10. As discussed previously, the proper delivery of the coating 12 to the spool 4, it is convenient to reduce the effective width of the liner 12, i.e. configuring the liner 12 in a cross-sectional configuration of arc. This is achieved within the coating delivery system 8, which incorporates a pre-former 32 mounted on a pair of Thomson 34 rails.; these Thomson 34 rails allow the pre-former 32 to travel vertically. This pre-former 32 is mounted to the Thomson rails 34 by means of a bearing case 50. The bearing case 50 is provided with an internal bushing. The cap allows the pre-former 32 picotee freely about a longitudinal axis 35, enabling the pre-former 32 to remain in an alignment perpendicular to the coating 12, as it passes through the pre-former 32. This pre-forming 32 is the configuration element, which configures the liner 12 in the desired configuration in arc cross section. In one embodiment, the pre-former 32 has three sets of interacting rolls 36, 38, 40 mounted on the end frames 42, see Figures 4, 4A, 4B and 5. The roller assembly 36, 38, 40 , interact with the coating configuration 12 to a desired curved configuration, prior to insertion of the liner 12 on the spool 4. the first set of rollers 36 may be defined as upper rollers deviation, the second set of rollers 38 are rollers edge deflection, and the third set of rollers 40 can be defined as lower support rollers. The upper deflection roller assembly is mounted on an axle 44 and has at least two rollers 46, 48, of different size. A central roller 46 has a relatively large diameter and two smaller diameter rollers 48 are mounted on the shaft 44 at equidistance from the central roller 46. The rollers 46, 48 are mounted on bearings to rotate about the axis 44. This axis 44 is extends through each end frame 42 and into the bearing box 50. The shaft 44 rests on the inner bushing of the bearing housing 50. This configuration of the roller assembly 36 above deviation, in combination with the second and third sets of rollers 38, 40, bow 12 forms coating passes under the roller set 36 of deflection, reducing the effective diameter of the liner 12. There two sets of edge deflecting rollers 38, an assembly 38 attached to each end frame 42. Each set of edge deflecting rollers 38 is preferably comprised of two rollers of different sizes, 52, 54. There is a single short central roller 52 and two long outer rollers 54. The central roller 52 is aligned with the axis 44 of the first set of rollers 36 and is preferably inclined at an angle relative to axis 44. The long rollers 54 extend at an angle relative to the axis of the first set of rollers, in an opposite direction of the short roller 52, and are attached to the associated end frame. 52, adjacent the short roller 52. The rollers 52, 54 are mounted on bearings, so that each roller 52, 54 can rotate along its longitudinal axis as the coating passes through the pre-former. The short rollers 52 restrict the vertical and horizontal movement of the edges 26 of the liner and the long rollers 54 support the liner 12 from below, to maintain the arched configuration of the liner. The set of lower support rollers 40 is mounted on an axis 56, which extends between the end frames 42. The assembly 40 is comprised of two identical rollers 58, equi-spaced from the central point of the axis 56. The axis 56 is it mounts on the same long axis of the end frames 42 as the first axis 44 of the assembly. The rollers 58 have a conoid configuration, in which the larger diameter of the rollers 58 faces the end frames 42. The rollers 58 are mounted on bearings to allow rotation about the axis 56. Preferably, to provide consistent support for the liner 12, the outer surface of the rollers 58 are directly adjacent the outer surface of the long rollers 54 seconds sets 38. If necessary, a small roller can be mounted centrally between the two rollers 54 to support the lower side of the most central point of the liner 12. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, while a particular combination and construction of rollers has been described, others rollers can replace the described rollers, as long as they maintain a channel path configured for the travel liner 12 through, as they pass through the pre-former 32. As mentioned above, the shaft 44 extends through the frames 42 of end and inside a box of bearings. This bearing box allows the preformer 32 to peck around the longitudinal axis 35 of the shaft 44, see Figures 1 to 6, as the preformer 32 travels up and under the Thomson 34 rails. The bearing housing 50 is provided with an internal bushing. The shaft 44 rests on the bushing. This bushing allows the shaft 44 to peck freely about the longitudinal axis 35 of the shaft 44, enabling the preformer 32 to remain in alignment perpendicular to the liner 12, as this liner 12 passes through the pre-former 32. It is the stiffness of the liner 12, as it passes through the pre-former 32, which causes the pre-former 32 to peck. This preformer 32 also travels through the Thomson rails 34, in order to maintain the alignment of the liner exiting the preformer 32, with the location where the liner 12 is fed on the reel 4. This allows a transition softer coating 12 from the reel 13 of the liner to the storage reel 4. Thus, during the operation of the coating delivery system 8, the preformer 32 moves in two different directions around two different planes. The preformer 32 rotates about a single axis 35, parallel to the axis of the reel 4 and travels vertically along Thomson 34 rails. It is this combination of motions which keeps the liner 12 in the desired delivery configuration and the orientation to reel 4 and allows the liner 12 to be properly delivered within the storage reel 4. Adjacent to the reel 4 is a set of deflection rods 60, mounted on a sliding platform 62. This sliding platform 62 can be moved along a rail 64 that is mounted to a base 66, of a frame 