TIRE-PRODUCING FACILITY PROVIDED WITH TOOL-FOLLOWING LINKAGES

The installation is intended for the manufacture of tires, and includes a work area with a drum, a magazine provided with a support carrying a plurality of laying tools, and a manipulator robot. The manipulator robot is arranged to selectively grasp a laying tool waiting in the magazine and bring the laying tool to the drum and then return the laying tool to the magazine and detach itself from said laying tool. Several of the laying tools are each carried by an articulated compass. The compass includes a barrel that is attached to the support and orientable in yaw, a first arm which is attached to the barrel by a first pivot connection of horizontal axis, and a second arm. The second arm is articulated on the first arm by a second pivot connection of horizontal axis and whose free end is attached to the laying tool.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to the field of manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels, and more particularly the manufacture of pneumatic tires.

2. Related Art

In order to carry out this type of manufacture, it is known to use automated installations which make it possible to lay successively on a support, such as a drum, the various constituent components of the tire.

To install these various components, it is generally necessary to have several laying tools, distributed over several stations, and to move the drum successively from one station to another.

However, such installations are particularly bulky and expensive. They are all the more bulky the greater the variety of tires to be produced, and therefore the greater the number of tire components to be provided and, where appropriate, the greater the number of drums of different dimensions to be provided.

SUMMARY

The objects assigned to the subject disclosure are consequently aimed at overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks and proposing a novel installation for the manufacture of tires which is particularly compact and efficient, while being very versatile so as to be able to produce a wide variety of tires.

The objects assigned to the subject disclosure are achieved by means of an installation intended for the manufacture of tires for vehicle wheels, the installation being characterized in that it comprises:a work area comprising a drum which is rotatably mounted about its central axis and which is intended to receive a plurality of components that are constituents of a tire, preferably rubber-based components,a magazine, which is placed at the periphery of the work area and has a support carrying a plurality of separate laying tools, each intended for laying a different component,a manipulator robot which is arranged to firstly selectively grasp a laying tool waiting in the magazine and bring the laying tool to the drum in order to use the laying tool to lay the corresponding component on the drum, then return the laying tool to the magazine and detach itself from the laying tool in order to exchange it for another laying tool present in the magazine,and in that several of the laying tools are each connected to the support of the magazine by an articulated follower member, called a “compass”, which is specific to the laying tool in question and which is arranged to accompany the laying tool when the laying tool is moved by the manipulator robot, each compass comprising for this purpose:a barrel, by means of which the compass is attached to the support of the magazine and which allows the compass to be oriented in yaw by carrying out, with respect to the support of the magazine, a rotation about a vertical axis,a first arm which is attached to the barrel by a first pivot connection of horizontal axis which allows the first arm to tilt in pitch with respect to the barrel,a second arm which is articulated on the first arm by a second pivot connection of horizontal axis, distant from the first pivot connection, which allows the second arm to tilt in pitch with respect to the first arm, the second arm having, at a distance from the second pivot connection, a free end to which the laying tool in question is attached.

Advantageously, the installation according to the subject disclosure makes it possible for a manipulator robot, here a single robot, to be shared by several laying tools each dedicated to a given component. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the floor space of the installation, while having the possibility of laying a wide variety of different components, with as many separate laying tools, which will be grasped, activated and manipulated one after the other by the same manipulator robot, according to requirements.

Advantageously, the compasses make it possible to accompany the laying tools in the movements imposed on them by the manipulator robot, and facilitate the compact storage of the laying tools in the magazine as well as the placing of the laying tools at the disposal of the manipulator robot. Specifically, the arms of each compass are advantageously folded one against the other when the laying tool is parked waiting in the magazine, away from the drum, and can advantageously be unfolded, opening to move away from each other, when the manipulator robot grasps the laying tool and moves it away from the waiting location that the laying tool occupied in the magazine, to reach the drum.

Advantageously, the pivot connections of the arms of the compass enable the compass to cover any useful variation in distance, as well as any possible useful variation in height, of the laying tool with respect to its parking location in the magazine, and therefore also with respect to the drum, to allow the laying tool to carry out, in the vicinity of the drum, the movements necessary to lay the corresponding component on the drum. In addition, the barrel allows the overall orientation of the compass in yaw to be changed, so that, in combination with the adjustment of the distance of the laying tool with respect to the barrel, the compass leaves the laying tool free to access any point of the work area as desired by the manipulator robot, and to follow any trajectory imposed by the manipulator robot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENT

The present disclosure relates to an installation1intended for the manufacture of tires for vehicle wheels, preferably pneumatic tires.

The installation1comprises a work area2, illustrated in dashed lines inFIGS.1and2.

This work area2comprises a drum3which is mounted to rotate about its central axis X3and which is intended to receive a plurality of components4that are constituents of a tire.

Preferably, the central axis X3of the drum3is horizontal.

Preferably, the components4that are constituents of the tire will be rubber-based components.

These components4may in particular include extruded bands formed as a single piece of a rubber-based material, or rubber strips, or else reinforcing strips, such as, for example, strips comprising a rubber matrix in which reinforcing threads, preferably metallic threads, are embedded, which can be arranged parallel to one another and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip, or else composite strips comprising a resin matrix in which glass or polyamide reinforcing fibres are embedded.

The installation1also comprises a magazine5, which is placed at the periphery of the work area2, and which has a support6carrying a plurality of separate laying tools10, each intended to lay a different component4.

It will thus be possible to have available a wide variety of components4, and suitable laying tools10, to produce different models of tires.

As long as it is not used to lay a component4on the drum3, each laying tool10is stored in standby in the magazine5at a predetermined parking location on the support6, which parking location is specific to the laying tool10.

The installation1also comprises a manipulator robot11which is arranged to firstly selectively grasp a laying tool10waiting in the magazine5and bring the laying tool10to the drum3in order to use the laying tool10to lay the corresponding component4on the drum3, as can be seen inFIGS.2and4, then return the laying tool10to the magazine5and detach itself from the laying tool10, as illustrated inFIGS.1and3, in order to be able to exchange the laying tool10for another laying tool10present in the magazine5.

Advantageously, the manipulator robot11will thus be shared between the various laying tools10stored in the magazine5and will have a common docking interface12adapted to all of the laying tools10, so that the manipulator robot11will be able, for each laying operation, to select the suitable laying tool10delivering the required component, access the location of the laying tool10in the magazine5and couple to the laying tool10by means of the docking interface12in order to load and transport the laying tool10from the magazine5to the drum3, use the laying tool10to lay the desired component4on the drum3, typically by winding or spooling the component4on the drum3while the drum3is driven with a rotational movement R3about its central axis X3, then, finally, return the laying tool10to the magazine5and uncouple from the laying tool10, thus releasing the latter into the magazine5, in a predetermined waiting position, and thus freeing the docking interface12for another laying tool10.

The use of several interchangeable laying tools10and of a common manipulator robot11will advantageously make it possible to minimize the floor space requirement of the installation1while allowing a wide variety of laying operations within the same relatively small work area2.

The manipulator robot11will preferably be designed to move the laying tool10in a horizontal plane, in a first horizontal direction X11and a second horizontal direction Y11which are perpendicular to each other. According to a possible variant embodiment, the manipulator robot11may also move the laying tool10in height in a third vertical direction Z11. More generally, the manipulator robot11may be arranged to perform any movement useful for laying the components4.

According to the subject disclosure, several of the laying tools10, and where appropriate all of the laying tools10, are each connected to the support6of the magazine5by an articulated follower member20, called a “compass”20, which is specific to the laying tool10in question and which is arranged to accompany the laying tool10when the laying tool10is moved by the manipulator robot11, each compass20comprising for this purpose:a barrel21, by means of which the compass20is attached to the support6of the magazine5and which allows the compass20to be oriented in yaw by carrying out, with respect to the support6of the magazine5, a rotation R21about a vertical axis Z21; the barrel21thus advantageously provides a permanent but orientable anchoring of the compass20on the support6,a first arm22which is attached to the barrel by a first pivot connection23of horizontal axis Y23which allows the first arm22to tilt in pitch R23with respect to the barrel21,a second arm24which is articulated on the first arm22by a second pivot connection25of horizontal axis Y25, distant from the first pivot connection23, which allows the second arm24to tilt in pitch R25with respect to the first arm22, the second arm24having, at a distance from the second pivot connection25, a free end26to which the laying tool10in question is attached.