68, on which the spool 4 is mounted. The deflection bars 60 have a fold 70 near their midpoint , which is designed to accommodate the limitations of existing equipment. When new reels, frames and displacements are configured for the realization of the apparatus, this fold 70 will no longer be necessary. The purpose of the sliding platform 62 is to adjust the deflection quality of the baffle bars 60, as the spool 4 is filled with the coating 12 and the strip component 10. When the spool 4 is almost empty, the deflection bars 60 are very close to the axis of the spool 4. As this spool 4 rotates and becomes filled with the coating 12 and the strip component 10, the deflector bars 60 slide radially towards away from the axis of the spool 4. With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the method by which the coating 12 and the strip component 10 are loaded onto the spool 4 will be described. When this reel 4 is emptied and prepared to store the strip material 10, about one revolution of the end of the liner 12 is wound around the core 72 of the reel 4 and is secured there by means of, for example, hook strips 74 and tie. The edges of the liner 276 are initially threaded into the first opening of the slot 24. Once the liner 12 has been properly threaded into the slot 24, it follows the spiral pattern of the slot 24 and thus continues to be threaded throughout the reel 4, as the coating edges are pulled into the groove 24. As the spool 4 rotates by 180 °, a recently extruded strip of the strip component 10 is placed on the exit surface of the liner 12. This process continues with the spinning reel 4 and the loading liner 12 and the strip component 10 within the reel 4 in a spiral fashion until the spool is filled "4. An alternative embodiment of the pre-former 32 is illustrated in Figure 7. The pre-former 32 is obtained from a simple block 78 of lightweight material. desired curvature, i.e. a reduced effective width, of the liner 12 is cut into the block 78. The assemblies 82 are supplied at each end of the block 78, so that the pre-former 32 'can be attached to the bearing boxes 50 This pre-former 32 'operates in a manner similar to the preformer 32, in that, due to the internal bushes in the bearing boxes 50, this pre-former 32' can rotate about a longitudinal axis 85, parallel to the axis of reel 4, to keep u A relationship perpendicular to the liner 12. While the block 78 is illustrated as a rectangular element, it will be appreciated that the longitudinal edges 84 of the block 78 can be smoothed to approximate a cylindrical or tubular configuration. Mounted above the block 78 is at least one roller 86. A pair of rollers 86 mounted on side plates 88 is illustrated. The rollers 86 are mounted so that they rotate freely. These rollers 86 are used when the strip component 10 is delivered to the reel 4 from the same side of the reel 4 as the coating 12 and guides the strip component 10 onto the pre-former 32 *. In such a delivery method, the liner 12 passes through the pre-former 32 'while the fringe component 10 travels around the pre-former 32'. For the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3-6, the strip component 10 may travel on the central roller 46 or the pre-former 32 may be provided with a separate roller, or other similar apparatus, mounted on the pre-former 32, for guiding the strip component 10 on the preformer 32. The double movement of the preformer 32, 32 'allows the casings to be delivered to the reel in a more consistent configuration since the casing 12 does not need to travel for any extended distance , where the arched configuration can be altered, and places less stress and strain on the liner 12. This increases the life of the liner, reducing the manufacturing time and improving the accuracy of the placement of the strip component 10 placed on the liner 12, which, in turn, improves the uniformity of the final manufactured product in which the strip component 10 is assembled. Likewise, the delivery system 8 and the pre-former 32, 32 'are easier to load than the conventional pre-former, due to the compact size. This also reduces manufacturing time and increases the life of the coating. Variations of the present invention are possible in light of the description thereof provided herein. While certain embodiments and representative details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it will be understood that the changes made in the particular embodiments described are within the broad scope intended by the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1. An improved method for delivering a continuous strip material to a reel, on which it is rolled, in which the method comprises the step of reducing the effective width of the strip continuous material, before being wound onto the reel, by the configuration of this strip material in an arched cross section, with rotating elements around an axis parallel to the axis of the reel, the improvement characterized by: moving the axis of rotation of the shaping element, while winding the strip material over the spool, and keep this rotation axis of parallel configuration with the spool.
2. 2. An improved method, according to claim 1, wherein the improvement is further characterized in that the forming element comprises multiple sets of rollers, which interact to reduce the effective width of the strip material.
3. 3. An improved method, according to claim 2, wherein the improvement is further characterized in that at least one of the sets of rollers rotates about the axis of rotation of the configurator element.
4. 4. An improved method, according to claim 1, wherein the improvement is further characterized in that the shaping element is comprised of an enclosed slit.
5. 5. An improved method, according to claim 1, wherein the improvement is further characterized in that the axis of rotation of the shaping element moves in a vertical direction.