Each compass20, separate from the manipulator robot11, advantageously ensures the accompaniment of the laying tool10when the laying tool10is unhooked and extracted from the support6by the manipulator robot11, then driven in movement into the work area2by the manipulator robot11. Specifically, thanks to the degrees of freedom in yaw and pitch granted by the compass20, the free end26of the compass20, which is connected to the laying tool10, can advantageously move with respect to the support6and access any desired position in the work area2, and thus follow the laying tool10whatever the trajectory and the position imposed on the laying tool10by the manipulator robot11.

Advantageously, whatever the position and trajectory of the laying tool10, the compass20advantageously guarantees that the laying tool10is permanently supplied with the desired component4. Specifically, the compass20makes it possible to transport and guide the component4to the laying tool10, or a raw material allowing the laying tool10to produce the component4, the component or raw material coming from a supply area which is situated outside the work area2. This supply area may correspond to an area of the installation, other than the work area2, in which the component4, or the raw material necessary for producing the component4, is stored or produced.

The first arm22and the second arm24are preferably rectilinear. Each of the arms22,24preferably has a rigid structure, preferably of fixed length.

The horizontal axes Y23and Y25of the first and second pivot connections23,25are preferably parallel to each other.

According to a first preferential arrangement possibility, which can be seen inFIGS.3and4, the first arm22forms an ascending arm such that the second pivot connection25is situated at an altitude strictly greater than the altitude of the first pivot connection23which connects the first arm22to the barrel21.

According to this first preferential arrangement possibility, the second arm24will then preferably form a descending arm such that its free end26, and consequently the laying tool10, is at an altitude strictly lower than that of the second pivot connection25which connects the second arm24to the first arm22. The compass20will then have, seen in a vertical plane parallel to the arms22,24, an “A” arrangement.

According to a second preferential arrangement possibility, not shown, the first arm22will this time be a descending arm, and the second arm24an ascending arm, such that the compass will this time have a “V” arrangement.

Overall, and whatever the arrangement, as an A or V, considered, the compass20therefore preferably has a triangular structure, a first vertex of which is formed by the first pivot connection23, a second vertex of which, which is higher in the A-shaped arrangement and lower in the V-shaped arrangement, is formed by the second pivot connection25, and the third vertex of which is formed by the free end26carrying the laying tool10. The base of this triangular structure, that is to say the distance separating the free end26from the first pivot connection23attached to the barrel21and therefore to the support6of the magazine5, can advantageously be adjusted by causing the arms22,24to tilt in pitch R23, R25, in order to increase the angle formed by the arms22,24to unfold the arms22,24and thus increase the distance, or, on the contrary, to reduce the angle to fold the arms22,24in order to shorten the distance.

Preferably, when the compass20is in the folded configuration, the laying tool10being in standby in the magazine5, then the ascending arm, whether one considers the A-shaped arrangement or the V-shaped arrangement, here for example the first arm22inFIGS.3and4, is substantially vertical, that is to say that the ascending arm, here the first arm22, then extends in a longitudinal direction which forms with the vertical axis Z21an angle of less than 20 degrees, less than 10 degrees, or even a zero angle.

The rotation in yaw R21of the barrel21also allows the compass20, in projection in a horizontal plane, to be aligned in azimuth with the direction which is imposed, on the one hand, by the fixed point defined, with respect to the support6, by the yaw axis Z21, and, on the other hand, by the second, movable point corresponding to the free end26and to the laying tool10.

Thus, the compass20can advantageously follow all the trajectories imposed on the laying tool10by the manipulator robot11within the work area2, and during transfers between the work area2and the magazine5, and vice versa.

It will be noted that, preferably, the compasses20are passive in that the first and second pitch pivot connections23,25and also the yaw pivot connection of the barrel21, and more generally all the articulations of the compass20in question, are free in order to be oriented spontaneously under the movement constraints that the manipulator robot11imposes on the laying tool10. More particularly, the connections will therefore preferably be non-motorized. The structure of the compass20will thus be particularly light and will adapt flexibly and immediately to the constrained movements of the laying tool10.

It will be noted that the installation1may also comprise tools not attached to compasses20, such as, for example, thickness measuring tools using a feeler, which may be available on the support6and accessible to the manipulator robot11in the same way as the laying tools10.

According to a preferred feature, the support6of the magazine5has, as can be seen clearly inFIGS.1and2, a notched arrangement30forming a concave delimitation with respect to the work area2.

Advantageously, such a notched arrangement30makes it possible to arrange a relatively large number of compasses20in relative proximity to the work area2and the drum3, and to alternately manipulate the various laying tools10, and therefore the various corresponding compasses20, without risking collision or trajectory interference between the manipulated laying tool10, and therefore its compass20, on the one hand, and the other laying tools10, and their respective compasses20, which are waiting in the magazine5, on the other hand.

Here again, the compactness of the installation1is favoured, as well as its efficiency, since the distances and the durations of the journeys necessary for the changes of laying tool10are particularly short.

Preferably, the support6of the magazine5defines, in projection in a horizontal plane, and as is clearly visible inFIG.1, a U-shape which opens onto the work area2, the U-shape comprises a bottom branch31and two lateral branches32,33.

According to a preferential arrangement possibility, which corresponds to the installation illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the support6of the magazine defines, in projection in the abovementioned horizontal plane, a trapezoidal U-shape which opens onto the work area2via the large base of the trapezium.

Whatever the arrangement of the branches31,32,33of the U-shape, compasses20are then preferably installed on at least two of the branches31,32,33, more preferably on each of these three branches31,32,33.

Advantageously, the branches31,32,33of the U-shaped structure thus form edges, preferably horizontal edges, which surround the work area2, and on which it is advantageously possible to distribute a plurality of compasses20, and more particularly the barrels21of the compasses20, in such a way that the compasses20can be oriented and deployed freely, each in turn, without being hindered by or colliding with the other compasses20at rest. The U-shaped arrangement thus makes it possible to multiply the compasses20and therefore the laying tools10and the components4available, in a restricted space, while maintaining the reliability and operational safety of the installation1.

Of course, the support6of the magazine5may extend beyond the notched arrangement30, and for example comprise horizontal extensions34,35parallel to the central axis X3of the drum3. The installation1may then comprise other laying tools10and/or other compasses20installed on these extensions34,35.

Preferably, to facilitate the introduction and then the removal of the drum3and to allow an operator free access to the work area2and to the support6for maintenance operations, the compasses20will all be situated on the same side of an imaginary vertical plane containing the horizontal central axis Z3of the drum3, which central axis Z3is here preferably parallel to the direction of the bottom branch31of the U-shaped structure.

Preferably, at least one laying tool10is formed by a strip laying head40.

Such a strip is in the form of a continuous and flattened band, which is conveyed in a direction corresponding to its longitudinal direction, and which arrives already formed at the laying tool10, ready to be laid as it is on the drum3. The strip may be a simple rubber strip, without reinforcing threads, or else a reinforcing strip which comprises a matrix, preferably rubber-based, in which reinforcing threads, for example metal threads, are embedded. Preferably, these reinforcing threads are continuous and extend parallel to one another, for example parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip.

The strip laying head40comprises, as can be seen in particular inFIGS.2,3and4, an applicator roller41which is arranged to press a strip against the drum3, as is illustrated inFIG.4, and also a cutting blade42to cut the strip to the desired length at the end of laying.

Advantageously, the compass20which is associated with the strip laying head40preferably comprises a conveyor43,44which is arranged to convey the strip along the first and second arms22,24of the compass20, as far as the strip laying head40.

Preferably, the compass20will comprise a first conveyor43and a second conveyor44, associated respectively with the first arm22and with the second arm24. The strip will thus be conveyed and guided precisely along the arms22,24, without risk in particular of falling or catching in a possible obstacle.

The conveyor or conveyors43,44may be motorized.

Preferably, when the compass20comprises an ascending arm and a descending arm, regardless of the order of the arms, then the conveyor assigned to the ascending arm will preferably be motorized, while the conveyor associated with the descending arm will preferably be passive, that is to say non-motorized. Thus, with a simple structure and a lower energy consumption, an efficient and smooth transport of the strip to the strip laying head40will be obtained.

In the example illustrated inFIGS.3and4, there will thus be more particularly a first ascending conveyor43which will be motorized, while the second descending conveyor44will be passive.

As a variant, the two conveyors43,44could be passive.

The strip will preferably be driven in traction by its winding on the drum3, at the level of the applicator roller41, while the first conveyor43, if it is motorized, will be slaved as a function of the motorized rotation R3of the drum3, in order to regulate the tension of the strip, avoiding the appearance of excessive tension in the strip, which could deform the strip and thus generate defects in the tire, or, on the contrary, the appearance of excessive slackening of the strip, which could cause loss of control of the trajectory of the strip.

The strip may advantageously come from a station of the installation situated outside the work area2, for example from a storage station comprising a reserve of strip wound on a reel, or from a preparation station comprising a calendar which produces the strip on the fly, as needed.

The cutting blade42may be of any appropriate shape, for example a straight blade performing a cutting movement or else a helical blade carried by a cutting cylinder mounted in rotation about an axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strip.

Preferably, the strip laying head40comprises a heating element45for heating the cutting blade42.

The heating element45may be, for example, an electrical heating resistor.

According to a preferred feature, the energy supply46, preferably electrical energy supply, of the heating element45passes through the compass20, so as not to be interrupted when the manipulator robot11puts the strip laying head40back in the magazine5and detaches itself from the strip laying head40, whereas the drive energy supply47, for example pneumatic or electrical energy supply, which is intended to actuate the cutting blade42to cut the strip, passes through the manipulator robot11, here more particularly through the docking interface12, so as to be connected to the strip laying head40when the manipulator robot11grasps the strip laying head40, then disconnected from the strip laying head40when the manipulator robot11separates again from the strip laying head40.

Advantageously, such an arrangement makes it possible to permanently supply the heating element45, and therefore to permanently keep the cutting blade42hot, including when the strip laying head40is waiting in the magazine5, with the blade being maintained at the desired operating temperature, which is higher than ambient temperature, so that no cycle time is wasted heating the cutting blade42when the strip laying head40needs to be used.

It will be noted that this feature could in particular be applied whatever the connecting means forming the follower member which ensures the permanent connection between the support6and the strip laying head40, and in particular whether this connecting means is a compass20or a connecting means other than a compass, so that the energy supply46of the heating element45would pass through the connecting means, separate from the manipulator robot11, in order that the energy supply46of the heating element45is not interrupted when the strip laying head40is disconnected from the manipulator robot11and remains waiting in the magazine5; whereas, moreover, supplies of other energies, in particular the drive energy supply47for actuating the cutting blade42and/or the energy supply of sensors or the drive energy supply of motorized members belonging to the strip laying head40or even belonging to the connecting means, in particular belonging to the compass20, would pass through the docking interface12of the manipulator robot11, and would therefore be connected to the strip laying head40, and therefore be available and active, only when the manipulator robot11is coupled to the strip laying head40, then disconnected when the manipulator robot11separates from the strip laying head40.

The energy supply46of the heating element45may be achieved by any appropriate circuit passing through the compass20, coming from the support6of the magazine5, without passing through the manipulator robot11.

The drive energy supply47, which is in fact temporary, may be achieved by any appropriate circuit comprising, for example, a set of mating connectors, one of which is mounted on the manipulator robot, at the docking interface12, and the other mounted on the strip laying head40, and which fit together when the manipulator robot11couples with the strip laying head40, and which thus remain connected as long as the manipulator robot11remains coupled to the strip laying head40.

The fact that the drive energy supply circuit47is not made to pass through the compass20advantageously makes it possible to simplify and lighten the structure of the compass20by exploiting a shared drive energy supply47centralized at the manipulator robot11.

Preferably, at least one of the laying tools10is formed by a rubber pump which comprises an extruder which generates a band of rubber-based material to be laid on the drum.

Such a rubber pump has been described in particular in previous patent applications filed by the applicant, for example EP-0690229, and will therefore not be repeated in detail here.

Preferably, the energy supply of the extruder can then be provided by the manipulator robot11, by means of a mechanical coupling, such as a dog, which engages the rubber pump when the manipulator robot11grasps the rubber pump.

Here again, this will make it possible to improve the compactness and lightness of the compasses20in question, by using one and the same mechanical energy source, available via the manipulator robot11, to supply separately, one after the other, the various rubber pumps of the installation1.

It will be noted that, in general, the docking interface12which allows the coupling of the robot11with the laying tool10may advantageously be multi-energy, that is to say capable of transmitting both mechanical energy (by solid transmission or by pneumatic or hydraulic system) and electrical energy and/or electrical signals (for sensors, for example).

The installation1may moreover comprise other stations, in particular storage or preparation stations which will make it possible to store or prepare components4which will then be conveyed to the compass20and to the laying tools10.

Of course, the subject disclosure is in no way limited only to the exemplary embodiments described above, a person skilled in the art being in particular capable of isolating or freely combining one or another of the abovementioned features, or of substituting equivalents for them.